35 Gal hex filter recommendations for Yellow Lab species tank

[JonB]

So, I started cycling my 35 Gallon hex to start a African Cichlid aquarium. I have a stash of puka shell substrate - enough for four inches depth substrate, including a plenumn that I created from the old under gravel filter. About two weeks into cycling the new substrate, I go to change the Marineland Magniflow 220 filter, and It leaks all night even after several attempts fix the problem. I think it's time to buy a new filter, because I looked for replacement gaskets for the Magniflow, but it seems like everybody is out of stock, and the headache of sopping up a wet floor is not worth trying to save the old filter (it's only a couple of years old).


On the bright side, I don't have any inhabitants in the aquarium, and I have the opportunity to buy a filter that is better suited to the African Cichlid issues. Please recommend a canister filter or a hang on the back filter, but keep in mind that the hex gives limited hang on the back space - about nine inches wide opening. Any other pointers on filtration for this type of aquarium would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
JonB

 

[Fmat24]

I think most people will tell you that a 35 gallon tank isn't big enough for an African cichlid tank. Minimum suggestion is prolly 55 to get the swimming space and to minimize aggression. With that being said, it is your tank, so you set it up as you see fit. My suggestion is that I think any decent canister filter would prolly provide way too much flow for such a small tank. Even though african cichlids, especially peacocks like a lot of flow in their tank, a canister filter on a 35 gallon would prolly blow your fish around all the time. I would say get an HOB. Go for the seachem tidal 55. That should give you a good amount of overflow but not too much where it overpowers your fish.

 

[JonB]

Thanks for the advice. The 35 hex is 24 inches tall, so it has relatively limited swimming space. Maybe I'll invest in a larger aquarium, since I'm going to have to invest in a new filterer anyway. Has nobody done micro-setup for African Cichlids?