andyd

Hi; I am going to set up a 29 gal. fresh water tank. I went to PetSmart and was looking at the marineland power filters. I asked the sales person what size pump I would need for the 29 gal. tank and he said the one that goes (up to 30 gal.) Then he said if you move up to the next size (up to 40 gal.) it would keep the tank water cleaner. Do you think that is ture or necessary?
Andy

steve_58

I'd go with a 60 if it were me.

DE88ROX

I too have a 29 gal tank. I use a Marineland/Penguin Bio-Wheel 330 power filter. Yes. it filters 330 GPH. Im Currently getting my tank up and running again (i moved) but when I had it running at the other house I was always complemented on how clean my tank was.

I also like this filter because the ease of cleaning/replacing the filter media. Mine is an older model and has 2 bio-wheels, with a filter cartridge slot and a basket slot for additional media.

Although I Im just getting back into this hobby and have to relearn everything, I think I would rather have a filter a little bigger than what I need as to one that just meets the bare minimum.



Good luck

URFisher35

i would suggest an Aquaclear 50. there is no biowheel (which will from time to time become clogged and stop turning). it has an adjustable flow switch which allows you to change the output flow. it also has the capability to be loaded with ANY kind of filter media you would like...AmmoLock, activated carbon, etc. At around $40...it really can't be beat. The 50gal size is efficient and very quiet.

Hope that helps
-A

CWO4GUNNER

Most of the experts I asked this same question said whatever amount of gallons you have add a zero and that is how much GPH you should be filtering whether with one filter or two the recommended gallons per hour (GPH) for no hassle filtering is in your case 300 which is probubly one of the larger hang filters available. I know Walmart sells Marineland and Aqua Tech hang filters for under $37 labeled 60 gallon or 350 GPH. I would also spend the $8 dollars more to get the one with the bio wheels as every little bit helps. Personally I would purchase a canister filter because unlike a hang filter which is not under pressure and bypasses as soon as it starts getting clogged, a canister filter forces the water through media polishing the water much better and requiring less maintenance (cleaning). I only use my hang filter as a modified secondary filter to remove nitrates by using the filter troth to hydroponically grow low light house plants as seen in my avatar. I have just started but hope to have the walls covered in Ivy using 2 hang filters and hopfully get my nitrates down to zero with minimal water changes.

namehater

i like to run filters that are rated at least 30% larger than what i 'need'. i run a topfin 20 (rated for 20g) on my 14g always have crystal clear water. on my 29g im going to run an emporer 280 which is rated for up to 50g.

i dont think there is such a thing as 'to much' filtration. the only time you should have to worry is if your providing more water current than your fish like.

something else to consider is the price difference in the filters as you go up in size, sometimes its only a $5 difference if you want to step up to the next size which might provide quite a bit more filtration.

andyd

Thank you so much for all your input! I have a lot better idea what to look for now.
Andy

Regal

Bio-wheels do not become clogged. To explain what a bio-wheel does... The wheel is not doing any mechanical filtration, nothing is going through the actual bio-wheel. The bio-wheel simply gets turned by the current of the water coming out of the filter and provides a place for the bacteria to grow. A slow bio-wheel is not a bad thing, as long as it turns once in a while the bacteria will get the oxygen they need.

Dozey

I have a 35 gallon tank and run two filters both designed for aquariums of 50+ gallons. My total water exchange is 420gph.

IMO don’t just squeak by. For your 29 gallon consider at least the Marineland bio-wheel Penguin 200 (for 50 gallon aquariums).

CoryMac

to me theres nothing wrong with to much filtration, i got a Marineland bio-wheel Penguin 350 on my 20 gal long, water is crystal clear & not to much current for my tank.

Fishies-for-me

i have a aquaclear 70 on my 29 gallon and the water is crystal...it is rated for a 70 gal tank.

SammyJ

I believe the Marineland Penguin 150 would be the size for a 30 gallon setup. You could prolly even run a Penguin 200 if you wanted the extra filtration. The 200 is rated for a 50 gallon setup. Were I in your situation I would run the 200 filter. I run a penguine 100 on my 10 and that is rated for up to 20 gallons. I have no complaints about my 100 filter, the only thing I did have to do was shorten the extension tube by a good bit so I could install it on my 10 gallon and still have the mid level intake.