Aquarium Filter Question...?

Question

I have a 55 gallon tank that I got from a friend about 5 years ago. Until now, I had no idea that the filter had cartridges or could be detached and changed. We have only had a VERY happy pleco living in it.

I want to begin to adding fish, so I took a water sample to PetSmart. My nitrate level is "off the chart" and there is amonia present. The girl pointed us to a new filter (can't find a brand name on the old one) that is $150.00 and said that the other filters will not work. Is this true and/or could someone recommend a decent filter that may be a little cheaper?

Freshwater...for fish like mollies, platys, tetras, etc...

Answer 1

Yes you can find a cheaper filter. Something costing that much is liable to be a cannister filter, and you really don't have to have that for a 55 gallon tank. It's nice to have, but it is also overkill. You can get a bigger aquaclear 110 which is double the filtration needs for your sized tank, for half the price. This person is clearly after your money steering you towards this.

The only way i could see them wanting to get you into a better filter is if maybe you were steering towards oscars to put in. But even then, it's not necessary. Your nitrates are off the chart because I am thinking you haven't been doing water changes. And that's not such a bad thing. If you have been doing them and it's still high, then most likely you have nitrates in your water source already. Test your water source to rule that out. If you return to that pet store, get your own testing kits. Not the strips, get the liquid reagent testers, aka test tubes. There are quite a number of possibilities to get for your filter, but I'd reccomend an aquaclear 110, yes it's a little overkill there, but an aquaclear 50 or something rated for 55 gallons alone isn't necessarily your best choice. You do not HAVE to do this, but myself, I always carry about double my filtration needs for my tanks and have very little deaths due to water chemistry because of it.

What fish are you considering adding? This will help to analyze what and how much filtration you'll need

JV

Follow up: Ok those type of fish are not massive waste producers, and as ZTM said, the filter itself doesn't remove the ammonia, but what is better said out of that, is the bacteria that removes it primarily resides in the filter media. If you want to spend less money, get a single filter unit. An aquaclear 110 or even an aquaclear 50 and 20, giving you two filters is still going to cost you less then 150.00. Either way, you give yourself plenty if filtration should fry begin to spawn.

Answer 2

The filter that you have could be obsolete which might be why you can't find any replacement filter cartridges. If you are desperate, try taking one of the old filters out (clean it up a bit) and take it to the pet store with you. You may be able to find a cartridge that is similar in size and shape that will work. As far as the actual filter goes, for a 55 gallon tank you really need a good one. If you just have a cheap one or one that is not big enough to accommodate your tank, you could have serious issues once you start adding fish. I would say that $150.00 - $200.00 is probably an average price for the filter you would need for your tank. I have a 75 gallon tank and I think I spent almost 300.00 for my filter - it works so well that I never have to clean my tank! I would also shop around to different pet stores to find the best price. If you have a store in your area that specializes in fish and aquariums, that would be a good place to start looking. Their prices might be a little higher, but their knowledge about fish tanks will be much better than a regular pet store.
Good Luck with your tank!

Answer 3

This might be old school but a under gravel filter (UG) can be the best filter you can have.
Reason being is it uses you gravel as filter media and your important bacterias will start to develop in your tank which will help eat the left over fish food and fish waste that causes high nitrite and ammonia spikes.
This is better than using just a power filter on the back b/c the power filter is really just a secondary system that collects floating particles. But the problem with that is when you change the filter pad about 80% of your important bacterias will go away in which can cause problems.
Now if you want more water to be pulled though you UG filter is to put powerheads on the filter stem.

Far as getting your nitrites and ammonia down cut back on your feeding like once every other day, and a bacteria starter like Cycle, Stability, Stress Zyme. (I like cycle) And have some patients and it will go down over time

Answer 4

nicely the filter out I even have is an Aquaclear. it somewhat is quiet valuable and straightforward to maintain. Ive had it for approximately 3 months now and has labored super and it retains the water impressive and clean and the fish happy. I would desire to admit the rationalization i offered it became because of the fact the interior of reach puppy keep had a 50% sale on their aqua clean products one weekend. It has a three diploma filter out device - first a sponge - then filtered with the aid of a carbon bag and finally a 'bio bag' (which i think of is only a touch bag of porus rocks meant to hold 'sturdy micro organism'. Im unsure how the pump makes the water flow in the path of the three layers notwithstanding it variety of feels to paintings super. The sponge and bio bag are nonetheless in super shape only factor i had to do is rinse them in some aquarium as quickly as. the sole section that i adjust is the carbon bag which I oftentimes replace as quickly as in step with month. desire this facilitates. Cheers

Answer 5

Filters alone cannot remove ammonia and nitrate. Biological filtration will remove ammonia, but not nitrate. Bacteria can take up to a month to fully colonize, but you cannot wait that long. An ammonia detoxifier will remove it on the dot. Go back home, research your filter, and buy the proper filter cartridge. Replace it. Live plants will help remove the nitrate problem. Plant heavily if you want to remove the nitrate and save your fish.

~ZTM

Answer 6

Somebody was looking for a big sale. If you have only had the tank for 5 years, you can most likely still find cartridges that will fit it. You can post a picture of the filter here and no doubt someone can ID it for you.

If you need to buy a new filter, this one will work great for a 55 gallon in the 400 model:
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776754&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030059&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1183002764213&itemNo=4&In=Fish&N=2030059&Ne=2

MM

Answer 7

im with magic and jon, a cheaper filter would be fine

Answer 8

Dont listen to ZTM, he thinks piranhas are illegal in america, go buy 2 penguin 350's, and your fine.

Answer 9

Here are some examples of filters you could use, and are nowhere near $150.-, way to expensive

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776754&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030059&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1183009453832&itemNo=0&In=Fish&N=2030059&Ne=2
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441808569&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030059&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1183009454416&itemNo=8&In=Fish&N=2030059&Ne=2
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441779661&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030112&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1183009616392&itemNo=8&In=ALL&N=2030112&Ne=2

You can get each model at petsmart as you will see


Hope that helped, $150 is outragous

Good luck


EB