Questions, Questions, Questions...

As you can tell by the title of this thread, I have a lot of questions. (lol)

@Byron, @Colin_T, @essjay. Help please?

So if you guys didn't know, I just got a 20g long tank. My plan is to take the lone Zebra Danio (ZD) from the 5g its in now, and put it in the 20g tank. I will then turn the 5g tank into a rescue betta tank.

First question, How do I know if heaters are safe? The lady was selling them for $5, so I couldn't resist.

Does this heater look safe for a 5g tank?

(I can post more info on it, if needed)

Second question. I got a nice Marine Land 80g filter. It used to be a bio wheel. Which is great, except she didn't sell it with any bio wheels...

I had to major DIY on this one:

What am I looking at here long term?

Next, the HOB filter you see in the picture above, has to much of a drop for my 20g long, as the edge of the back of the tank is flush with the white shelf behind it.

Can I move the HOB filter to my 29g tank and move the internal filter that's in my 29g tank to my 20g tank? It makes sense, but I want different opinions.

I will have more questions, so be prepared!

This is my current setup:

I see I have everyone stumped...?

Some quick questions....

Is the heater still working properly? Otherwise, it may cook you fish.
What is the precision or accuracy and power?
I guess only if you test it then you will know whether its working properly.
But beware of heater malfunction.

Is the biowheel important for the filtrations?
Or what is the purpose of the biowheels?
If not, it doesn't really matter even if you dont have it.

Lajos_Detari said:

Some quick questions....

Is the heater still working properly? Otherwise, it may cook you fish.
What is the precision or accuracy and power?
I guess only if you test it then you will know whether its working properly.
But beware of heater malfunction.

Is the biowheel important for the filtrations?
Or what is the purpose of the biowheels?
If not, it doesn't really matter even if you dont have it.

Click to expand...

I will have to check on the power, I know the one in my 20g long is a 100 WATT. (Its turned on 68 degrees, but the tank water itself is 78. I need to remember that_

I just checked, the power for the smaller one is 50 WATT. (I want to know if its safe for a betta tank. Its a bit to powerful, but I can adjust is needed) I just wanted to make sure they wont explode, lol.

As for the filter, its a HUGE filter. (Its meant for a 80g tank. Just Google "Marine Land 8-0 gallon fish tank filter")

Not sure if it would work even for a 29g tank. YouTube "Marine Land Bio-Wheel filter". You will see what I mean by Bio-Wheel)

@Byron, do I need a filter in my 20g tank for the time being? (It will only have one female Zebra Danio) I will eventually buy a small internal filter for it, if you say the Marine Land filter wont work. I also have a question about the light, if you have time...

PheonixKingZ said:

I will have to check on the power, I know the one in my 20g long is a 100 WATT. (Its turned on 68 degrees, but the tank water itself is 78. I need to remember that_

I just checked, the power for the smaller one is 50 WATT. (I want to know if its safe for a betta tank. Its a bit to powerful, but I can adjust is needed) I just wanted to make sure they wont explode, lol.

As for the filter, its a HUGE filter. (Its meant for a 80g tank. Just Google "Marine Land 8-0 gallon fish tank filter")

Not sure if it would work even for a 29g tank. YouTube "Marine Land Bio-Wheel filter". You will see what I mean by Bio-Wheel)

@Byron, do I need a filter in my 20g tank for the time being? (It will only have one female Zebra Danio) I will eventually buy a small internal filter for it, if you say the Marine Land filter wont work. I also have a question about the light, if you have time...

Click to expand...

you need an air stone if you dont have a filter in it for now

JuiceBox52 said:

you need an air stone if you dont have a filter in it for now

Click to expand...

Thats good to know. She included an air pump and I already had air tubing. Do I actually need an air stone?

(I'm not sure if I will not be able to use that filter yet, I'm waiting for @Byron to answer)

It is a really big filter, its super powerful. (So powerful that my poor plants are getting uprooted and blown around. Also, the substrate as blown away completely in the down shaft path of water.)

an air stone will help with the stream of air and theyre only $1 for a 2 pack but it should be fine without a stone

JuiceBox52 said:

an air stone will help with the stream of air and theyre only $1 for a 2 pack but it should be fine without a stone

Click to expand...

Ok, I will get one after my birthday. (When I get me fishy money. )

Still awaiting @Byron's advice for the things mentioned above.

PheonixKingZ said:

Ok, I will get one after my birthday. (When I get me fishy money. )

Still awaiting @Byron's advice for the things mentioned above.

Click to expand...

You may wait a long time, as I know nothing about the heater, or the filter in question, so thought it better to keep silent.

I will just say about the heater though, that the lower wattage heaters (like the 50w which this is) do tend to fail more often than the higher wattage. In my 10g tank (which is my smallest) I have a 100w heater that has beeen running for 20+ years now. It was a good brand, Tronic is the brand (but not to be confused with Fluval's "tronic" which is not the same), here's a photo of the 50w but mine is 100w or may be 150w, I have two of them I bought in 1996 or 1997.

Ok, heres the new plan: Ditch the filter I have now in the 20g long tank. Keep the 50 WATT heater in the 5g and the 100 WATT heater in the 20g. Wait until my birthday and buy a new internal filter for the 20g long.

@Byron, would it be best to still have the air pump running? I have no air stone.

PheonixKingZ said:

Ok, heres the new plan: Ditch the filter I have now in the 20g long tank. Keep the 50 WATT heater in the 5g and the 100 WATT heater in the 20g. Wait until my birthday and buy a new internal filter for the 20g long.

@Byron, would it be best to still have the air pump running? I have no air stone.

Click to expand...

yes. the fish needs the surface disturbance

Agree, though I've no idea what your fish are, plants, etc.

I have two internal filters that are not expensive and they have proven to be incredibly good. Aqueon Quiet Flow series. For the 20g long, depending what fish you intend, the smallest (rated for 10g) might be sufficient; I have used this one in my 33g 3-foot tank and it was perfect.

In my opinion, the bio wheel is an extra piece of device/wheel which keep turning and allow the BB to be exposed to air.
It also provides more space for BB to grow.

You don't find this piece of device in all other filters.
So, in my opinion, its not necessary to have it. Without it, the filter will work fine just like any other filters.
In fact some people mentioned that the wheel is noisy.

However, it might be too powerful for your tank since its for 80gallons tank.
If you can reduce its flow rate or reduce its effect of water splashing on your tank, you can still use. But I guess it might be difficult to reduce its flow rate.
Also take note of its higher power which will consume higher electricity and bills. Check the power/wattage.

Byron said:

Agree, though I've no idea what your fish are, plants, etc.

I have two internal filters that are not expensive and they have proven to be incredibly good. Aqueon Quiet Flow series. For the 20g long, depending what fish you intend, the smallest (rated for 10g) might be sufficient; I have used this one in my 33g 3-foot tank and it was perfect.

Click to expand...

Plants: Anacharis

Stock: One Zebra Danio, will get more as time goes on

PheonixKingZ said:

I just checked, the power for the smaller one is 50 WATT. (I want to know if its safe for a betta tank. Its a bit to powerful, but I can adjust is needed) I just wanted to make sure they wont explode, lol.

Click to expand...

I think higher power is ok as it will achieve the temperature setting faster than lower power and it can maintain the temperature consistently/continuously.
Low power heater may not be able to maintain the temperature and the temperature may fluctuate more.

But monitor the accuracy of the temperature in case it drifts/fluctuates too much from the actual setting.
See if you can find the heater specifications from the internets.
Check to ensure that the accuracy or tolerance is acceptable for you.

Lastly, see whether you can find any reviews from the internets.
Usually when I buy an electronic products such as mobile phone, laptop, I will search the internets for reviews.