90 gallon filtration/ heating help

[rcombs]

I currently have a Hydro 5 sponge on it with a powerful powerhead. What would be a good addition to this in aspect of upping the filtration. I was thinking of adding an AC110. Would a canister filter be a better route that the AC110? Also for heaters, what would be the best way to heat the tank. Thank you.

[Super Turtleman]

An AC110 would be fine. Two would be better. There are many other options, I just like the ACs. As for heat, it depends on how cold the room it sits in is. A 300W heater should be fine for it.

[rcombs]

An AC110 would be fine. Two would be better. There are many other options, I just like the ACs. As for heat, it depends on how cold the room it sits in is. A 300W heater should be fine for it.

Awesome. Thank you Emil. Now to find 1 AC to start and a better heater. Tank is colder than I would like it. Was moved to a different spot out of the way and is a bit cooler than it should be. Have a couple small heaters in it, but not holding temp as good so wanted to see what I should change. Maybe a better recommendations on the brand? I use ViaAqua Titanium's.

1-300 W heater and 1 AC110 it is.

[linuxrulesusa]

When I had a 90g last year, I ran either 1 Aquaclear 110 or 2, depending on the stocking.  For plecos, definitely 2, because of how much waste.  For overstocked africans, possibly also 2.  For a smaller CA biotope (like I did a Thorichthys + swordtail setup for a while) or a community tank with tetras/angels/etc, 1 is probably fine. 

For heaters, I had decent success with a single 200W in my 90g, but the 250W I upgraded to ran less often.  I like the Aqueon Pros, but heaters are pretty much whatever your experience has been drives your recommending a brand.  I've had good success with the Aqueon Pros and have gotten them cheap when Petco has sales, especially the free shipping plus 20% sale plus coupon, and I'll also click through from Discover or a similar site to get that cashback in addition.  There are other cheap sources though.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

As another option: (2) Emperor 400's would provide great GPH as well...

IMO - I prefer HOB's as they are much easier to maintain.  I have (2) canister filters (Magnum 350 and FX5) but I don't clean them out as often as I do the HOB simply because of the east access...

Good Luck in your search !   

[four_by_ken]

Rack up another vote for the AquaClear.  1 or 2 will depend on what you have in the tank as others have hinted at already.



Heaters... I prefer two smaller heaters myself.  Then if you have failure, you likely will not kill your fish if it fails either way.  But, I am paranoid about heater failure.

[Super Turtleman]

Rack up another vote for the AquaClear.  1 or 2 will depend on what you have in the tank as others have hinted at already.



Heaters... I prefer two smaller heaters myself.  Then if you have failure, you likely will not kill your fish if it fails either way.  But, I am paranoid about heater failure.

Good point on the heaters. Maybe 2 150W instead.

[linuxrulesusa]

Did you guys have problems ever getting your heaters to sync temp?  I always felt like one or the other one was running, vs. them turning on or off together.  I never measured power usage though so I can't say definitively if that was a problem or just an annoyance. 

[four_by_ken]

Did you guys have problems ever getting your heaters to sync temp?  I always felt like one or the other one was running, vs. them turning on or off together.  I never measured power usage though so I can't say definitively if that was a problem or just an annoyance. 

I just put them in opposite corners and do a little adjustment at the start if I see one on a lot more than the other.

I actually have 3 heaters in my 140 gallon and 150 gallon tanks.