20g tank help,,,

[mermaidwannabe]

The best recommendation for a filter is at least twice your tank's gallonage. Since you have a 20-gallon tank, an Aqueon 40 (if they make them) or higher would be better than a 30. Or, you can supplement your Aqueon 20 with an Aquaclear 20 and the both of them together will give you the 40. An AC 30 along with your AQ 20 would give you 50. Or, just get an AC50 to begin with, and keep the Aqueon as a back-up in an emergency.

Best of success to you. Please keep us posted.

-- mermaid

[Asult316]

I did a 50% water change today and 9hrs later I did a quality test here are my results:
Ammonia: somewhere between 2.0 and 4.0 (before water change 4.0)
pH: 6.6 blame as before)
Nitrate: 5.0 (same as before)
Nitrite: 0.0 (same as before)

Will definitely go out and get a bigger filter next week. Thanks for the tip.

[pjaldave]

You still need to do a larger water change to bring the ammonia level down to 0.25ppm. 50% won't cut it, i am pretty sure you can do the math on that.

+1 to getting a bigger filter.

[Asult316]

I did a 75% change today hopefully I'll see a better improvement in my ammonia. Since on topic....what do you guys recommend a Aqueon quiet flow 50g or a aqua clear 50g filter? I've read not so great reviews for both of them. I currently have a Aqueon quiet flow 20g and it's not noisy or anything but apparently people have complained about the 50g being noisy.

[Jaster]

of those two, IMO Aquaclear hands down. I use them and Marineland Emperor series filters and love them. I found the aqualand to great filter and worth the money. East to start and clean. Media basket is great. Set for your needs as far as media. Flow is adjustable.

Emperor has a bio where so you dont have to worry about losing your cycle when you clean or change filter media. just leave the wheel alone and jusr keep it wet when you're cleaning things (I just toss mine in the tank and let them float when I'm cleaning the filter) IMO I think its worth a look if you're thinking about buying a new filter. I would think the 280 series would be good for what you're doing.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...8&pcatid=14448

[Asult316]

Thanks for the advice I will be ordering it this weekend. Now maybe the is a dumb question maybe not. Once I get the new filter what do I have to do so that I don't lose the progress ive made cycle wise with what will be my old filter? Btw I got my ammonia down to 1.0 after 75% change. Tomorrow I'll do a 25% and hopefully it'll get to .25

[Goes to 11!]

Answers in blue.

Thanks for the advice I will be ordering it this weekend. Now maybe the is a dumb question maybe not. Once I get the new filter what do I have to do so that I don't lose the progress ive made cycle wise with what will be my old filter? Leave the old filter in place for a few additional weeks while the new one seeds. If room or flow is an issue you can transfer the media to the AC and that will also work.
Btw I got my ammonia down to 1.0 after 75% change. Tomorrow I'll do a 25% and hopefully it'll get to .25 LOL - You are not quite getting the math right here. If you do a 25% change it will end up at .75%. [1.0 - .25 = .75].

It will take a 75% WC to get your level to .25%

[mermaidwannabe]

Just transfer your existing media to the new filter. If you get an Aquaclear 50, that will be really easy. Take out the carbon -- you won't need that and make more room for your bio media.

I recommend an Aquaclear 50. Mine, on my 20-gallon high, makes no noise, at all. Now the Aquaclear 110s -- the really huge Aquaclears -- are almost always noisy. I have two of those on my 65-gallon. Seems the larger the filter, the more noise it makes.

But with your 20, the AC50 will suffice. I think you'll find it an effective filter that's quiet and easy to maintain.

-- mermaid

[Asult316]

I'm planning on getting the marineland emperor 280 series. Honestly I didn't realize it works mathematically like that good to know. So you think I can take my filter cartridge from my aqua flow and fit it into the 280?

[Cermet]

OK, you are doing a fish based cycle with a lot of fish - because of that, the fish are adding ammonia faster than you are removing it - you can't do a 75% WC to lower the ammonia to a still too high 0.5 ppm and wait to the next day to only do a 25% WC while the fish have raised the ammonia levels more than that small water change can remove by the next day. During a fish based cycle, you need to be doing 75% WC every single day until and unless the ammonia falls off scale to zero. Then try 50% and confirm they are no higher than 0.25 ppm. (I'm using arbitary numbers to show what is happening - your 1.0 ppm ammonia is very bad - one does not even want 0.5 ppm if it can be avoided.)

Remember, WC do not add - two 50% WC's equals a 75% WC, it is not equal to a 100% WC!

Also, go easy on feeding the fish - they will produce less waste and the water changes will be more effective.