Fish tank filter

[SagaLore]

I have a Whisper 30-60 gallon filter. It's... okay... but it's a very simple filtering system - a pump pull waters into the chamber, which goes through the cotton insert which has some carbon in it, plus some cheap grids that are supposed to be "bio-filters" (bacteria) and then the water dumps back into the tank.

The filters last a few weeks for good cleaning, and then degrade rather quickly as they're prone to clogging. And the splashing the of the water back into the tank makes the hood wet which breaks out in algaea and other spots dry up and crystallize my alkaline buffer (salts).

I want to find something a bit more powerful and quiet - it's quiet while the tank is 100% full but over time it gets louder and louder as the splashing is more intense...

I'm hoping for something that is contained - doesn't have a lid and exposed to the air. Something with a seperate carbon container and some type of foam filter that is rinsable and reusable. And has a return hose so I can flow the water back into the tank rather than letting it free fall.

Any ideas?

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
I have a Whisper 30-60 gallon filter. It's... okay... but it's a very simple filtering system - a pump pull waters into the chamber, which goes through the cotton insert which has some carbon in it, plus some cheap grids that are supposed to be "bio-filters" (bacteria) and then the water dumps back into the tank.

The filters last a few weeks for good cleaning, and then degrade rather quickly as they're prone to clogging. And the splashing the of the water back into the tank makes the hood wet which breaks out in algaea and other spots dry up and crystallize my alkaline buffer (salts).

I want to find something a bit more powerful and quiet - it's quiet while the tank is 100% full but over time it gets louder and louder as the splashing is more intense...

I'm hoping for something that is contained - doesn't have a lid and exposed to the air. Something with a seperate carbon container and some type of foam filter that is rinsable and reusable. And has a return hose so I can flow the water back into the tank rather than letting it free fall.

Any ideas?

I'd like to know too. I have that exact same filter you have (came with a kit that I bought from walmart) The best part is that they stopped carrying the filters in the local stores here. So I'm going to have to replace it soon. I'll ask one of my coworkers and see what he says (his wife's really into fish)

 

[Nyical]

Try either a Magnum Series or Fluval Series Canister Filters, and what type of tank do you have?

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Nyical
Try either a Magnum Series or Fluval Series Canister Filters, and what type of tank do you have?

Yea I guess that would have helped. It's a 37 gallon tank, it's height and widht are much larger than it's depth - so basically a display tank.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: SagaLore
I have a Whisper 30-60 gallon filter. It's... okay... but it's a very simple filtering system - a pump pull waters into the chamber, which goes through the cotton insert which has some carbon in it, plus some cheap grids that are supposed to be "bio-filters" (bacteria) and then the water dumps back into the tank.

The filters last a few weeks for good cleaning, and then degrade rather quickly as they're prone to clogging. And the splashing the of the water back into the tank makes the hood wet which breaks out in algaea and other spots dry up and crystallize my alkaline buffer (salts).

I want to find something a bit more powerful and quiet - it's quiet while the tank is 100% full but over time it gets louder and louder as the splashing is more intense...

I'm hoping for something that is contained - doesn't have a lid and exposed to the air. Something with a seperate carbon container and some type of foam filter that is rinsable and reusable. And has a return hose so I can flow the water back into the tank rather than letting it free fall.

Any ideas?

I'd like to know too. I have that exact same filter you have (came with a kit that I bought from walmart) The best part is that they stopped carrying the filters in the local stores here. So I'm going to have to replace it soon. I'll ask one of my coworkers and see what he says (his wife's really into fish)

There's another brand of filters that are actually better - one side is a green mesh which acts as an after-filter that gets more fine particles. There is a fish store near mear that cares both that and the Whisper. They fit the same plastic insert.

 

[Doggiedog]

I've got a Fluval Cannister filter. It's extremely quiet. The only noise you hear is from the water coming out. No motor noise.

Unfortunately, I haven't had fish in years since the blackouts 4 years ago killed all my fish. All my aquarium stuff is just sitting in my garage.

 

[Nyical]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Nyical
Try either a Magnum Series or Fluval Series Canister Filters, and what type of tank do you have?

Yea I guess that would have helped. It's a 37 gallon tank, it's height and widht are much larger than it's depth - so basically a display tank.

Is this a saltwater or freshwater, either way canister filters are the way to go not much hassle and are very quite and you can
never have to much filtration, on my 100 gallon reef I run a 400 gph filter

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Nyical

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Nyical
Try either a Magnum Series or Fluval Series Canister Filters, and what type of tank do you have?

Yea I guess that would have helped. It's a 37 gallon tank, it's height and widht are much larger than it's depth - so basically a display tank.

Is this a saltwater or freshwater, either way canister filters are the way to go not much hassle and are very quite and you can
never have to much filtration, on my 100 gallon reef I run a 400 gph filter

Freshwater. I have big-belly mollies, platys, a few fantail guppies and a few barbs.

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I've got a Fluval Cannister filter. It's extremely quiet. The only noise you hear is from the water coming out. No motor noise.

Unfortunately, I haven't had fish in years since the blackouts 4 years ago killed all my fish. All my aquarium stuff is just sitting in my garage.

Been a while for me too, but I also had the canister and loved it. Kept it underneth the tank in a wooden cabinet and it was very quiet.

 

[Nyical]

This is for the Magnum filters, fishies they make all sizes.

FOr some odd reason I cannot find the Fluval site but Magnum is more common.

 

[TMPadmin]

Sorry I have no experience in the last 10 years with filters. BUT since this thread is a little fishy I thought I could ask a question.

Is this a salt water tank? If so how difficult is it to take care of? I heard that salt water tanks are a pain because you have to keep up with pH, salinity and everything where fresh water is just make sure it's warm and clean. I want to get a tank again after 10-15 years of not having any but I would rather get the nice salt water fish. I know I'm looking at a bigger expense but that's fine.

 

[Nyical]

Originally posted by: TMPadmin
Sorry I have no experience in the last 10 years with filters. BUT since this thread is a little fishy I thought I could ask a question.

Is this a salt water tank? If so how difficult is it to take care of? I heard that salt water tanks are a pain because you have to keep up with pH, salinity and everything where fresh water is just make sure it's warm and clean. I want to get a tank again after 10-15 years of not having any but I would rather get the nice salt water fish. I know I'm looking at a bigger expense but that's fine.

Just for you...well not just for you for others if they want to click the link

Warning though ***POPUPS*** but has good info, have a few other links but there at home and only one I could think
of.

 

[Jzero]

You'll want a canister filter, as others have said. They are kinda pricey, though.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: Nyical

Originally posted by: TMPadmin
Sorry I have no experience in the last 10 years with filters. BUT since this thread is a little fishy I thought I could ask a question.

Is this a salt water tank? If so how difficult is it to take care of? I heard that salt water tanks are a pain because you have to keep up with pH, salinity and everything where fresh water is just make sure it's warm and clean. I want to get a tank again after 10-15 years of not having any but I would rather get the nice salt water fish. I know I'm looking at a bigger expense but that's fine.

Just for you...well not just for you for others if they want to click the link

Warning though ***POPUPS*** but has good info, have a few other links but there at home and only one I could think
of.

I needed to read this one.

I had a dozen or so different types Corys, 12 clown loaches, lots of nice pleckos, lots of nice cichlids, a mating pair of severums all gone because the power on my block was gone for a week during a hot summer.

 

[TMPadmin]

Just for you...well not just for you for others if they want to click the link

Warning though ***POPUPS*** but has good info, have a few other links but there at home and only one I could think
of.[/quote]


hehe, I was reading that while I was posting