steven_b Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Hi all am cycling an 8ft tank and wanted to get some tips on filtration going forward. Am just running a 2200lt an hr internal filter for cycling. I will be growing American cichlids in it. All thoughts are a appreciated! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goneself Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Fx5+the internal, or sump. Just an internal wont cut it, no matter how big...the internal is mostly used for mechanical filtration and doesnt really need to be cycled at all, the canister or sump is where you should start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 You need LOTS of biological filtration. Whats the filtration budget? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
th3f0rg0t3n Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 dont use a fx5 unless you want some serious headaches, spend the extra dollars and grab yourself an eheim ! or save a few dollars buy 2x aqua one canisters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mq_camo Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Sump it mate, you'll thank yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlidbro Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 I've never needed a sump system but if I were to go that huge I'd seriously consider going sump. All that said if you didn't want to go sump you should consider a coupl'a big Eheim canisters. Good Luck bro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_b Posted August 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Am currently running a 2.5ft sump on a 500lt 4ft tank and am a little over it. All my other tanks are 280lt 4ft's and running internal filters. I know nothing about the canisters. The stand on the the 8ft is open without cupboards and the tank isn't drilled. I'm think I need a canister or two. Will check out the Eheims/Aqua One options today. In the meantime I've thrown another 2200 internal in there at the other end. No budget as yet [MENTION=9246]Donny@ageofaquariums[/MENTION].... It'll have to be whatever I need. Saying that I'm still sorting out stocking!! The tank was a father's day surprise (and a bid to shut down a few of my others dotted around the house!). Def have to put a male jag, sgt & fader in there. Any one have any stocking suggestions also? I've heard pbass are not really a good idea with these guys. Maybe a blackbelt, festae, dovii? Growing up together of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goneself Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Whatever you like really mate, I had all the fish you listed in my 8 ft at some point. Of course, angry bob the trimac knocked them all over one by one as they got big enough to challenge him and I rehomed em, but thats half the fun of a big american community. I'd definitely reccomend having a JD as your biggest starting fish, and 3+ male convicts in there. JDs are tough but not very aggro as the big boys go, and having one as your alpha means he will often come in and chase away anyone who starts fighting. The male cons will bicker amongst themselves and will often draw attention from other targets, and if thers enough cover theyre plenty quick and smart enough to get out of trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 Have you kept a black belt before? They can be a pretty intense fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickm986 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 Personally I would go a sump. The biggest you can fit under your stand. I have heard of guys on here that drill holes for cheap. Do it once. Do it big. Do it right the first time. If you do that you will never have to worry about "overstocking" You can customize your filtration as your fish change over time etc. plus you dont have to clean a sump as often. And when you do I only clean half at a time which minimizes and chance of loosing bacteria etc. You can just do a whole lot more with a sump. Canisters can leak and fail after a time (cheaper ones quicker) HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 Or you can put a tank under it......... and keep more fish in it! I like sumps, but I am currently running cannisters instead. Makes it a lot easier to clean. Theres actually another cannister option. The big aquaels. Worth having a look at one up close, as they are pretty user friendly. The arent as cheap as aquaones, and dont have the legacy behind them that eheim does. But they are a brand to keep an eye on, as they do things well and arent afraid to innovate. I am thinking about getting another Aquael unimax 700. Its a pretty good mechanical and biological filter. But I'd still be putting 2 on a tank that size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch86 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 If you have a big enough budget I'd go 2700uvc with heaps of course foam and a single tray of Dacron at one end and then the big Eheim pro3 2180 with the 500w heater built in and the proper media kit for it. Only if you don't want the sump option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob3am Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 FX5 and a Odyssea CFS-1000 Canister Filter 2650lph + 9W UV Sterelizer and some sponge filters in tank will cost all up about $550 and will never have a problem with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob3am Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 FX5 and a Odyssea CFS-1000 Canister Filter 2650lph + 9W UV Sterelizer and some sponge filters in tank will cost all up about $550 and will never have a problem with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AussieDIYFK Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 sumps are great for high stocking level, i would be going that rout if i was keeping a cichlid tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_b Posted September 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 Thanks for all of your input this weekend. Am heading out this weekend to get some figures together. I appreciate the education!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
