From Silentstream 10 to Aqua Clear 20

Hello everyone,

I'm fairly new to the hobby, and currently have a 10 gallon Top Fin starter tank that I purchased from Petsmart about 6 or so months ago. I am overstocked with 6 guppies and 4 platys, but do weekly 25% water changes, along with the appropriate tests with an API kit.

Anyways, I sheepishly admit that I just learned about the different levels of filtration. At the moment, I have a Silentstream 10 HOB filter that came with my starter kit. I just added a mechanical filter at the intake, and now looking at getting some bio rings and foam to replace the cartridge system that is currently in there. This got me thinking about actually upgrading to the Aqua Clear 20, as it has all of the filter media that I'm looking for, along with better flow specs etc.

With that, I have a few questions:
1. Would this upgrade be much of an "upgrade" to my setup?
2. If I do end up upgrading, how should I transition to the new filter without causing any issues to my tank? Place all of my current filter media into the Aqua Clear, and for how long?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

In my opinion, the best filter is usually the one you have already. I have no idea what a Silentstream 10 is, but if you have a sponge over the intake, and fill the back up with sponge/ceramic rings/ lava rock/ dish rags/ anything porous really... you would almost certainly be able to culture enough nitrifying bacteria.

But, if you do decide to go with the AC 20, yes just take everything out of your current filter and jam it in the back of the new one with the new media for at least a couple weeks, but really however long it holds up. If it's a cartridge that might be a few months, sponges and ceramic rings last years/decades.

 

In my opinion, the best filter is usually the one you have already. I have no idea what a Silentstream 10 is, but if you have a sponge over the intake, and fill the back up with sponge/ceramic rings/ lava rock/ dish rags/ anything porous really... you would almost certainly be able to culture enough nitrifying bacteria.

But, if you do decide to go with the AC 20, yes just take everything out of your current filter and jam it in the back of the new one with the new media for at least a couple weeks, but really however long it holds up. If it's a cartridge that might be a few months, sponges and ceramic rings last years/decades.

That's the thing, I don't think I'm culturing as much bacteria as I could be with the stock filter cartridge (the kind that has activated charcoal that the manufacturer tells you to change monthly).

That's good to know about swapping out filters. Part of my desire to swap filters is based on using sponges with ceramic rings. My current filter setup doesn't give me too much room to add media, so I figured that this might be a good excuse for me to upgrade.

 

TWRC , take a look at the very first thread in the section this thread is in. It is sticky'd at the top and titled something like "DIY filter media for Silentstream, Aquaclear and other HOB'".

It will have all the info you need. Lot of ideas, examples and pics for adding your own media to HOB filters.

Also, how is your 10 g stocked ?

If it were my setup, I would keep the Silentstream 10 and either add a sponge filter driven by an airpump or put a Silentstream 20 on it for $10-$14.

Our 10 gallon has a Silentstream 20 + a sponge filter. That HOB has the flow turned 1/2 way down. No cartridge in it, just a bit of Polyfill, a block of foam sponge, small bag of bio media and a slip on pre-filter sponge on the intake strainer. Set up is very similar to an example mentioned in the thread I mentioned above.

Our 5.5g has the Silentstream 10 HOB you have. It's reservoir is filled with a small bag if bio media on the bottom and a block of foam sponge on top.

 

HI Islandvic I got some pretty good ideas from that thread, but managed to find an Aqua Clear 30 for $28 CAD last night at Petsmart. It's physically bigger, but moves a lot more water. I'll need to play around with it in order to not stress my fish out.

I currently have the media soaking in my tank, and will make the switch in a couple of days. After reading some more threads, I'm going to try and jam my old filter media into the AC30. I don't plan on using the activated charcoal that came with the AC30, so I should have space to put my old media into it.

I do intend on removing the old media once the BB has been established, but would you guys recommend using another sponge or additional bio rings in the the AC30?