New filter for 55 gallon tank

My 55 has had a Whisper 60 and a TetraTec PF300 as its filters for many years. I love how quiet the Whisper 60 is but the TetraTec is so loud I can hear it from almost anywhere in the house. My wife has finally given me the ok to replace it so, what do you recommend? If I get another Whisper 60, I can just take the filter media out of the TetraTec and put it in the new 60. But, if there is another filter out there that is as quiet as the 60 but better, I want to at least consider it. I am looking to stay under the $30 mark as the 60 is $27.

 

The only other option that I can think of for that price is the Aqueon Quiet Flow 75. It puts out 400 gph and is under the $30 mark.

 

If you like your whisper and have supplies why change to another brand? As an upgrade, I'd recommend you go with an aqua clear or fluval c series if you wanted more media options, but if you like your whisper, I recommend you buy another.

 

The reason I am thinking about a different brand is that I am currently shopping craigslist for a 90 gallon and 150 gallon tank. I want to put one of each in my living room and since I will be buying filters for those, I thought I might check out other alternatives for my 55 as well. The 2 I am looking at are the Penguin 350 and Aqueon 55/75. Does anybody use these and would they recommend them strongly over a Whisper 60?

 

If you are planning on 90 and 150 gallon tanks then I would definitely go for a canister filter. The aqueon filter is the one I have. It is cheap and has a great flow rare but I am not a fan of the cartridges. They all have activated carbon in them and aren't all that big. I switched some out for maarineland bonded filter media and also added a bag of fluval bio max. I got it because I am on a severe budget but if I had the money I would go with something like an aqua clear which has much more space for filter media.

 

Both the 90 and 150 will be getting Sunsun canister filters as well as HOBs. I like redundancy and lots of filtration. I guess I should have clarified that. Since I already have the canister filter picked out, I just want suggestions for HOBs. For instance, I think I am going to put Emperor 400s on the 150, so should I get the Penguin 350 for my 55? Does that make sense?

 

Those would definitely help with a lot of filtering your tank. The penguin will do well with the 55, especially with the additional canister filter. You have emperor 400 as plural. Are you saying that you are planning on getting more than one?

 

Yes, my 150 will have 2 400s and a Sunsun 304B.

 

The 90 will have the same setup, just smaller filters. A Sunsun 303B with 2 HOBs. Maybe Penguin 350s, Whisper 60s or Aqueon 55/75s Hence the question about my 55. Should I move away from the Whisper product to something else or stay?

 

KDS, the Emperor 400's are loud, be warned. Great filters, but there is a noise issue with them. I have two but only put up with one in my flowerhorn tank along with a canister filter.