Filter media for those with sand subtrate

raseii

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Hi,
I have a 55g. tank with 16 Cichlids and 4 yoyo loaches. They are all still babies right now that are around 1 1/2 - 2" long. Right now I am using a Pengiun bio-wheel 330 & 125 on the tank. I know I might have to eventually upgrade as the Cichlids get bigger and thats not a problem. I just switched my Gravel over to sand and I am wondering if there is anything I should be putting in my filter to house all the bacteria I will need? Or will the bio-wheels be enough? I have lots of Rocks in the tank that I added, will those hold the bacteria?
Thank you
 
Everything with a surface in the tank holds bacteria; the rocks, glass, exposed sand... most of it resides in the filter though, where the water is pushed through constantly. The bio-wheels will be enough. Any other media already in the filter, foam, carbon, etc. would also act as bio-filtration. If you have spare compartments in the filters, you may as well fill them up - you can buy all sorts of fancy filter substrates. I just fill extra space with cheap foam sponge (filter floss), which increases fine mechanical filtration and doubles up as bio-filtration.
 
That filter is for 45 gallons and I would upgrade thge filter imediately if you don't have the cash right now consider adding something cheap and temporary like a spongefilter, you really shouldn't risk underfiltering your tank even if your bioload is small. I'm not sure what your options are for meia in the penguin filter but, basically you want to for now, get maximum bio filtration out of it, which means more surface area in it, so if you can skip the carbon and fill it up with filter floss, sponge, or some sort of biomedialike ceramic tubes, thats your best option.
Anything in your tank will hold bacteria but your filter is the most effective at converting the amonia, nitrite, and such, the filter should be the only area relied upon anyother surface can be seen as bonus filtraion.
 
Thank you for the suggestions. I am going to go to the store and see what I can put in the extra space on the 330, so that will help alot.
Oh, and to vantgE, I have both a 330 which is for tanks up to 70 gallons and a 125 which is for tanks up to 30 gallons, so I should be alright for awhile on these two filters. As the fish get older I will most likely get a canister or something to use along with the 330 bio-wheel.
thanks again
 
the 330 is for a 45 gallon tank the 125 for a 25 gallon tank you will be fine with these then my bad, and adding anything to the filter isn't really necesary but you can and it'l help
 
Sorry,
I just looked at the box my filter came in and it is a Penguin 350, not 330 which I thought. It says it is for tanks up to 75g and filters 350 gallons per hour. Thanks again
 

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