New 55 Gallon tank- filtration?

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sillypony

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 25, 2007
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wny
Hello!

I have a several day old walmart (i know i know) 55 gallon starter tank. My mom has the same tank, well over populated, with pretty much all the original stuff, and it works fine. However, fine is not good enough for me.

I plan to get a pair of pleco's, and some small cat's eventually. (yes, i know they're going to out grow the tank. then i can buy another, even BIGGER tank!)

For now, I will be starting out with small-medium community shoalling fish which will get along with the pleco's when my tank is established enough to order them.

My question is what is the best way to get the filtration i need for such a tank? I am starting to get an idea of what is going on with all the filtration stuff, but still don't have a clear enough impression to sort this out for myself... that and my size tank is virtually unspoken of here on MONSTER fish keepers, since its TINY in comparison to most of yours. Thus the popular sump pumps and what not are just a wee bit over kill, correct?

So, any help would be great! Thanks

LeeAnna
 
biowheel 350 for 75g, im picking up a 55 tomorrow and will put in an order for a 350 right after. i have 2 on my 150. they are awsome for good bacteria and very low maint.
 
And thats something I should start the tank on, correct, not just upgrade when i am forced to, (because that will upset my bacteria population, right?)

So much info...... I'm learning more here than I do in class lol.

LeeAnna
 
I'd recomend an E400 over a penguin. Much more reliable filter and less problematic. Run a pair of supercartrages in it and you'll never have to buy another replacement pad.

Reasons?...The penguin has a problem with bio-wheel rotation once it's heavilly seasoned. (really dark) Even a slight reduction in water flow can be enough to stop the wheels. The extra pump on the E series..(400 and 280) along with the spray bar...keep everything running well. They also have a much better media capacity with about the same power draw. You can pick them up on line for about $50.00 or less. Larger bio-wheels too...

Nothing at all wrong with a Double nickel....we have a couple of them around here someplace. That tank is one of the foundations of our hobby.

A more affordable filtration option would be a hydro5 sponge filter in each corner and a single small HOB unit for mechanical filtration. I have two grow out/breeder tanks set up this way and they work great.

Monster filtration isn't always about monster costs....
 
If i went with the sponge filtration, would the HOB that came with the kit probably suffice? I'm sure its not rated nearly as highly as it should be (i'll dig out the paperwork tomorrow to find the exact numbers)

I need to do a lot of hw on this it seems.

Also- I put a cycle starter in my tank, and plan to get the water tested tm, and hopefully bring home the first fish. Am i going to screw up the biological filters if i change the filtration system? Or is there not enough in existance to worry about screwing up?


LeeAnna
 
It would probubly be fine...and if it's a wisper filter like most of them are I can show you how to modify it for better mechanical preformance and padless operation.

To properly cycle the tank is going to take anywhere from 6 to 8 WEEKS...you can add ONE fish but even with the jump start your playing with fire adding fish this soon. you need to test at least every day until it cycles so it's best to invest in a test kit of your own.
 
Ok, i dug out the paperwork. It is a Aqua tech power filter, hob. It is rated (by them) for 30-60 gallons. It doesnt say anything about the turn over rate and what not.
 
OK thats actully made by Marineland...the same people who make the Emporers and the Penguin's except it dosn't have the bio-wheel. If your running Hydro5's then you wont need the extra bio. That's a fairly good mechanical filter and as long as you don't overstock the tank it should be fine...The drawback with those filters however are the filter pads that you have to keep buying. I can look into a cleanable replacement for you but I don't know what one would work off the top of my head.

You won't disrupt the cycle unless you REMOVE a filter..adding a new one won't hurt a thing...once the new filters established you can take off the old one.
 
Ahhh... genius idea. remove the old one after the new is est... common sense. lol.

I'm not too worried about having to replace the lil blue filter, so long as it will not kill my fishes, i'm happy. You're sayin it would be sufficient with the sponge filters, or without?

LeeAnna
 
With the sponge filters...I know they seem decidedly LOW tech but you'd be surprised how many of us on here swear by them...a Hydro5 is $10.00 plus shipping from carl on Ebay. I think I have a shipment on the way. I'm out of air pumps...I LOVE the MA600. Cheap...reliable...quiet and strong.
 
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