10g with 3 glofish

[drillsar2]

I would for sure get a better filter like a penguin 150 or aquaclear 30

If you upgrade the filter, let the old run with it for at least a month.

Top Fin Filters are the worst filters out there

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

All my filters are Whisper except for my sponge filters. Whisper filters work great for me and i've never had any problems with them, and they are super quite.

[drillsar2]

Here is the problem with Top Fin Filters and some whispers, everytime you change the cartridge you hurt the bacteria as bacteria lays on the cartridge there is no other service area,

Aquaclear use BioMax and Foam _ Never change BIOMAX, Bio-Wheel use both Wheel and Cartridge _ Never Change Wheel

Canisters are the best though especially for plants

Most people I know that have Top Fins will have a problem with Ammonia/Nitrate creeping up by replacing the filters to much; There garbage filters

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

Originally Posted by drillsar2

Here is the problem with Top Fin Filters and some whispers, everytime you change the cartridge you hurt the bacteria as bacteria lays on the cartridge there is no other service area,

Aquaclear use BioMax and Foam _ Never change BIOMAX, Bio-Wheel use both Wheel and Cartridge _ Never Change Wheel

Canisters are the best though especially for plants

Most people I know that have Top Fins will have a problem with Ammonia/Nitrate creeping up by replacing the filters to much; There garbage filters

All of my filters have the normal cartridge plus a secound sponge like one infront of it.

[drillsar2]

When you rmove the cartridge on Whispers you take out beneficial bacteria because there is no other surface area so you can go through a mini cycle thats why I dont like them,

Aquaclear and Bio-Wheels are better design filters.

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

Originally Posted by drillsar2

When you rmove the cartridge on Whispers you take out beneficial bacteria because there is no other surface area so you can go through a mini cycle thats why I dont like them,

Aquaclear and Bio-Wheels are better design filters.

You clean the sock and there is a rough sponge infront of it that holds bacteria....

I don't see the down-fall?

[drillsar2]

Ok so there is 2 cartridges? I thought top fin filters had 1 cartridge which has both carbon and cotton in it.

even then though a sponge dont hold as much bacteria surface then a biowheel or Biomax does. The more Biomax the more bacteria and less of a problem with NO3, if you have NO3 problems this can be a result of not enough bacteria, overcrowded or overfeeding.

Thats why canisters are the best you can fill a whole basket with BIOMAX.

[sonyale510]

Top Fin only has the carbon filter, I am looking into getting a new filter eventually, but this one is working fine for now. What is biomax? Also wouldn't it work to just like when I have to change out a cartridge on the top fin to rub the two (the old and new) together to get some of that good bacteria on the new cartridge, I had read that somewhere on here about getting a new tank to cycle but wouldn't it work when switching the cartridge too?

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

I'm not talking about Top Fin filters, all my filters are whisper filters and all have a carbon filter and a rough kind of like a sponge filter.

Ofcourse canister filters are the best. I would prefer thoughs above any of my power filters.

[drillsar2]

Biomax is ceramic rings never replace these or rinse them off

If you upgradethe filter run both filters at the same time for a month so the new filter can get bacteria.

I was talking about top fin filters not whispers, whispers are not the greatest though but better then top fin.

I personally like Bio-Wheels the best since they have more bacteria surface, remember you should get 10x turnover rate for your tank so example for a 29 gal tank you would want 290gph.

Canister filters --- The best if you can afford them, 1 canister at least should be filled with Ceramic Rings(BioMax) more the better.

Bio Wheels --- In my opinion are second best; problem would be though if the wheel all of a sudden dont turn and breaks thats when a problem could arise. Never change the wheel unless it breaks.

Aquaclear --- Good Filters, use BIOMAX for the bacteria plus it has a sponge as well; can be expensive

Stay away from Top Fin Filters, in tank filters

You also can use Prime also just in case you get ammonia/nitrite spike do to changing filters, prime converts ammonia/nitrite to be less toxic.