Ehiem Filter: How Big Is Big Enough?

[Nerwign]

I have a 50-55 gallon (US) tank that I will be cycling soon, but I need a filter first. I was recomended a filter by someone here, but in looking it up online it seemed to be suitable for a much larger aquarium than mine. I would like to minimize my costs and I know this is a vital, and expensive part of the aquarium set up. Will I be fine getting a filter rated for 60 gallons, able to filter over 150 gallons per hour?

I heard that I should have the full tank run through the filter two times an hour so that would be about 100 gallons per hour. Is this correct?

-Nerwign

 

[PaulasPets]

The pump should pump your tanks volume once an hour minimum, twice the cappacity would be excelent. Any more would be good if your keeping a lot of fish in the tank. The number of fish (and their size) you are keeping is really what you have to consider when picking your filter...

Paula

 

[Nerwign]

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I am planning to use the 1" per 1" squared of surface area guide, which comes out about like the 1" per gallon (US) rule in my aquarium, giving me about 48" of fish. I'm looking at all fish being small (4" or less) and thin-bodied with the exception of a small plecostomas (Tiger Pleco or similar small species).

I don't know if I took care to avoid overstocking when I had an aquarium as a child, but I am trying to be very sensitive to it now that I am starting a tank as an adult.

-Nerwign

 

[mark.w.jones]

The Classic External 2213 should be fine for your tank or the Ecco 2234. They Classic is cheaper in the UK. Not sure if id go for an internal filter to be honest but it's up to you really

 

[Shaker]

I use an Eheim 2026 in my 44 gal UK tank, it's comes in at around £100 ( not cheap I know ) but it's a great filter and I only service it once every 3 months.

 

[raptorrex]

not sure its possible to over filter, so the biggest you can afford

 

[SugarQube]

I also have the Eheim 2026 prof 2 for my 40g, it's very quiet keeps my water chrystal clear, would def recommend

 

[Silverlady]

I have a 2213 on my 30 gallon tank, so if i was going with the Classic on a 50 gallon tank i would use a 2215.

 

[Nerwign]

Thanks so much! I just ordered an Eheim Eco 2234. It looks like it should be big enough and cycle over 100 gal per hour compared to my 50 gal tank size. It was only about $80 US so I'm very happy. It's $130-150 in all the stores around here.

Now for my next question, and it's related. I bought my playsand last night and started rinsing it out. I rinsed it for a good 30 min or so, but when it's in the aquarium the water is still very cloudy, fine sand particles I guess. Even after I let it sit overnight.

So my question is, I don't want to clog up my filter with sand particles, should I try using the gravel vacuum? Will that just suck all the sand up since it's so soft and fluffy?

Should I run the filter with just the physical-filtering sponge pad in it? So I don't clog up the other filtration mediums?

Help! I love the way the sand looks and feels and it was recomended to me on this forum, but I don't want to make a huge mess or ruin my filter while setting the sand up.

-Nerwign