I hate being the noob.

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dacat

Feeder Fish
Jul 11, 2007
3
0
0
Texas
As the title of this says, I hate being the noob. I have a 46 gallon Oceanic Bow Front tank. Long story short. I had no way to move my fish from my 35 gallon cube safely to my new house, so I bought the Oceanic set it up with most my 35 gallon water then transported my fish in a bucket. (thinking back out that was pretty noobish)

So now I have this 46 Gallon tank and was sold by the LFS an under gravel filter system with 2 power heads. I can't seem to keep my tank clear. I fear for my fish.

So what to do. I've been reading the DIYs on Wet/Dry filtration. Now I think I'm pretty capable of handling some of the DIYs but how big of a tank do you need to do a Wet/Dry filtration tank. I want my tank to look clean and be a good environment for my fish. I want plants too. I've read a lot but to timid to actually make a decision.

Should I just get me a Fluval 305 and yank out my UGF?
Should I get some other kind of filter?
Should I just build a Wet/Dry?

I want bigger fish, the GF wants a lot of small fish.
So the plan is to setup the 35 gallon cube and put a bunch of neons or some other small fish and redo the 46.

The fish I have in it now aren't impressive.
3 5inch Tin Foils barbs
1 emerald barb
2 rosie barb
1 beta - male
1 pictus cat
1 red tail shark
1 rainbow shark
1 Chinese algae eater
1 Albino Chinese algae eater

Oceanic Bow Front Stock Picture

Ridicule? Advice?
Both appreciated.
Quick summary - What I want is lots of fish, lots of plants, make it look like nature etc. Or go completely the other direction, get 4 or 5 really awesome fish and make the tank as bare as possible to display my 4 or 5 awesome fish. hmmm ill have to decide on that.

--PS--
There comes a point where you've so much you no longer know what to do.
Props to ...
... the guy who built the fish tank in his basement.
... the guy who built his custom tank from MDF and epoxy.
... the guy who sedated his 5 foot fish and moved it from tank to the next.
... CHOMPERS - damn a fountain of knowledge.

Oh ya.. FIRST POST!
 
Alright my suggestion would be if you want to build a wet/dry go right ahead. If you want wet/dry along with powerful mechanical and more biological filtration go with a Eheim Wet/Dry filter. If you pull out the UGF you will have no more nitrafying bacteria in which will cause complete tank failure. So add a Fluval 305 when everything is still setup. Also put some prefilters on the powerheads if not one already. It will help a little with mechanical filtration. Most likely you are experiencing a bacteria bloom because some of your bacteria might of died as a result of you moving. My question for you is did you keep everything wet as you were moving? Start doing alot of water changes like 50% 2 times a week possibly more. Welcome! and good luck!
 
I wouldn't bother with a wed/dry on a tank that small. Just add a decent canister filter, fill it with bio-media, and give it a month to get established. Then get rid of the UGF.
 
Plants will be better with a canister. Wet/dry is the best filter (IMO) unless you plan on doing plants.
 
I kept everything wet during the move.

CichlidAddict: any recommendations on a good canister filter.

If I can afford it should I just get the ehiem wet/dry?


for a substrate should i use pulverized granite or sand?
 
Theres no real reason why you couldnt make a wet/dry for the 46 out of a 10 gallon tank but once you get that small its a case of diminishing returns. drop an emporer 400 on the back... and scrap the UG once the bio wheels are established.
 
If you want to do plants that are high light, or plan to have more than 3 wpg, or HO T5, MH, or LED lights, you will be best with a canisters, or some form of internal filter that does not agitate the surface.
 
for a tank that small i would say an xp3 canister filter would be good, i hear eheims are the best cans but i have had no trouble at all with my xp4. oh yeah those tinfoil barbs are going to outgrow that tank and also wreak havok on your water quality when they get bigger.
 
Last question(s) and I'll stop bugging you guys.

Between the Rena Xp3 and the Eheim 2026 the Rena has a better GPH (350 vs 250). Now is the Eheim that much better in terms of filtration that the reduced cycling rate is worth it?

If it is worth it, should I just get the Eheim 2126 (the 2026 with the built in heater)?

As I write this I search the forums..
 
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