Filter question?

[steve41kent]

Hi,
I've just bought a 2nd hand tank...72"x18"x24" and it came with two used fluval 304 filters.
Can anyone tell me if two filters is ok for a tank,and will i have to replace all the internal bits before setting up and cycling my tank?
Thanks for any replies

Steve

 

[smithrc]

depends of the type of fish you are intending to keep -

Your tank is about 110 UK gallons (or 500 Liters)

the 304s are rated upto 1000l per hour so as a Max you will be turning the tank over 4 times an hour... a bit on the low side.

If you keeping small low waste fish at about 1" to the gallon you will be fine
If your keeping more / bigger / messyer fish you will need something a bit more

 

[steve41kent]

Thanks for that.
I'm planning on a big shoal of Cardinals,a couple of small groups of cories and some other smallish stuff so working on that principle I should be ok for a while!

Steve

 

[George Farmer]

Sounds good. Will you be going planted?

 

[steve41kent]

Yes definitely going for a nice landscaped planted tank!

Love the Gold Ram with your cardinals.....you've just added another fish to my list!!

 

[George Farmer]

Do you know your water chemistry i.e pH, GH, KH? Rams (and Cardinals to a lesser extent) require soft, acidic water to thrive long-term. If I remember rightly (I lived in Maidstone years back) Kent is a hard water area, or do you intend using RO water?

Sorry - I have no idea as to your level of experience if that sounded either confusing or patronising!

 

[steve41kent]

My level of experience as far as water chemistry is concerned is zero,so I'm grateful for any help and advice!

Would an RO filter be a good thing to have,and what are the benefits (or otherwise) of one?