What's an adequate tank?

A Hang on the back filter will work great however I was assuming that the biowheel had already been purchased.

You might have some trouble converting your darters and mudminnows to freezedried foods.

A Hang on the back filter will work great however I was assuming that the biowheel had already been purchased.

You might have some trouble converting your darters and mudminnows to freezedried foods.

ok, I'll get frozen, and try to convert them. We have a freezer downstairs too (I totally forgot). That I can keep the food in. If I can't, no big deal.


edit: isn't a biowheel a type of HOB filter???

I'm confused.

Edited by Zephead4747, 02 August 2008 - 02:08 PM.

ok, I'll get frozen, and try to convert them. We have a freezer downstairs too (I totally forgot). That I can keep the food in. If I can't, no big deal.
edit: isn't a biowheel a type of HOB filter???

I'm confused.

edit feature is gone.


I can't make it to the pet store today. Will my cories be fine without good food till I go tomarow, I don't know how needy they are?

Edited by Zephead4747, 02 August 2008 - 03:21 PM.

Yes, all fish but fry can go a day without food easily.

Yes, all fish but fry can go a day without food easily.

good deal.

ok, I'll get frozen, and try to convert them. We have a freezer downstairs too (I totally forgot). That I can keep the food in. If I can't, no big deal.
edit: isn't a biowheel a type of HOB filter???

I'm confused.

Yes you're correct. Sorry about the confusion. Whisper and Hagen make HOB filters which are usually preferred over bio-wheels. Much less expensive also. Frozen foods are your best choice. I have yet to bother with freeze dried foods. You may also collect terrestrial insects and purchase red worms to feed your fishes. Another option is to start a colony of scuds in a small outside aquarium/tub. There’s a great article on this forum written by NEWT explaining everything.

Yes you're correct. Sorry about the confusion. Whisper and Hagen make HOB filters which are usually preferred over bio-wheels. Much less expensive also. Frozen foods are your best choice. I have yet to bother with freeze dried foods. You may also collect terrestrial insects and purchase red worms to feed your fishes. Another option is to start a colony of scuds in a small outside aquarium/tub. There’s a great article on this forum written by NEWT explaining everything.

ok, should that, and the sponge filter be enough aeration for all the fish? If I remember correctly, darters need a lot of it.

I would choose a darter species which prefers the type of environment you're creating. For example, Swamp, Johnny or Iowa darters would work well. You can keep others which prefer current but they will not be very happy!

I would choose a darter species which prefers the type of environment you're creating. For example, Swamp, Johnny or Iowa darters would work well. You can keep others which prefer current but they will not be very happy!

alrighty.

If your water level is a bit low your HOB will create a good bit of current and surface agitation. I have southern red-bellied dace and fantail darters in a 29 gallon with an AC70 HOB; there is plenty of current for them, though it is a bit unfocused. It's easy to extend the intake tube on an AC filter with a replacement UGF lift tube kit; if you're interested I can show you pics of mine.

If your water level is a bit low your HOB will create a good bit of current and surface agitation. I have southern red-bellied dace and fantail darters in a 29 gallon with an AC70 HOB; there is plenty of current for them, though it is a bit unfocused. It's easy to extend the intake tube on an AC filter with a replacement UGF lift tube kit; if you're interested I can show you pics of mine.

yes pelase

I have to keep the water a bit low so the shrimp can't escape.


also: one of my cories died, goign to pet store tomarow for checking out filters/more cories. They only seem to have greens, and I'm not sure if those are bronze cories or the otehr species they call coriers but aren't. And those ones get massive.

For what its worth, I would go with an appropriately sized Aquaclear HOB filter over a biowheel any day of the week...and twice on Wednesday. I have 5 of them right now, two of which are approaching near their 7 or 8 year anniversary. Filter sponge is rinsable and reusable for a long, long time too and there is ample space for placing additional filter media if desired.

Hi, just browsing the thread and am very interested in learning more about your sponge filter (I used simple sponge filters years and years ago with great results but just recently took the hobby up again). I just bought a bio-wheel filter for my new 10 gal but the current is so strong that I don't feel comfortable keeping the species I'd intended for a planted tank. I haven't had it long enough yet to know how well it works but I know the silly filter cartridges are awfully pricey.

What do you find to be the biggest drawbacks with the bio-wheel types?

Any particular type of Aquaclear unit you recommend or do they all come with the sponge medium?

I'll switch out if the Aquaclear sounds that much better.

Hi, just browsing the thread and am very interested in learning more about your sponge filter (I used simple sponge filters years and years ago with great results but just recently took the hobby up again). I just bought a bio-wheel filter for my new 10 gal but the current is so strong that I don't feel comfortable keeping the species I'd intended for a planted tank. I haven't had it long enough yet to know how well it works but I know the silly filter cartridges are awfully pricey.

What do you find to be the biggest drawbacks with the bio-wheel types?

Any particular type of Aquaclear unit you recommend or do they all come with the sponge medium?

I'll switch out if the Aquaclear sounds that much better.

I know it's not directed at me, but the filter itself needs maintenace. The wheel gets gunky and stops spinning. The parts get pretty gross from the gunky water.

yuk . . .

birdpond, the biggest drawback I have found with the biowheels is exactly what Zephead said, they get gunked up and stop spinning and replacement cartridges are generally a bit pricey. I always try to minimize moving parts. All of the Aquaclear HOB filters (Hagen makes lots of other aquarium equipment also) have the same configuration, they're just different sizes.

http://www.hagen.com...aquaclear01.cfm

birdpond, the biggest drawback I have found with the biowheels is exactly what Zephead said, they get gunked up and stop spinning and replacement cartridges are generally a bit pricey. I always try to minimize moving parts. All of the Aquaclear HOB filters (Hagen makes lots of other aquarium equipment also) have the same configuration, they're just different sizes.

http://www.hagen.com...aquaclear01.cfm

Thank you, I'll certainly go with the Hagen then. I'm glad I held off setting up my 55 gal, now I can start with the right equipment.

I have several AquaClear filters. I have only one problem with them. Occasionally the impeller will get gunked up and stop the filter. I'm sure this is something that happens to anything with an impeller. The problem is that I have to take the filter off the tank to get to the impeller. The Whisper filter's impeller is attached to the intake tube. When I do water changes it's a simple thing to pull out the intake tube and clean it and the impeller. What I want is a filter with sponge media like the AquaClear, and an impeller/intake tube assembly like the Whisper.