Filter question

[jackson17]

On my 55 gallon right now I have a whisper 60 filter on one side, and a whisper 30 on the other, this is enough filtration at the moment right? Later on (once i get a paycheck) going to get a canister filter to add in with these.

[jaysee]

you have 450 gph of filtration there - I think that will hold you over just fine!

[robflanker]

On my 55 gallon right now I have a whisper 60 filter on one side, and a whisper 30 on the other, this is enough filtration at the moment right? Later on (once i get a paycheck) going to get a canister filter to add in with these.

I don't think so, if you half each you have about 45g of realistic filtration so you need another 10 or so at least. You could get an AC50 for $17 and swap it out for the whisper 30 and then you'd have relatively decent filtration.

[robflanker]

you have 450 gph of filtration there - I think that will hold you over just fine!

howd u get 450gph?

[jaysee]

howd u get 450gph?

the whisper 60 does 300 gph and the 30 does 150 gph. Remember it's a temperary fix for a tank that's not fully stocked.

[Taurus]

Too many variables to answer the quesstion accurately.

What is the bioload of your tank? How many fish and what sizes?

How much water is changed per week?

Are you using the standard filter cartridges for Whisper filters?

Have you added any extra biomedia to the cartidges?

Time period until next paycheck?

Do the Whispers have the biosponge?

[jackson17]

Hmm... So will this be ok for like a month? All my fish are in the juvy stage still

Edit: Woah didn't see that post ^

3 fish:

Blood Parrot
Jack Dempsy
Pleco (all are in the fry-juvy stage)

2 water changes a week at 25%

Standard filter cartridges, but there is a extra 1 in each slot so that's 3 extra sponges

I have like $15 now, next paycheck is like 2-4 weeks away

[robflanker]

the whisper 60 does 300 gph and the 30 does 150 gph. Remember it's a temperary fix for a tank that's not fully stocked.

Well you have to half that so its really 150 and 75, for a net of 225gph. For $17, I think an AC50 would be an excellent temporary measure.

I think jackson said he is getting his 125g in September, thats a couple of months, if it was a week i'd say fine, but for $17 i'd do it - plus you could throw it on the 125g for a bit of surface agitation or keep it for a QT filter.

I'd swap an AC50 for a Whisper 30 for $17 any day of any week :hmm3grin2orange:

[jackson17]

Well I had the 30 laying around thats why it's on there. I'll try to get the money now but I need to get something for fathers day to lol

[robflanker]

Well I had the 30 laying around thats why it's on there. I'll try to get the money now but I need to get something for fathers day to lol

If you are really strapped for cash you could make it work, but Taurus raises some good points. With a lower filter, you'll need to be thinking a less aggressive stocking until you can get better filtration.

Two options IMO;
1) Get the AC50 or something else, and you can be a bit more aggressive with your stocking
2) Keep what you've got for filtration but scale down fish plans

[jackson17]

I have no more fish plans at the moment, like my stocking as is haha so then it should be fine.

My BP and JD are happy together and my pleco is just sucking away at nothing on the glass (weird little guy lol)

So I should be fine then since I'm not adding anything else till the move to the 125 gallon

[robflanker]

So I should be fine then since I'm not adding anything else till the move to the 125 gallon

I dunno, i think pleco's have a large bioload and make a lot of mess; but I could be wrong...

[Wild Turkey]

For the tank when fully stocked you are going to want twice whats rated for your tank. The rule is flexible, but since whisper arent anything to write home about imo; you are a little shy.

If the bioload is low (you arent fully stocking until u get the $$ for the canister) that will be fine, the only issue is water circulation, so having them on opposite sides of the tank is a good idea, also dont adjust the flow, keep it at max.

using gph to judge you want about 6gph:1g. So enough filtration to turn the tank over 6 times each hour.

[Taurus]

That's also $17 he could put toward a canister, too. I would be tempted to go with the Whispers and increase the volume of your water changes to 35%. Put the $17 towards a good canister filter. :22:

[jackson17]

I always leave the flow at max, how much are canister filters? I feel like that's going to hit my wallet hard. I'm getting the 125 gallon for free from my grandparents, I can see if they still have the filter for it.

[Wild Turkey]

I always leave the flow at max, how much are canister filters? I feel like that's going to hit my wallet hard.

You arent wrong there. Finding a decent one for less than 100 usd new is pretty impossible.

[robflanker]

An Xp3 can be had for $110 which is rated for 350gph but that wont be enough on its own. Using WT's rule, you will need 725gph

[jaysee]

I don't believe you halve the gph. The point is that the recomended tank size for the whisper 60 filter is up to 60 gallons. 300 gph is not enough to handle 60 gallons, we all agree, which is why many say "divide by 2." What you're saying is that a 55 gallon tank needs filtration capable of 110 gallons - based on manufacturers recomendations. An AC110 has a flow rate of 500 gph. The two whispers combine for 450 gph.

[jackson17]

What if I get that Xp3 and put the whisper 60 and 30 on the 125 gallon. That should be plenty right?

[robflanker]

What if I get that Xp3 and put the whisper 60 and 30 on the 125 gallon. That should be plenty right?

In theory thats 800gph but I agree with WT - whispers arent great. If it was done with aquaclears then i'd say yes it'll be great.
But i've got 3 whispers, and i'm not wild on them - they will be swapped out for ACs over the next few months.

[jaysee]

An Xp3 can be had for $110 which is rated for 350gph but that wont be enough on its own. Using WT's rule, you will need 725gph

Your math is wrong. Turning the water over 6 times an hour on 55 gallon tank means 330 gph.

The two whispers make 450.

[jackson17]

Would the tank be ok until I can slowly switch to AC over a month or two?

[robflanker]

Your math is wrong. Turning the water over 6 times an hour on 55 gallon tank means 330 gph.

The two whispers make 450.

I think he was referring to the 125g, at least thats what I based my math on. We might be talking about apples and oranges here lol :help:

[jaysee]

I think he was referring to the 125g, at least thats what I based my math on. We might be talking about apples and oranges here lol :help:

Well it's still wrong:11:

[robflanker]

Well it's still wrong:11:

You are correct, its 750, my apologies, i was off by 25g...

[Wild Turkey]

Yup, apples and oranges. Whether you use gph or the recommended tank size as your guide, its best to look up the actual specs of the filter and always go with a little more than whats called for.

If jaysee's specs are correct, according the gph, you are good; you have more than enough. But according to the whisper's recommendations (doubling them) you are a little shy. (for the 55)

So thats why i recommend meeting both of the requirements or exceeding them.

For the 75, I would try to go with 2 large filters rather than several small ones if thats possible. Canister filters are expensive but would be worth it in a large tank like the 75

Bickering is just making the thread more confusing guys lol

[jackson17]

It's a 125. I was going to eventually get a good canister filter recommended for a 125 gallon tank and then just throw the whispers on for a little more filtration

[Wild Turkey]

It's a 125. I was going to eventually get a good canister filter recommended for a 125 gallon tank and then just throw the whispers on for a little more filtration

Thats the way to go for a tank that large.thumbs2:

Sorry about the mistake, told ya this thread was confusing guys :hmm3grin2orange:

[robflanker]

Bickering is just making the thread more confusing guys lol

No bickering here sir! Just apples and oranges, and my brain hurting with all these math-e-matics i'm having to do in my head.

Numbers make the brain hurt :hmm3grin2orange:

[jaysee]

Would the tank be ok until I can slowly switch to AC over a month or two?

The 55 will be fine until you change over. I agree that whispers are not the greatest, but they will get the job done. If you want a canister for the 55, I wouldn't worry about switching to ACs.

If you are sticking with HOBs, definitely get rid of the whispers.

[Wild Turkey]

No bickering here sir! Just apples and oranges, and my brain hurting with all these math-e-matics i'm having to do in my head.

Numbers make the brain hurt :hmm3grin2orange:

Lol thats what im saying, too many numbers on this thread I cant even remember what size his tanks are:hmm3grin2orange:

[robflanker]

Lol thats what im saying, too many numbers on this thread I cant even remember what size his tanks are:hmm3grin2orange:

I just say put a 4ft red tail catfish in it, and its done! thumbs2:

[jackson17]

I just say put a 4ft red tail catfish in it, and its done! thumbs2:

Lmao ya, throw a whisper 10 on the back to, he'll be fine! :spam:


lol, Thanks for the help everyone, love this forum =D

[jaysee]

I just say put a 4ft red tail catfish in it, and its done! thumbs2:

:ssmile: In the 55 or the 125? :ssmile:

[jackson17]

:ssmile: In the 55 or the 125? :ssmile:

Don't over due it now, I was going with the 10 gallon here. :11:

[jaysee]

Whoa whoa, hold on! When did a 10 enter the mix??:hmm3grin2orange:

[jackson17]

Whoa whoa, hold on! When did a 10 enter the mix??:hmm3grin2orange:


haha, this thread was pretty confusing not going to lie.

[Taurus]

:goodpost: