Hi All,
I have a 112 gallon tank so I'm planning to fit an external canister filtration setup. So how do I calculate the GPH for the canister if I'm having a 112 gallon tank which would do the best filtration for a community tank setup with mild planted tank.
thanks..
benn371,
Typically with canister filters you'd want 4x water turnover per hour. So that would mean that you'd want at least 448gl/hr actual water flow minimum for a healthy environment. Keep in mind, most canisters are rated by the manufacturer for flow rates with no media. And most canisters are subject to serious bypass reducing the actual flow rate by as much as 50%. With HOB filters, the you want to move 10x to water volume of the tank.
As previously stated, 2x FX5's (or FX6's if you like) would definitely do the job. But that could be considered expensive for some. And those beasts could be heavy to move if full (H2o & media). Though, like the big Eheims they do have a drain valve making maintenance easier.
A pair of Eheim 2075's would seem to be a good option also and less expensive than the FX5/6 route. Though not as powerful as the FX5/6. Sometimes it's not all about GPH, but design and media capacity. Eheim options definitely fall into this category. Personally, I think a pair of Marineland C-360's bought on sale (Big Als?) would seemingly be a great fit if you're a budget minded fishkeeper.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.