View Full Version : Cheap way to filter fish-only 60gallon?
highgrovemanor
10-27-2003, 10:18 PM
A buddy picked up a used 60gallon tank, but is seeking filter advise. I'm sure it will be fish-only, but don't know if it'll be community or cichlid.
A canister is probably out, as he is a relative newbie and its probably too expensive.
Would two AC 300s be enough? He reallly likes the penguin on his 20gallon, so maybe a penguin 330 and an AC 300?
I've got 2 canisters on my planted 135, and an eclipse3 cichlid tank, so I'm sort of out of the loop on filters...
tia!
mkpeters6
10-27-2003, 10:32 PM
id go with one ac 500, they are a lot bigger than the 300 and do not cost that much more
bigalsonline or drsfostersmith both have great prices on power filters
Dwarfnut
10-27-2003, 10:54 PM
If he likes the Penquin stuff, have him try the Emperor 400... very nice filter for under $40 at Big Al's.
I have used them on several tanks and really like them.
Good luck,
BC
Captain Hook
10-27-2003, 11:15 PM
To be honest I don't know about the filters recommended above because I have used either. I am confident however that if you got hang on back filters like a penguin 330 and even an aquaclear 200 you would be fine. This is probably not the cheapest solution though.
Captain Hook
10-27-2003, 11:15 PM
Edit: sorry double posted. Mods can you delete this one please?
Matt W
10-28-2003, 6:56 AM
Originally posted by Dwarfnut
If he likes the Penquin stuff, have him try the Emperor 400... very nice filter for under $40 at Big Al's.
Agreed. The 400 is a nice filter that will do well for that tank....
highgrovemanor
10-28-2003, 6:37 PM
Is an emperor 400 going to be big enough for a 60gallon?
Which is easier to convert away from the cartridges: penguin or emperor?
thanks for the responses!
JSchmidt
10-29-2003, 9:10 AM
Unless heavily stocked, an Emp 400 should be sufficient for a 60. I have moved away from the Emp cartridges and I bought foam for the Aquaclear 500 filters. You have to cut them to the correct length (so they fit snugly in the filter well) but if you do, they are just the right size. I put two foam pieces in each filter well (since the 400 has two wells, you'll need 4 cut foam pieces). I don't remember, but I think a single AC 500 foam is big enough, when cut, to make two blocks of foam that will fit the Emp well.
HTH,
Jim