Quick filter question?

[Owlbehere]

I currently have running on the 46 bowfront a Marineland 70g and an AC 70. Both HOB.
I am planning on getting a 40g to put in George, the 2 Odessa, and 5 tigers.
The 46 will house 7 red eyes, 5 red and blues, 2 platy and a molly Oh and the 3 emerald cory.

Can I get away with not getting another filter and using just one on each or do you guys think I should get an AC 100 for the other. My problem is I have to wash horses to get the money, 35 a head. This guy only has so many horses and I need to wash at least 4 to get the tank. That filter is just shy of 100.00

[Fishguy2727]

More is better. But if for a while you need to move half the filtration from the current tank to the new one along with half the bioload it should be fine. But I would get an AquaClear 110 for one of them as soon as possible. You should be able to get it cheaper than that online.

[Wild Turkey]

Its very close, but if it were me, I would go with the recommended (2x) amount of filtration. Better safe than sorry. However, there are cheaper alternatives to AC filters, they are quite expensive when you are putting together low tech tanks.

[Owlbehere]

That will work, It will help cycle it too. I just need to move the fast more aggressive ones out soon and I can't get the new filter and tank at the same time. I'd be able to get a new filter a little later. Thanks

WT- I didn't see your post till I sent mine lol. I've just fallen in love with the AC filter. It is low tech... I'm building my own stand :D. Well I designed it cut the wood then dad stepped in to put it together and then I will paint it. And I'm using Decor I have and cheap sand from Home Depot... Crap! I need a heater as well. Okay 5 horses to get the tank and heater lol.

[MCHRKiller]

You could save yourself about 40bucks by getting it online...Id definatly go that route. Id also check out ebay for used AC filters, ACs are so long lived even used ones will give you lots of years of service.

[Wild Turkey]

That will work, It will help cycle it too. I just need to move the fast more aggressive ones out soon and I can't get the new filter and tank at the same time. I'd be able to get a new filter a little later. Thanks

Regardless of whether you choose that route or not, If you just take some of the media with the fish thats proportionate (half the bioload?, take half the media) you wont have that problem, and i highly recommend it so you dont have a mini cycle.

Because you can seed filters this way theres really no need to cycle any any tanks other than your first, unless you considering it cycling, its rather instant bcs.

What I would do is grab two topfin 30's (or bigger) cause running two filters is never a bad idea, and though they may be cheaper filters, they work great for me and come with a lifetime guarantee, so no matter how long the ac lasts the topfin filters outlast it..until petsmart goes out of business that is(yea right lol)

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

until petsmart goes out of business that is(yea right lol)We can all dream. LOL :hmm3grin2orange:


I agree with Fishguy, moving one filter an a proportionate number of fish to the new tank would be a good idea. If you really want to increase flow you could add a powerhead to each tank and help push stuff to the filter intake.

[Owlbehere]

I forgot about why I had TWO filters lol, in case one broke. I just might go with two cheaper filters. So how does this sound? For now once I get the tank I will set it up with one from the older tank and a new one, and the older tank put in the new one and keep an older one? That way both tanks have two filters.


Well after I wash enough horses to purchase new filters... Then do this.

[Cermet]

My experience with filters are that most are useless junk except to clear debrie - only bio-filters really work and I have had great results with biowheel units (all I own now and yes, I keep spare parts and a spare unit. Critical spare parts are available. Before getting a back up filter, a heater is far, far more critical - try thinking what you would do if yours failed!) Most bio-wheel filter units are rather low cost (a big one with dual wheels run about $51@ Forester and about $9 shipping.) That unit will handle up to 75 gal and a lot of fish (once the bacteria are extablished.)