new filter?

[jack]

i have a penguin mini bio wheel running on my 20g right now and its been working fine up until i did a water change yesterday. after filling the tank back up and plugging it in it only puts out a trickle of water... i think its time to retire it bc ive had the filter on the tank through different setups over a very long period of time (multiple years). my question is what filter should i get and what do i do about the beneficial bacteria thats already in the filter pad?

[JStrider]

Re: new filter?

keep the filter pad and bio wheel floating in your fish tank, that will keep the bacteria alive.

get whatever filter you want... if you got the same filter you have now you can just use the same filter pad and bio wheel.

a lot of people here like the aquaclears.  if you get one of those, just put the old filter pad on top of the sponge with the little bag of ceramic pellets on top

or you can run the new pump and the old one side by side for a while and after a couple months there should be a good amount of bacteria on the new one and you can remove the old one.

[Fire_chair]

Re: new filter?

Get an Aquaclear.

[thomas]

Re: new filter?

I'll vote for an Eheim. Less maintainant, and yet, more efficient.

[Zulaab]

Re: new filter?

For a Hang on the Back filter (HOB) I would go with an Aquaclear.
Pro : The filter comes with a sponge which you need to clean -- then use the sponge again.  Penguin filter, you have to replace the filter pad every few weeks.  Usually higher water flow compared to other HOB's
Con : More expensive up front.

Canister filter.  Eheim.
Pro : Properly the best canister filter on the market.  Consistently rates highest in test showing how fast beneficial bacteria grow in them and convert your ammonia, Nitrites into Nitrates.   Many many reports of filters working 20+ yrs
Con : Most expensive filter on the market.

In both cases I call it as "you get what you pay for"

[jack]

Re: new filter?

i dont really have a spot for an eheim cuz my tank is on my bedside table and theres a bunch of stuff under the table. i think ill just get an aquaclear, i can pick one up at like petsmart or petco right? what would be the fastest way to transfew from the old filter to new one? floating the old filterpad in the tank while the new filter runs or running them side by side? i didn't really understand JStrider when he said "a lot of people here like the aquaclears.  if you get one of those, just put the old filter pad on top of the sponge with the little bag of ceramic pellets on top"

[fishlady]

Re: new filter?

jack....i would also suggest that if your buying it from petsmart then print out the price they have on line....and take the paper to the store they will match the online price for you....it's significantly cheaper doing it that way......if not you'll pay out the nose for it.......

[JStrider]

Re: new filter?

the aquaclear filters have a section for the sponges and filters that the water flows up thru from the bottom and then spills over back into the tank, you dont have to put in just what they give you, you can put whatever you want into it, so in your case you will put the sponge on the bottom, then either another sponge or activated carbon, depending on if you use the AC, then put your used filter on top, then put the ceramic bio media stuff on top of the old filter.

im sure it will make more sense once you have the aquaclear in hand.

or just run both filters for a month or 2

[jack]

Re: new filter?

jack....i would also suggest that if your buying it from petsmart then print out the price they have on line....and take the paper to the store they will match the online price for you....it's significantly cheaper doing it that way......if not you'll pay out the nose for it.......

so search around for a good price and have them price match it there? good idea :)

[JStrider]

Re: new filter?

I think they only match prices from petsmart.com

the petsmart.com prices are cheaper then their in store prices...

there is a thread about it on the forum somewhere...

[JStrider]

Re: new filter?

heres that thread!

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2641&highlight=petsmart

[jack]

Re: new filter?

thats wierd that things are cheaper online than in store. ill try it out soon. thanks

[Fire_chair]

Re: new filter?

I've heard that some of the managers at Petsmart will price match anything, not just their online prices. Might wanna call a few stores close to you and see if one will.

[jack]

Re: new filter?

ok i might try that too. petsmart.com did not have a price for the aquaclear 150/30 though...

[jack]

Re: new filter?

the tank is a 20g, should i get a filter that filters up to a 20g tank or up toa 30g tank?