29 Gallon Tank Filter deciding for my cold water tank

Hi there, I have a 125 litre (28 us gallon) cold water fish tank. It has one calcio fancy goldfish and a black moor in it. I currently have a internal filter for aquariums at 110-160 litres (29 to 42 us gallons) and it has a 700/lph (185 us gallon) rate. I recently had a Nitrite spike and it is improving (from 5ppm to 1ppm) They recommended me get a HOB filter for a 380 litre tank (100 us gallons) as my fancy goldfish create a lot of waste (hence the nitrite spike) I have found 2 filters as I cant seem to find a HOB filter for that capacity. I have found a 2200lph (581 us gallons) Sponge filter that apparently is for 500 litre tanks (132 us gallons), or a internal media filter that is 2000lph (528 us gallons) but for 350 litres (92 us gallons) The sponge filter is around £22 ($30) whether the internal filter is £45 ($60)

 

Do you have the brand or make/model of filters? Depending on the style of the internal filter, I’d say spend your money there to get started. If you go with sponge filters I’d suggest eventually getting a powerhead to attach to it. I’m running an internal filter and sponge in my larger goldfish tank. The next upgrade is a powerhead for me. But this has been over time. Started with internal filter, then added sponge etc. since they keep growing you can try different things out and modify/upgrade as needed.

 

Hi there, yeah will just send the link now. I actually have an air pump set up - is it the same as a power head?

Do you have the brand or make/model of filters? Depending on the style of the internal filter, I’d say spend your money there to get started. If you go with sponge filters I’d suggest eventually getting a powerhead to attach to it. I’m running an internal filter and sponge in my larger goldfish tank. The next upgrade is a powerhead for me. But this has been over time. Started with internal filter, then added sponge etc. since they keep growing you can try different things out and modify/upgrade as needed.

Internal filter: AQUAEL Turbo Filter 2000 Internal Aquarium Filter

Sponge filter: Hidom 2200l/h Internal Aquarium Fish Tank Filter (AP-3000L)

 

I currently have a cold water 29 gal with 2 goldfish (until they outgrow it). They are about 3" right now. I have 2 of the large size sponges from aquarium co-op stacked with an airstone and the water is staying really clean.

 

That's a good shout. Thanks for the recommendation

 

The sponge attached to air will do a great job of biological filtration: giving beneficial bacteria somewhere to live. They are not so great at mechanical filtration: pulling poops out of the water with just air. Looking at the internal filter it’s basically just a powerhead with a sponge filter attached to it.
So seeing it, if you do buy it, I would suggest swapping the fine pore sponge it comes with for a coarser sponge like a pre filter sponge would work. This way it will pull and trap particles to it, and can be easily cleaned during maintenance.
I suggest a fine pore sponge on air and a coarser/larger sponge on a powerhead. This the route I’m going.
All that said: if you do not like the look of sponge filters then a HOB is your best bet. I prefer filters that live in the tank.

 

The sponge attached to air will do a great job of biological filtration: giving beneficial bacteria somewhere to live. They are not so great at mechanical filtration: pulling poops out of the water with just air. Looking at the internal filter it’s basically just a powerhead with a sponge filter attached to it.
So seeing it, if you do buy it, I would suggest swapping the fine pore sponge it comes with for a coarser sponge like a pre filter sponge would work. This way it will pull and trap particles to it, and can be easily cleaned during maintenance.
I suggest a fine pore sponge on air and a coarser/larger sponge on a powerhead. This the route I’m going.
All that said: if you do not like the look of sponge filters then a HOB is your best bet. I prefer filters that live in the tank.

Right thanks, so are you saying that i should get the sponge filter (attached to air) and replace the sponge inside with a more coarser sponge?

The sponge attached to air will do a great job of biological filtration: giving beneficial bacteria somewhere to live. They are not so great at mechanical filtration: pulling poops out of the water with just air. Looking at the internal filter it’s basically just a powerhead with a sponge filter attached to it.
So seeing it, if you do buy it, I would suggest swapping the fine pore sponge it comes with for a coarser sponge like a pre filter sponge would work. This way it will pull and trap particles to it, and can be easily cleaned during maintenance.
I suggest a fine pore sponge on air and a coarser/larger sponge on a powerhead. This the route I’m going.
All that said: if you do not like the look of sponge filters then a HOB is your best bet. I prefer filters that live in the tank.

It's just that my air pump is really small at the moment - would it deed enough air to the sponge filter?

 

The ones I have from aquarium co-op are coarse, that's what they recommend.

I got a very reasonably priced air pump from amazon and am running air pumps in 3 tanks off it.

 

Hi there, yeah will just send the link now. I actually have an air pump set up - is it the same as a power head?

Internal filter: AQUAEL Turbo Filter 2000 Internal Aquarium Filter

Sponge filter: Hidom 2200l/h Internal Aquarium Fish Tank Filter (AP-3000L)

Ok, so both of these filters are basically sponge plus powerhead. Between the two I’d say go with the Hidom, it’s lower cost plus looks like sponges in lower caged sections are coarser sponge to begin with. I’d use this and if you already have a sponge filter attached to air run both in tank. With goldfish there is pretty much never too much filtration. Your air pump should be fine. I am running three sponges on two different tanks off of a small air pump. No need upgrade that.
Hope this helps.

 

Ok, so both of these filters are basically sponge plus powerhead. Between the two I’d say go with the Hidom, it’s lower cost plus looks like sponges in lower caged sections are coarser sponge to begin with. I’d use this and if you already have a sponge filter attached to air run both in tank. With goldfish there is pretty much never too much filtration. Your air pump should be fine. I am running three sponges on two different tanks off of a small air pump. No need upgrade that.
Hope this helps.

Oh okay, yeah that makes more sense. Will go with this then. Will keep this post updated once I get it up and running. Thanks for your time both of you.
May I also ask if both of yours' sponge filters are double or single (sorry I don't know how to multi quote)

The ones I have from aquarium co-op are coarse, that's what they recommend.

I got a very reasonably priced air pump from amazon and am running air pumps in 3 tanks off it.

 

The larger the surface area for beneficial bacteria the better. I'd convert this tank to undergravel filter and not look back. You can still use a HOB to help out but the UGF will easily cover all your nitrification needs.

 

The larger the surface area for beneficial bacteria the better. I'd convert this tank to undergravel filter and not look back. You can still use a HOB to help out but the UGF will easily cover all your nitrification needs.

Thanks for the suggestion, have a bag of substrate ready for me to put in my tank in fact.

Ok, so both of these filters are basically sponge plus powerhead. Between the two I’d say go with the Hidom, it’s lower cost plus looks like sponges in lower caged sections are coarser sponge to begin with. I’d use this and if you already have a sponge filter attached to air run both in tank. With goldfish there is pretty much never too much filtration. Your air pump should be fine. I am running three sponges on two different tanks off of a small air pump. No need upgrade that.
Hope this helps.

Hi there, may i ask if your sponge filter is single or double?

The ones I have from aquarium co-op are coarse, that's what they recommend.

I got a very reasonably priced air pump from amazon and am running air pumps in 3 tanks off it.

Hi there, may i ask if your sponge filter is single or double?