What's The Best Filtration For A Fancy Goldfish Tank?

1 LARGE 7 1/2 inch telescope goldfish
1 LARGE 8 1/2 inch white Koi (To be rehomed)
1 small 3 1/2 inch Black Moor
1 very small 2 inch white Koi (To be rehomed)


WHAT'S THE BEST FILTRATION FOR A FANCY GOLDFISH TANK?
I currently run two H.O.B filters, AquaTech 30-60 and a Fluval/AquaClear 110 with Purigen instead of the charcoal bag it came with. I do weekly 70% water changes or as needed if I end up over feeding. I used to have my AquaTech 30-60 run with a Fluval FX4, but the canister flooded my house three times so I ended up returning it. It's my fault, I damaged it in the first place because I forgot to put the rubber gasket in, but I still don't want t go back to Fluval. I don't want my tank crashing through my floor. Price doesn't matter, really. I just want something to keep my babies healthy.

WHO ARE THE BEST FANCY GOLDFISH BREEDERS?
I have a large, calico telescope I bought from Dandy Orandas and a small Black Moor in my 75 gallon tank. I also have one very small peanut koi and a large 8 inch white koi, but I plan to rehome them as they both like nip and prod the vents of the other two fish. I plan getting two or three more fancies and capping it there. But Rain Garden, KoKo's Goldfish, NextDayKoi, and EBay's fish have failed to show me similar quality of fish as Dandy Orandas. I love Dandy Orandas so far, but they run their auctions later in the week, not all the time. Price is not an issue. I'm willing to drive what ever the distance and pay up to $350 for a quality goldfish. Ryukin, Telescope, Ranchu, Oranda, or whatever eye-catching hybrid there may be.

 

For a goldfish, you want at least 10X the volume of the tank for GPH for HOBs (so at least 750 GPH total on the tank). For canisters, if you decide to go that route, 7-8x the volume of the tank for GPH when the media is in the canister (the GPH ratings are usually for empty canisters) should be fine. I really like Eheim canisters.

 

For a goldfish, you want at least 10X the volume of the tank for GPH for HOBs (so at least 750 GPH total on the tank). For canisters, if you decide to go that route, 7-8x the volume of the tank for GPH when the media is in the canister (the GPH ratings are usually for empty canisters) should be fine. I really like Eheim canisters.

Which filter by Eheim do you think would be able to handle my tank and stock?

 

What's your budget? Would you be willing to buy a used one?

 

What's your budget? Would you be willing to buy a used one?

Up to $300. I'm afraid to buy a used one because of the nasty, resistant things they could carry and the possibility of them not working properly.

 

I would use a Fluval FX6, it is one of the easiest canisters to work with. The trick to them, and any other canister is to follow the directions. I have 55 assorted canisters running, and have NEVER had a leak! (Maybe I shouldn't have said that) Bad JU JU

 

I would use a Fluval FX6, it is one of the easiest canisters to work with. The trick to them, and any other canister is to follow the directions. I have 55 assorted canisters running, and have NEVER had a leak! (Maybe I shouldn't have said that) Bad JU JU

Maybe!!! I'll buy some sage and feathers to make sure!

 

Don't buy a used filter, it's like buying a used car. Even with Sage and feathers.

 

Understandable. I buy used, but I clean the filter and don't use any of the media they give me.

I have an Eheim Professional 3e canister for my 55 gal and I love it. I bought it used so it was much cheaper than retail.

You could do something like 2 Eheim classic 600? Or a 600 and something else. Also consider a used Eheim Pro 3 2076 or 2078 (new is outside of your budget).

If you're keeping only the 2 fancy goldfish in the tank and 70% weekly water changes, you could get away with less GPH for the canister. I think around 4-5x would be fine in this case.

EDIT: And used filters can be completely fine. Many people buy used cars. It's a much more affordable option for those of us who can't spend so much on the hobby.

Agree that an FX6 would be a great choice if you'd go back to Fluval.

 

Used is fine if you know what your looking for, but walkingspanish has had to many bad experiences to try used.

 

SunSun 304....honestly one of the best canisters I have ever used in terms of media capacity and flow rate. Have owned pretty much everything over the years Eheim Classics, Fluvals, Renas, Cascade, etc. Only canisters I buy these days are SunSun; reason for this is quality of pretty much every other brand has went down while the price has gone up. SunSuns are very inexpensive and just as high quality as anything youd pack home from the LFS or Petsmart only you'll be paying 1/3 the cost. My 304 pushes a ton of water even loaded with a crapton of Laguna pond media, sponges, and floss. A 304 and your HOBs would give you some extremely clean well filtered water. You can also find these on ebay for around $80 shipped.

 

I tried a SunSun and while the GPH was fine, the noise kept me from sleeping and drove me batty. You can't beat Eheim for silence! I can't even hear mine if I open up the cabinet. I can only tell it's running by looking at the plants moving from the current.

 

Never had a loud sunsun myself...they all run dead silent

 

I have 22 304B running, and I love them! The only one that was ever noisy was because I cleaned it and reset the impeller wrong. I sold all my Fluval 406's and replaced them with 304B's. You can buy 2 or 3 sunsun 304's for the same price as a 406, and the 304 holds more filter material. For the 75 we're talking about I'd use 2 304B.
200 Gallon Aquarium Canister Filter UV 9w UV Sterilizer Fish Tank SUNSUN HW-304B

 

Mainstream filter companies are a ripoff. I remember when an XP3 cost $90 and ran without trouble for 10 years. Theyre $160 now and last maybe 3-4 years. Shows how long Ive been in the hobby but I also remember when an AC110/500 cost $40 and would never break down. My new 110s are junk and always end up needing impellers and motors replaced after a few years because they get that rattling noise. All of this is why I tried SunSun; I was afraid of them because theyre knock off chinese filters....but when you consider your "high end" junk filter was made in China anyway it doesn't really matter.

I purchased 3 Eheim heaters to get one that worked this last round....since then Ive ordered 2 Odyssea heaters on Ebay; the Odyssea heaters hold a more consistent temperature calibration than any of my current Eheim heaters do. Food for thought for those who are die hard on something; stay in the hobby long enough and your loyalty to a brand dissipates. lol

 

I was skeptical too, but I was recommended Eheim canisters (haven't tried or heard a lot about their heaters) by people who've been in the hobby and worked at LFS for over 15 years. Now that I've tried and used one, I can understand why they like them. I'm getting a Fluval 406 this week, so I'll be able to compare them soon. I just had a bad experience with SunSuns, and after trying Eheims, I can't go back to them.

 

Eheims were the brand back in the 70's until Hagen came along and creamed them in the 80's. Marineland came around in the mid 80's with the Magnum series and fought with Hagen from then on. Between the 2 I like the Hagen stuff better. I carried both brands, and a few other brands, so my opinions are based on lots and lots of filters. (I was the #1 fluval dealer in California 3 years in a row) So when I started up in the hobby again I bought only Hagen filters. I bought a used set up that had 2 sunsun 304's so I tried them and figured out how under rated these filters are. Every canister filter I've bought since has been a sunsun. Like any filter, people will have some problems, but no more than the other brands.

 

Mainstream filter companies are a ripoff. I remember when an XP3 cost $90 and ran without trouble for 10 years. Theyre $160 now and last maybe 3-4 years. Shows how long Ive been in the hobby but I also remember when an AC110/500 cost $40 and would never break down. My new 110s are junk and always end up needing impellers and motors replaced after a few years because they get that rattling noise. All of this is why I tried SunSun; I was afraid of them because theyre knock off chinese filters....but when you consider your "high end" junk filter was made in China anyway it doesn't really matter.

I purchased 3 Eheim heaters to get one that worked this last round....since then Ive ordered 2 Odyssea heaters on Ebay; the Odyssea heaters hold a more consistent temperature calibration than any of my current Eheim heaters do. Food for thought for those who are die hard on something; stay in the hobby long enough and your loyalty to a brand dissipates. lol

I have a pair of the 300 watt heaters that are doing great for now, then again I only need heaters for about 2-3 months out of the year. Couldn't beat the price at $16 delivered.

 

Why don't people recommend or use sumps anymore?

 

Canisters take up less room But they aren't necessary on Freshwater tanks, and aren't usually worth it unless you have a larger tank.

 

I use a canister on a 5 gallon, and it sure stays clear.

 

Lol but you still do water changes

 

Every 2 weeks rather it needs it or not!

 

SunSun 304....honestly one of the best canisters I have ever used in terms of media capacity and flow rate. Have owned pretty much everything over the years Eheim Classics, Fluvals, Renas, Cascade, etc. Only canisters I buy these days are SunSun; reason for this is quality of pretty much every other brand has went down while the price has gone up. SunSuns are very inexpensive and just as high quality as anything youd pack home from the LFS or Petsmart only you'll be paying 1/3 the cost. My 304 pushes a ton of water even loaded with a crapton of Laguna pond media, sponges, and floss. A 304 and your HOBs would give you some extremely clean well filtered water. You can also find these on ebay for around $80 shipped.

Hmmmm. I'll look into this. What's your stocking for your tank? Or atleast the most you've had while using SunSun?

Don't buy a used filter, it's like buying a used car. Even with Sage and feathers.

Agreed. Thanks by the way!

 

Right now I have 2 304's on a 100, the stocking is
22 adult rainbow fish
24 adult glofish tetra
11 adult cory cats
6 -3" calico pleco
4 adult L183 pleco
1 -6" vampire pleco
1- 5" albino algae eater
and about 20 or so baby 1" pleco
I do a half water change every 2 weeks and the tank stays clear. And yes I'm going to thin out the plecos.
the tank on the right is the 100, the tank on the left is a 55 with one 304 on it.

 

Right now I have 2 304's on a 100, the stocking is
22 adult rainbow fish
24 adult glofish tetra
11 adult cory cats
6 -3" calico pleco
4 adult L183 pleco
1 -6" vampire pleco
1- 5" albino algae eater
and about 20 or so baby 1" pleco
I do a half water change every 2 weeks and the tank stays clear. And yes I'm going to thin out the plecos.
the tank on the right is the 100, the tank on the left is a 55 with one 304 on it.

That's AWESOME! Definitely will go with SunSun. What do you have in you canisters? Purigen? Kinda regretting just having goldfish and koi after reading your list.....

 

They're blue sponges, the white pads, 2 pounds of bagged carbon. ceramic rings. The good part of the filter is you can put anything you want in it. Except for the sponges on the sides it holds as much filtering material as a FX6.

 

That's AWESOME! Definitely will go with SunSun. What do you have in you canisters? Purigen? Kinda regretting just having goldfish and koi after reading your list.....

You have koi in your 75 gal?

 

They're blue sponges, the white pads, 2 pounds of bagged carbon. ceramic rings. The good part of the filter is you can put anything you want in it. Except for the sponges on the sides it holds as much filtering material as a FX6.

Thank you!!!