A Bit Of Filter Confusion

[Lisa67]

I plan to put ciclids in a 55 gal tank that I am currently fishless cycling. I was given the tank with the filter. I'm not sure of the brand, but it holds 2 cartridges. (I think it may be called aqua-view 30-60). Is this adequate for a 55 gal tank? There is a space for a second filter. I see a lot of people use canister filters which I know nothing about. I looked at them at Pet Smart and they were quite expensive. Not sure I want to spend that much yet. If I do add a second filter do I just let it cycle itself?

Also, I just read in another post that some people don't even use the carbon cartridge. So then what is the point of the filter? I thought the carbon is what you need to keep the tank clean. I have had the carbon filters in through the whole cycling process. I figure they are full of the bacteria that I'm trying to establish so I don't want to remove them.

 

[starscream]

I have 2 filters on my tank ones a tetra whisper filter that came with it the other is a penguin 350 bio filter, it keeps my tank really clean the whisper didn't do much but as soon as I got that penguin it cleaned everything right up. Try the one filter for now and keep an eye on it as soon as u get fish to make sure its doing a good enough job. I don't know much about the canisters all I know is there way more than I would ever spend. There is actually a way u can make a moving meadia filter check it out on youtube its pretty cool it grows all the bactiria inside and keeps the amonia way down. I hope this helpped.... Sorry if it didn't. Have a good one!

 

[waterdrop]

First of all Lisa, you are correct that if you've cycled for any length of time with the carbon in then it will be a significant portion of the surface area that the beneficial bacteria have attached to and so you won't want to make changes to it any time soon. Instead it will be a thing to phase out very slowly maybe many months down the road after you have fish. Carbon is meant to be a "chemical media," not a "biomedia" (the third type of media that filters use is "mechanical media.") As a chemical media it is brought in by the hobbyist for special purposes, especially removing medications and yellow wood tannins. It will serve as a biomedia but is not nearly as optimized for that as sponges or other top-choice biomedia types.

It can be very confusing as a beginner to jump in to TFF. What happens is that you go from being a bystander to suddenly being inside the discussions with serious hobbyists and even professionals who have in some cases been intensely involved in the hobby for decades and have a lot of lingo built up. (not to worry though, it's much better to have stumbled on a place where you can hear the real info as opposed to remaining confused by bits from the LFS that are all tied up in making money!)

Many serious hobbyists would probably run a cannister on a 55g. (meaning an External Cannister filter, which is a piece of machinery that has won the hearts of many hobbyists for running their mid to larger tanks because it is so easy to maintain and flexible in it's accommodation of different types of media (yes, hobbyists like to "customize" their filter media, yet another complication for beginners to begin learning, lol.)) BUT, it is not a necessity. Many have run 55g tanks with a couple of large external HOB (Hang on Back) type filters such as the Aquaclear model line or even with a large internal filter.

Part of the problem for a beginner is that they haven't yet "felt" the duties of maintenance of their tank(s) as the responsibilities stretch out over the months and years. After you've been doing it a long time you get a feel for what is irritating and for what some of the odd infrequent things are (hose cleanings for instance) and even for what some of the failure risks are. Sometimes it's these longer term subtleties that hobbyists have in the back of their minds when they discuss filters.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

I plan to put ciclids in a 55 gal tank that I am currently fishless cycling. I was given the tank with the filter. I'm not sure of the brand, but it holds 2 cartridges. (I think it may be called aqua-view 30-60). Is this adequate for a 55 gal tank? There is a space for a second filter. I see a lot of people use canister filters which I know nothing about. I looked at them at Pet Smart and they were quite expensive. Not sure I want to spend that much yet. If I do add a second filter do I just let it cycle itself?

Also, I just read in another post that some people don't even use the carbon cartridge. So then what is the point of the filter? I thought the carbon is what you need to keep the tank clean. I have had the carbon filters in through the whole cycling process. I figure they are full of the bacteria that I'm trying to establish so I don't want to remove them.

id take a look on ebay for a filter i saved like £30 pound on my fluval u3 filter compared to the £50+ they wanted instores.... if you do have a second filter then yes you should let it cycle for around 2months with your other filter.
Although i would just take out all the hassle of 2 filters and use 1 external cannister filter

Im sure if u you one got plenty of people on here can give u vast experience and knowledge on how to start them up with ease

 

[karin]

Second what WD says above. Also, just for reference, I have a 60 gallon that I run with an Aquaclear 70 which is a hang off the back filter. I also run an Eheim 2215 which is a canister filter on the same tank. I know plenty of folks that run two hang off the back filters on 55-75 gallon tanks. It is a cheaper way to go. I like my canister filter though for its lack of sound and biofiltration.

If I were you I would do more research as to what you have. If it is like an Aquaclear series then the number corresponds to the manufacturer's suggested tank size. I find the manufacturers are always over-estimating these things. For instance, my Eheim 2215 was rated to 92 gallons but I find that it can't do the job on my 60 gallon alone so I bought an Aquaclear 70. Despite being rated to 70 gallons, I would not rely on the Aquaclear 70 to filter my 60 gallon alone. The two together are perfect.

Like WD says you will find out soon enough but if I were you, I would plan on adding a second filter.

 

[PEneoark]

I have a 55 gallon Malawi Ciclid tank, and am running an Emperor 400 and Aqua Clear 70. The tank is very clean.

 

[Lisa67]

Thank you all. This is such a great place to learn. Well, I came home this morning and my nitrites are finially zero. I guess that I will have fish soon. I think I will wait and see how much work it is to maintain with just the one filter. I'll likely decide to go for a second

So, still just a little confused. If I had started out without putting the carbon in the filter (and continued to use it that way) is it just this good bacteria that I've been establishing that keeps the water clean?

Well, guess I will spend my night off educating myself on filters (right after I return my heater that doesn't seem to be able to keep up with my 16 gal tank).

 

[karin]

The "good" bacteria process the ammonia and nitrites to zero to keep the chemistry "clean" if you will. Other materials, sponges and filter floss" take out particles. Carbon really is just used to take up medications. Since all of these have surface area, they will host the "good" bacteria so it gets a little grey when trying to divide up the roles of the media. So the carbon you have is now hosting the good bacteria as would the sponges. Thing is the carbon's ability to take up toxins is depleted in a couple of days. Hope that helps.

For future reference. All my filters have sponges and ceramic-like noodles and little balls. The latter are particularly good for hosting "good" bacteria. I just save the carbon for after those times when I have to use medications.

 

[OldMan47]

Lisa, the good bacteria that WD has been encouraging you to develop are just that, they are good for your fish. If you can add some ammonia daily to your tank and see no nitrites or ammonia develop, you have a functioning filter, as far as bioloading is concerned. That will mean that adding fish should go off without a hitch. Carbon in your system will have almost no effect on the way your filter responds to organic chemicals like ammonia so just ignore that aspect of your filter for now. Educating yourself on biological filters is a great idea. Although we try our best to use the principles here, you can do better by truly understanding the principles involved for yourself. I have no desire to become the one person you cannot do without. Instead I would welcome you truly understanding the nitrogen cycle so that WD and I become not needed.