How does this sound??

Well, I have a house, brand new truck, and other bills to pay for too, rather then just my tanks and tank accessories (i.e filtration). I'll stick with this filter for now, and if I don't like it or whatever other reasons i'll consider something different. As of right now, its what I've got and what i'm using.

If I added the fish all at once would that not cause like some kind of ammonia spike? considering their would be no fish and then all of a sudden fish? I mean, i'm going to cycle the tank obviously but still.

If the tank is cycled, it will be fine.

Yes, there will most likely be an ammonia spike because your filtration cannot handle the bioload.

If you want to be stubborn and keep a 10 gallon filter on a 55 gallon, may I reroute you to tetras?
 
If the tank is cycled, it will be fine.

Yes, there will most likely be an ammonia spike because your filtration cannot handle the bioload.

If you want to be stubborn and keep a 10 gallon filter on a 55 gallon, may I reroute you to tetras?

a 10gallon filter? its like the size of a ten gallon tank. the aquatech 5-15 and 10-20 are for a 10gallon, not the aquatech 40-60. The intake tube wouldn't even fit in a 10 gallon tank, not even a 20g tank without cutting half the canopy apart to fit it properly. Just because i'm not using an AquaClear or Eheim or Fluval filter like a lot of other peolpe doesn't mean what I have isn't good enough. I have the same filter on my 50g and yes I realize they're not all cichlids in there but it does a perfect job. Levels are all stable, water is clear and "earthy" smelling, I have yet to have a problem with the filter or the tank. I'm not being stubborn, but as of this moment, I have a few other things that need to be paid for before fish accessories, I would hope you could try to understand that. I'm pretty sure I did mention something about getting a different filter and i probably will later on as i like the aquaclears better. The filter I have now is what came with the tank...i'm not gonna not take the tank because of the filter. This is getting off topic. The tanks not even running yet, it doesn't even have water in it! Who knows, maybe i'll decide to get something different but for now im sticking with what i have. I did not ask to know if my filter would be good enough, i asked about the fish and their compatibility. I'm happy you gave me a good answer, thanks. But if the filter proves to not be enough like you say or isn't performing the way I want it to then i'll ask about a filter in the proper forum.
 
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a 10gallon filter? its like the size of a ten gallon tank. the aquatech 5-15 and 10-20 are for a 10gallon, not the aquatech 40-60. The intake tube wouldn't even fit in a 10 gallon tank, not even a 20g tank without cutting half the canopy apart to fit it properly. Just because i'm not using an AquaClear or Eheim or Fluval filter like a lot of other peolpe doesn't mean what I have isn't good enough. I have the same filter on my 50g and yes I realize they're not all cichlids in there but it does a perfect job. Levels are all stable, water is clear and "earthy" smelling, I have yet to have a problem with the filter or the tank. I'm not being stubborn, but as of this moment, I have a few other things that need to be paid for before fish accessories, I would hope you could try to understand that. I'm pretty sure I did mention something about getting a different filter and i probably will later on as i like the aquaclears better. The filter I have now is what came with the tank...i'm not gonna not take the tank because of the filter. This is getting off topic. The tanks not even running yet, it doesn't even have water in it! Who knows, maybe i'll decide to get something different but for now im sticking with what i have. I did not ask to know if my filter would be good enough, i asked about the fish and their compatibility. I'm happy you gave me a good answer, thanks. But if the filter proves to not be enough like you say or isn't performing the way I want it to then i'll ask about a filter in the proper forum.

Sorry that you took it the wrong way. I wasnt trying to unsult your intelligence or anything.

These fish are very sensitive and small levels of ammonia and nitrite are enough to kill them. These fish create lots of waste and need super filtration. I just wanted you to know before you put lots of fish in there and have them all die.
 
well, the aqua tech is a marineland product that has just been re-badged. the aqua tech is basically a penguin filter without the bio-wheel. in the wheel's place is a bio cartridge, similar to the layout of a whisper filter. i like them, im just not a huge cartridge filter fan!

as a breeder, in my humble experience raising yellow labs they are really rugged fish. and i mean tough. like some of mine have been without a heater working (power outtage) in winter for days and they not only survived but behaved normally! i test my tanks and they weather the occasional ammonia and nitrite spikes really well. in fact, one time i forgot to add novaqua after a water change. i changed out half of the water in the tank and forgot to give the dechlorinator solution! two days later, i suddenly remembered at work, and i was like holy s***- i hope they're ok! when i got off the job, they were doing fine! i was amazed and still am! im just saying to not underestimate these guys. well-kept fish can be very hardy.

im not trying to be a jerk or something, but im just stating what has been my experience with these fish. filtration is good, but water changes and the almighty gravel vac are more important than anything.

thats my humble two cents - not intended as offense, just experience.
 
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well, the aqua tech is a marineland product that has just been re-badged. the aqua tech is basically a penguin filter without the bio-wheel. in the wheel's place is a bio cartridge, similar to the layout of a whisper filter. i like them, im just not a huge cartridge filter fan!

as a breeder, in my humble experience raising yellow labs they are really rugged fish. and i mean tough. like some of mine have been without a heater working (power outtage) in winter for days and they not only survived but behaved normally! i test my tanks and they weather the occasional ammonia and nitrite spikes really well. in fact, one time i forgot to add novaqua after a water change. i changed out half of the water in the tank and forgot to give the dechlorinator solution! two days later, i suddenly remembered at work, and i was like holy s***- i hope they're ok! when i got off the job, they were doing fine! i was amazed and still am! im just saying to not underestimate these guys. well-kept fish can be very hardy.

im not trying to be a jerk or something, but im just stating what has been my experience with these fish. filtration is good, but water changes and the almighty gravel vac are more important than anything.

thats my humble two cents - not intended as offense, just experience.

I respect your opinion. Personally, filtration comes before everything. You CAN have a small filter, and you can also do water changes every day.
 
I respect your opinion. Personally, filtration comes before everything. You CAN have a small filter, and you can also do water changes every day.

indeed. in fact, before any other item (heater, lighting, etc.) filtration is also paramount in my mind as well. to me, the filter you have is fine. just keep up on those water changes! good luck!
 
well, the aqua tech is a marineland product that has just been re-badged. the aqua tech is basically a penguin filter without the bio-wheel. in the wheel's place is a bio cartridge, similar to the layout of a whisper filter. i like them, im just not a huge cartridge filter fan!

as a breeder, in my humble experience raising yellow labs they are really rugged fish. and i mean tough. like some of mine have been without a heater working (power outtage) in winter for days and they not only survived but behaved normally! i test my tanks and they weather the occasional ammonia and nitrite spikes really well. in fact, one time i forgot to add novaqua after a water change. i changed out half of the water in the tank and forgot to give the dechlorinator solution! two days later, i suddenly remembered at work, and i was like holy s***- i hope they're ok! when i got off the job, they were doing fine! i was amazed and still am! im just saying to not underestimate these guys. well-kept fish can be very hardy.

im not trying to be a jerk or something, but im just stating what has been my experience with these fish. filtration is good, but water changes and the almighty gravel vac are more important than anything.

thats my humble two cents - not intended as offense, just experience.

No worries, no offense taken! I realize that everyone is just trying to help, its just that sometimes it comes across the wrong way. I do water changes along with good gravel vacs on all 3 of my tanks once a week(30-40%) on Sunday so I will definetly do it on this new tank too! I dechlor the water and also temperature match it as close as i can. I'm obviously going to cycle it before I add any fish. I too thought they were hardy, considering that i've had the same cichlids in 2 display tanks at my job (co-owner of an lfs) and they've always been fine, and they've been through rough times - chemicals in the air to get rid of moths, bad mistake! Little kids banging on the glass, pumps stopped working over christmas holidays and so on. I still may go and get a different pump but I want to see how this one will be.
 
No worries, no offense taken! I realize that everyone is just trying to help, its just that sometimes it comes across the wrong way. I do water changes along with good gravel vacs on all 3 of my tanks once a week(30-40%) on Sunday so I will definetly do it on this new tank too! I dechlor the water and also temperature match it as close as i can. I'm obviously going to cycle it before I add any fish. I too thought they were hardy, considering that i've had the same cichlids in 2 display tanks at my job (co-owner of an lfs) and they've always been fine, and they've been through rough times - chemicals in the air to get rid of moths, bad mistake! Little kids banging on the glass, pumps stopped working over christmas holidays and so on.

awesome! sound slike ur fish have a good home then!
 
well, the aqua tech is a marineland product that has just been re-badged. the aqua tech is basically a penguin filter without the bio-wheel. in the wheel's place is a bio cartridge, similar to the layout of a whisper filter. i like them, im just not a huge cartridge filter fan!

as a breeder, in my humble experience raising yellow labs they are really rugged fish. and i mean tough. like some of mine have been without a heater working (power outtage) in winter for days and they not only survived but behaved normally! i test my tanks and they weather the occasional ammonia and nitrite spikes really well. in fact, one time i forgot to add novaqua after a water change. i changed out half of the water in the tank and forgot to give the dechlorinator solution! two days later, i suddenly remembered at work, and i was like holy s***- i hope they're ok! when i got off the job, they were doing fine! i was amazed and still am! im just saying to not underestimate these guys. well-kept fish can be very hardy.

im not trying to be a jerk or something, but im just stating what has been my experience with these fish. filtration is good, but water changes and the almighty gravel vac are more important than anything.

thats my humble two cents - not intended as offense, just experience.


I'm glad someone else said it, haha. Cichlids arent really sensitive to too much: they are incredibly hardy. mine lasted through Hurricane Rita without having power in my house for a full THREE WEEKS. My smaller Gourami tank perished, but the cichlids were fine. Amazing, rugged little beasts they are.
 
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