55 Gallon Tank Filter Experts & Guru's... Help

FILTER EXPERTS AND GURU'S.... IM CALLING YOU!!!!

I have 2 tanks. A 29 gallon with 1 Shubunkin Gold fish.
I also have a 55 gallon with 2 Pond goldfish and 2 Plecos.
***** DO NOT COME FOR ME DUE TO MY TANK SIZE OR MY STOCKING!!!!!!! *****
I currently have 1 filter on my 29 gallon.
The filter has 2 black sponges (can't remember what they are called) on the bottom, then a quick clear sponge, then some ceramic rings in a mesh bag and a black sponge on the side to make everything fit tight, but also not restrict water flow.
I currently have 2 filters on my 55 gallon that are both made for 60 gallons ( so 120 total in filters).
I am currently using the slide in filters that gets changed every month!
I am wanting to convert my 55 gallon filters like I have my 29 gallon filter but not sure the correct way.
My 55 gallon filters now takes 2 filter media's for each filter.
I've posted pix below of what I'm using in my 55 gallon (takes 4 of those) and also what I have on hand, supply wise..... what else do I need besides mesh bags for my ceramic rings?
How big of a bag? Also how should it be layered?
Please help! Someone told me on here a long time ago but I can't remember.....

 

Since you have two filters this should be pretty easy. Honestly, this is really not a big deal, filter media and filtration methods I think are often overcomplicated and the filter is just a way to create water flow through beneficial bacteria.

Generally media is used in the following way - sponge (coarse then fine if you have both), biomedia (so your ceramic rings), and then optionally chemical filtration and filter floss to polish the water. The idea is that you remove the biggest particles first with the coarse sponge as it is easy to clean and won't clog up easily and you use finer materials to further polish the water. The biomedia then has water free of debris flow through it so that the biomedia does not get clogged.

In your filters, I would just put the sponge at the bottom and a nice sized bag of ceramic media on top, im not going to recommend a specific amount, just as much as can fit above the sponge, the mesh bag will of course make it easy to rinse in tank water when you clean the filter. Also the size of the bag should not be a big deal as long as it is large enough because you can always fold the excess material under.

The reason I say I think it's overcomplicated is because all of my past filter setups (besides my canisters) with hobs have been pretty much just taking random media out of other filters and throwing it together in the general order of sponge then biomedia, I don't put a ton of thought into it

 

Just do one filter at a time, I have an article on it if you're interested, it covers other filtration topics (And as a whole is a good, informative read), but the section on modifying a hang on back filter is at the bottom, under the section called "modding your hob," it details what to do to modify it. Here's a link:

Filtration 101

 

Since you have two filters this should be pretty easy. Honestly, this is really not a big deal, filter media and filtration methods I think are often overcomplicated and the filter is just a way to create water flow through beneficial bacteria.

Generally media is used in the following way - sponge (coarse then fine if you have both), biomedia (so your ceramic rings), and then optionally chemical filtration and filter floss to polish the water. The idea is that you remove the biggest particles first with the coarse sponge as it is easy to clean and won't clog up easily and you use finer materials to further polish the water. The biomedia then has water free of debris flow through it so that the biomedia does not get clogged.

In your filters, I would just put the sponge at the bottom and a nice sized bag of ceramic media on top, im not going to recommend a specific amount, just as much as can fit above the sponge, the mesh bag will of course make it easy to rinse in tank water when you clean the filter. Also the size of the bag should not be a big deal as long as it is large enough because you can always fold the excess material under.

The reason I say I think it's overcomplicated is because all of my past filter setups (besides my canisters) with hobs have been pretty much just taking random media out of other filters and throwing it together in the general order of sponge then biomedia, I don't put a ton of thought into it

Oh ok cool! In my 29 I have 3 black sponge like material (all the same item just cut up) my aqua clear sponge then my ceramic rings in a bio media bag and then another long sponge on the side to make sure no space is left but not tight enough water won't flow through.. just know I have over the max bio-load so wanted to make sure I fill all 4 spaces the same way but the right way.

Just do one filter at a time, I have an article on it if you're interested, it covers other filtration topics (And as a whole is a good, informative read), but the section on modifying a hang on back filter is at the bottom, under the section called "modding your hob," it details what to do to modify it. Here's a link:

Filtration 101

Thank you!!!! I was luckily enough to fix my 29 gallon and I never buy filters for it... saves soooo much money lol so I wanna do my 55 also not only to benefit my pocket lol but also to benefit my fishies .... just want to make sure I have/get the correct items. I did buy the wrong items when I started to switch over my 29 gallon so don't wanna make that same mistake. Also my HOB filters have a blue plastic media slide in piece... do I need to throw that away with the filters?

Just do one filter at a time, I have an article on it if you're interested, it covers other filtration topics (And as a whole is a good, informative read), but the section on modifying a hang on back filter is at the bottom, under the section called "modding your hob," it details what to do to modify it. Here's a link:

Filtration 101

Also this is what I have on hand... what do o need to buy extra to change this all out this weekend when I do my W.C.... also do you think these ceramic rings will work in a 55? Also do I need to put all 4 slots the exact same way?
I forgot to add I have a Tetra Whisper IQ 45-70 Gallon Filter x2

 

I have 2 IQ 60 HOB filters... this is my current 29 gallon set up.. would it be Safe to replicate this? Or do I need to add more?

 

I run filters without any media; don't overcomplicate things .

I know it's common to apply different materials in layers, but I would insert any fine floss, vertically instead. Fine particles will be trapped by the floss, regardless, while the flow is less easily obstructed this way. Flow (and oxygen) is the most important concern of any filter. Not the colors, textures, shapes, varieties of the media.

 

I run filters without any media; don't overcomplicate things .

I know it's common to apply different materials in layers, but I would insert any fine floss, vertically instead. Fine particles will be trapped by the floss, regardless, while the flow is less easily obstructed this way. Flow (and oxygen) is the most important concern of any filter. Not the colors, textures, shapes, varieties of the media.

I'm not trying to over complicate it lol I just want my fishies to feel better between W.C.

 

Put the sponge in front vertically and then all of the rings behind them, or put them on the bottom and have the sponge on top. You can put the mechanical filter in if you want, I personally don't use them, but you can if you want, and just put that with the bio rings. If that fills your filters to your liking, you don't have to buy anything, but if it isn't enough, just but more of the same stuff. You don't need variety of any kind really, just need sponges at the minimum, and other things like your bio rings or bio blocks are just more efficient than sponges, but sponges still work fine.

 

Put the sponge in front vertically and then all of the rings behind them, or put them on the bottom and have the sponge on top. You can put the mechanical filter in if you want, I personally don't use them, but you can if you want, and just put that with the bio rings. If that fills your filters to your liking, you don't have to buy anything, but if it isn't enough, just but more of the same stuff. You don't need variety of any kind really, just need sponges at the minimum, and other things like your bio rings or bio blocks are just more efficient than sponges, but sponges still work fine.

So black coarse block then aquaclear sponge then bio rings got it... do I do that in all 4 spaces?

 

What do you mean by 4 spaces?

And the sponge should be the one closest to thé front, or on top. This is a pic of it of them vertically, for example (I used the blue things they come with to keep it in place, as I use multiple pieces of sponge, but I don't keep the cartridges in):

 

What do you mean by 4 spaces?

And the sponge should be the one closest to thé front, or on top. This is a pic of it of them vertically, for example (I used the blue things they come with to keep it in place, as I use multiple pieces of sponge, but I don't keep the cartridges in):

View attachment 872899

I have 2 IQ 60's on my 55 gallon which has 2 spaces in each filter which is 2 filter media per filter

 

Yeah, the sponges only need to go into 1 filter. (2 compartiments) The other would just be overkill, but you can if you'd like. The other, I'd just fill with the bio rings.

 

Yeah, the sponges only need to go into 1 filter. (2 compartiments) The other would just be overkill, but you can if you'd like. The other, I'd just fill with the bio rings.

Here's what mine looks like since I'm home now.... you don't think I should do both compartments the same?

 

You'd probably be fine with just one filter's worth of sponge.

You see, the sponges' purpous is to filter out big particules in the water, and with a 55g, regardless of the amount of fish, just one filter's worth is probably good. A filter meaning the 2 compartiments in one filter.