used 55gal tank & filters question

[reybie]

I'm back with more questions! :)

I had gotten a used 55gal tank including accessories from a local garage sale. It included an Eheim 2217 filter. The old setup was under gravel filter and it came with 2 powerhead 402 I believe and a Whisper 300. What would be the best way for me to setup the filtration using the above components?

I'm kind of leaning away from UGF, it looks too complicated for me plus the UGF plastic that came with the tank already had some broken surfaces.

[Chrona]

If you don't want to use the UGF, then you won't have to, since, the eheim is rated for like 150 gallons. I would just use that in one corner, and a powerhead in another corner. That should get you some water movement in your tank.

Make sure to get a foam intake attachment for the powerhead though

[reybie]

Thanks for the input Chrona. I came from a 10gal setup with a HOB filter so this is all new to me. I'm going to get some new tubing just in case the old ones are brittle.

[Lady Hobbs]

Congratulations. I'd fill the tank with water and let it sit for a few days to make sure no leaks appear before setting it up. You got a sweet deal. I live in Northern MI and never find used tanks in the paper or anywhere. Even Craigs list doesn't cover my area.

You will do well to go with fishless cycling. That way no water changes will be necessary on your part and you can add your fish when it's gone thru the cycle.

[kimmers318]

Sweet deal to come across. Definitely ditch the ugf, more hassle than they are worth. Check the eheim website for information on that filter, you may even be able to print out a manual, that will help you get it set up.

[reybie]

I thought it was a great deal too, I checked the price on the Eheim alone and it was over a hundred bucks. The first thing I did was go online and search for the manual (which I found). One of my questions about it is do I just clean and rinse the stuff inside the canister and put it back in the same order? What about replacement hoses just in case?

I cleaned the tank last night and put some water, I'll find out this morning to see if there's a leak. So this eheim will be just functioning like my HOB before but the pump is hidden, right? Then as suggested before, I'll just add the powerheads to give me some water movement. I've been actually doing some googling on how to set up a powerhead. LOL. Have no idea.

[cocoa_pleco]

Definitely rinse out the sponge.
I bought a used aquaclear and there was so much algae crusted on it it took me a hour to scrape it off, and all the good bacteria in the sponge of yours are dead, so definitely rinse it out- theres probably old crap in it

[Chrona]

I thought it was a great deal too, I checked the price on the Eheim alone and it was over a hundred bucks. The first thing I did was go online and search for the manual (which I found). One of my questions about it is do I just clean and rinse the stuff inside the canister and put it back in the same order? What about replacement hoses just in case?

I cleaned the tank last night and put some water, I'll find out this morning to see if there's a leak. So this eheim will be just functioning like my HOB before but the pump is hidden, right? Then as suggested before, I'll just add the powerheads to give me some water movement. I've been actually doing some googling on how to set up a powerhead. LOL. Have no idea.

I think Eheim recommends the ehfimech, then the coarse pad, then the ehfisubstrate, and the carbon and then the fine pad. I probably butchered the spelling on those though lol.

[reybie]

No leaks so far, filled it quarter of the way. I'm not sure how old the contents of the eheim canister is, I'll have to open and clean after work.

[reybie]

Could someone link me to a sponge filter that I can attach to the powerhead, please. Just so I have an idea of what I'd be looking for when I go to the store LOL. I did find replacement tubing for the eheim filter at the local petsmart so that's a good thing. I'm debating if I should change the filter media though, suggestions? I don't know how old the stuff in it are.

[Chrona]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

It's kinda like that. Basically just a screen on the intake so nothing big gets sucked in. I'm not sure if there is one specifically for your powerhead, but I'm sure you could just make one out of a block of foam with a hole drilled halfway down in the middle.