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I am going to buy a new 20gal freshwater tank. What is the best type of filter to buy?

2006-07-21 05:19:18 · 7 answers · asked by drewsifer06 2 in Pets Fish

7 answers

I'd avoid under gravel filters as they aren't as efficient as other filter types. They provide poor mechanical and no chemical filtration. Most air pumps that drive them are rather noisy. Also I find you need to clean out the filter every year or so. (A lot of people will disagree with me on this.) On the plus side they provide good biological filtration.

I prefer a power filter (aka hanging filter) as they tend to be more quiet, and easier to maintain. They do a good job of chemical, and mechanical filtering. The down side of such a filter is that most do a poor job of biological filtering. Also when you replace a filter to replace the carbon you loose all the bacteria that convert ammonia. Some filters of these filters include a ``wet-dry wheel' (aka biowheel) or other means of increasing surface area, and aeration for biological filtration. In my opinion such filters are the way to go as they provide all 3 types of filters in one package.

If you are really gunho and wanted to over stock your tank. You could use both.

2006-07-21 09:00:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

It depends on the type of fish you plan to have. I've got a penguin biowheel, and I've been very pleased with it. It hooks onto the back of your tank, and sucks the water up through a tube, then spits it back out over a mesh wheel that is a perfect enviroment for biological filtration (good bacteria). If you get goldfish, plan to have a filter that moves 200 gallons per hour, for a 20 gallon tank. They produce more waste than other fish, and need the additional filtration to keep the ammonia down.

2006-07-22 12:49:14 · answer #2 · answered by farfromfl 3 · 0 0

Bio-wheels

they help maintain a healthy biological filter. They create much more movement at the surface which allows for more O2 to dissolve into the water.

They also look cleaner. Small filters by whisper and other brands have an open space around the water flow. This allows for mineral build-up. Bio-wheels are completely covered, they almost extend into the tank.

We have used just about every type of mechanical filter there is (excluding canisters...). We have switched all of our tanks to biowheels.

2006-07-21 15:19:43 · answer #3 · answered by Lynn 4 · 0 0

This really depends on the type of fish you are going to get.

Undergravels are o.k. but outdated.

Fluvals are good, but small and contain no true biological filter.

If you are just going to get small community fish, the fluval will be fine.

If you ar goingto get semi agressive or aggressive fish, or a large number of community fish, you need an out of tank filter, preferably one with a biowheel or other biological filter.

I like the Whisper filters, but theAuquaclear and the Emporer are also very good out of tank filters.

2006-07-21 13:45:04 · answer #4 · answered by urbanbulldogge 4 · 0 0

Undergravels, don't bother. Outdated rubbish. Unless you're still living in the 80's...

Depending on the stocking level, either an internal such as a Fluval 2+ (3+ if you can fit it in) or a small external, perhaps an Eheim would be fine.

2006-07-21 12:58:11 · answer #5 · answered by oohfeeshy 2 · 0 0

Penguin Bio-Wheel 150. Excellent filter - I've never had any problems with ammonia, nitrites or nitrate with mine. Really cut down on cycling time, as well.

Remember to cycle your tank before you add any fish.

Good luck!

2006-07-22 01:26:18 · answer #6 · answered by birdistasty 5 · 0 0

undergravel and a flugal one

2006-07-21 12:25:58 · answer #7 · answered by nikgy71 5 · 0 0

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