Ok here we go. Long story, bear down!
My wife is a fourth grade teacher and back in August at the beginning of the school year, Petco offered a deal to teachers in the area to get a free 10 gallon fish tank, free Whisper Advanced PF 5-15 filter, light, hood, $10 of free fish bla bla bla, the whole kit. Started to cycle with 3 neons, 2 died right away. Brought back the last one, noticed some Cichlids at a different LFS and got four of them. Had some problems cycling the tank and ended up seperating the fish into another teacher's 10 gallon (which she hadn't set up yet) because I thought that the tanks were overloaded. I was helping my wife out and coming every other day for water changes and water testing. That worked... 2 months in and both tanks were cycled and ran beautifully. At this point we (my wife especially) were glad the 2 10 gallons had settled and we were really enjoying them.
Come winter, we found out the school turns off the air heaters on weekends so the tank heater is pretty much on all weekend long. She comes in the weekend before winter break, and the water temp was down to 70 (not good for cichlids). We assume the power went out for a little bit but everything was running normal again. Not good for the fish but we thought the problem was fixed. The following week, everything was ok but it's getting really cold outside. The following weekend (on saturday) into winter break, we come in to make sure the fish are okay and we find that there is some sort of ground fault on the hot of the outlet (multimeter read 30 volts instead of 120) where the tank is plugged in. Both fish tanks are cold, bottom of the stick-on thermometer chart, around 64 F. We took water out of the tank, nuked it (school has no running hot water) and put it back in the tanks, brought the temp back up to 76 F after about 2 hours of nuking water 4 cups at a time). I found an outlet on a different circuit wasn't affected and ran a construction grade extension cord to the fish tanks. My wife called her principal to report the power problem and to tell her what we did. Everything is ok, we're a little frustrated but ok.
Next tuesday (2 days later), I want to show off the fish to my brother in law who also has a couple cichlids and cherry barbs. He and I come in and find both fish tanks UNPLUGGED!!! The fire marshal came the day before and said that extension cords were not allowed, only power strips were approved. They had nicely braided (seriously) the extension cord next to the note about the violation. Water temp is off the chart low, I'm guessing about 40 degrees. We had two mini plecos (1 in each tank) that we had added at the end of cycling and they were both dead. The cichlids were pretty much in hibernation, just hovering in place instead of whizzing around the tank. I was so pissed and disappointed at the school and sad for the fish. We plugged in the tanks to the original outlet (miracle, it now works!), nuke water again (2 hour process), and we vowed to bring the fish home so they wouldn't have to bear a tundra for a fourth time.
Phew...
We went to Petsmart and picked up a 28 gallon bowfront kit (what's the deal with the plastic thing running through the middle of the top of the tank?) and set it up in the living room. We had transferred the water and both of the 10-15 whispers home which we planned to use so the tank wouldn't cycle with a new filter. The tank came with a Top Fin filter and we hung that with both 10-15 whispers. The Top Fin was very very loud in our tiny house and we actually brought just the filter back since it came in retail packaging. I heard great things about bio-wheels and so I brought home a penguin 200. Most folks here say they are dead quiet but mine isn't! It primes and filters well but we hear a loud hum from the impeller. I've taken apart everything but the motor and I can't figure out why this thing is making noise! The whisper filters are dead quiet, I can put my ear on the filter and I can't hear them but I can hear the penguin across the house from my bedroom! Not only that but I can also hear the water trickling into the tank on the Penguin which my wife can't stand. I've raised and lowered the water level and nothing helps unless I hold the Bio-Wheel or take it out and for some reason, that stops the water trickling.
Ok here's the gist. Its been a two weeks with the new home tank and my wife is at wit's end with this tank situation. I'm a fish noob (5 months) but have taken on the research responsibility. I have always interested in the hobby but never had the time or place to start one and now that I've started, I'm hooked! If I can get this noise situation under control then we'll be happy. (Happy wife, happy life my father in law tells me)
My wife wants me to get another Whisper filter because the Whisper Advanced PF 5-15 filters are dead quiet. I'm worried that now since I need a bigger filter and bigger motor, they'll be no quieter than the penguin. I might go to the fish store and get one to prove my point but I an really interested in the bio-wheel or some sort of wet/dry bio filtration that the whispers don't provide.
My first priority is noise. noise noise Noise NOISE NOISE!
Acceptable noise to me is no louder than a human whisper (20 db) which the Tetra Whisper 10-15 filters provide. Second is bio filtration quality.
1. Are Penguins supposed to be really quiet? It seems like no matter what I hear water running with the Bio-Wheel but maybe this improves as the wheel gets bacteria on it?
2. How do emperors and penguins compare on noise level?
3. As stated above I'm also considering getting a whisper but no wet/dry bio solution here, same with the AuqaClear plus I hear they have priming problems and I'm concerned about power failures (having lived through it).
4. I'm also considering a canister solution especially since I've heard they are really quiet and I also have a few live plants in the tank. Are they generally quieter than hang ons? I know EHEIM is good but pricey and some here swear by Rena XPs. Seems like all the canister solutions are a bit more expensive but I might be willing to splurge a little if there is a big improvement in the noise area. Also, could a canister be a little overkill for a 28 gallon? I'd like to upgrade my tank when I get a bigger place so I might want to save now and splurge on a bigger tank later. If anyone has specific models that I should consider, please let me know.
5. If I decide to get a canister solution, should I add a standalone Bio-Wheel kinda like the Magnum 350 PRO or are they pretty sufficient in themselves. Is it even possible to buy a stand-alone bio-wheel and adapt it to an EHEIM or XPs? Seems like only Magnum and Eheim ($200+, too much) have any sort of included wet/dry bio filter canister solution.
6. What do you all think of inline systems like Lifegard Aquarium Filters. I can't find too much out there on them but they seem to be a good idea and expand well to larger systems. I also heard that they are quiet.
I know this is a really long post but your answers here would be very much appreiciated!
Thanks,
Chris
Folsom, CA
My wife is a fourth grade teacher and back in August at the beginning of the school year, Petco offered a deal to teachers in the area to get a free 10 gallon fish tank, free Whisper Advanced PF 5-15 filter, light, hood, $10 of free fish bla bla bla, the whole kit. Started to cycle with 3 neons, 2 died right away. Brought back the last one, noticed some Cichlids at a different LFS and got four of them. Had some problems cycling the tank and ended up seperating the fish into another teacher's 10 gallon (which she hadn't set up yet) because I thought that the tanks were overloaded. I was helping my wife out and coming every other day for water changes and water testing. That worked... 2 months in and both tanks were cycled and ran beautifully. At this point we (my wife especially) were glad the 2 10 gallons had settled and we were really enjoying them.
Come winter, we found out the school turns off the air heaters on weekends so the tank heater is pretty much on all weekend long. She comes in the weekend before winter break, and the water temp was down to 70 (not good for cichlids). We assume the power went out for a little bit but everything was running normal again. Not good for the fish but we thought the problem was fixed. The following week, everything was ok but it's getting really cold outside. The following weekend (on saturday) into winter break, we come in to make sure the fish are okay and we find that there is some sort of ground fault on the hot of the outlet (multimeter read 30 volts instead of 120) where the tank is plugged in. Both fish tanks are cold, bottom of the stick-on thermometer chart, around 64 F. We took water out of the tank, nuked it (school has no running hot water) and put it back in the tanks, brought the temp back up to 76 F after about 2 hours of nuking water 4 cups at a time). I found an outlet on a different circuit wasn't affected and ran a construction grade extension cord to the fish tanks. My wife called her principal to report the power problem and to tell her what we did. Everything is ok, we're a little frustrated but ok.
Next tuesday (2 days later), I want to show off the fish to my brother in law who also has a couple cichlids and cherry barbs. He and I come in and find both fish tanks UNPLUGGED!!! The fire marshal came the day before and said that extension cords were not allowed, only power strips were approved. They had nicely braided (seriously) the extension cord next to the note about the violation. Water temp is off the chart low, I'm guessing about 40 degrees. We had two mini plecos (1 in each tank) that we had added at the end of cycling and they were both dead. The cichlids were pretty much in hibernation, just hovering in place instead of whizzing around the tank. I was so pissed and disappointed at the school and sad for the fish. We plugged in the tanks to the original outlet (miracle, it now works!), nuke water again (2 hour process), and we vowed to bring the fish home so they wouldn't have to bear a tundra for a fourth time.
Phew...
We went to Petsmart and picked up a 28 gallon bowfront kit (what's the deal with the plastic thing running through the middle of the top of the tank?) and set it up in the living room. We had transferred the water and both of the 10-15 whispers home which we planned to use so the tank wouldn't cycle with a new filter. The tank came with a Top Fin filter and we hung that with both 10-15 whispers. The Top Fin was very very loud in our tiny house and we actually brought just the filter back since it came in retail packaging. I heard great things about bio-wheels and so I brought home a penguin 200. Most folks here say they are dead quiet but mine isn't! It primes and filters well but we hear a loud hum from the impeller. I've taken apart everything but the motor and I can't figure out why this thing is making noise! The whisper filters are dead quiet, I can put my ear on the filter and I can't hear them but I can hear the penguin across the house from my bedroom! Not only that but I can also hear the water trickling into the tank on the Penguin which my wife can't stand. I've raised and lowered the water level and nothing helps unless I hold the Bio-Wheel or take it out and for some reason, that stops the water trickling.
Ok here's the gist. Its been a two weeks with the new home tank and my wife is at wit's end with this tank situation. I'm a fish noob (5 months) but have taken on the research responsibility. I have always interested in the hobby but never had the time or place to start one and now that I've started, I'm hooked! If I can get this noise situation under control then we'll be happy. (Happy wife, happy life my father in law tells me)
My wife wants me to get another Whisper filter because the Whisper Advanced PF 5-15 filters are dead quiet. I'm worried that now since I need a bigger filter and bigger motor, they'll be no quieter than the penguin. I might go to the fish store and get one to prove my point but I an really interested in the bio-wheel or some sort of wet/dry bio filtration that the whispers don't provide.
My first priority is noise. noise noise Noise NOISE NOISE!
Acceptable noise to me is no louder than a human whisper (20 db) which the Tetra Whisper 10-15 filters provide. Second is bio filtration quality.1. Are Penguins supposed to be really quiet? It seems like no matter what I hear water running with the Bio-Wheel but maybe this improves as the wheel gets bacteria on it?
2. How do emperors and penguins compare on noise level?
3. As stated above I'm also considering getting a whisper but no wet/dry bio solution here, same with the AuqaClear plus I hear they have priming problems and I'm concerned about power failures (having lived through it).
4. I'm also considering a canister solution especially since I've heard they are really quiet and I also have a few live plants in the tank. Are they generally quieter than hang ons? I know EHEIM is good but pricey and some here swear by Rena XPs. Seems like all the canister solutions are a bit more expensive but I might be willing to splurge a little if there is a big improvement in the noise area. Also, could a canister be a little overkill for a 28 gallon? I'd like to upgrade my tank when I get a bigger place so I might want to save now and splurge on a bigger tank later. If anyone has specific models that I should consider, please let me know.
5. If I decide to get a canister solution, should I add a standalone Bio-Wheel kinda like the Magnum 350 PRO or are they pretty sufficient in themselves. Is it even possible to buy a stand-alone bio-wheel and adapt it to an EHEIM or XPs? Seems like only Magnum and Eheim ($200+, too much) have any sort of included wet/dry bio filter canister solution.
6. What do you all think of inline systems like Lifegard Aquarium Filters. I can't find too much out there on them but they seem to be a good idea and expand well to larger systems. I also heard that they are quiet.
I know this is a really long post but your answers here would be very much appreiciated!
Thanks,
Chris
Folsom, CA
