Pondering filter options

[cavesrcool]

10 seconds of background.  I'm about to setup my 5th or 6th tank, but I've never done a HUGE (in my opinion at least) tank before, and the last tank I did was over 20 years ago.  I'm setting up a 150 gallon fresh tank with live plants.  I found a good used tank and stand with some parts I'm going to reuse and some I'm going to replace.  

The filter that it came with is too small.  It's a Eheim Professional 2224.  Designed for a max of 100 gallon tank.  So... I jumped on the web and start researching options, and have narrowed it down to an Rena XP-XL (I can be talked out of it if someone has a better idea).  But, just as I was about to order, I thought, woa... maybe I should save a few bucks step down a couple of sizes and run both filters, perhaps just one size smaller for the XL-L, and run two filters.  That way, if one fails, I still have the 2nd to fall back on.

Any thoughts on this?  

[Carl]

Welcome to Everything Aquatic!

It is difficult to have too large a filter unless you are creating a flow rate that is blowing around your fish resulting in stress (which this filter is not that powerful for a 150 gallon aquarium).

I am also a major believer in filter redundancy, meaning more than one filter not only improves over all filtration, but also helps prevent disasters should one filter fail.

my thoughts are why not use a perfectly good filter, your Eheim Professional 2224, then add to this.
Either the Filstar XPL or XPXL will compliment your Eheim.
You also might consider a power head or propeller pump for added circulation (or an air pump with a large air stone)

Resources:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Filstar.html
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/RioSeioPumps.html

This article addresses the impact of filtration/circulation on fish disease:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Disease.html

Carl

[devonjohnsgard]

Welcome!

Sounds like you'll have a good project going... We'll need some picture

I like having two filters too. I will also add that the sand filter is a great option to pair with a canister filter.

www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Filtration.html#fluidized

[childofiam]

I have two filters on my 75 gal. The first one, a Fuval... is set up to filter out the bulk of debris and the second one is filled with foam for biological filtration. In the past I have had problems with my biological filtration going down hill because of loss of the bio-field interruption by cleaning the filter. When you have two filters this won't happen because you only clean one filter every two weeks. Each canister is running for a month undisturbed.

I also started using Stability www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Seachem.html#stability and have a stronger and healthier Bio-filter. I would also invest in a Great UV Sterilizer. I purchased the Vecton 200 www.americanaquariumproducts.com/TMCUVSterilizer.html for my 75 gal. I recommend you purchase the Vecton 400 for your 150 gal tank before a new canister filter and keep your bio load on a small scale until you can add the new filter.
I am amazed at the difference the Vecton has made in my tank water, a difference you can see. There is a huge difference in how my fish look and act now because of the Vecton.

Richard