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AQUA CLEAR FILTERS?

Uh oh..I"ve been reading the posts here and wondering if I am I underfiltrated? I have an AquaClear 70 on my 46 gallon tank. I love the filter too. It is rated at 300 gallons per hour and up to a 70 gallon tank. By a '10X' rule, should the 300 gallons/hour be 460 gallons/hour? If so, my buddy has given me his Eheim 2213 canister filter as he is out of the hobby now. It's been sitting in a carton. Run both? Switch over? Stay put? Any opinions? All parameters are good and fish are happy. SH
 
steelhealr said:
Uh oh..I"ve been reading the posts here and wondering if I am I underfiltrated? I have an AquaClear 70 on my 46 gallon tank. I love the filter too. It is rated at 300 gallons per hour and up to a 70 gallon tank. By a '10X' rule, should the 300 gallons/hour be 460 gallons/hour? If so, my buddy has given me his Eheim 2213 canister filter as he is out of the hobby now. It's been sitting in a carton. Run both? Switch over? Stay put? Any opinions? All parameters are good and fish are happy. SH
Click to expand...
I'd run both. The 2213 is rated for tanks 65g or less, but it's a great filter.

I just bought the 2213 for my 29g, and I'm very impressed.
 
this should help..
i have a ac 200 and this is my routine.. it sure works for me..
Use two foam inserts. Rince one clean, that is until it runs clear, in a 5 gallon bucket with waste water from your aquarium. The dirty sponge (old sponge) goes to the bottom of the filter. The clean one goes on top.

The following week, the bottom sponge gets rinsed clear and goes to the top while the other sponge rotates down.

Clean your intake tubes once a week or every other week if you have plants. Use an old toothbrush to clean the tubes.

Once a month, take the unit apart. Throw the sponges into the bucket with aquarium water. Scrub the inside, the basket the impeller reservoir and impeller to get rid of slime and algae buildup. Use a tube brush to scrub out the impeller reservoir.

hth :flex:
 
steelhealr said:
Uh oh..I"ve been reading the posts here and wondering if I am I underfiltrated? I have an AquaClear 70 on my 46 gallon tank. I love the filter too. It is rated at 300 gallons per hour and up to a 70 gallon tank. By a '10X' rule, should the 300 gallons/hour be 460 gallons/hour? If so, my buddy has given me his Eheim 2213 canister filter as he is out of the hobby now. It's been sitting in a carton. Run both? Switch over? Stay put? Any opinions? All parameters are good and fish are happy. SH
Click to expand...
That's what I'm running on my 46g tank as well. I've been contemplating adding another filter, but haven't gotten around to it.
 
Parker..you and I seem to be on a similar track except for that beautiful nano reef. I think the AC 70 is borderline filtration now for my 46 G. I have some live plants in there now. I think I would have been better off with the next size up. I'll see how it goes. My buddy's Eheim filter was laying around for 2 years or so. I've ordered new tubing and in the interim I'm cleaning it up. My hood has a cutout in the back, so, running two tubes out wouldn't be a problem. You learn as you go along. I think the AC 500 (100?) would have been better in retrospect and easier than running 2.Plus the Eheim media seems ? pricey. SH
 
I second that OMG! I am running the AquaClear 70 (for 40-70 gallon tanks) on my 55 gallon tank. It says that it was formerly the AquaClear 300. I hope this isn't a problem. Esp. since the current is already a bit fast for my apistos.
 
pnyklr3 said:
I second that OMG! I am running the AquaClear 70 (for 40-70 gallon tanks) on my 55 gallon tank. It says that it was formerly the AquaClear 300. I hope this isn't a problem. Esp. since the current is already a bit fast for my apistos.
Click to expand...
...I think it may be so. I don't think my tank is overstocked and on several occasions, I've found the media basket floating up out of the tank DESPITE washing the sponge in aquarium water with weekly water changes. I've added a layer of filter floss. I'm hoping that this was just after I added some plants and maybe some of the plant detritus just plugged it up. Shoulda bought the next size up tho'(shoulda woulda coulda). SH
 
I've had the same thing happen with the media basket (and I have found the sponge to be gunky :sick: ) If my filter is really HALF of what I need, I am afraid I would never see my apistos because of the current. Like I said, this already boarders on "too strong" for them
 
Hey Steelhair, how is your water quality right now? If the water is clear and you have 0 ammonia and nitrites, you don't really need to add anything else. The 10X rule is more filtration than is needed for an adequately stocked tank unless you have messy fish or you overfeed. Just wanted to let you know it's not absolutely necessary in case money is an object. You really can't over filter though. As long as the current doesn't bother your fish (or plants if the tank is planted) you can filter as much as you want.

That said, I'm a sucker for filtration. I have two Emperor 400's on my 75 gallon tank. I actually just added the second one today (from Big Al's On-line). My water was clear before but I just had a molly drop 50+ fry so I thought why not?
 
One thing to be careful with so much filtration is the current, and if the fish will like it. Also important is using a sponge or tie some stocking around the filter intake tube, if you have small fish or fry that might get sucked in.

I have 370 gph in my 33 gal. from a Penguin 170 and an Aquaclear 200, so I think that it should be enough, considering I have 11X and only plan to stock it with a pair of angels and a pleco.
 
The standard hoods that come with tanks have a sort of "notched" piece on the back of it (behind the lighting). You can use tin snips or any other kind of cutter to cut off the pre-measured pieces. It's very easy. In fact, and I'm sorry to say, I have never known another filter. I really only see the HOB filters in the stores.
 
Thanks BobK....my numbers are all good....0 ammonia, 0 nitritre, 40 nitrate, pH 7.0 and I"ve gotten my kH to the 3/4 range. THe problem is just mostly mechanical......some gunk build up which causes the media cartridge holder to pop out. I added a layer of filter floss as per Inchworms recs and this seems to have helped. Actually, after my last sponge cleaning, it's been staying down. I"ve been fortunate for a 4 month 'newbie' in that I have not lost any fish since cycling and all seem happy. The bad thing is that I'm getting this horrible urge to get another tank (is this what happens? my wife's gonna regret this, lol). SH
 
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