Need help finding the right filter for my 36 gallon tank

Currently, I am running a 36 gallon bowfront Aqueon tank with an Aqueon power filter HOB filter. Other than that ( it was a kit that came with my tank ) the instruction booklet doesn't tell me the specs.
I was told I probably should get another filter to put along side of this one - my tank is not currently cycled ( long story but did TSS and I am about 10/11 days POST TSS cycle and doing daily pwc )

So now I am looking in to other filter options and don't know where to begin. I need something simple enough to operate, as well as maintain, that won't cost an arm and a leg.....

If you have this similar set up, I would love to know what you have and your thoughts....

Thank you!

 

I also bought the 36g kit and used that filter. The filter did great. I had quite the heavy bioload on the tank for a while and it kept right up with it. The one thing I didn't like about the filter was the inserts you were supposed to use with it. I used re-useable, washable (in used tank water of course) floss media instead. So that's all I would recommend. Adding another filter isn't going to cause your tank to cycle any faster/remove any ammonia/nitrite from the water so I don't really see the point in adding another filter unless the filter is really insufficient. It was fine for me but I understand it may not be for someone else... just saying that I really liked the filter. Surprised it was such a good filter for coming with a kit.

As far as suggestions, I've used Aquaclear HOB and Eheim canister filters. I would recommend either of them. The Aquaclear HOB is nice. Lots of room for different media and runs smoothly. The canister is more expensive but it doesn't need to be cleaned as often as HOB and it holds tons of media and runs great.

 

Thank you for your feedback. I really appreciate it. I really don't know what to do at this point. Some people think that my filter is not strong enough or efficient enough to process what I have thus my tank not cycling. Just to make a long story short, I started this tank on 4/30/12. I ran the water with a declorinator for 24 hours. Then the next day, I added TSS ( full bottle rated at 70 gallons ) and added my fish ( see my signature for the types )
Then 14 days later, I did water check with API test - had readings indicating it did not cycle so I started doing pwc - its been like 10 days every day and still not cycled.
A few people pointed out the filter thing - that's why I wanted to check with other people who have the same or similar set up as me to see what I am doing wrong or if its my tank.......
So I am basically just taking it all in and trying to decide what to do.......

 

I input all your fish and snails intoalong with your tank size and filter, and I got the following message: "Warning: You should add more aquarium filtration capacity. Your aquarium filtration capacity for above selected species is 94%"

Btw, most people add just 3-6 fish at once, wait two weeks, and then add another 3, etc. I wonder whether your tank won't cycle because you added too many fish and snails all at once. Several of your tank's inhabitants have a large bioload: 2 bn plecos, the apple snail and the 3 mystery snails, plus 11 other fish - that is a hefty bioload for an uncycled tank.

EDIT: Also most people just add a handful hardy fish during cycling, even with TSS, and wait until the tank has cycled to add more gradually. This is why the amount of time that most people take for cycling tank does not match the amount of time you are now cycling because your tank has to grow a much larger initial bacteria colony to handle all these fish and snails.

 

I input all your fish and snails intoalong with your tank size and filter, and I got the following message: "Warning: You should add more aquarium filtration capacity. Your aquarium filtration capacity for above selected species is 94%"

94%? I am not sure I know what that means. As in 94% over capacity????
What should an ideal setup capacity be? Just curious!

 

It's trying to say you would need 6% more filtration for your current stock to have 100% proper filtration. In my opinion it is fairly accurate but tends to aI'm a little high on filtration.

 

No problem. I hope I can help. As long as water is running through the filter, it gives a place for bacteria to grow which, as long as it's present, will begin to process ammonia. So even if you have an insufficient filter you'll know if it's cycling by the presence of nitrite then eventually nitrate.

My advice would be not to worry about the time it's taking. Worry about your parameters. What are your nitrite and nitrate readings at this time, if any?

Feel free to add another filter if you want though. A sponge filter would be a simple, inexpensive option.

Btw, most people add just 3-6 fish at once, wait two weeks, and then add another 3, etc. I wonder whether your tank won't cycle because you added too many fish and snails all at once. Several of your tank's inhabitants have a large bioload: 2 bn plecos, the apple snail and the 3 mystery snails, plus 11 other fish - that is a hefty bioload for an uncycled tank.

I wonder that too. I know someone who added too many fish to start off with and her tank never cycled... I had to take her fish from her eventually.

It hasn't been all that long since set-up though, I've had tanks take longer to cycle with fish in, so hopefully that isn't the case.

 

Unfortunately, due to MY ignorance and the LFS, I added everything to the set up at one time. Okay... Here's the worst part.... MOST of the fish I have now, including the snails were originally sold to me for my 5 gallon! I know!!! I had no idea about all of this "cycling" stuff and no one told me. It was only after my wanting to seek more answers why my readings were off the chart ( yeah, the LFS DID tell me to test the waters )
So then, I bought the 36 gallon tank and this is where I am today. My 5 gallon only has one snail and a Betta right now.
So my reading in my 36 gallon as of today was:
Ammonia = 0.25
Nitrite = 0.25
Nitrate = 5.0
It's been pretty consistant and I have been doing the pwc + prime daily.

 

94%? I am not sure I know what that means. As in 94% over capacity????
What should an ideal setup capacity be? Just curious!

The ideal setup is to overfilter and under stock, so have more filters and/or more powerful filter than necessary for the fish one has, and have fewer fish than can fit in your tank. Very few people have the strength of will to under stock I think, so the goal really is to not overstock too much and to have very strong filter or more than one to make up for the fact that one is not under stocking. I was trying to aI'm my filtration to as close to 200% as I could get. I have a secondary filter that in an emergency ought to be strong enough to handle my tank on its own for a while. Some people would say that is overkill, but I think especially in an aquarium with a large bioload a bit of overkill in filter is desirable.

 

The ideal setup is to overfilter and under stock, so have more filters and/or more powerful filter than necessary for the fish one has, and have fewer fish than can fit in your tank. Very few people have the strength of will to under stock I think, so the goal really is to not overstock too much and to have very strong filter or more than one to make up for the fact that one is not under stocking. I was trying to aI'm my filtration to as close to 200% as I could get. I have a secondary filter that in an emergency ought to be strong enough to handle my tank on its own for a while. Some people would say that is overkill, but I think especially in an aquarium with a large bioload a bit of overkill in filter is desirable.

Def makes sense! I have kept from finishing my stock ( to make sure my zebra danios and barbs have enough schooling pals ) until I get this tank settled.
I am going to start researching filters right away........ This will be my next big spend..... Do you think another HOB filter would be okay? I am trying to put something that will hang from my tank as I have no other shelves or stands to put it on. My tank is near a big window and the other side is a wall. Nowhere to put additional shelves or stands........

 

If you got it at petsmart its probably the quiet flow 30 so its rated for 30 gallons. I looked at this setup in the past. You should be fine you can always upgrade later.

I prefer to over filter. I'm thinking about moving my penguin back to my 10 gallon and putting the AquaClear 20 on the 55 gal with the AquaClear 70. I thought at first it may be to much water flow but my fish like it. I have a HOB on each end of the tank.

 

Well it looks like your cycle is coming along at least. It's a good sign that the nitrate is staying much higher than the ammonia and nitrite. I think you'll be fine as long as you keep doing water changes and wait it out. Also, if you're planning on adding more plants, they'll also help with water quality which is nice. I love anacharis and wisteria for that.

As for another filter, another HOB will be just fine. As long as water is flowing through it, once established, it'll process the ammonia and nitrite just like any other filter will. My 36g was more heavily stocked than yours and I got away with the filter just fine (always 0 ammonia/nitrite), but of course, another filter isn't going to hurt. I think it's just personal preference whether or not to overfilter- personally I prefer not to run the extra electricity as long as one filter is keeping ammonia and nitrite at 0 at all times because I just don't see the point in an extra one except for backup. Never any harm in an extra one though!