Aquaclear Filters 50 or 70 for a 55 gallon tank

[dbosman]

Barring cash issues, I'd go with two AC70s.
My philosophy on AquaClear filters is always go the next size up from what you think you should use.

On a 55g tank, or any other 48" wide tank, I'd prefer to have two filters as the tank is too wide for a single filter unless it's a canister, set up for proper circulation.

 

[jm1212]

personally, i would go ahead and get 2 AC 70's. it will give you the best balance of filtration through the entire tank (of the options you listed) and will make sure there is at least something running in case one of the filters fails.

 

[MichiganMan]

As noted fishkeeper Carrol Shelby was rumored to have said:

If some is good, more is better. And too much is just enough.

 

[DrgRcr]

I recently just swapped out a 55g for a 75g. On the 55g I was running an AC70 and a 50 and the tank stayed very clean. Since moving to the 75g, I kept the 50 and swapped the 70 to another tank and added a 110 in its place. The tank has a dozen 3" Africans cichlids and will have more eventually. I think you'll be fine unless you plan on very heavy stocking.

 

[smitty]

When I had my 55 gal I had 2 AC110 power filters on it. First lesson I find is that people at fish stores will almost never give advice to pick something if they think it will slightly over filter. Why because the money is on the comeback. Like when you comeback because you now have something bigger and the filter that you have is definitely not sufficient. The comeback. Second lesson is ask here first.