Who makes the BEST filters for a 55 gallon setup?

squale, all of the manufacturers gph's are using the most optimal conditions, no media and the best configuration (length) of hoses or intakes for the best numbers to get. No one uses those setups in a real situation, so the ratings are going to be higher than what you will get in your tank, by a little or a lot. :(
 
squale said:
Thanks guys, this has been most helpful. How about putting in one of those cool water bubbling things.. you know the ones you usually see inside of a ship wreck looking thing in the tank? Do you need a seperate air pump for this to happen? or can you hook this right up to your filters output? I went to the BigAls' site and I saw all crazy types of things, not really sure what most of them are... and if they are even for freshwater setups or not..
such as..

Air Equipment
Protein Skimmers
U.V. Sterilizers
Water Pumps & Powerheads
Water Purification
Water Treatment

I really don't understand what all the above are for..

The other thing I was going to ask is whether you guys could pretty much give me the exact listing of parts I would need for a 55 gallon setup. I think I want to go with a GOOD canister filter such as Aheim but don't know which one I need. I see there being Power Filters, Canister, Modular, Sponge, Wet/Dry, etc.. and my head is just spinning on what exact ones I need to match my tank size the right way. I also don't know what GPH flow rate I need for a 55 gallon tank.
Also I was wondering what specific other parts I need such as Test Kits, cleaning tools, Air Equipment, etc..

I pretty much got down what tank, stand, hood and lighting I will have.. all made my All Glass Aquarium. Now comes the fun part of everything else I need to go inside..

Thanks again for all of your help, you guys are very kind for taking all the time to answer these questions, you have helped so much thus far and I really appreciate it. The local fish guy doesn't seem to want to really spend much time educating me..
Click to expand...


Here is the canister that would go best with your tank.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22003;category_id=1711;pcid1=2885;pcid2=

You wont need any Air equipment.

As for a heater you might as well get the best the first time around and not have issues later.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...58&ref=3055&subref=AE&N=2004+22787+2146962523

This is the test kit most of us use

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19383;category_id=3233;pcid1=;pcid2=
 
Last edited:
I have always used penguin filters for my 55 gallon tanks. I use a 330 and a 125 in each corner. It seems to work well and require little maintenace.

You will always need to change the water at least every two weeks or so.
 
squale said:
a 550gph filter for a 55gallon tank seems like way too much. I think the Eheim 2026 would be a good filter at a Pump Output of 251gph and Filter Circulation of 172gph. They say this filter can do tanks up to 92 gallons in size and this would certainly not be close to 5-10 complete water changes per hour.
Click to expand...


In any tank that has a heavy bioload or big fish 8x's filtration would be the minimum you would want to try and aim at 10X's though.

That filter would be fine if you don't plan to go too heavy on the bio-load in the tank. IE overstocking.

The 2026 and 2028 are tanks. Awesome filters that are really worth the money. I am running a 2028 on my 77 gallon with an AC 500. The eheim does a great job.

One thing to remember about Eheim's. Whatever the number of the size of tank they put on the box thay say the filter can handle. Cut the number in half and that will give you a more realistic tank size for that particular filter.

The reason being. The numbers that are suggested on the box is in reference to a dutch style aquarium. Less fish more plants smaller bioload. Which is the european way of doing things. We in North America tend to go the other way and have more fish than plants.

Because Eheim is German their specs are for the dutch way, so you would have to cut whatever number that is recommended in half. In this case you may want to add another smaller filter (HOB) if you are planning on really stocking the tank. Like an AC 300 with a double sponge to compliment the eheim.

Or like Harlock suggested a Rena XP. I would go for the XP3.

You could also go with two AC 300's with one or both of them running with two sponges. Can't go wrong with 600 GPH.
 
Definitely Eheim 2026. I have a 2028 on my 75 gallon and it works silent wonders! Welcome to Aquaria Central. Be sure and do your research on this site, there is a WEALTH of information and aquarium wizards most willing to help you. Best of luck! :)
 
what's interesting to me is that the canister filters like the 2026 only puts out about 260gph at the pump but then a HOB filter will put out even more than that. I thought Canister filters were much more powerful than HOB filters were?

anyhow, I was at the local fish store yesterday looking at more tanks and trying to decide which one to go with. Well now the guy at the store is telling me to go with the 65 gallon tank because it's deeper than the 55 gallon and the narrow 13" depth of the 55 gallon will limit what I can put in the tank as far as decorations, etc. The dimensions are:
55 gallon = 48x13x20
65 gallon = 36x18x24

So with the 65 gallon I get a 1 foot shorter tank, but 4 inches higher and 5 inches deeper. The guy at the store was telling me that the deeper tank would look much better, but I just can't decide, I sort of like the long look of the 55 gallon tank since I will be putting it up against a nice long flat wall. I just don't know if you will be able to really appreciate the depth of the tank up against a flat long wall.

So anyhow, I got some prices for the complete setup including the tank, stand, top, lights
The stuff is all made by All-Glass.

Setup #1 = $260
-55 gallon tank in Oak Trim
-Matching Oak Stand
-Versa-Top Glass Top
-48" Twin Tube Light in Oak Trim (40 watt)

Setup #2 = $315
-65 gallon tank in Oak Trim
-Matching Oak Stand
-36" Versa-Hood in Oak Trim with Twin Tube lights

So what setup do you think is better for viewing, etc? Also what do you guys think of these prices? should I try to talk them down?
 
yeah but is there much more maintenance involved when you go from like a 55 gallon up to like a 75 gallon or even bigger?

I am concerned with the amount of work it tanks to maintain the tank and also the amount of money this maintenance is..

why do you say get the biggest tank I can? It will be my first tank btw..
 
Figure out what you are willing to spend at first and what you are looking for monthly money and weekly or biweekly time. That will give you a starting place and I'm sure there are people here who will tell you what they spend and the time on their tanks with what sort of equipment and type of setup, like messy fish, planted, equipment they clean, etc.
For example, my 29gal I spend about 30 mins each week, but its a ugf right now and I just spent 170 to redo the lighting and filter system and some more test kits.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom