New Filter?

[cubert]

petsmart has the aquaclear 110 on sale for only 40 bucks. i currently have the aq70 for my 50g, but i was wondering if it would be worth it to upgrade filters, or if it is safe. my tank has been running about 3 months now, would it be dumb to get a new filter and replace the BB and start anew?

[Samsmobb]

$40 their original price is $89.99 so unleash petsmart is clearancing it out in that particular store, I'd verify if the $40 is for the aquaclear 110

[xxbenjamminxx]

If your tank is big enough for that filter Id say go for it. Just run both of them for a couple months so the new one can build up some good bacteria and then it will be safe for you to remove the old one and have a good spare laying around for when you setup the next tank. :)

[cubert]

ya its for sure 40 bucks i was there today :) theres definitely enough room so i think ill do that, thanks

[Samsmobb]

That's a great price even cheaper than eBay! It's on sale for $76 at my petsmart however I work there so I got a nice discount :)

[Bill63SG]

Great price,but a 110 is still alot for a 50gal.I would pick it up just to have,but I run the 70 on my 75gal,and dont get into the 110 until 125gal or more.On one of my 75's just doing sponges.

[dprais1]

Great price,but a 110 is still alot for a 50gal.I would pick it up just to have,but I run the 70 on my 75gal,and dont get into the 110 until 125gal or more.On one of my 75's just doing sponges.

+1

what do you hope to gain by running a 110 on a 50 gal?

[cubert]

more filtration? thats why i made the thread to see what the negatives could be.

[dprais1]

IMO you will get more filtration and alot more current. but you won't necessarily get better filtration and your water quality won't improve. depends what your wc schedule is. if doing 1x or 2x a weekly wc the quality MIGHT be better, but then you have all that current they have to deal with, which will also suck up food before the fish can get to all of it.

the ac 50 will give them a chance to eat the food and with daily wc should be more than adaquete, plus it's already cycled.

I had a ac 70 on my 50gal and had to turn the flow rate to 'low', when on high my fish would avaoid the area of current because it was too strong and i had to feed more because it sucked up the food, which also meant more cleaning of the filter media.

so iwas probably running my ac 70 at an ac50 flow rate. if you want more filtration get a prefilter sponge to attach to the intake. adds a lot of biosurface.

[cubert]

ok that makes sense, ive been upping my wcs to every other day so maybe it wouldn't improve too much. thx for the info

[dprais1]

ok that makes sense, ive been upping my wcs to every other day so maybe it wouldn't improve too much. thx for the info

I have always been a big "more filters-bigger filters" kind of fish keeper myself, but looking at all the success breeders on this board have with nothing but some sponge filters and big wc I had to really rethink what was best. (although I'll never give up my power filters for air driven sponges)

[Samsmobb]

I have 2 110s on my 75 and kinda wish I only had one lol it's alot of current but great filtration, I'd say get the 110 for the 50 gal

[dprais1]

I have 2 110s on my 75 and kinda wish I only had one lol it's alot of current but great filtration, I'd say get the 110 for the 50 gal

different opinions....nobody has any scientific data to support one way or another. if you choose to go for the 110 just remember you can always keep it on "low flow".



interested on what your final decision is. keep us updated

[Samsmobb]

That n if you don't like it sell it on eBay for ~$40-50 or return it

[dprais1]

That n if you don't like it sell it on eBay for ~$40-50 or return it


yep, or keep it for when you get a bigger tank:D

[cubert]

had to get it for the price, ill shelf it for now :)

[walt3]

you could play around with setting up obstacles in front of the return to stop theflow from creating a big disturbance like drift wood or similar. you would be suprised what you can do with the flow rate turned down as a start and then creative placement. good luck.

[cubert]

if i were to set up the filter i would have to keep the old one on for the new filter to gain BB i think someone mentioned earlier?

[Bill63SG]

Yes but your ac70 is MORE then enough!

[Samsmobb]

Well just ad the AC 70 media in the AC 110 and your good to go, if you have a high bio load it isn't as easy

[Bill63SG]

Crap....thier going to be doing so many backflips,they might as well be on Amercas Got Talent,