|
|
|
Starting Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 7:20:40 PM
Posts: 192,
Visits: 318
|
|
I am planning on getting a 30 gallon saltwater tank soon, and the owner of the LFS suggested the AquaClear 50. He said I should go for this stronger filter because of the number of fish I'm keeping (2 Oceallaris Clowns, 1 Pajama Cardinal, and 1 Chalk Basslet). I wanted to know if this is a good filter, so please reply. 
29 Gallon Planted Freshwater:
2 Bolivian Rams
3 Balloon Mollies
1 Red Cobra Delta Guppy
8 Harlequin Rasboras
5 Otocinclus
4 Kuhli Loaches
4 Gallon Planted Betta Tank:
1 Male Veiltail Betta
3 Gallon Betta Tank:
1 Male Crowntail Betta
1/2 Gallon Live Plant Aquarium:
Water Sprite
Amazon Sword
40 Gallon Rubbermaid Balloon Molly Grow-Out:
100s of Balloon Mollies (mostly juvenilles to adults)
10 Gallon Birthplace and Nursery:
100s of Balloon Mollies (mostly fry to very young)Other Pets:
2 Leopard Geckos
1 Crested Gecko
1 Chinese Hamster
|
|
|
|
|
Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 6:38:16 PM
Posts: 11,957,
Visits: 5,449
|
|
Are you going FO (Fish Only), FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock), or reef? If you want FO (which I don't recommend) that filter is fine. If you will be having live rock (either a reef or FOWLR) the best filter you can have is the live rock itself and several powerheads (minimum 300 gallons per hour total, but preferably 600gph) to push the water through the rock. Add a small HOB skimmer to that (like a remora) if you won't be having a sump, or an in-sump skimmer if you will, and you're good to go.
You don't want a traditional filter on a saltwater set up unless it is FO because they are nitrate factories. The filter media traps detritus and the bacteria in the filter breaks the detritus down into ammonia, then nitrite, then nitrate, but there is no bacteria in the filter to break down the nitrate into a gas so it can leave the tank. That happens deep in the crevices of the live rock or a deep sand bed, but because the detritus is trapped in the filter, it never makes it out to get broken down. You want the detritus to get trapped in the live rock instead so it can get broken down there all the way to a gas and exit the aquarium.
.
|
|
|
|
|
New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/12/2008 5:17:06 AM
Posts: 25,
Visits: 41
|
|
Great Filter! I have it. Except dont bother for saltwater. Its an amazing filter... for freshwater mainly. It's patien is the biomax which you dont want when using LR. You want the bacteria in ur tank on the rock than in ur filter. The only other kinda filter you might need is a mechical filter. Yet you will want to run carbon and if the skimmer doesnt offer a place for it than just throw it in a HOB powerfilter. All you really need is a skimmer and powerhead like hailey said. Although I'm curious how much than owner knows because the 50 pumps 200gph and you would want 300gph. Or at least 10 x the tank volume per hr in water flow (not including the skimmer). Look into Coralife super skimmer @ the store. Yet the remora (great/top HOB can only be found online, usually on ebay).
Please Ignore- "Why else would I stick my hand into the pirhana tank...it was dirty and needed a SCRUB DOWN!" 
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 5:38:35 PM
Posts: 287,
Visits: 396
|
|
| Hailey has it covered. Liverock and sand for biological filtration. The rock will seed the sand with denitrifying bacteria, almost instant live sand. Skimmer for mechanical. (I like the Aqua-C skimmers too, not too big on the Coralife.) This is the ONLY type of filtration that actually removes waste from the water column. All others just trap waste which continues to polute until you remove it. Avoid anything that has a sponge or fiber filter. Good circulation for gas exchange and to keep detritus in the water column for removal by the skimmer. The absolute best piece of equipment to keep water quality up....... you and good husbandry! The LFS is probably just trying to sell you what they carry. Worse would be if they really didn't know any better. 
So many species, so little money!
|
|
|
|
|
New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/12/2008 5:17:06 AM
Posts: 25,
Visits: 41
|
|
Skimmers are most efficient when they skim the surface because DOCs - dissolved organic carbon are attracted to water air boundaries. The Coralife Super Skimmer may not be the best skimmer; it is the top for HOB. Some people don’t like it but compared to others it has higher ratings. Name two other HOB skimmers, Nep2Ns PlumR, besides the Remora that handles medium size tanks (20-75) @ a reasonable cost. Additionally - Anything other than proteins, DOCs and some metals, usually aren’t removed by the skimmer and go right back out the outtake. Purely mechanical filters can be useful, yet can be more work due the fact that you would want to change/rinse @ least once a week to rid the debris of contact in the water flow and cut down its effects as a Bio filter.
Please Ignore- "Why else would I stick my hand into the pirhana tank...it was dirty and needed a SCRUB DOWN!"
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 5:38:35 PM
Posts: 287,
Visits: 396
|
|
| rebok said: Please Ignore- .....................
So many species, so little money!
|
|
|
|
|
New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/15/2008 8:04:16 AM
Posts: 12,
Visits: 14
|
|
| ive never had very good luck with those but i still use one to filter a 55 gallon freshwater
|
|
|
|