got a free tank today

[csm84]

i picked up a free 36"LX12.5"WX17"T today, along with a box of random stuff. i currently have a 55 and a 40 breeder up and running, soom to be accompanied by this freebie. her only garauntee is that it doesn't leak, which i will test in the bath tub before i put it over the carpet. it came with a box of things, lots of plants, a few rocks, two air pumps, a glass cover, and light, and a filter that looks as old as i am. i put it in the sink and it works! it is the style that hangs over the back of the tank, with a tub on either side of the stem and pump. i have canister filters in both my other tanks, so i'm not familiar with this style. it came with four white filter type bags, and a little carbon. does the carbon go inside the white (cotton fiber..y) bags, or underneath or what? also does only one bag go on each side or two? it also has an undergravel filter setup. well just the plastic grate with two short tubes sticking out of each side. is this intended to be pieced together with a "y pipe" and hooked to the intake on the filter? or is a powerhead supposed to be used? thanks for any advice you guys have to offer me..i'm excited about my free scoop!

[james1644]

The filter sounds like maybe an earlier design of the Penguin brand filter or a few others like it. The carbon is put inside teh bags and there should be a frame that the bag with carbon fits over and then a top with some form of clip. There should be a bag in each side. This type of filters can get quite costly. There are a few options though. You can buy the filters with the carbon already in them and just replace the cartridges. You can also look at your LFS and they should have just teh white filter bags and then you can purchase a box of carbon for next to nothing and put the filters together yourself when needed. As for the under gravel filter the only way that I have ever seen them is the grate on the bottom with plastic tubes coming up and then a head filled with carbon or other type material on teh end. On smaller tanks it is just teh tube and an airstone can be fed into the tube that produces similar function. The under gravel filters that I remeber are run from a air pump with each tube on the filter reguiring its own source so a gange valve may be necessary. Good luck with your new tank

Jim

[csm84]

so once the tank is cycled, all my bacteria will be in the white bags. when i change them, whats to stop the tank from cycling again. i guess just change one at a time, but still that seems kind of jank..i guess its the only way...

[Kasakato]

Well the bacteria is on the gravel, on the glass, on the decor, and a little is in the water. If you only change 1 bag there should be no problems.