Newbie Here!

[dissimulo]

Hello, i have a really small tank currently set up with a 50watt elite heater and an elite stingray 15 filter, plus an ellite 802 pump and gravel etc...but i've seen a rather nice looking 70l tank (60cmx39cmx30cm) and wondered if my elite stingray 15 would be suitable for my new tank size. I am going to swap my 50watt heater for a 100watt one and then begin setting up the new tank. So.....Elite Stingray 15 for a 70l tank???

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[RedeyesUK]

Short answer, no.

A quick google reveals the stingray 15 to run up to 57L - if you put it in a 70L tank, you'll be underfiltered. This could lead to all sorts of problems with water quality.

What I would suggest would be to buy another filter (another stingray should be fine), and run both filters in the tank. That way, you at least have a backup if one should fail. They're only about a tenner, so it's not a huge investment.

Welcome to the forum, BTW!

Garry

 

[dissimulo]

Well thanks for the advice. It sounds daft but do you think that Pets At Home would accept the filter back, even though it has been used, as the reciept states 'if you are unhappy... bla bla bla ... we will issue a full refund'? Plus, the box that came with it says it can cope with 75l/15 U.S gallons Plus, is it true that two filters keep a tank cleaner than just one? Because you can alternatly clean them aout keeping the good bacteria still in the tank whilst the other filter is cleaned, am i right? Wow how technical can this stuff get!

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[rabbut]

That is one of many advantages of running two filters. I always run two, as I find that redundant systems never hurt, but should one fail you have a safety net to catch the falling tank Alternating filter cleans also increases the stability of the tank, so that is another advantage. OK, there is more bulk in the tank with internal equipment, but because all my gear is exturnal I dan't see it. Even with internal gear, the benefits IMO out surpass the dissadvantages

All the best
Rabbut

 

[dissimulo]

Ok, well i'll have a think, but in the mean while (supposing i can trade my current filter in) can you or anyone else suggest the best filter for my 70l tank? But i still don't understand why my filter box says 70l

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[RedeyesUK]

OK, just to slightly change my original answer - I skimped a little on the research!

I simply googled your filter and looked at the first result that showed the filter capacity (here, if you're interested!).

This said it was suitable for tanks up to 57L, hence my answer. Maybe they got their numbers the wrong way round?

Anyway, it also claims a 300lph capacity. A filter should be able to filter your tank 4 times per hour, at least. As your tank is 70L, this would mean 280lph.

So, I guess your stingray should be OK, but personally I'd add a second one - the filtration is right at the limit, and could cause you headaches in the future. A second one would mean plenty of filtration, and a backup if anything goes wrong.

So, if it were me, I'd get started with the existing filter, but get a second one to go with it in the near future.

:EDIT: If you're set on getting a completely new filter, I'd recommend the Fluval 2 plus. It's a good filter (mine is seven years old, no major issues with it yet!) with plenty of media options, and not too badly priced. It's also rated for 400lph, which will be fine for your tank.

 

[dissimulo]

I don't blame you for getting the wrong result...some sites say its 57l and some say 75l. I think your idea of starting out with just the one filter and possibly adding a second one in the future (if water becomes horrible) is great! I panic when i spend money that i should'nt but i feel ok now Ok, so do you have any tips for a first timer? (well, second but i was only 10 when i had my first tank).

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[rabbut]

Fluvals are good. My place of work uses them. All our back-room tanks are running of 7 year old ones and we have done to them everything the instructions tell us not to do from running dry to dropping parts, you name it No issues as of yet

Don't forget to cycle the new filter, either by adding all the media from the stingray or fishless cycling using liquid ammonia before adding any fish to a tank ran by the new filter alone

Shame their exturnals aren't as good as the internals

All the best
Rabbut

 

[dissimulo]

Well here's what i am planning to do...feel free to comment. When i buy my new tank, i will fill it with gravel and then add the rocks etc. from my current tank which has been set up with water for about 3 days. Then, i'll add the heater and the elite stingray 15 from my current tank and add water to my new tank and let it do its cycle. Is that sounding ok?? Because you see i want to start adding new fish to my new tank only and not my current small one.

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[rabbut]

Right, is the new tank cycled? Leaving it to sit pushing water arround is not cycling. To cycle you need to add an ammonia source. If you don't add ammonia and then add fish after a few day/weeks, you will enbark on a fish-in cycle, that often results in heavy losses, assuming any survive... If your little tank wasn't cycled, you could be heading for some major issues in the next few days

All the best
Rabbut

 

[dissimulo]

Oh, well i just read on the packet of the two water treatments i am using to add 1 tbs of it per week for two weeks. I am getting my new tank this weekend and then setting it up this weekend and i was just going to follow the instructions on the packet of the water treatments. Man i am so confused! So can someone talk me through this whole ammonia thing please?

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[rabbut]

The "whole ammonia thing" is explained in a resonable amount of detail [topic="113861"]in this thread[/topic]. That covers the nitrogen cycle and how to establish it without putting fish at harm

For the current tank, you need to be reading and taking note of [topic="224306"]this thread[/topic] on fish-in cycling, as this is what that tank is doing. That thread also explains the nitrogen cycle while describing how to safely carry-out the cycle

HTH
RAbbut

 

[dissimulo]

Can i just tell you that i set my current tank up on monday so there are no fish in it because i am going to buy a 70l tank at the weekend and put fish in that one after runnig the propper 'cycle' in the 70l tank and then lobbing my current one.

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[rabbut]

Ah....OK, miss understanding

The first link is the one that is relivant then, ignore the other

Sorry about that

Rabbut

 

[dissimulo]

I'm guesisng you thought i had fish already in my 70l tank ok i will read the link, thanks. By the way, where would i buy ammonia from in England, because i have been in Homebase loads and have never seen ammonia for sale . Do any of you shop at Pets at Home? Do they do refunds on products that have already been used but are no longer wanted and have only been purchased for 3 days?

Cheers,
Luke.