50 gallon filter

[Tempestuousfury]

I just got a 50 gallon tank. There's a filter w/ it, but I'm not sure if it works, if I can find cartridges for it, and I don't know how to hook it up.

Therefore, I'd like to buy a new, inexpensive one. I've looked around on the internet at sites for Walmart and Petsmart, and all I could find was a canister filter. I don't know how it works.
I'd prefer the type of filter I have now, but I can't go really steep. Around $40.

Can you help me out?

(I just went to a site at random and they had 'em for pretty cheap...$30. How would I know if a site is reliable.)

Sorry for going crazy, but I'm in a hurry to set up the tank and introduce new fish in.

 

[smb]

This is exactly what you need. If you buy it at bigals it's only $39 but at most lfs's it's between $65-$90. Scroll down to Emperor 400.

IMO, this is the best filter there is and far exceeds any other HOB w/o the complication of canisters. I've heard so many people complain about canisters not working right, leaking or just simply being confusing.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

The power filter is what I really want. However, the one for the 60 gallon requires two cartridges. I wanted a reagent one from Walmart b/c I buy those cartridges for the other filters and I could use it for the 50 gallon as well.

Thanks for the site, though.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi temp

Here is the filter I use in my 55 gallon tank. The AquaClear 300. It works very well and for some time I even had the tank overstocked with goldfish. The price is reasonable and if you want to spend a little more, you could get the bigger one, the AquaClear 500. It would be worth it.

http/www.petdiscounters.com/aquarium/fil...agen/index.html

These filters are easy to use and the sponges (and I add filter floss) are very inexpensive. ( I think I pay about $2.50 every few months for a sponge--they last a long time.)

___
Sometimes it doesn't pay to hurry. Setting up an aquarium is one of those times. The time you spend doing research and making the right choices will pay off in the long run. You will have to live with the decisions you make now, for a long time.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

True. Actually, I'm going to do what you said. I'm going to run the tank for a few days anyways, I just want to get that done so I can decide what fish and plants I want. Even though future expenses will be low with the filter you told me about, I don't have the $ to buy it now.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi again temp

Believe me, I know what it's like to try to keep up with this hobby while on a very small budget. I try to make every dollar count, just like you are doing. It's not easy!!!!! But, with time and patience, it can be done---and very well, too, I might add!

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Patience is the key word.

As a fellow broke aquarist I know exactly where you are coming from.

Always keep an eye out for used equipment. Use a local buy/sell paper, as well as the internet and regular classifieds. Good filters like Eheims and Aquaclears last forever, and ex-aquarists often sell them really cheap.

Keep in mind that the most expensive isn't always the best. Aquaclears are one of the cheapest filters available, yet I consider them to be one of the best. Sure, the build quality is lacking, but they are very reliable and extremely effective - not to mention the most versatile HOB filter around.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Fortunately, the guy at Petsmart was able to set the filter up for me, and I can use Whisper filter bags (very expensive). Now I'm going to have problems buying fish. (They need a "sigh" smilie face). Well, I'm still going to keep at it and just put in fish from my other tanks until then. I've actually got $2,500 that I worked for towards college, but I found out that my parents had used it (complicated). I would have taken fifty out of there, but I could probably get $ from elsewhere. I should have waited to buy the bettas, but then again I didn't know I'd get the 50 gallon.

In the end:
Filter works
Now need money for the fish.

 

[Inchworm]

....In the end:
Filter works
Now need money for the fish.

Hi temp

Sometimes things that seem like problems turn out to be not so bad, after all.

Possibly the worst thing you could do would be to set up a new tank and stock it with many fish. As you've probably learned from this forum, the tank will take time to cycle. If you were to fully stock it at the beginning, before the beneficial bacteria had time to become established, you would only end up with a lot of dead fish.

Take your time, reread the article on cycling, and go slow. While your tank is cycling you can spend some time researching the various fish and thinking about what your ideal combination of fish would be. That is better than going to the lfs and simply buying what looks good because too often the fish bought this way turn out to be incompatible.

Since there is no way to make a successful aquarium without cycling the tank, that should be your first priority right now.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I made that mistake on my five gallon. 17 fish in a five gallon. It was horrible. Fortunately I've read quite a few books on aquariums, livebearers, and goldfish.
I won't make the same mistake twice.

 

[Adrinal]

I lived in china for some years and though money wasnt a problem, I often had to make do with home solutions which can save you a lot of money here.

nylons, bulk charcol

1 power head, tube

milk carton, tupperware... anything you can cut into a runner.

bulk mesh from your pet supply (the filter stuff cotton like(or whatever media you like))....

Run the tube up from the water and over your home made runner.

Do what you have to so the media is getting contact with air and water.

you can run this over the top or just in the tank and is still easy to hide from the observer.

The only real problem ive ever had is making sure the water doesnt squirt up over the tank.

If your tank hasnt been set up yet its easy to make the runner from glass or plastic right at the top of the tank.