go with a 20 gallon starter kit, or just a 29 gallon tank?

So... I just got a job at Meijer. I'm still in the process of being checked for a criminal background [which, I don't have]. I'm thinking about getting a new tank with one of my paychecks.

I tossed out my 15 gallon that 'supposedly' leaked. I just don't want to chance having anything that possibly leaks, especially since it did have a lot of old sealant around all the corners of the tank, lol. Yikes.

Anyways, my question to all you out there is.. Would you go with a 20 gallon starter kit, or just a 29 gallon tank?

I have a filter that is for up to 30 gallons.

I just want to put this out there, too. I can't have anything beyond 29 gallons, because of space. I live in an older trailer, and my livingroom isn't that big, really. :/

 

Welcome to FishLore!

I'd go for a 29 gallon but you'll need another or larger filter for the tank. The bigger you go the better.

 

What kind of filter do you have and how many gallons per hour does it filter.

HI and welcome to fishlore don't be afraid to post to many threads, the more questions you ask the better

 

It's a marineland penguin 150 bio-wheel filter.

How do I figure out the gallons per hour? lol.

 

I'm pretty sure the penguin 150 does 150 GPH. I've had 4 of those filters, not very happy with them. They seem to fail pretty easily.

 

You are correct Cichlidnut. A penguin 150 has a gph of 150. I also do not like those filters. I prefer canisters over all other filters but Aquaclear HOBs seem to work well. Filtration wise you always want to get as much filtration as possible. I'd suggest an AquaClear 70 for your tank. You might have to tone down the flow a bit but it is a great filter.

 

So far, I have no problem with the filter. It gets the job done, and is very quiet If something happens to this one, I may invest in an aquaclear, but until then, this one will do for now.

So, what's the verdict? Should I go with a 20 gallon starter kit? Or just a 29 gal. glass tank [provided that it comes with nothing else, but the tank]?

 

If I were you I'd go with the 20. The reason I say this is because you mentioned you live in an older trailer. just the water weight for a 29 is 242lbs(us)+gravel+stand+whatever else you put in/on it. That's a lot of weight for a trailer floor to support. Going down to a 20 gallon will take your water weight down to 166lbs....less chance to fall through your floor.

 

Basically GPH is also know as the turnover rate.

Turnover rates for a 20 gallon aquarium are

20 gallon. With 1x turnover is 20 GPH. That means every hour all the water in the tank goes through the filter once or 1x.

20 gallon with 5x turnover is 100 GPH. This means all the water in the tank goes through the filter 5 times or 5x.

20 gallon tank with 10x turnover is 200 GPH.

Basically gallons of water in tank times optimal turnover rate ( optimal turnover rate with HOB filters is 8 to 10x) equals GPH your filter/filters should get.

20 gallons times 10x turnover rate = 200 GPH

150 GPH should be fine on your 20 gallon just make sure to keep up with water changes weekly.




Now me the bigger the better when it comes to a tank. If you know where the floor studs in the trailer you might be able to get away with a 29 but I'm not quite sure. My parents trailer has a large glass table that well weighs over 400 plus pounds. Now all trailers are build differently but there trailer is more of a house not a camper thing

 

Oh no no no, lol. Mine's a house, not a ...camper thingy. I didn't mean to make it sound that way! lol. It's just very small and an older trailer. lol. It used to have other rooms and bathrooms, but someone re-modeled it, and now it is just a two bedroom trailer with one bathroom. [Too small for all four of us, really.] It's from the 70's, and it's not well built, but it's all I have.

So 20 gallon, eh? I'll check it out again next time I'm at the stores. I can't wait to get some little fishy friends.

 

I know what you mean by trailer, I live in one. Their more like Mass produced houses guys, not campers . Very nice, I live in a triple wide. I have a 29 in mine.
Id say the 29, it really opens up stocking. Also, id add an aqua-tech 30-60 onto it, they run very well and do a great job.

 

Ohh yeah I hav a double wide and I couldn't imagine a triple wide. Yeah. I think you could be able to go with a 29 gallon then.

 

Just make sure you know which way the bracing under the house runs, line the tank up so its perpendicular to the braces, that way multiple braces take the weight, and not one.

 

I'd do a 29. There's a lot more options for stocking with it and not that much heavier.

Welcome to Fishlore and btw, I went to college at NMU =)