which filter to use? am i doing this right?

[rdelbalso]

I currently have a 20g tank with a penguin 170 biowheel filter on it which seems to work great. I just bought a 29g tank that I would like to set up. I bought it used and it came with a bunch of stuff including a Whisper Power Filter 150gph, an AquaClear 500 and AquaClear 150.

My thought was to put the Aquaclear 150 on my 20g tank and set up the 29g with the penguin 170 biowheel. Does this make sense or should I use a different arrangement. The Aquaclear 500 seems like over kill on a 29g, but it sounds like the Whisper filters aren't that great.

Can I just put the AC 150 on the old tank and immediately move the penguin to the new tank or should I wait some time. Once I move the penguin to the new tank does it have to do a total cycle again or would it be ready to add more than just danios.

Also, do you have to use the carbon insert in the AC filter? It seems quite expensive to replace every month. From the directions for the filter it also seems to indicate you are supposed to change the sponge every month, but online people seem to say just rinse it, which is correct?

Thanks for the help.

 

[carpguy]

How long has the 20g been cycled and how is it stocked? If you move the established filter over right away you'll be moving part of your biofilter with it. This would help the new tank get established, but you run the risk of having a minicycle in the 20. You'd probably be better off letting them run together for a week or two, then moving a seeded filter to the new tank.

I have a AquaClear 150 on a 30g planted tank. Personally I think its a little light for a 30 (or a 29) as far as mechanical goes, but thats partly because of plant debris. Either filter may be fine for each tank, but you may want to supplement with the Whisper or go to the next size up on the 29: just keep on top of the maintenance and see if you need to do too much, it really depends on your own circumstances.

You don't have to use the carbon cartridge at all. Carbon is good for a handful of situations, like removing chemicals or medications that may be in the tank. It can be good for removing tank odors as well, so long as you correct whatever it is that is producing the odor. You don't need it on a regular basis.

I rinse out my sponges during the weekly water change in the old tankwater, then dump all the refuse at once. Rinsing under tapwater can harm your beneficial bacteria. You don't need to use new ones unless the old ones are deteriorating or are getting too gunked up to keep clean.

 

[rdelbalso]

My 20g has been cycled for about 3 months. I have (3) 1-3/4" and (1) 2-1/4" angels, (1) 3" pictus cat, (1) 3" rainbow shark, (3) 1-1/4" zebra danios and (1) 3" clown pleco. I just got the pleco with the idea that I would move the danios to the new 29g tank to cycle it and then move the angels over. I realize that's currently a lot for a 20g, but its not for long.

After I got the tank, I realized I wanted to move the Penguin 170 to the new tank so I haven't moved any fish yet, but am running the Penguin and the AC 150 on the 20g right now.

When I move the established Penguin filter to the 29g tank, will the tank still have to cycle or is it ready to add more than just the danios?

Also, new question. I also got 3 heaters with the used tank and filters. One is a Visa-Therm 100W submersible. The other 2 are both Penn Plax Therma Flow PC's, but neither has any indication of wattage. How can I find out? I have been doing an internet search, but nothing seems to say how to determine wattage. Also, which heater or heaters do you recommend for the 29g. I have a 75W Ebo-Jager submersible on the 20g.

Thanks

 

[carpguy]

There are a few things with the bacteria: (1)They live in the filter media, but also in the gravel, on the glass, on ornaments, etc. (2)In a cycled tank, there are enough of them to do the job. (3)They can reproduce quickly but at a finite rate (I've heard that they can double in a day, for instance).

If you take a filter off an established tank, you are removing some of the bacteria. There should be enough elsewhere to compensate and they'll be back to full strength quickly. In a lightly loaded tank (say, one that has just cycled with a few danios) the bacterial colony is small, so the bump may be somewhat more severe (a minicycle). By running a filter on an established tank you are growing a small colony on it. It isn't able to run a tank by itself yet bio-wise, but it has a good head start on the cycle. It still needs to cycle, but it'll happen faster -- you are "seeding" the tank. (As ever, check out fishless cycling, preferred by enlightened fishkeepers everywhere).

I have a VisiTherm 100 on my 30g. The normal rule of thumb is 5 watts per gallon, but I get a decent amount of heat from my plant lights and the thing is hardly ever on. There is another formula that escapes me now for how much the heater needs to raise the water above room temp. More wattage is generally pretty cheap. Ebo Jager seems to be a popular favorite, and I get the impression that Tronic and VisiTherm are also well-regarded. I get the impression that PennPlax is not well-regarded. Don't go cheap on your heaters -- a quick search will find you more than one thread about full tank wipe outs caused by bad heaters .

 

[Orbitorly]

Well said Carpguy Yeah beat me to it



Ok, for heater's I have Proquatics and they work great. I haven't had one fail on me, and the temp is presize to 0.5 of the temp you set it at. VisiTherm and Ebo Jager from what I hear are great heaters but I have never used one or expirienced one.

When I move the established Penguin filter to the 29g tank, will the tank still have to cycle or is it ready to add more than just the danios?

Yes it will still have to cycle but the seeded filter will speed the proccess up - put some of you'r gravel from your 20 to your 29 to help the tank with it's cycle proccess. Also it will help prevent nitrate spike ect,.. Danios are great starter fish, there hardy and will take a beating. If you just can't wait to get fish in there get a few danios (6-10) for the tank.

 

[pinballqueen]

I must be the only person out there with a Rena-Cal submersible heater. They're great, too. I've had about every major brand out there. Anything you get at walmart is probably gonna suck.... I think they sell penn-plax and whisper. I've had both, and both developed cracks or plain stopped working within a few months of installing them.... which is why I spent the extra $$$ and got a RenaCal. They ain't cheap, though.... I think they're not much different in price than Ebo's, though, so from there on it's just a matter of trial and error...