Habitat - Indoor :: Fish store says filter won't work :(

[annar]

Sam (definitely a male) is ready for another tank upgrade, so I've been looking at 75g to 120g. He's in a 30g with a Tetra in-tank filter right now, but I want to move him to something way bigger and a canister filter. Last time I tried a canister filter it was an XP3 and I couldn't get it to work right. Now while shopping for a new tank, the fish stores keep saying that a canister filter won't work on these tanks because I won't have it filled to the top like I would with fish. I know that can't be right, because so many of you are running them on your large tanks. Do you have to make any special adaptions to them? Especially for a 120g, they were saying that I would need a pump and would have to drill holes in it.

[devilduck]

They are full of baloney. Can you post a picture of your setup? What was wrong with the XP3?

It doesn't take much for a canister filter to work...

1. It should be placed lower than your aquarium
2. The intake should be below the water level

That's basically it, as long as the intake can reach the water and it is primed (air removed so that a gravity feed down to the main canister) that's all there is too it.
If your water level is too low you can build or buy an extension to the intake. I extended mine with some extra tubing bits and pvc pipe.

[annar]

Thanks! That's what I thought. I couldn't get the XP3 to work and when my brother-in-law looked at it, it turned out that one of the pieces was broken to start with, so it went back. At that I point, I had already gotten so frustrated with it that I decided to just use the in-tank filter for a while longer. I was looking at the XP3 or XP4 for this time around. The set up right now is just the 30g with a Tetra in-tank (I don't have a pic with me right now). It's the new tank that will be getting the canister and I'll post pictures when that's set up. It's been 3 fish stores that have expressed doubt that it would work, so I had to wonder if I was missing something.

[Rubicon]

What piece was broken? My XP3 is extremely easy to work on, prime, etc...

[josephkr]

My filter said water should be no more than 7 inches from the top of the tank, still pretty doable with a large tank.

[annar]

"What piece was broken? My XP3 is extremely easy to work on, prime, etc..."
It's been a while, so I can't remember exactly what the problem was, but I couldn't get it to prime and water kept leaking out. I thought it was me, but my brother-in-law took a look at it during a visit (he's always had fish tanks) and he said that there was a piece that was broken on top. I think it wouldn't lock? It wasn't doing what it was supposed to do. Like I said, it's been a while, so I can't remember the specifics, but I'm glad to know you've had good luck with your XP3. I may try that brand, again.

"My filter said water should be no more than 7 inches from the top of the tank, still pretty doable with a large tank."

That does sound doable. What kind of filter do you have?

[steve]

The top of the intake hose has a cap that you can remove to add water in.

[josephkr]

I've got a Fluval 405.

[annar]

The top of the intake hose has a cap that you can remove to add water in.

Thanks, Steve. I asked my brother-in-law if he remembered what the issue was and there was some part of it that was missing. He said I could have bought the part for it, but since I bought it new I shouldn't have had to. I think I'm going to get the XP4 for the 75 gallon.

I've got a Fluval 405.

Thanks, josephkr. Those had pretty good reviews, but I need something that'll handle more turtle water.