Habitat - Indoor :: Canister Filter. Two options. What is better

[atagtmeier]

I have been looking at canister filters. I have narrowed it down to two options that I liked. I am looking for some ideas from people to help make my decision. I got a 40 gallon tank. Yes I know this may be small but due to space it is the best I can do at the current time. So please, look past the size and think about what would work best for the tank I have now. For those who feel strongly about me getting a larger tank, I have full intentions of purchasing a 120 gal as soon as I get a place that can acomidate the size and is on the ground floor to handle the weight.

The first I am looking at is the Fluval 305. It looks nice. How quiet does it run? Does it seem to be a solid filter? Any other information

The second I am looking at is the Rena xP2. Again, how quiet does it run and is it a solid filter? Any other information.


If you have owned both filters... Awesome. I would love to get input from someone who has experienced both and can give good solid information for each.

Just a note. This filter for a month or two. Untill I can get a rue 40 gallon. Will be used in a 40 gallon reptile tank. It can only hold about 20 gallons right now. I am looking at purchasing a 40 gallon breeder tank to take it's place soon.

[steve]

I had the 304 (earlier model) and the XP3 (larger model). Neither filter should make too much noise. I think the Fluval would be harder to clean and I've had problems with their case design (handle breaking off) though I did like the flexible hoses. The XP2 should offer more options and should be easier to maintain. The slightly larger XP3 is probably the most popular filter on this board.

[atagtmeier]

yeah. the xP3 is the one that I have heard of most. I plan on using my 40 gallon tank for fish after I am able to move into a place where I can get a 120 gal for the turtle. I was looking at xp3 but it seems a little much for a fish tank of 40 gal down the road. And f I end up getting a tank larger than 120 down the road I want to make sure the filter I have can handle the tank. So I figure I will bu for a 40 now, and buy a second filter when I buy a larger tank, however large it will be. And what do you mean by "It might offer more options"? It seems like the fluval has more compartments for filter media.

[mikee]

atag - Keep in mind about the 5x rule when you are considering a filter. The gph is very important when dealing with turtles. Using the sizing for fish will not help. When you hear two times or three times some fish tank size, that is usless. Bood Luck! m.

[atagtmeier]

what is the 5x rule I read somewhere else on here that the filter should be at least 3 times the GPH of the size of the tank. never seen anything for 5 times though.

[akaghettoraver]

Turtles are very messy. Most people on here run a very large filter setups. I have about 6 times the filter to tank. It helps to keep maintenance down. I would go with the biggest filter you can afford. It makes it easier down the road.

[mikee]

aka-ver -- The 5 times rule is an "at least", but you can go overboard. If you make it a blender you are in trouble. One of my tanks is a 29 gallon and I have a 350gph. I have a little swirl in the water and it keep the tank very clean. Many keepers use the 2 or 3 time the size for fish. That is for fish not turtles. The gph should be at least 5 times the water volume you are trying to filter. If you short yourself on filter gph you will be working yourself to the bone trying to get your set up filtered properly. This is the voice of a lot of experience. m.

[atagtmeier]

That makes sence. I am thinking I am set on the 305. It's GPH is 260. The tank has 20 gal now but will soon be a new tank, same size, that can hold the full 4o gallons. so the 5 times thing would be at least a filter with 200 GPH.

[akaghettoraver]

Yeah Mikee, I have a very large setup, I use a lot of filteration because I have so much volume my FX5s don't even swirl the water very much;)

[blueace23]

I have a fluval 305 and it runs very quietly and with the mixture of media trays and you can find your own combination and what works best for you and your turtle. I just put in clearmax and ammo-carb, along with the bio max rings and the carbon that it came with, because after several weeks, my ammonia was still veery high and hadn't changed even with partial water changes... It's been 3 weeks, but i finally got the ammonia down to 0 after only 4 days of having the new media (the clearmax and ammo-carb) in the filter... Now i just have to wait it out until the nitrites go down and the nitrates go down, but the clearmax is supposed to help stabilize the nitrites and nitrates, but i'm sure it will take a little time. (ammonia turns into nitrites then it turns into nitrates, then it's supposed to be completely established with the beneficial bacteria that has built up in the filter and is at a healthy and constant level of chemicals. It's normal to have a very small amount of each ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in the tank tho, because it is a constant part of their life.) I just hate the waiting. Wish me luck! good luck, and i hope you don't go as crazy as i have with the waiting on the filter to be established.