The Puffer Forum

First off, I apologize if this is a stupid question but I searched and couldnt find an exact answer and I want things to be just right.

I am going to raise 3 small GSPs in a 55 gallon tank until I am ready to transition them into a larger tank which will be marine.
I want this 55 gallon to stay brackish and the 100 gallon to be marine.

I am thinking this filter and a powerhead will be sufficient
http://www.petmeister.com/item2932.htm
Marinelane 350 bio wheel.

Would this be a sufficient/good setup for three young puffers and some sort of brackish cleaner fish (if I can find one) or should I get the upgraded 400 series?

http://www.petsolutions.com/default.asp ... 2&SID=NXTG

or possibly another style of filter?


Thanks for all the help in advance.

Bio wheels are crap in my experience get yourself the best or in my opinion the best for FW or BW get an Aqua clear 110 for tanks up to 100g and filters up to 500gph. Plus you wont have to buy the maker of the filters replacement media You can buy loose media and sponges and bags to put it in for cheaper. I have 3 gsp in a 55g as well

good thing with the aquaclear too is that it has an adjustable water flow so that may mean that a power head is unneccesary saving you money it may be 10 or 20 $ more but will be well worth it and youll save money when you need to replace media in the filter. reef tanks I think you gotta have one. I wouldnt go with any cartrige loaded filters bc they just dont seem to actualy work well except in small tanks below 25g in my experience.

Thank you for the quick reply.
The replaceable media will be a great help as I have two pillow size bags of filter 'fluff' and many bags of charcoal.

I am just having a hard time figuring out what style filter is the best. not looking for it to be narrowed down to an exact model but just biowheel, vs canister vs standard rim mounted filter.

Three fully grown GSP's in a 55 gallon is not an option. Your 55 is a little under what the recommended bare minimum for two gsp's. Also, plecos are FW, purely. Get him out of there as you raise the SG.

They will not be in there for very long, like I said I want to raise them in it as I prepare my full marine 100 gallon.
I just want a filter that will do a great job in the 55 gallon.

Yeah, I learned that today and gave him away. The LFS told me it would be fine in brackish, turns out its not true lol. Gotta edit it.

Oh. That's good. I agree with Sammydee, I love my Aquaclear filter. Very clean, and I love HOB filters because it leaves more room in the tank.

Awesome , I was a bit confused on if a HOB could be sufficient for a larger tank. Wasnt sure if I had to upgrade to a canister.

Well, I now have a pretty nice canister filter. I put in a 50 dollar bid on one just in case, not expecting to win, and I guess no one was watching! Hopefully this will be sufficient and if not still a great deal and I am sure I can use it for something. Also has a UV sterilizer, which might come in handy if anything gets out of hand.

It was a Penn-Plaxx cascade 1000. Hope it was the right decision.

Go with 2 AC 110s. You can use them as mini fuges when you upgrade, placing rubble rock in them or use them for chemical filtration, although I really think carbon isn't necessary for FO or FW tanks.

Oh yeah, Im getting the AC 110 for the hundred gallon and then I can probably run the canister filter with that and then a protein skimmer and i will be fine right?
The canister filter and an AC 70 will be fine for my 55 gallon right? My uncle gave me an AC 70 that he didnt need anymore yesterday

IMO, you're wasting $$$ on a canister, since you won't need one for SW.

Makes sense, I wasnt sure if I could use it for that. But like I said I put a bid for 60 total and didnt think I would win but did.
I could just keep it with my 55 gallon and get the two 110s for my marine tank and a protein skimmer then right?

No, you won't need the ACs on a SW setup. You only need a skimmer and live rock.