Hi! Could I have your opinions, please?

[LizMcFarland]

What a nice board you have here! Very easy to navigate, and quite quick.:)

Through the years I have had both 20 and 55 gallon tanks, and I've decided I am going to start up another 50-55 gallon at this time. I have a couple of questions, and would sure appreciate your input. The filters of choice seem to have changed!

1) I bought a penguin 330 filter. (bought it online for $23.00 after seeing it in two of the local fish stores for OVER $80.00! :rolleyes: ) In the little instruction booklet it states, "Fill media baskets with filter media of choice". Considering the bio-wheels and the fact that the filter uses filter cartridges with carbon already, I guess I am at a loss as to what I am suppose to put in the 'media baskets'??? What do you put in them?

2) I do not really want zebra danios. They just don't flip my switch somehow, and I don't want to get them just to start the tank cycle. (I *have* read most of the info on here about the fishless cycle, and I'm considering it) Would it be possible to get about 4 swordtails and use them in a 55 gallon tank as starter fish? If not, what would the alternatives be *without* zebra danios?

I'll tell you......this is so much fun just planning the whole thing! I've learned one thing really quick! Ebay is definitely the way to go with tank decorations as most of the pet stores/fish stores around here seem to think they are made of gold. LOL!

Thanks so much for your time! :)

[ChicoRaton]

definitely go fishless. much, much easier and cheaper. If you can "seed" your filter with some filter media from an already clcled tank, your cycle can go as fast as a couple days. Just take media form the old tank and move it to the new filter.

A 330 isn't going to be enough for a 55 though. I'd use about twice that. perhaps get another one and put them on opposite ends of the tank.

I'd just put sponges or filter floss in the media baskets. you can rinse sponges in the tank water you siphon out when you do water changes, but you'll need to totally replace the floss when it gets clogged. the floss gets out smaller particles though.

You could also put a biomedia like ceramic rings or EhefiSubstrat in the baskets, but if you have a biowheel you might as well put extra mechanical filtration.

Glad you're having fun with it, it is, as I'm sure you know, an addictive hobby:P

[LizMcFarland]

Thank you for your reply!

Yes......VERY addictive, and I don't even have any fish yet! LOL! (haven't had a tank since moving years ago)

I'll go ahead and order some floss then for the media baskets. The more gunk it gets out the better. I'm thinking that my little booklet really exaggerates the need to replace the filter cartridges! They suggest replacing them every 2-3 weeks.....I really don't see how that's necessary, although by looking at the prices of the things, I can see why they would want you to. :)

[Watcher74]

One thing I would suggest is also getting a second filter for your tank. I recommend this based on two reasons.

1) The Penguin 330 is recommended for 25-55 gallon tanks. Usually a filter only provides enough filtration for a tank half the size of the largest sized tank recommended. So I would say the most it could handle well would be 25-30.

Even though it says that it turns over 330 gallons per hour so it should filter the water 6 times an hour. Six times is the minimum most people here would suggest.

Also filters are usually rated with no media in it. Once you put in media, it runs slower.

2) With a second filter, if one of them breaks(or doesn't automatically restart after a short black out) your fish still have some filtration going.

When you think of it, eventually you're going to probably have at least $100 of fish if not several times that much. Not to mention sentimental value of your favorite fish(s). An extra $30 filter is well worth the protection for my little babies.

[MyShrimpDied]

Welcome to the boards compadre.

As Chico was saying, go for a fishless, if you ask anybody on this bored, including myself, they'll tell you to go for a fishless, much easier, and no accidental fish deaths.

It's always best to 'overfilter.' Get another penguin 330, and your water will pristine clean :)

~ MyShrimpDied

[LizMcFarland]

Thank you very much!!! Sorry for the delay, but I'm getting rid of some antique glass on Ebay, and it's been consuming my time. What am I doing with the proceeds? Buying fish and tank stuff, of course!:D

So, sounds like to be on the safe side, I should get another filter. Some of the tank 'combos' and 'kits' I've been looking at come with one, and I've got the penguin, so I should be okay there.

Another question! Have you guys had any experience with those 'moss ball' things? They look like they might be a good way to have a few live plants without actually having live plants! Or is this a scam? See moss balls here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=66794&item=4314894189

One guy seems to sell truckloads of them!

HoHum. So much to learn and read..........so little time! LOL! :cool:

[phanmc]

I plan on getting some moss balls for my tank. From what I've read, they do better (grow) in good lighting but will survive in low lighting. They may float when they pearl (release oxygen) and you'll have to clean them once in awhile because they'll collect waste.