150 Gallon Fish Tank Filter Systems

What freshwater filter should I use?

I have a 150 gallon freshwater tank and I am currently using an undergravel filter system. The water is cloudy pretty much all the time no matter what I do, and I think it’s because of the filter. It never has worked that well. The tank is not getting too much light, it’s not overstocked and I’m not overfeeding the fish. The nitrate levels are constantly high. There is about 1/2 an inch to an inch of space between the wall and the back of the tank. I can’t move it any farther forward. The bio-wheel filters won’t fit and since I would need two, there would have to be one on each side of the tank. The problem with that is the sides are probably too thick to put bio-wheels on the tank. I’ve looked at canister filters, but I’ve been told they’re a pain to put together and maintain. What kind of filter should I use?

You should definitely go canister with a tank that size as you’ll need the amount of media and water circulation it provides. They’re not really a pain to put together and maintain, though for some people it could be a bit more confusing at first than simpler filters.

Your other option given the lack of space behind the tank are internal power filters, but you would need quite a few, since they generally have low GPH.

DIY 150 gal. Aquarium Background Part 9