XP3 or XP4 for my 100 gallon - Large Aquariums and Ponds

JAXON777 · 02-15-2007, 04:23 AM

Right now I have a 350B biowheel p.o.s. with a 295gph powerhead on my 100 gallon. Well I finally got some cash and I was wondering what yall thought about my situation. Should I get a xp3 to use with my powerhed or should I get the xp4 and get rid of the biowheel and the powerhead. On a side note I dont want my plants to lay sideways from to much flow. To me its a toss up so I ask for your opinions.

Jackson

gibmaker · 02-15-2007, 04:28 AM

I have an xp4 and I am happy with it on my 125 gal tank. I place the spray bar in the middle of the tank on the back and I dont have problems with plants laying sideways, besides I think its all in how you place it.

JAXON777 · 02-15-2007, 04:49 AM

When you say you place the spray bar in the middle is it horizontal or vertical and does it spray towards the front glass?

gibmaker · 02-15-2007, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAXON777

When you say you place the spray bar in the middle is it horizontal or vertical and does it spray towards the front glass?

horizontal, and yes it is facing the front glass.

JAXON777 · 02-15-2007, 05:02 AM

sorry for all the questions but is that the only circulation you have and where do you put the inlet

Freerider · 02-15-2007, 05:05 AM

I would ditch the canister and use the power head to power a FBF. Petsmart sells them really cheap if you print their online price and take it to the store.
PetSmart - Pentair Aquatics® Lifegard® Bed Filter FB300

JAXON777 · 02-15-2007, 06:05 AM

Thanks for the link but I wanna go for the canister my tank doesn't seem clean right now with a 350 gph biowheel and the powerhead. Maybe I just answered my own question and I should get the XP4 but dang thats some $$$

Freerider · 02-15-2007, 06:15 AM

The FBF does up to 300 gallon tanks, more thant the XP4 but its your choice. I like the zero maintenance and high bioload capabilities of the FBF's, canisters dont even come close for the $$$.

Mud Pie Mama · 02-15-2007, 07:22 AM

Since you're asking for personal recommendations, I prefer to have overfiltration and a back-up (redundantcy) on large tanks. Therefore I like TWO CANISTERS on any tank four foot long or more.

Now, I know that in a planted tank you really don't need the filters to perform your biological breakdown of ammonia - but (unless your running an ultimate El-natural) it's very good to have debri removed.

Three reasons for two:

One, improved water flow and no dead areas. I've tried only using one on my 75g tank (18" x 48") but I had dead areas where debri settled especially when the plants really grew in. Also, if you want to use in-line heaters and inline CO2 diffusor this also reduces flow so with two filters you can put one unit on each of them.

Two, with two filters I can alternate cleaning them out - one each month. I really rinse the heck out of my foam pads because I don't need to worry about disturbing the good bacteria. (While not very important in planted tanks, if you're on a spruce it up kick and combine a big pruning and re-scape with filter cleaning you can have problems.)

And Three, I have an automatic saftey net if I have a malfunction or part break on one of them.

So, personaly I would ditch the bio-wheel, go for the smaller size canister ( even two XP2s) but purchase and use two of them. I do like the Filstar Rena XPs.

JAXON777 · 02-15-2007, 07:25 AM

I didn't think of it that way something else to think about thanks for the input mudpie