Can you have two smaller filters instead of one larger?

[jcgd]

On long tanks... like a 55 gallon can you use say TWO AC 200 or 300 instead of a single AC500. Is is cheaper than getting a single AC500.

[Mori]

It's probably not cheaper but it gives you a little more flexibility, as well as a backup if you have a tendency for your filters to clog. I think it's perfectly good.

[Buck]

Multiple filters is ideal, when its time to do your maintenance on them it is best to offset the schedule so that one of them is always ripe and runnin at full steam.

[jcgd]

On a 55 planted tank should I go with 2 AC200s or 2 AC300s or one of each? At my LFS the AC500 is $89 and the AC300 I think is $39. I definately know for sure that it's cheaper to get two AC200s.

Thanks

[spellweaver9]

i like the 300's and i just bought 2 at www.petsolutions.com for $19.99 each---good luck :!:

[Wasserpest]

While it is good to support LFS, I would hesitate to pay the exorbitant prices that they charge for equipment. They are often twice as high as online, and I am taking S&H into account, and not talking about low $$$ items either. I understand that they have to pay lease and more personnel etc, but if you know what you want, I suggest to have a look at online suppliers...

[GDominy]

Wasserpest... Keep in mind that the online economy is really only "better" then your average LFS in the US... In Canada it is often times just as expensive to order online... If you're lucky you can order from the states and not get stuck with Duty.. but more often then not, you'll be better off haggling with your LFS over cost.

I can't speak for our UK members.... But it is safe to say that they have a MUCH greater variety of stores then we do in Canada...

[GDominy]

To further Illustrate my Point... Here are prices for an Aquaclear 500 in canadian funds

Big Als Canada (online) = $74.99 (no shipping price included)
Local Fish Stores = $69.99-89.99

Big Als US (after exchange rate into Canadian Funds) = $41.34


So Big Als, the same store, same product, has a totally differenent pricing scheme in this country. If we order from the states, we pay duty... Its really frustrating.

[Wasserpest]

Wow, that is a big difference! I remember once I ended up in the Canadian side/site of Big Als, and thought I went nuts because all the prices just had doubled :lol:

To illustrate my (US) point: A Rena Filstar XP costs about $90 at Bigals, while at my LFS they sell them for $190, plus a fat tax.

[GDominy]

yeah that makes sense. The problem is in canada there are almost no online retailers that sell goods.. We can't bring them into the country that cheaply. Big Als "can" but they have an agreement with all of the Big Als Outlets (they are franchises) so they cannot directly compete with their own stores. Therefore, the prices that the franchises set, is the lowest price that the online retailer can set.

After my initial post I was so angry at the price disparity that I called Big Als headquarters in Ontario and had a "discussion" with one of their pricing agents.

[jcgd]

You guys are totally right. BUT I think I might order online because I found this online only site from Ontario and my jaw dropped when I saw the prices. Florite was 30 bucks while in my lfs is is 40. The shipping is about $10 but if you buy more than one product you start saving big. I'll post the site in a couple minuted because I have it bookmarked on another computer.