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Which filter for a 55ga?


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#1 vaindioux

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  • Georgia

Posted 15 April 2020 - 12:59 PM

Hi

 

I have been out of the hobby for around 10 years. getting back into it. I want to keep 2 larger fish opposed to more little guys. I really would like a bullhead and maybe a green sunfish. Others interest me but I have to study my state regulations first.

 

I looked at the following:


HANG ON:

-Tetra whisper power filter 60
-Fluval C4
-Marineland penguin 350


CANISTER:
-Fluval 306
-Eheim classic 250
-Marineland magniflow 220


I understand that hang on filters might not be powerful enough for big fish.Or shall I go wet dry filter?

 

Thxs

 

Pat



#2 Matt DeLaVega

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  • Ohio

Posted 15 April 2020 - 01:30 PM

I think sponge filters are the most sensible option out there if you can get past seeing them in the tank. Inexpensive. No moving parts if you don't count the air pump, which most people have in addition to a canister or HOB. I have kept high stocking densities with sponges. You can keep an extra one in a tank, pull it out and set up a new tank with a ready cycled filter. What's not to like?


The member formerly known as Skipjack


#3 vaindioux

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  • Georgia

Posted 15 April 2020 - 02:54 PM

I think sponge filters are the most sensible option out there if you can get past seeing them in the tank. Inexpensive. No moving parts if you don't count the air pump, which most people have in addition to a canister or HOB. I have kept high stocking densities with sponges. You can keep an extra one in a tank, pull it out and set up a new tank with a ready cycled filter. What's not to like?

Can you elaborate? What are these sponge filters? I used to have a sponge connected to a pump to filter a small tank but that was in a baby fish tank as other filters would suck them in.

Picture?

 

Thxs

 

Pat



#4 UncleWillie

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 06:51 AM

Hi Pat.  The sponge filters Matt is referring to usually just a sponge with some sort of plastic pipe or fitting that receives an air line.  These things are usually air-powered, but I've made some homemade ones for a river setup that was a powerhead, sponge, and some PVC.  With your expected stock of only 2 fish, I don't think you can go wrong with any filter set up.  Yes, sunfish and bullheads produce a lot of waste, but with only two, you'll be fine with a more budget-friendly hang-on filter rather than a canister.


Willie P


#5 vaindioux

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 10:42 AM

Hi Pat.  The sponge filters Matt is referring to usually just a sponge with some sort of plastic pipe or fitting that receives an air line.  These things are usually air-powered, but I've made some homemade ones for a river setup that was a powerhead, sponge, and some PVC.  With your expected stock of only 2 fish, I don't think you can go wrong with any filter set up.  Yes, sunfish and bullheads produce a lot of waste, but with only two, you'll be fine with a more budget-friendly hang-on filter rather than a canister.

Willie

 

Very good post. Yes I don't want a sponge filter, that won't cut it. It's good to know that a hang on filter will do.

 

At any rates

 

Thxs a lot

 

Pat

Canton-GA-



#6 TurbineBlade

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  • Fredericksburg, VA

Posted 16 April 2020 - 10:59 AM

I'll not knock the good old sponge filter -- they colonize a lot of bacteria and are great if you get a lot of power outages where you live since you don't lose filtering (at least completely) with the loss of water flow.  I've used them and still have a few with some old pumps in my basement.  

 

That said, I generally prefer HOB filters on a tank that size.  Everyone has their preference, but I've had reasonable service from aquaclears and penguin/emperors.  Often you can make your own filter media, or just buy bulk sponges or batting material to save money and frankly do just as good of a job or better than the cartridges they sell.  They used to sell an emperor 400, or penguin 350 that would probably be just fine on your tank.  The aquaclears used to be rated in 100-500 if I recall, and the 500 was quite a monster.  You might look for a 300-400, or whatever they call those models now.  


"Trying is the first step toward failure!" -- Homer Simpson


#7 vaindioux

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  • Georgia

Posted 16 April 2020 - 11:16 AM

I'll not knock the good old sponge filter -- they colonize a lot of bacteria and are great if you get a lot of power outages where you live since you don't lose filtering (at least completely) with the loss of water flow.  I've used them and still have a few with some old pumps in my basement.  

 

That said, I generally prefer HOB filters on a tank that size.  Everyone has their preference, but I've had reasonable service from aquaclears and penguin/emperors.  Often you can make your own filter media, or just buy bulk sponges or batting material to save money and frankly do just as good of a job or better than the cartridges they sell.  They used to sell an emperor 400, or penguin 350 that would probably be just fine on your tank.  The aquaclears used to be rated in 100-500 if I recall, and the 500 was quite a monster.  You might look for a 300-400, or whatever they call those models now.  

Turbine

 

Yes I am going to buy a hang on filter after all. I have in the past just like you created my own media and saved a lot of money. What does HOB mean? Hang on back?

 

Thxs a lot

 

Pat



#8 TurbineBlade

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 12:00 PM

Sorry -- yes, hang-on-back.  

 

I foolishly overlooked your mention of filter models in your OP; any of those I'm sure would be great. There's a lot to be said about a 55 gallon in terms of being reasonably large and also being easy to move, set-up and filter.  I regretted selling my 125 when I was still in my 20s, but now with kids and no energy I don't miss it at all.  


"Trying is the first step toward failure!" -- Homer Simpson


#9 swampfish

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 01:50 PM

An Aquaclear 110 should filter your 55 gallon tank quite nicely with that fish load. The new Aquaclear numbering system refers to the gallon size tank, whereas I think the old numbering system referred to the number of gallons per hour that ran through the filter. I think that the current Aquaclear 110 is what used to be the Aquaclear 500. I have some of each, which tells you that they don't wear out easily as the new numbering system has been used for several years. 

 

The main filtering unit is a coarse sponge, which is easily back-flushed when dirty, and reused for years. The sponge in a 110 is about 9 inches long by 3 by 3 inches. I back-flush it by removing it from the filter, running water from a faucet in the opposite direction of filter flow, and squeezing it out repeatedly. In 1-2 minutes the filter is cleaned, but still retains its important bacteria. I have cut the sponges in half crosswise, making them easier to squeeze out as I have small hands. I rinse out the sacks of activated charcoal and bacterial media by back-flushing from a faucet. I don't replace the charcoal, allowing it to function after the first month as bacterial media. 

 

When the sponge on an Aquaclear filter clogs and needs cleaning, it rises up due to the bottom water flow, pushing the top of the filter housing upward. This is what I use to tell me when the filter needs cleaning. 

 

I have 2 110's running on a 75 gallon tank that has a reproducing population of 100 or so plecos (Ancistris) along with a dozen Apalachee shiners. The plecos put out a lot of waste, so one filter wasn't handling the load. I also have two 75 gallon tanks each with a 110 and a couple large sponge filters containing my wife's large Bristol shubunkin goldfish. I run smaller sponge filters on my smaller tanks that contain mainly minnows and topminnows.

 

Over the years , I have gradually replaced the Marineland, Aqueon, and Tetra outside power filters with Aquaclear filters because I have found the Aquaclears to last longer and to be easier to clean.

 

Phil Nixon



#10 littlen

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 06:53 PM

FWIWif you go with a H.o.B. filter, I also recommend Aquacleara. Fluval canister filers are good too. They (canisters) just require more time for maintenance.
Nick L.

#11 vaindioux

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 07:35 PM


Over the years , I have gradually replaced the Marineland, Aqueon, and Tetra outside power filters with Aquaclear filters because I have found the Aquaclears to last longer and to be easier to clean.

 

Phil Nixon

Phil

 

That is a very informative post. I am going to seriously look into aquaclear. And I have small hands too :biggrin:

 

Thxs for a great post

 

Pat






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