Opinions on Whisper Power Filter

[mandi]

My mother has a nice 55 gallon tank (completely empty right now) with an oak stand that she wants to set up as a freshwater community tank -- I'm not sure what she wants to put in it yet, other than possibly an angel or two (long time favorites of hers).

Anyway, she called me yesterday and said, "Guess what? I bought a filter for it!" and she wanted my opinion on whether it was a good one or not.

She bought a Whisper Advanced PF 30-60. I can't seem to find the GPH on the website, but it's rated for 30-60 gallon aquariums apparently.

I've only owned Hagen Aquaclears and a couple Marineland PFs and I don't know anything about Whisper ones and if they're good or bad. The first thing I noticed when I looked at it was the shortness of the uptake tube (whatever it's called LOL) but there's an extender in the box. Other than that, I sort of shrugged my shoulders and said I thought it was probably OK but that I'd do some research for her to find out for sure.

So... any opinions on this filter and how it would do in a 55 gallon?

 

[Bloo]

Very nice of your mom to buy you a filter. However (not wanting to sound like I'd be ungrateful) I would have preferred to choose one myself. That particular filter for instance, wouldn't fit my tanks without cutting the lid. And my one tank, I can't cut the lid anyway as it's a complete unit.
Quite personally I prefer either internal or external filters. Not that hang-on hob kind. I've never really had one of those so can't give a true opinion, sorry.

Oh and as an afterthought - I would tend to over filtrate rather than under filtrate. And if that filter is suitable for a 30 gallon as well, I'd be inclined to say that would in fact underfiltrate a 55 gallon. I'd tend to go for a more powerful external filter (just much neater and more efficient).

 

[freddyk]

Judging by my one experience with Whisper, it's not nearly as good as the Aquaclears or Emperors - I wouldn't buy another one.

 

[mandi]

Very nice of your mom to buy you a filter. However (not wanting to sound like I'd be ungrateful) I would have preferred to choose one myself.

Haha no she didn't buy it FOR me. She bought it for her tank, she just wanted my opinion on it. She calls me her "fish expert daughter" lol (not true but hey I'll take the praise).

She bought it at Walmart ... I was glad she didn't buy a "Top Fin" or something, but I was kind of skeptical (not to knock Walmart, but ya know) about how good it would be coming from there. Maybe I should tell her to return it then?

I know I've read about people running Marineland Emperor 400's on 55-gallons with success.... maybe that would be better for her?

I'm a little reluctant to get into a cannister filter or anything -- I want it to be easy for her to use and clean (and to avoid me getting phone calls every 5 seconds asking questions about it, not that I really mind but it could get annoying LOL). And quite honestly, I've only ever used hang on the backs and don't know the FIRST thing about setting up cannisters. But if you guys can explain it to me and recommend a simple one, I'd be willing to look into that too as an option for her!

 

[Bloo]

External cannister filters are by far the easiest and require far less maintenece than most other filter types. I'd return it and get a different brand, different type and also more powerful

I don't know what's available on your side in the USA (and your town or village or city), so hopefully on of the guys or girls over there can recommend.

 

[itZme]

I have several Whisper filters and haven't had a problem at all with them. I usually have a couple of different types of filter going in my tanks so if I change the media in one I don't lose all the bacteria that has grown there. I see that the one you mentioned has dual filter media. Make sure that your mom knows not to change both at the same time and that they do not need to be changed as the manufacturer recommends but only to swish them in the old tank water while doing a water change. I change the bio-bags about every 2 months in mine.

Whisper is made by Tetra and that is probably the biggest name in aquarium supplies/food in the industry. I agree that it isn't as good as a Hagen or Emperor but there is a definite price advantage. I like to add the new Whisper internal filters in my tanks now since I can leave the main filtration in the tank and take the internal (Whisper 10i) filter out and use it in a 10 gal for an emargency/hospital tank if needed.

I found a couple mentions of the gph ratings of Whisper filters but didn't see your exact model on there. I can't imagine that it would change a whole lot since they still rate it for up to a 60 gal. There is a link > here < that shows the 60 gal Whisper has a 330 gph and there's a chart > here < that shows another Whisper 60 (model 3) at 300gph. The Whisper 2-10i is for 2-10 gallon tanks and has 90gph so it seems that Whisper shoots for at least a 5-times-per-hour turnover rate. That seems adequate but could be easily supplemented with the 90gph internal (10i) for less than $10 if you feel the need.

The filter that I mentioned that is an internal type is just like a hang-on-back but it hangs on the inside of the tank and doesn't need a pickup tube. The pump is submerged in the water and it can work in as little as 2" of water. It doesn't need priming or anything if the pwer goes out for a few seconds. I have one of these in a tank with a couple fiddler crabs that is about half full of water and you can't even hear it running.
Hope that helped.

-- itZme

 

[rdd1952]

She bought it at Walmart ... I was glad she didn't buy a "Top Fin" or something, but I was kind of skeptical (not to knock Walmart, but ya know) about how good it would be coming from there.

Well, actually, I think she did buy a Top Fin. If I'm not mistaking, Top Fin is the private label Whisper puts on their filters (tanks, etc) for Petsmart. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. As long is it will move at least 350 gph, it should be fine. I have a HOB (Top Fin) on my 29 gallon and haven't ever had any problems with it. My 3 betta tanks also have Whisper 10s on them and they work fine also.

 

[daudy_dojo]

whipsers are ok... but sometimes they get to dirty or something is always wrong...