getting ready to set up a 55 gallon tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Mr. Mom said:
You have a point Armand ... and to be honest I did consider it. I originally chose the AC70 (the box says 40-70 gallons ....and I'm fairly new to this) because I already have 2 of them, one of each of my 30 gallon tanks. So this way I'm only buying one type of supplies, which helps my family fill in for me should I be gone for a bit.
Curtis got me thinking about extra filtration, which is why I have them on my 30s. and I liked the idea of just using 2 AC70s for now. Its a long narrow tank 12" x 48" so I figure on having one in each rear corner for now.
These are stepping stones for me ... as I teach my family as well. Should I need to buy the AC 110 down the road ... I'll be kicking myself as I did think of it originally. Fortunately this won't be the last tank I purchase so the AC70s will get used one way or the other down the road. But thank you for the input ... you confirm my original idea before I even posted anything here. Still new and probably should started speaking my mind earlier than I did.
By the way ... does my idea make sense of having the AC70s at opposite ends of the tank length-wise? Or should they be next to each other? ... Still knew and appreciate all the advice
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They will work a treat anywhere you place them that shouldnt be really a prob.

Some months ago I got this 55 gal tank too and I asked a similar question about filtration. A poster commented I should be better if I go with an AC 110 instead of that AC70 that I said I have been thinking of purcheasing for that tank.

I didnt listen and got just the AC70, after all it was rated 40-70 gallon so "it overmached my needs".

Some months later I ended up getting the AC110, and the reason is not that AC70 wasnt working well, it always has, however as you mentioned extra filtration is always required and the AC110 gives you tha extra for a 55 gal.

I do not regret to have gotten the AC70 though. now it is servicing a turtle tank, so they have an usage one way or another.


Cheers.
 
The reason I didn't suggest the AC110 was because a lot of other users have reported too much water movement. They say in a 55g the waterfall pounds the water surface and is loud which messes with their fish and makes them skittish. And to me it makes more sense to have 2 slightly smaller filters than one larger one.
2 AC70=600gph
1 AC110=500gph

Sent from my mind to my fingers to my phone to the MFK servers to you
 
Mr. Mom said:
letstalkfish ... nice buck I've got to say.

Curtis Rouse .... thanks for the input, greatly appreciated. Got me thinking and ended up making a few changes. By the looks of things I'll be adding water probably within a couple of days. Picked up a second AC70 today, already had the one when you posted on my thread. Works for me as the filters are the same with my 2 30 gallons (have an AC70 on each).
As for driftwood, can't get to the farm anytime soon (4 hr drive) so I broke down and started looking at other avenues. Its not the light colour I was thinking of ... but I think its gonna work just fine. 1 large piece, 1 medium piece and 2 small pieces to work with the medium one. Currently boiling them now. Found the large piece on Kijiji .... and the guy ended up giving me a bunch of plants as well (beautiful lace plant included 5 or 6 inches tall at least ... warned him it'll probably become toast) He was changing over to saltwater thats why he was getting rid of them.
Now Substrate, this I have to truly thank you ... even my son (age 9) agreed. When we were at the lfs, he choose the tan/brown gravel ... and now that the gravel is laid in the tank. My wife if pleased :)
Here's a couple of pics of where I'm at now
View attachment 910993View attachment 910994
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I'm glad I could be help. Your tank is coming along swimmingly. Lol keep us updated.

Sent from my mind to my fingers to my phone to the MFK servers to you
 
Curtis Rouse said:
The reason I didn't suggest the AC110 was because a lot of other users have reported too much water movement. They say in a 55g the waterfall pounds the water surface and is loud which messes with their fish and makes them skittish. And to me it makes more sense to have 2 slightly smaller filters than one larger one.
2 AC70=600gph
1 AC110=500gph

Sent from my mind to my fingers to my phone to the MFK servers to you
Click to expand...


That should be valid if you keep very small fish, I keep a solo 6 Inch FH so water movement does not represent an issue at all, moreover water movement is only in the surface and some two or three inches below the surface line, yoiu can easily prevent the splashing of water by adding more water to the tank in order the level line gets closer to the filter flow and thats it!.

In theory two AC70 would provide a bigger outflow, you're right but then when you look at the size of the sponge in AC 110 and all the space it has to fill with ceramic or other media you realize not even 2 AC70 have the same volume of media to match the 110.
 
^^^It is not only a matter of flow but efficiency and if you think that two AC70 provide more efficient filtration than a AC110 you're wrong.
 
Well this is what the tank looks like now .... still need to get a light and hood ... hoping there's enough light in the room for now for the plants ... nothing directly on the tank per say, but the room can get bright in the afternoon should the blinds be open.
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Had to try to do something with the plants before they got too much damage ... as it is they're an abundance of roots mainly ... trying to see if some will attach to the wood. Who knows I might get lucky if not oh well ... stepping stones. Open to all advice though.
Still have to figure out what all to put into it fish wise ... picking out of my two 30s for now.

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