penguin 330? seeking information.....

[dave76]

I have a 55 gal with penguin 330 and a ugf. I recently turned off the UGF with an eventual intention of removing it. that filtration setup worked well for over a year for my Tiger Barb community. then my tigers started dropping like flies. I figured out that the chinese algea eaters murdered them all, my fault not enough algae in the tank. So now I have decided to try cichlids. I have unhooked the ugf and powerheads attached. Is the penguin 330 suffecient enough filtering for 1 juvenile Green Terror (growing fast about 2-2.5") a pictus cat 5", 1 striped raphael 6" and 2 chinese algae eaters.

[ChilDawg]

I don't think that you're going to find all that much that will sufficiently filter that size tank with monsters such as Pictus and GTs within it. The Penguin 330 will be overworked as the fish grow, and you might also notice that the CAEs are disappearing as the Pictus eats them at night...

UGFs need to be cleaned annually at the least. Is it possible that anoxic conditions may have occurred because of lack of cleaning and something disturbed the substrate? Did you cycle the tank with the Tigers?

[dave76]

I cycled the tank with a group of danios, one is still living today, The tigers seemed to have a carefree existance untill They just started dieing off. they died at the rate of one per day until finally I woke up early one morning to find the CAE's on the last tiger barb corpse eating away. The CAE's have seemed to fare well with the pictus as they are about 3-4" apiece and will not fit in his mouth. (he has never eaten any of the smaller fish I put in with him, nor does he seem to display any interest with live food.

what would you suggest as a possible filtration upgrade? should I add a filter, or just do weekly water changes?

any information is appreciated :)

[ChilDawg]

I'd recommend at least another Penguin 330, but the Pictus and GT in the same tank are probably too much in the long run. Right now, it would be all right with the new P330 and a weekly water change regimen.

[dave76]

do you prefer HOB's to cannister filters? if so why?


the Pictus and GT in the same tank are probably too much in the long run.

by this do you mean that I should take one of them out? What about the raphael? He seems like he would have a high waste production as well.

[ChilDawg]

I honestly have no preference either way, because I don't know any better.

I was only looking at those two for the waste production, but the Raphael wouldn't be great, either. I'd remove the Pictus, add filtration, and go from there, as the Raph isn't going to get much bigger and would probably be okay with the GT.

[dave76]

You must be right, the raph is the only fish the GT doesnt push around. Thanks :)

[ChilDawg]

No prob! That's what I try to do around here...