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Before buying from PetSmart go look at some of you local fish stores if you have any. You will most likely be able to save several hundred dollars for the same thing. As far as heating you should get a 350 watt heater. For filtration I would recommend an aquaclear 500 and an emperor 400. A good place to purchase all of this is http://www.bigalsonline.com/splash.html. You can't beat the prices. You really shouldn't need a canister filter but if you choose to go this route you can find some good prices there too.

Trust me I've been to every fish store within a reasonable driving distance.

I didn't think of BigAl's online, however! Thanks. So the Penguin 330 wouldn't be sufficient for a 75gallon? And I thought anything above 300watts on a heater is more for really large tanks like 90gallons and up?

I don't think the 330 would be sufficient but I always put a lot of filtration on my tanks. I keep CA/SA cichlids and they produce a lot of waste. As far as the heater goes I put two 300 watt titanium heaters on my 125. Only running one 300 watt heater might overrun your heater or worse yet not be able to do the job. Another positive side is that if one dies the other will pick up the slack until you can get another. The filtration is your call. IMO the more filtration the better...

Good luck

Cool thanks for your advice it's exactly what I'm looking for with this thread.

Anyone else care to throw in your opinions?

Your tank needs to cycle a min. of 6 times per hour but Id shoot for 10.

I'm looking at setting up a 75 gallon. I've done a lot of research and think I have figured out what I am going to get. For filtration, I've read what Bearded Frog said (10X is best). There's a huge debate over the relative merits of the Emperor 400 and Aquaclear 500. So, I think I'm going to get one of each so I have the best of both worlds. That gives me filter turnover to spare.

For heating, I'm going with a pair of Ebo Jager 200W heaters. From what I've heard Ebo Jagers are the best. I would go with a 300 or 350W Ebo Jager, but they don't make them that big. I live in Canada and our winters get cold. With the price of natural gas (even here in Alberta where we live on top of the stuff), we let the house get cool at night, so I want to have enough wattage to keep it at warm. I'd rather get two smaller heaters, because if one gives out, ir provides plenty of time to notice the problem.

Anyway, that's what I decided based on my research. Since you're puzzling over the same things, I thought I'd share. I'll be interested in hearing what you decide to go with. Hope this helps!

I set up a 75 gallon and this is what I used....

rena filstar xp3 canister filter ( online for 108 bucks)********Via Aqua 750 canister (online for 70 bucks) ******Hydor ETH (external thermal heater)300w from
http://petsolutions.com/product.asp?pn=41400018, glass hoods, etc.

Won't get into lighting, co2 equipment, etc - don't know if you're into all that or not

LOOOOOOOOVE the filstar xp3! Best filter I have ever owned, canister, HOB, or otherwise! I run it on my 48 gallon long, and it is nice to know that when I upgrade to a bigger tank in a year or so, I can use the same filter

I had orignally planned to set up a new 55gallon but at Petsmart today the big 75G they had was very inviting. What's necessary to start one of these? Keep in mind this will be the biggest tank I've set up and it's been a long time since I've hard anything even close to this large.

It will be a planted community tank (lots of small peaceful fish) so basically I just need to know what types of fitlers are best.. how many do I need..? how many heaters are suffiecient...? Stuff like that.

I'm looking at a 200watt heater and for a filter I'm thinking Penguin 330. Will one be good or will a tank of this size require two... or even a canister filter (would rather not--too pricey).

Also, has anyone bought a 75G from Petsmart? It comes with AllGlass brand glass hoods and a large strip light, but I can't remember if it was a twin tube flourescent or single.

I'm going with both the Aquaclear 500 and the Emperor 400 because I'd really like to get 10X turnover. Neither on its own can do that. The Aquaclear will give me the 6X turnover that I'd basically consider the minimum, but I'd like the extra margin for error. Also, the actual flow rates once you get media in there and they get going is probably lower than what is listed on the box.

I completely agree that a canister would be the way to go, or -- even better -- a combination of a canister and a HOB filter. But all of this stuff is expensive. I have my heart set on an Eheim canister filter, so I'd rather save up my pennies until I can get one of those. I've heard good things about the XP3, too, though, and it's certainly cheaper than Eheim filters. I think Jake's advice might be worth considering.

Hey Doc,
Allow me to pass on a reccomendation. Do not buy the Aquaclear filter. I have one and they do not do the job at all. They get easily clogged, burn out easily, and some days they just shut themselves off and re turn on like 6 hours later. They cannot be trusted. My sister has gone through 4 of these in 2 years and finally went to another brand as well.
I recently purchased a Cascade 200. Works for up to 50 gallons, with a 316 gph turnover rate. Works great! My tank was super cloudy after the swapover from a community to a livebearers tank, that thing cleaned her up in about 1 hours to crystal clear. I could not rave enough about these filters. And at only $50 definetly affordable, even for a student like me who has no money! They also make a 300, which does up to 100g tank, for 69.95. Definetly affordable, easy to clean, and works great. The Penguin, well I have heard nothing but good things about them. I would reccomend 1 Penguin 300 and 1 Cascade 200 or 300.
I also would say 2- 200 watt heaters would do you just fine. No need for 300's. 75g is not that big. I have 2 200w submersibles on my 90 and so far so good temp stabilized at 76 in about 6 hours and has stayed there.


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Pete: That's interesting: I haven't heard too many complaints about the Aquaclears, but I'll look into the Cascade. The price certainly sounds right. I haven't heard much about them, but have seen them in stores. Rewd might want to check them out, too!

As for heating, I realize my earlier post wasn't worded all that clearly. I was looking at a single 300 or 350, not two of them. I figure a pair of 200s would be more than adequate for a 75G, even in my sometimes frosty climate.

I set up a 75 gallon in April. I'm kind of new at this, other than having a 20 gallon tank as a teen. I am running an AquaClear 500 and like it so far. I also run an AquaClear 402 powerhead with a Quick Filter attached to the bottom. My heater is a 300 watt Marineland Visi-Therm Deluxe. I got a Marineland glass good (I think made by Perfecto). And have a one piece hood light with a fluorescent tube. While I am not a pro just yet, not too shabby for a newbie. I have only lost one fish since April and it was a horrible accident ... a tiger barb got sucked into the powerhead (the LFS told me I didn't need any quick filter underneath, this wouldn't happen...well, it did. I was devastated and still think about how horrible that was). Anyway, good luck with your new fish tank. 75 gallon is a nice size. It was a little overwhelming at first, but now I'm glad we have one that size.

. Do not buy the Aquaclear filter. I have one and they do not do the job at all.

Pete, I'm sorry to hear about your experiences with aquaclear but I have to say they are by far my favorite filters. I have Aquaclears running on most of my tanks and I will have one on all my tanks when I get a little money to place another order with bigals. I'm running 2 AC500's on my 75 gallon tank and it is always crystal clear and the fish are healthy and growing wonderfully. I have more trouble with flow rates on my other filters which includes 2 Emperor 400's though these filters were used and I don't know how properly the previous owner maintained them. The only Aquaclear filters I've had problems with were the 2 AC300's I had that I got used when I bought my 125 gallon tank. I know they were not properly maintained which I believe led to them burning out. My oldest AC500 is ~3-4 yrs old and I've never had a single problem with it.

Jason

I like aqua clear filters, also. Years ago, the 200 on my 20 gallon tank burned out ... because I never cleaned the impellor, didn't know any better at the time. I maintain my new 500 and so far, so good. I think it does a great job.

BTW, is my one AC500 and the powerhead quick filter adequate? Seems like it, my water is always crystal clear. I just so so many people on here say then run 2 filters simultaneously.

I did a bit of research on the Cascade. Is it true that it takes a cartridge like the Emperor that you have to replace with a new one periodically? One of the things I like about the Aquaclear is that it has sponges that I can rinse out and re-use.

Redrider, my take would be that if your single AC 500 is working well for you, then why mess with it? And it's more than 6X turnover, so that's fine. If at some point you decide you want a bit more filtration, it's a simple matter of adding another filter.

Yes the cascade has a filter you have to replace when worn out. It has two parts of media, one is a plastic rimmed carbon/floss media cartride. The other is a typical sponge unit. The sponge you just rinse out periodically, you dont have to replace it very often if at all. I think its worth it because it works so well.
I find with the aquaclear that there is just too much maintenance. I have to wash out the sponges every 3rd day just to keep the filter flowing properly. It commonly clogs, and the flow rate is lousy. I also had to add another sponge so it goes Bottom Sponge, Center Carbon, Top Sponge. I found it wasnt filtering water through it at all, the water was just coming into the filter, flowing over the top of the gate into the top of the media chamber, and water was not passing through it at all!
Just seems to be not such a good filter. Works good in my fry tank though as they dont require a ton of filtration and like the calmer water.
Perhaps the larger ones are better, but I think you would do better with a cascade. You could probably even just make your own cartridges for it.
I am just going to lightly stuff the back with filter floss, and use cheesecloth to make my own carbon media. I may drop some bioballs into the bottom of it as well.
It has room in the back so you could def. work on it. Perhaps find a store locally that sells it, and ask the pet store people to take it out and show it to you first. That would probably be your best bet, comparing them side by side even! Thats what I did when I decided to buy the cascade. It replaced the fluval 204 on my 25g tall and I say its doing a great job.
Good luck choosing though! I could rave on all day about this filter its so great. But you will know which one is right for you!


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