For a 10 gallon tank, with high Nitrite level , what filter do you recommend ? Currently, I have a top fin filter that came with the tank, but I'm wondering if it's good cause they water is always bad no matter what I do. It's a 1 month old tank.
2006-11-17 06:00:39 · 6 answers · asked by guppiefan2 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
I agree with the first answer. Those filters you have generally aren't that great(the ones that are included). I'd go with a biowheel, either marineland or the penguin brand(think they're the same company). Canister filters are great, but for a 10 gallon tank, kinda overkill. And they're kinda expensive as well. You'll want a filter that will put out at least 100 gph, but go higher. Get one rated for a 20 gallon tank. It'll put out about 200 gph. Put it on the tank, but also leave the old filter on/running. Sounds like your tank is still cycling if there's nitrites present, or you're not doing enough water changes(should do weekly). You're old filter will have some beneficial bacteria growing on it already, so leave it for awhile till the new filter can establish some as well. And, may not be a bad idea to just leave both on the tank. When you change out the filter pad, only change just one at a time/per month or two. And, if one should break for whatever reason, you have a back up filter already running on there. If you do that, your new filter you buy can be a smaller one (for a 10-15 gallon) because both combined will put out the minimum 100 gph.
2006-11-17 08:02:14 · answer #1 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Are you certain that your tank has finished its cycle, or that you aren't overstocked? A cycle can take as long as 6 weeks to finish, and nitrite usually takes longer to go down then ammonia. It is rare that a filter that comes with a tank isn't enough to keep things going.
Otherwise, there is hardly a wrong answer here. A small canister or a bio-wheel will each do a good job on the tank, but niether will help if your tank hasn't finished its cycle. The benefit to a small canister is that you can add it to your current filter, rather then replacing it. It's nice to go with a filter that isn't cartridge based, that way you can change or clean the filter in portions and not risk destroying all the bacteria - this is the biggest benefit to a canister type.
2006-11-17 09:01:58 · answer #2 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend an external canister filter which can turn your tank 4 to 8 times an hour. That mean it should have the pump capacity of 40 to 80 gal/hour.
Next the filter should have the capacity and space to contain enough mechanical filtration media and biological filtration media to support your bio-load. That in effect means that when your tank is established, the bio-media capacity should support enough bacterial to give you zero ammonia and nitrite readings, the only reading you should have is nitrate, which you reduce through water change.
2006-11-17 06:26:54 · answer #3 · answered by dragonfly_sg 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The AquaClear series are very good too...never had a problem with one keeping the tank clean. They have the flexible option of different kinds of media to be placed in them: sponge, carbon insert, zeolyte, etc. You might need to jump start the nitrifying bacteria though; you can buy some till the colonies have settled in the new filter.
My tank is very mature, and I've only left two sponges in it as the media in my AquaClear. No carbon, no ammonia remover, nadda...and the angels are happy.
2006-11-17 09:03:21 · answer #4 · answered by AW 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I own Aquaclear Power Filters for all my tanks & I never had any problems related to them. A canister will be too costly for a tank this size, it won't be worth it.
2006-11-17 09:27:39 · answer #5 · answered by rahimj_27 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For their biological capacity, ease of use, and their reputation for being reliable & long lasting; I recomend the Bio-Wheel power filters by Marineland for your size tank.in nearly any application.
2006-11-17 06:13:24 · answer #6 · answered by Jeff Hartnet D.Sc. 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋