Info On Filters Please?

hI there, I'm starting a 100gal oranda tank, I would love everyone's opinion on filters, canister or hang on style or both? I planned on useing 2 aqua clear 110's would that be enough or should I add a small canister filter as well? Opinions please?? What filter combination would you use for a 100gal oranda tank?

 

I would use a canister filter as your main filtration, HOB as a secondary and a place to store seeded media that you can access quickly, and if you're open to sponge filters, I would add a large sponge filter to an area of the tank that needs more flow. Plus, in the event of a black out, all you need to do is switch the airline tube to a battery powered air pump and you've got filtration to get you by till the power comes back. Pretty convenient!

Some may say that is overkill with three different kinds of filters on one tank but so far its worked really well for me.

 

I'm all for using whatever filtration that works! Does not seem like overkill at all I appreciate your opinion, I may consider a canister with 1 aquaclear 110, I don't think I need a sponge because my aquaclear powerhead 70 has a polisher filter attached.. what are good brands of canister filters in your opinion?

 

Ive only used sunsun canisters. They're pretty basic but I can't complain for the price . The plastic parts feel a little cheap but not enough for me to consider another brand. The sponge filter I use more for additional flow in a longer tank, not really for polishing. Plus I like the convenience of being able to just hook it up to a battery powered air pump when the power goes out, but that could just be specific to my situation... my power goes out more often then I'd like

 

Awesome! Thank you!

 

I agree completely with Lchi87 and I would run both a canister and HOB. I also run a sponge filter off a air pump, so in the event of a power outage I can use a batter operated air pump to keep the water moving. Another solution if you have power outages is a battery backup or UPS(uninterruptible power supply) but this will only power most HOBs for a few hours. When we lose power it can be for days sometimes, so I just keep plenty of batteries for the air pump on hand.

You'll want the total GPH(gallons per hour) to be 5-10x your tank volume. I'd aI'm for 10x if you plan on having a lot of live plants in the tank, but generally anything over 5x is fine, so for a 100 gallon tank I would aI'm for 500-1000 GPH total from all the filters. The AC110 you're looking at does max 500GPH, so that plus even the smallest Sunsun canister will put you at 764GPH max which is good.

 

I appreciate your advice! Thank you so much, ordering all my filters today, setting up tank Monday night and then to start the nitrogen cycle I have done this before but with many different methods, I tied the "bacteria in a bottle" a few years ago and didn't have great luck, I've also tried feeding the tank which seeemed to take forever! And I've also tried the adding ammonia method, this time I was going to seed the filters with established filter media, any advice on this method would be wonderful! Once I place the media in the filters I should continue introducing ammonia to the tank to feed the bacteria until my parameters are what I'm looking for correct?

 

I would use the two 110s. Why?

Orandas get messy, and nothing is easier to clean than an Aquaclear. I hate cleaning canisters, and have an extraordinary ability to break them when disassembling them. Plus I have never had a canister last more than a few years, while my 4 110s have run a steady 12 years with no problems - I think one impeller shaft had to be replaced for very little cost.

I've had a few fluval canisters fail in that time. I haven't tried sun-sun, but they are still canisters - anything that makes cleaning easier inspires regular cleaning!

 

I ordered the 2 ac 110s, I'm all about easy maintenance lol, and I know how messy orandas are, I took everyone's advice into consideration but decided running dual 110s would work best for me

 

Hello! 2 AC 110s on a 100 gallon goldfish tank would work very well. I have a 110 on a bare-bottom 45g with goldfish, and my tank is spotless. Literally never anything to vacuum.

 

That works too! More than enough flow too.

Yes, you'll have to feed the seeded media ammonia until you get fish. I would dose 1-2ppm and see if the bacteria can process it into nitrates within 24 hours to make sure the cycle is strong enough.

 

That works too! More than enough flow too.

Yes, you'll have to feed the seeded media ammonia until you get fish. I would dose 1-2ppm and see if the bacteria can process it into nitrates within 24 hours to make sure the cycle is strong enough.

Great! I'm in no rush to introduce fish since the 2 orandas I have ordered won't be ready for at least a month, then I plan on adding 2 more in another month or so after. Taking things very slow this time lol I've been burned in the past from rushing this process I plan on 6 orandas total in a 100 gal bare bottom, I'm thinking that is stocked okay?

 

Sounds good to me.
Make sure to add some pothos into those filters.

 

A 100 gallon oranda tank sounds awesome! Post photos when it's ready! I bet it will be beautiful!

 

A 100 gallon oranda tank sounds awesome! Post photos when it's ready! I bet it will be beautiful!

I am unbelievably excited about it! You guys will be bombarded with pics lol your gonna get so sick of this oranda crazy girl!! it's been a long while since I was a practicing aquarium hobbiest, I've missed it so much.

 

Nice, I can't wait!