need help with buying filters?

Question

is there any good filters for my 55 gal fish tank?

Answer 1

There are plenty of nice filters on the market that pretty much do the same thing. There are 3 things associated with filtration. Mechanical,removes solid particles and waste. Chemical, removes cloudiness,odors, and impurities. Biological, removes ammonia, and takes waste known as bacteria and transforms it into beneficial bacteria, the process is known as nitrification. Biological is deep. Anyways, I would recommend the Emperor's or Penguin's for this matter because they're the only filters that comes equipped with a bio-wheel solely for Biological filtration which kills bacteria on contact! They also provide nice Mechanical and Chemical filtration as well utilizing the cartridges that comes with them, but must be replaced as needed as well with any filter you decide to go with. Other filters are known to have bio-beds for nitrification, but I don't trust them because nitrification needs oxygen in order to work effectively and efficiently. The bio-beds sit in the filter chamber covered by water all the time! If you can afford it, by 2 of the bio-wheel filters stated above. One on each side of the 55 gallon. The Penguin filter is cheaper than the Emperor, but the Emperor is more powerful.

Answer 2

For a tank that size I'd recommend a Hang on/in Tank (HoT) power filter. Ideally the filter should include a dry/wet wheel, or sponge in addition to the carbon filter media.

Most HoT filter simply have single filter media with active carbon. This provides great mechanical, and good chemical filtration. The problem is it takes weeks to build up the bacteria in filter media to convert ammonia, and nitrites. Of course by the time this happens the active carbon is used up and you need to replace it.

Ideally the filter should run the water thru a dry/wet (bio) wheel or sponge. This gives the bacteria a place to thrive, and still lets you change the active carbon.

Personally I recommend/use Marineland's Emperor power filter. They have solts for multiple filter media, and a dry wet wheel. That said there are a number of good filters.

Answer 3

Yep, I suggest an AquaClear 70: http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/manuals/aquaclear03.cfm

You should definitely get a hang off the back filter (HOB), rated for 70 gallons. You can't overfilter, so more filtration is better than less.

Do NOT get an undergravel filter. They are completely inneficient, and the rotting food and waste will foul up your tank.

You can also get an external canister filter (like a Fluval)
http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/manuals/fluve01.cfm
However, they are more expensive and frankly, an HOB filter is quite sufficient.

Also, even if it says to replace the filter cartridge every month, do not. Only replace it when it starts falling apart. When it gets gunky, just swish it around in a bucket of tank water before throwing the water away when you do your weekly water change of 20-40%.

Answer 4

fluval or eheim canister filters are the best for 40 and above to 80 gallon tanks