Filter Overkill? Help

[Arianatheodd]

I'm going to be setting up my tank in about a week and whilst trolling on CL I found someone selling a 50 gal filter and a 70 gal filter for the same price. I'm going to be putting my new Puffer in a 30-40 gal tank and definitely need to purchase a new filter. Would purchasing the 70 gal filter for a 30 gal tank be overkill? Or should I break down and buy the 55 gal tank on CL and get the 50 gal filter plus another smaller filter?
I will be setting the tank up a month in advance and adding some guppies for the initial run (if I get a FW Puffer) plus some crayfish or shrimp. I may add some clams from the river after I have them QT in a tank with the snails from the river. Would having that large of a filter negatively affect the balance for the food critters?
Thanks

[RTR]

It all depends on the brand and type of filter, how easily you can or can not deal with the current produced, your filter upkeep schedule, how much you overfeed, and how well you do on water partials.

[bertie 83]

Please do not cycle the tank using fish, it is cruel. We have an excellent article on fishless cycling here.

[Arianatheodd]

Bertie, thanks I hadn't looked at it yet. I was going to use guppies/water from my mothers tank since I don't trust the water from my tap. But if cycling without fish is safer I would rather do that, we always had fish in during cycling excluding the Puffers since the first one was dropped into an ex-Betta 15 gal that had been running for months and the Betta got moved into a vase to make room for the Puffer. Although, the last time we ever did that was years ago when we didn't know there were other methods. Also explains why my moms mollies and swordtails never lasted long.

The filter is an Aqua Clear- my mom uses them and even with her very very intermittent filter cleaning schedule (1x a year) they have never broken down. I was considering putting the filter on the side rather than the back to create a stream effect. Ideally, I would like to have the shrimp and crays to help with clean up but if I need an extra filter or to downgrade I have at least 2 extra working ones that I can take with the tank. There is also a filter coming with the stand I may be purchasing. My mom is giving me her gravel vacuum- this is exactly why she only keeps guppies anymore cleaning is not her forte.
The tanks dimensions are 30" long x 13" wide x 18" deep if that helps.
When I had my other Puffers I did at most a 50% water change, my 2nd Green Spot got shocked with salt when I idiotically just dumped it in- but that was 8 years ago and I really don't want to screw this one up.

The other good news is my moms friend is a member of the local marine aquarium club and will help me out with education and care.

[Pufferpunk]

What's wrong with your tap water?
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

[Arianatheodd]

I can smell the chlorine strongly. I have no sense of smell, I literally slept in a room (with a closed door) with dog diarrhea hidden in the crate for 2 days and did not notice at all. My boss flipped but thankfully it wasn't my fault that it was there and not cleaned up but she was really really surprised I had no idea. I used a dechlor on the tap when I lived at my parents and couldn't smell the water then. In Harrisburg here everyone has told me not to drink the water, they all use filters or buy bottled. I probably could use bottled water or break out the big water purifier that does 5 gal at a time. I get paranoid easily.

[G S P Freak]

I can smell the chlorine strongly. I have no sense of smell, I literally slept in a room (with a closed door) with dog diarrhea hidden in the crate for 2 days and did not notice at all. My boss flipped but thankfully it wasn't my fault that it was there and not cleaned up but she was really really surprised I had no idea. I used a dechlor on the tap when I lived at my parents and couldn't smell the water then. In Harrisburg here everyone has told me not to drink the water, they all use filters or buy bottled. I probably could use bottled water or break out the big water purifier that does 5 gal at a time. I get paranoid easily.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-SEACHEM-Pri ... 337a32b5a8
Water where I am sucks too, I use prime and it seems to clear it up very nicely; prime is the #1 choice for everyone on TPF, as most people here use tap water. Good thing your sense of smell is bad, because prime smells... ( but doesn't smell up your water.. )!

[RTR]

All US public water supplies/utilities use disinfectants to protect the safety of the water from the plant to the user's taps. Those agents are safe for people but not for fish or for nitrification bacteria. Generally it is best to use you local tap of it at all usable for convenience and utility, but you do need to use neutralizers such as the Seachem's Prime mentioned above to make the water fish-safe.

[Arianatheodd]

Awesome, thanks everyone!

I am going to purchase the 70 gal filter but I will also purchase or make a large net around the intake to prevent the Puffer from getting sucked up and possibly stuck from the suction. I remember my mom losing a few fish to the intake catching them and basically sucking their insides out. This way when we finally move into a permanent home I will already have one filter for my next tank upgrade. We are moving next year and will be buying a house so I can finally get the Sting Rays I want too.

[bertie 83]

Does this filter not have an intake strainer?

[JRC3]

I have ran two Aqua Clears 70s on a 46g with no problems with the filter intakes sucking up any figure 8 puffer or small bumblebee gobies. I've also ran a single AC 70 on a 29g with no problems with dwarf puffers. If the intake strainer is properly in place you will have no problems with any puffer as well as most fish.

[G S P Freak]

Yes, healthy fish rarely have a problem with intakes of filters, as long as they have intake strainers. My fluval 305 doesn't bother my bbgs, and they're tiny little buggers and it's a monster of a filter. If you wanna be safe, they have fry guards, which are net-like coverings for your filter intake. They sell them at stores and online, just search 'fry strainer' etc.
Btw filter overkill is ALWAYS a good thing, as long as the current isn't overly strong.

[defool89]

Yes, healthy fish rarely have a problem with intakes of filters, as long as they have intake strainers. My fluval 305 doesn't bother my bbgs, and they're tiny little buggers and it's a monster of a filter. If you wanna be safe, they have fry guards, which are net-like coverings for your filter intake. They sell them at stores and online, just search 'fry strainer' etc.
Btw filter overkill is ALWAYS a good thing, as long as the current isn't overly strong.

Yea if your fish cant swin but are on rollercoasters all day, that's over kill.

[Arianatheodd]

Good point. I'll keep the smaller filters as back up and if the Puffer looks stressed and is having trouble with the strength of the current I'll switch the filter out. I figure getting a larger filter now will be good too so that when I upgrade tanks I already have the larger filter and a smaller ones I can add to them.
I'm going to get a fry strainer just to be safe.

Thanks for all the help!

[RTR]

All tanks need some degree of current suited to various activities - stronger for swimming and exercise as well as gentle for napping and/or sleeping. "Dead spots" without current can raise issues with upkeep.