How crappy are my filters?

[dgk9723]

Go with a sump. And buy a eheim canister for chemical applications if you like. Can't go wrong with a sump. It's king of all filters. Also forgot
Buy a skimmer, that's all you need. Don't go cheap on the skimmer because if you buy a cheap one it's a waste of time along with money. I don't think you have a large tank so it won't be much. But go with a sump and you won't need another hang off the back or canister filter ever.

 

[nonstophoops]

I haven't read your other thread yet, heading there next. But, I doubt your filters, or lack of filtration is causing algae blooms. Excessive lighting (incuding ambient light from windows, etc) is the major cause of algae growth. Proper feeding techniques and frequent, appropriate water changes also help eliminate algae.

Filtration cleans your water of particulates and allows a place for BB to colonize and grow. I have seen heavily filtered tanks still suffer from unwanted algae blooms. If you're happy with your filters and they are doing the job, don't worry about changing them out.

The filters, or lack of filtration(filters, powerheads(keep wastes suspended for filters and skimmer), skimmer) are directly impacting the algae growth. If he can not filter out the nutrients properly, then the algae is going to feed on these nutrients and grow. Low oxygen/redox levels in a tank also help algae thrive and subpar filtration does just that.

I do agree with the feeding techniques being a concern as well.

The lighting comes after all of these things. You can have all the light in the world on a tank and if there is nothing for the algae to eat it will not grow. Limiting nutrients and maintaining high water quality will greatly reduce algae growth.

 

[nonstophoops]

Go with a sump. And buy a eheim canister for chemical applications if you like. Can't go wrong with a sump. It's king of all filters. Also forgot
Buy a skimmer, that's all you need. Don't go cheap on the skimmer because if you buy a cheap one it's a waste of time along with money. I don't think you have a large tank so it won't be much. But go with a sump and you won't need another hang off the back or canister filter ever.

Some good points here.

The canister filter is 64 percent off for a reason. It sucks! I have first hand experience with it and I would rather have almost any hang on back filter(that is saying a lot for me).

A quality protein skimmer would be the greatest benefit here IMO. An Aqua C Remora would be great for the tank particularly if you weren't doing a sump.

On a 29 gallon I would go with a sump as well, but as I said above I think you could get away without one.

Skip the canister filter either way IMO on a tank this size. If you don't do a sump or canister get a couple powerheads for water movement to keep that waste suspended for your new skimmer!!!

 

[CLDarnell]

The filters, or lack of filtration(filters, powerheads(keep wastes suspended for filters and skimmer), skimmer) are directly impacting the algae growth.

Agreed...if water parameters are also high or unstable. That's why I also mentioned feeding techniques and lighting. Reading the OPs other post, he showed photos of the tank sitting near a window and glass door that were recently open since it was nice outside.

A canister, sump, etc would be better of course...but, the tank isn't heavily stocked at all. I don't feel that the default answers of "upgrade" or "add more" is the right answer in this case. As I mentioned in the other post, I have seen people here experience algae blooms in 100 gallon tanks with a FX5 and HOB filters.

Being that the tank is a 29g, I think that some preventative measures with lighting control, careful feeding habits and a proper water change schedule is the better answer than suggesting the OP spend cash. Even with better filtration, I don't think the tank will ever be stable considering the location it's in.

If I am wrong, then the OP isn't out anything and can go to the next step of course.

 

[FLESHY]

His canister is probably part of the problem.

As dustin said, this is about nutrient control. Algae cant grow where there arent phosphates and nitrates, and most likely his uncleaned canister is seeding the whole tank with those nutrients constantly.

My opinion.

 

[TMartinez]

So for now I.ll stick to my power filters and see what happens. A sump system would be nice but takes alot of space. I live in a apartment and my tank is on a metal stand so I have no way to make it aesthetically appealing. Thus why I was looking at a HOT canister system

 

[burzumaske20]

I had a Aqua Tech dual power filter which it was junk,so I upgraded to at least a Marineland Penguin 350.Overall if yours are doing the job,then that is good to hear.I rather stick with a brand that is well known and I can trust.The aqua tech came with my 55 gallon fish tank set up,so that is why I had it for a bit,when that tank was running.

 

[TMartinez]

I had a Aqua Tech dual power filter which it was junk,so I upgraded to at least a Marineland Penguin 350.Overall if yours are doing the job,then that is good to hear.I rather stick with a brand that is well known and I can trust.The aqua tech came with my 55 gallon fish tank set up,so that is why I had it for a bit,when that tank was running.

That's my concern. I only have a small clownfish and some LR in my tank so it might be ok. But I was worried that maybe they were aiding the algae bloom...

 

[TMartinez]

Here is a pic of them and the tank as of this am

 

[STXman]

go for an fx5

fluvals are crap also go with an eheim