Questions about AC 300 filter

[littlefishie]

hagen claims the aquaclears run at a third of the max output when the flow control is set to the lowest littlefishie

That's where I'd sorta guessed it from.. if one filter is specified as running at a third the max capacity when on full control, then it would make sense for the rest to be like that.

I've only got AC200's now, no mini's anymore, so I can't be too sure about the comparison in flow rates by putting the AC200 on minimum and an ACmini on max.

 

[vantgE]

you have adequate iltration i run a fluval 304 and a ac200 on my mbuna tank I plan to upgrade to a 500 but it's not necesary, the ac300 is rated for 100gallons and the xp3 for 175 while in total I have a claimed 150 gallon capacity

Actually, the 300 is rated for 70 gallons

anyway, seeing as how you have a filstar xp3 running, you have adequate biological filtration, the two aquaclears could be used for mechanical filtration. I would just put a sponge and fill the basket with floss.

I always keep extra floss in my aquaclears in case i have a filter crash in a tank and need to cycle a new filter really fast.

I'll be setting up a 65 or 75 gallon mBuna also. I'll probably get an ac500 on there and then a canister filter of some sort.

I'm not sure yet.

no it has a claimed 100gallon maximum capacity

sorry if it is an xp2 you will still be fine, maybe try to keep an eye on your nitrates amonia and such, and up your watter changes I do a watter change about 50% everyweek, but i don't see a problem however just to eb safe i'd replace the 300 with a 500 or 110, I plan to add one to my tank too

 

[swampcat]

The ac-300 is the only aquaclear model I don't own. I have all the rest and their the best filters money can buy. When you set flow rate to low it actually recirculates water internally and actually refilters water before returning it to tank. If you have papers that came with it, this has a diagram and shows you how this works. The propeller never changes speed nor does it pump less water. The inlet just below the siphon tube opens to allow water in filter to be drawn back in and filtered again and drawing water at a slower rate from tank.

I have two 500's running full on My 100 gallon and use one 500 on my 55 at the lowest setting to reduce water surface agitation . These babies work great no matter what setting.

The 300 is rated for 70 gallons. The minis, 150's ,200's, will not fit on big tanks due to the thickness of glass and frame .

 

[vantgE]

Agin it's rated for 100gallons I also run a 200 on my 90 gallon if that's considered a bigger tank, these filters can also be cut up to fit if necesary

 

[G_Sharky]

thanks swampcat that's what I thought too when i went to the Hagen site...Oh yeah they don't call this filter the AC300 anymore, it's the AC70 and it comes with an extra biological pouch(white pellets???)that's supposed to be better for bacterial colony to establish....and the bad thing about it is that it doesnt fit too good on big tanks...like mine....I actuallyhave to cut my glass top just to make sure all the water goes in my tank and not on my lid....lol....So right now with all my filter(2 AC300, xp2 canister) my water can be cycled about 12 times per hour....that should be good enough with my current stock right

 

[vantgE]

yeah your great sorry seems i misread three times you have grea t filtration with 2 ac's and a xp2, white pellets are ceramic biomedia that offers a large amount of surface area compared to sponge and bioball

 

[swampcat]

Thats alot of fish. I am not familiar with these fish, do they stay small???. I only have south american. You do have alot of filtration though! Hopefully all this filtration is enough to maintain your bio load. I would stuff these filters with as much media like the bio max ceramic cylinders (white pellets) you had mentioned, or lavarock. I also put bio chem stars in my intake chambers on my 500's.

 

[G_Sharky]

most of the Aul. species could grow up 5-6" the hap moori, venustus and the frontosa are huge around 12", but they would be move to a bigger home when they get some size.....I'm way overstocked right now and i'm just banking on my filtration and weekly water changes...although on the LFS that I work in we have a 130 gallon display tank that contains a lot of show peacocks and haps and some lake tang fish with clown loaches and plecs( I think there's about 40 or more in there) and It's only being filtered by an XP3 with a lot of powerheads and it's been running for years without problems.....