As far as me, myself and I go. I don't put any worry into instant back up.
I set my tanks up to run with what they got. Granted, I've done most(but not all) with an UGF. So most of the time most of my tanks had most likely over 95% of the bio area, in the tank. So with in 24hrs I could just go buy any ol PH if one quit, and be right back to normal. if the 350 would have happen to quit. I wouldn't have had to hurry up and replace it, because it was just mechanical and chemical filtering.
And yea, thats how my 55g is set up right now. If the 350 just up and stopped, I'd just order another or a part to fix it. If a PH stops, well I got some sitting around. Even if I didn't have one sitting 2 ft away from me, I wouldn't be freaking out. I'd just plan on getting one, sometime tomarrow, or atleast the next day. I got plants now, so the worry would be even less.
Now for you and your situation...
Take a pic. Either way will work. And yes, just 1 AC30 will work just fine too.
I guess something you might need to consider is if your going to loose slep over having just 1 filter running. Just because I don't, it doesn't mean you won't.
If your idea of a good sound, is uber silence! Then you might want to save up for an Ehiem, I hear(lol) they are realllllly quiet.
If your going to loose sleep because you don't have 5k sq ft of surface area In your filter to grow 2 sq ft of bacteria. (No IDK, but I've never, Not had enough bacteria) You might want to save up for an Ehiem.
Anybody know why I have Jeff Foxworthy laffin in my head?
Lets see, where was I?
IDK?
new subject.
There are alot of ways to go about running an aquarium. And I could sit here typing about all kinds of different ways you could set-up a 20g L for 24hrs a day for the next few days. But aint gonna.
Your on a budget. And trying to get the best set-up you can for a decent price.
The AC 30 set-up.
Pros:
Its the best your going to get for a HOB in its price range, and above.
It isn't noisey. It has a little humm to it. because there's a motor sitting at the bottom of it pushing water around.
Its known to be very dependable. Anything thing can break. Ask me about how I felt sitting on my 10 yr old harley(running), while my friend was sitting on his 10 week old Kaw that wouldn't start. After hearing all the
reliable carp for the past yr.
Easily re-useable media. Rinse the sponge and put it back. You want more bio sq ft? Put 3 sponges in it. I would recomend 2 at the most. Just becuase of all the reading about people cramming so much carp in them, the lid won't stay down. Then it rattles and makes NOISE. Its like dragging a pontoon boat 3 states away with a Honda Civic. That nice quiet ride around town getting 28 mpg is now a noisey ride around town.
Adjustable flow rate.
Cons:
Gotta keep the tank topped off, to keep the splash noise down. And not waste CO2.
Silence is golden. These are only gold plated. Want solid gold, save up.
Can't direct the flow. But can put a rock or peice of wood in front of it to mess up the flow. get used to little tinkering to make things work like you want them too. None of them will do exactly what you want. But you can get close, if you make your own. Yea, I did that one too. Baddest lil 25g filtration system I ever saw.
The H.O.T 250 set-up:
Pros:
The badest lil HOB that could.
Can be easily used for super duper cleaning of substrate. You shouldn't need to worry about that, with flourite or whatever plant substrate. But cleaning without water loss, does come in handy for a small tank. That water lvl goes down quick when trying to vac.
Known to be reliable.
It isn't noisey. It has a little humm to it. because there's a motor sitting at the bottom of it pushing water around.
Adjustable flow direction.
It has alot of flow for a 20g. So keep some the possiblility of DIY tinkering to calm the flow down a little. halfamillion ways to deal with it. Rocks/wood/spraybar. You'll be ok sooner or later.
Can run the micron full time, if you want.
For you, I'd suggest putting some Seachem Matrix or eqivalent, in the carbon container. Wrapped with the sponge filter. At maintenance time, just swish the container around in some tank water. And blast the foam with the garden hose, or tap. Don't get too blast, happy. It is just a thin little peice of foam.
Cons:
Gonna want to keep the tank topped off. Grrr at marinelands design. What they were thinking, IDK.
Uhhhh IDK.
Some people can here it running?
Welp, there ya go... 2 out of a 1/2 a gazzillion ways to set-up a 20g L.
P.S.
Oh yea, the Twin AC30 thing.
You can start out with one, with no problem. And add another a few months down the road if your freaking out on the one filter thing.
I'll put in my prediction of... You'll be sitting around 5 yrs from now looking at your wonder work, thinking... hummm both of them filters are still going, after 5 yrs. Shweeet! Then... uhhh... now I thought about it, uht ohhh! They are running aren't they!?!?!?!!! Hummm? the plants are moving, I guess so.
And my Really loud Harley.
