Installing Extra Filters To An Existing Tank

hey everyone

this is just an idea at the moment (maybe not a bright one but I'm still pretty noobish). I have a 15 gal/60 lit tank with a hagen stringray elite 15 filter. ive had issues on here before with it and have since made very fish proof because for some reason they liked gettin stuck in the back of it.

anyways.. I have a spare filter of the stingray which I got given when I had to exchange my (it was leaking and they gave me a whole new set) and I also bought a hagen fluval (sp?) minI for the bucket in the changing of tank process.

I was wondering could I add one of these other filters (prefably the mini) to my tank to increase my filtration. I'm only asking this because I assume more filtration is better filtration

EDIT: also would I run the new filter in a bucket of cycled tank water for a while to get all the nessercary bacteria onto it

 

you can just run the new filter on your current tank...in a few weeks, it will be established and extra filtration is always a plus

 

sweet thank you

so I can just pop it in the tank n it won't harm the fish in there

also would you recommend me using my minI or my extra stingray. would 2 stringrays be overkill

 

I don't think we have stingrays over here...seems to be an european thing. same with jewels.

I have heard that the hood doesn't allow for hob filters?

 

the hood has 3 holes in the back for the cables. ive covered them up with netting though because once my apple snail got out lol

so what would be recommended should I go with adding the minI to my stringray filtered tank or should I add my extra stingray so I have two stringrays

I've merged your posts since they were back to back with no response between. Thanks!
Ken

 

I had so many issues with fish getting stick in the back of my stingray 10 & 15 (I think we have the same Elite 60l tropical tank set!!) I actually got rid of it and upgraded to a HOB. As Jaysee suggests, there was some minor DIY involved, but it was really easy.

If you see the back of the lid looking at it from the front, on the right hand side, there's what looks like thinner parts of the lid and a square part you could cut if you had to. I cut up from the cable holes at the edge & the small random useless hole slightly further along. Halfway up the lid, there's a line that you can just bend back and forward until it snaps off. I smoothed the edges, and the HOB fitted in perfectly. No more fish loss, and I'm sure the filter was for a larger tank so it upped my filtration as well! If you want pics, I can get some, let me know.

I actually bought the elite cool 14l (originally for goldfish but I added a heater) to use as betta tanks. 3 in total. They each came with the minI filter, they're very quiet, and I ran them in my 60l to get the bacteria built up. It's perfectly fine to do.

EDIT: Personally I would not add the other Stingray as I lost so many fish with each filter. Best would be to upgrade to a HOB if you can find one.

 

I had so many issues with fish getting stick in the back of my stingray 10 & 15 (I think we have the same Elite 60l tropical tank set!!) I actually got rid of it and upgraded to a HOB. As Jaysee suggests, there was some minor DIY involved, but it was really easy.

If you see the back of the lid looking at it from the front, on the right hand side, there's what looks like thinner parts of the lid and a square part you could cut if you had to. I cut up from the cable holes at the edge & the small random useless hole slightly further along. Halfway up the lid, there's a line that you can just bend back and forward until it snaps off. I smoothed the edges, and the HOB fitted in perfectly. No more fish loss, and I'm sure the filter was for a larger tank so it upped my filtration as well! If you want pics, I can get some, let me know.

I actually bought the elite cool 14l (originally for goldfish but I added a heater) to use as betta tanks. 3 in total. They each came with the minI filter, they're very quiet, and I ran them in my 60l to get the bacteria built up. It's perfectly fine to do.

EDIT: Personally I would not add the other Stingray as I lost so many fish with each filter. Best would be to upgrade to a HOB if you can find one.

wow thanks for the repsonse, very informative. if pics aren't to much trouble that would be sweet!.

yea I think we have got the same set. with my stingray I had 2 danios and a gudgeon someone get stuck in the back of it so what I did was attach a tight net between the 4 suckers on the back of the filter so nothing could get round to the danger area. so far been a month with it and no accidents. you would think the designers would test for these sorts of problems. I also had a problem with the impellor but they sent me a new one.

I think it my earlier response to jaysee I got my understanding of HOB wrong lol

I think ill def use my minI then its only small and should help bump up the filtration

thanks again for your post

 

Not a prob, I'll get pics later if I can manage (when I get home from work lol!). I got one of my long finned danios stuck most recently, the only filter survivor! His tail got completely chopped off, but is now regrowing perfect. I spent so much replacing fish, I was quicker and cheaper to replace filter.

The only reason I wouldn't add the other stingray is due to the trouble they cause. I added netting, tried sealing it up more, tried moving it, hiding it, using plant bits to stuff behind it, but they still managed to get in, get stuck and die. Stingrays are useless unless your fish are MASSIVE!!!

 

thank you . lol I'm at work to. great employees we are

since the last gudgeon died the modified stingray has been pretty sound. I was worried for a while my khulI loach being small and likes to hide I was worried I would have pull him out which would of been messy (ill never forget having to hose a mushed golden danio out made me feel bit sick) I added an extra cave to the tank and the loach has proclaimed it his home now.

lucky enough (well not lucky) the only fish I have left is a RTS which is about 2 inches big and a golden danio n apple snail they all seem strong and are now look to big to get involved in a stuck behind the stingray situation. I will probs have to get rid of the RTS though I got him when I was even more noobish than I am now. I was like OMG I can have a shark, that will be a hard day giving him away because I know now he will probably go great white on everything when he is fully grown, for now though he is really placid so I plan to add some more fish then when he gets older ill have to give him away.

I think then I will add the minI to my tank

 

all of my tanks are over filtered. my two twenty gallon tanks both have two HOB filters on them. more is better IMO. I can't voice an opinion on which filter, but pop one in!

 

Sounds good, I'll get stuck into the pics. I have no before pics, but you can check your lid for before shots haha! Once you see my pics & see your lid, you'll see how I managed it, but it is difficult to describe as you can imagine. I'll show how the HOB fits in too.

 

awesome, thanks everyone for your help! especially tigerfishy. this forum has helped me so much

 

Right, I've done my best!

1. Close up of HOB on my tank back.



2. A bit further back from it (by the way, the lid does fit on my filter under the tank lid, but the rattling drives me nuts so I take it off enough to silence it!).



3. Tank lid from the back.



4. Close up of cut I made, note how the curve at the top of the cut is the same shape as you'll see a line on your lid too on the same side.



5. The whole inside of the lid so you can see which side was cut (cable obviously on left hand side here). Also you can see that I got rid of the silly useless thin hole here and the bigger one at the edge.

 

thank you so much for the pictures, they are really helpful. we do have the same tank. I think once I get paid, I will look at a HOB filter, looks like a really good idea.

thanks again

 

No probs, glad to have been a help!