Choosing a filter - 36 gallon aquarium

I've had a 10 gallon tank for a while, but finally upgraded to a 36 gallon bowfront tonight. I'd like to go ahead and choose a filter so I can start the cycling process but I've never had a tank this large and I'm not sure what kind of filter is best for it. I've used a Tetra Whisper HOB 10-30I for my 10 gallon, but I'm not sure if the HOB filter type is really that good for larger aquariums. Can someone with experience in the larger tanks give me a couple recommendations?

If it makes a difference, I won't have any fish in my aquarium. I have three apple snails, a mystery snail, two nerite snails, and baby apple snails on the way from an egg clutch. So I will have some *very* small snails in my tank and can cover the intake with a sponge or pantyhose if needed, but I want get a filter type that is as safe for them as possible.

 

If you're moving all the inhabitants from the 10 gallon over and not adding any fish, I would just move over the Tetra filter if it fits over the rI'm and then add an Aquaclear 50. You should have an instant cycle too.

 

HOB's are fine for a 36 gallon. If you were talking something like 125 gallon or somewhere around there then i'd probably tell you that HOB's wouldn't be a very efficient way to go but there are plenty of HOB's that can handle a 36 gallon.
el337 has a great suggestion in doing 2 filters as having 2 smaller filters working along side each other gives you insurance in case one of them breaks.

 

Since I'm still okay with HOB filters, I think I'm gonna order the Marineland Penguin 200GPH filter on amazon I would just go ahead and move over my current filter, but I've got two egg clutches attached to my 10 gallon tank and I'm afraid to mess with those. I've had extra filter media shoved in that filter for over a month and after watching online reviews of the Penguin 200 I can see that I'll have room to stick the seeded media into my new filter. It might not be an instant cycle that way since it's not the 'full' filter media, but I don't mind a little bit of a wait. I'm just trying to plan ahead for the new babies

Thanks for the help!

 

I have a 30 gallon at the moment and run a aquaclear 50 and a smaller aquamanta HOB (around the same a s an aquaclear 20). Definitely would reccomend the dual HOB setup

 

I looked up the aquaclear 50 on amazon just now and have decided that actually looks better than the penguin I was about to order. Do you think my filter media will fit in there with all the other filter media in the filter, or could I safely leave something out until the filter is seeded? Thanks!

 

I'm pretty sure you can fit the extra media in the Aquaclear. That's one of the appeals - the large media basket.

As for the egg clutch, I think if you can remove it carefully from wherever it's attached and have it floating on top of a piece of styrofoam in the new tank, it should be ok. Just keep it moist by spraying it a little with some tank water.

 

The aquaclear filter has been ordered and is due to arrive Thursday. I'm not adding any other animals to the tank, I'm waiting on my eggs to hatch and they were only layed Saturday, so that will be a while. (I'm not keeping them all so there won't be a huge bio-load change.)

If I were to put my snails, decor, and filter from their old tank in the new 36 gallon tank tonight, would it matter that I only have the one filter until Thursday? I can just wait until Thursday to move it all over if that would be safest. The HOB filter I have is only rated for up to 30 gallons, and I don't want to cause a minI cycle or anything by not having enough filtration.

 

You should be able to move everything over before the new filter comes. most of your bacteria is housed in your current filter so if it gets moved over with all of your decor then you should lose very little bacteria and a minI cycle should not be a threat. Just make sure when transferring everything over that your filter media in your current filter doesn't dry out