Yea great resources here! Money cannot buy knowledge, i wish i knew of mfk when i first started!
If you have to invest in anything id reccomened ceramic bio media as it will keep the tank cleaner and help with nitrates!
#1 S. Vettel
Should I upgrade my filtration?
- Thread starter Nepherael
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Yea great resources here! Money cannot buy knowledge, i wish i knew of mfk when i first started!
If you have to invest in anything id reccomened ceramic bio media as it will keep the tank cleaner and help with nitrates!
#1 S. Vettel
Hello; I will start my comments with a brief explaniation. For the first few decades I set up tanks with equipment that was somewhat weak in comparison to what is available today. I also was not always able to afford all the equipment available. There was also, when I started keeping fish, a common practice of not having any filtration at all in a tank.
Based on my experience over time the current levels of filtration as often suggested on these forums feel excessive. Not that this high level of filtration and high flow is wrong or that it will not work. Should a person have the funds to purchase and pay the operating cost of thes levels of filtration, it can work fine.
I have run tanks at many different levels of filtration, from no filter at all to those at and approaching the current levels. I have had success at all levels. Recently there was a thread about sponge filters on this forum and one member cited a setup of many tanks run only on air powered sponge filters that worked well. I have done and continue to do sponge filters only in tanks from time to time.
I have found that the mechanical filtration can be sized as much to the load of fish than to simply the number of gallons. I have run moderatly stocked larger tanks with power filters rated for much smaller tanks and a bubbler.
I guess I am trying to persent an optional way of looking at filtration. Some like the idea of having high powered equipment strapped to a tank. Fine if it is appealing (and afforadable). Successful tanks can be run on less powerful equipment.
Based on my experience over time the current levels of filtration as often suggested on these forums feel excessive. Not that this high level of filtration and high flow is wrong or that it will not work. Should a person have the funds to purchase and pay the operating cost of thes levels of filtration, it can work fine.
I have run tanks at many different levels of filtration, from no filter at all to those at and approaching the current levels. I have had success at all levels. Recently there was a thread about sponge filters on this forum and one member cited a setup of many tanks run only on air powered sponge filters that worked well. I have done and continue to do sponge filters only in tanks from time to time.
I have found that the mechanical filtration can be sized as much to the load of fish than to simply the number of gallons. I have run moderatly stocked larger tanks with power filters rated for much smaller tanks and a bubbler.
I guess I am trying to persent an optional way of looking at filtration. Some like the idea of having high powered equipment strapped to a tank. Fine if it is appealing (and afforadable). Successful tanks can be run on less powerful equipment.
Thank you for your view and insight. I actually just saw that sponge filter thread and decided I would get a few cheap ones just to run in my tank so I have some established media if I have to run a fry tank quickly (as I have fish breeding like crazy)
I can be honest in saying that, given the opportunity, I would have the best equipment out there but that's not really an option for me. I got my tank and cascade filter for less than $200 and barely afforded that. So I'll have to find a happy medium that keeps my fish happy and is at an affordable level for me.
I can be honest in saying that, given the opportunity, I would have the best equipment out there but that's not really an option for me. I got my tank and cascade filter for less than $200 and barely afforded that. So I'll have to find a happy medium that keeps my fish happy and is at an affordable level for me.
Thank you for your view and insight. I actually just saw that sponge filter thread and decided I would get a few cheap ones just to run in my tank so I have some established media if I have to run a fry tank quickly (as I have fish breeding like crazy)
I can be honest in saying that, given the opportunity, I would have the best equipment out there but that's not really an option for me. I got my tank and cascade filter for less than $200 and barely afforded that. So I'll have to find a happy medium that keeps my fish happy and is at an affordable level for me.
I feel ya! I started with a crap 10gal and eventually got a few 55 and 90, i got some junk sold it on ebay and bought a new Fx5, nicest piece of equitment i have at the moment. Maybe set aside 10-20$ per week and in no time ull have something nice!
#1 S. Vettel
Yeah I've just found out about the fx5. I went over to MK classifieds and saw them for $150 and saw people looking for them like crazy so I know they're popular which also means I won't find a deal on one lol.
I have my current tank, an old 50 same SE but not very nice looking, a 10g, and something that is around 1g. I'm just really hoping I can set up both 50s, the 10 (as a nice landscaped tank with some sort of mated pair of fish), and a fry tank that's around 5g.
Lmao taking all that into account I'm gonna need to get lucky. I have thread open in the DIY forum looking for help to build a wet/dry system (a good step by step or someone who enjoys doing projects to build and ship it) so maybe I can cut some cost with DIY stuff. Also looking into stands. I really like a wooden stand and those ain't cheap. Haha I've fallen big for the hobby, I'm really new but I can't get enough
I have my current tank, an old 50 same SE but not very nice looking, a 10g, and something that is around 1g. I'm just really hoping I can set up both 50s, the 10 (as a nice landscaped tank with some sort of mated pair of fish), and a fry tank that's around 5g.
Lmao taking all that into account I'm gonna need to get lucky. I have thread open in the DIY forum looking for help to build a wet/dry system (a good step by step or someone who enjoys doing projects to build and ship it) so maybe I can cut some cost with DIY stuff. Also looking into stands. I really like a wooden stand and those ain't cheap. Haha I've fallen big for the hobby, I'm really new but I can't get enough
Yeah I've just found out about the fx5. I went over to MK classifieds and saw them for $150 and saw people looking for them like crazy so I know they're popular which also means I won't find a deal on one lol.
I have my current tank, an old 50 same SE but not very nice looking, a 10g, and something that is around 1g. I'm just really hoping I can set up both 50s, the 10 (as a nice landscaped tank with some sort of mated pair of fish), and a fry tank that's around 5g.
Lmao taking all that into account I'm gonna need to get lucky. I have thread open in the DIY forum looking for help to build a wet/dry system (a good step by step or someone who enjoys doing projects to build and ship it) so maybe I can cut some cost with DIY stuff. Also looking into stands. I really like a wooden stand and those ain't cheap. Haha I've fallen big for the hobby, I'm really new but I can't get enough
Yea the fx5 is amazing, my fav thing about it is it shuts off every 24 hours to purge out the trapped air in the can, it also can pump out water from the tank making wc a breeze, it also has a micro proccesor that monitors load and impeller speed. like i said i didnt get it overnite took me awhile and alot of research
Couldnt be happier with it, crazy that is a 5.4gallon bucket.
Also craigslist always has good deals, i found my 90gal on it for 60$! Just keep checking everywhere and ill bet ull find good stuff but for now focus on what you do have and make it shine!
#1 S. Vettel
Oh yeah definitely. That's where I got my setup for under $200. There's a 75 on there now that comes with everything including a wet/dry filter for only $175. I'm sitting here tapping my fingers trying to figure out how to come up with the money XD I'm keeping my eye CL big time.
Also hoping to find some people on here that breed as a hobby or something and are willing to ship or live fairly close for when I'm ready to get some more fish. Taking that part nice and slow though =)
Also hoping to find some people on here that breed as a hobby or something and are willing to ship or live fairly close for when I'm ready to get some more fish. Taking that part nice and slow though =)
