New tank filter

[floydfan]

I am upgrading from a 29g to a 65g tank and was wondering about the filter. I currently have an aquaclear 50 on the 29g. Should I get a new filter rated for a 65g or can I maybe just add a second small filter like an aquaclear 30 or 50? The filter media in my ac50 should help the start up in my new tank, right?

[Peregrine]

If your intent is to keep costs down..add an additional AC 50...if you want to keep your 29 as is and start fresh..I would get a canister, a little more flexibility and less salt creep.

If you are shutting down you 29 and transferring everything to the 65...filter, gravel, and decorations...then it is really not much more than a big water change...and as long as you are not initially adding more fish...the current filter will help seed the new one..while maintaining the current bioload (you should not have a mini cycle)
Ensure to use water from the 29 when you start up the new tank (in this case most of it)...not so much for any bacteria it may contain (not much there, compared to the filter and gravel), but more to stabilize the water parameters...it will prevent any wild swings in the water parameters the fish have become accustomed to.

Were you thinking of moving everything over or only the filter?

[floydfan]

Well I was planning on just moving some of the decorations over. Haven't decided yet on the substrate. Right now I just have white gravel and would like to try something else. I'm probably going to shut the 29 down for a while, though I would like to try and harvest my own snails.

I'm not adding anymore fish. Just my 2 gsp and some ghost shrimp that took up residency. It was more of a bio question than a $$ one, although any savings help.

Of course now that I got my water changes/salt mix down to a science, that all goes out the window with the bigger tank.

Thanks for the help

[Nick]

I prefer multiple smaller filters on a large tank, so I never have to clean all my media at once, and so I can "borrow" one and have an instantly cycled quarentine tank in an emergency. So no matter what you put on the 65, I'd keep that aquaclear 50 on it as well even after the new filter has built up bacteria.

[floydfan]

Thanks guys. I'm sure I'll have more questions when I start setting up.

I bought my 2 gsp this past July before I found this site, hence the 29g. I keep up with the weekly water changes and they seem to be really healthy, so I'm sure they'll love the new tank.

[Peregrine]

I prefer multiple smaller filters on a large tank, so I never have to clean all my media at once, and so I can "borrow" one and have an instantly cycled quarentine tank in an emergency. So no matter what you put on the 65, I'd keep that aquaclear 50 on it as well even after the new filter has built up bacteria.

I understand what what you mean...even the tanks I have canisters on have AC filter media in them...just in case I need to set up a tank in a flash..(and I have done this on a few occasions)