Need some advice on new tank - Aquarium Advice

meegosh · 02-27-2008, 12:35 PM

Hello everyone,

I haven't posted in a while... my 10gal tank has been setup and running for over a year now with great success (many thanks to AA). I am now, like most of us, wanting a bigger tank. I have a large open wall in our dining room that I would like a either a 20gal or 30gal long. My real question is what type of filter will I need for this? I have a HOB on my 10gal and that works fine. I purchased an undergravel filter and two powerheads when I first got my 10gal. I had the HOB and two powerheads in my little 10gal and the water was so choppy/bubbly it wasn't even funny. I removed the ugf and the power heads and just went with the HOB (as recommend on here).

The question is, can I use that same ugf and both powerheads in the 20 or 30gal long? Is that enough, or should I get a HOB filter?

I am going to be building the stand/enclosure myself to add some extra storage in my apartment. Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

PS - I have been looking at 30 Gal Tank Prices (thats where I saw they were using a HOB and ugf w/ powerheads). Also, I am not buying the whole kit, just the tank and lights.

davidtcb1 · 02-28-2008, 01:51 AM

I would use the undergravel and the small HOB. It'll be less work in the UGF and less chance of it getting too gunked up. Plus, the HOB/Biowheel type filters are great for that size tank and will keep it crystal clear and will be a great source of biological and mechanical filtration. I wouldn't do just the UGF.

neilanh · 02-28-2008, 11:42 AM

I don't recommend the UGF. I'd stick with either just a HOB (such as an AC50 for example) or consider a small canister filter (such as a Rena XP1 or XP2).

What type of setup will you be doing, as that may help determine better recommendations. Fish, layout, planted or not, etc.

davidtcb1 · 02-28-2008, 12:00 PM

neilahn is right, i would take the UGF out all together in a tank that size, but since you said you were going to use it, that's why I suggested that plus a HOB. A Penguin 250 does great on my 29 gallon.

meegosh · 02-28-2008, 12:51 PM

Hey all, thanks for the replies! I wasn't sure if I could use the powerheads/ugf or not. The only reason I asked is because I have them and are not using them. I think I will go with a HOB either AC50 or the Penguin 200.

The tank is going to be replacing my 10gal I have setup right now. It is a freshwater, no live plants. Right now the current stock would be 2 albino cories, 2 diamond tetras, and 1 guppy. Those are all the fish I have in my current setup. I used to have a few more but the last fish I bought killed half my tank

Regardless, there will only be a few fish (ones mentioned above) at start up and no live plants.

Going from a 10gal to a 30gal should not be much more work should it? Besides the obvious pwcs and cleanings... ?

davidtcb1 · 02-28-2008, 07:21 PM

If you keep it lightly stocked like that, you should be fine with a Penguin HOB and your normal water changes.

02-27-2008, 12:35 PM	#1
meegosh Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 433 Images: 2	Need some advice on new tank Hello everyone, I haven't posted in a while... my 10gal tank has been setup and running for over a year now with great success (many thanks to AA). I am now, like most of us, wanting a bigger tank. I have a large open wall in our dining room that I would like a either a 20gal or 30gal long. My real question is what type of filter will I need for this? I have a HOB on my 10gal and that works fine. I purchased an undergravel filter and two powerheads when I first got my 10gal. I had the HOB and two powerheads in my little 10gal and the water was so choppy/bubbly it wasn't even funny. I removed the ugf and the power heads and just went with the HOB (as recommend on here). The question is, can I use that same ugf and both powerheads in the 20 or 30gal long? Is that enough, or should I get a HOB filter? I am going to be building the stand/enclosure myself to add some extra storage in my apartment. Thanks in advance for any recommendations! PS - I have been looking at 30 Gal Tank Prices (thats where I saw they were using a HOB and ugf w/ powerheads). Also, I am not buying the whole kit, just the tank and lights.

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02-28-2008, 01:51 AM	#2
davidtcb1 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 136	I would use the undergravel and the small HOB. It'll be less work in the UGF and less chance of it getting too gunked up. Plus, the HOB/Biowheel type filters are great for that size tank and will keep it crystal clear and will be a great source of biological and mechanical filtration. I wouldn't do just the UGF.

02-28-2008, 12:00 PM	#4
davidtcb1 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 136	neilahn is right, i would take the UGF out all together in a tank that size, but since you said you were going to use it, that's why I suggested that plus a HOB. A Penguin 250 does great on my 29 gallon.

02-28-2008, 12:51 PM	#5
meegosh Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 433 Images: 2	Hey all, thanks for the replies! I wasn't sure if I could use the powerheads/ugf or not. The only reason I asked is because I have them and are not using them. I think I will go with a HOB either AC50 or the Penguin 200. The tank is going to be replacing my 10gal I have setup right now. It is a freshwater, no live plants. Right now the current stock would be 2 albino cories, 2 diamond tetras, and 1 guppy. Those are all the fish I have in my current setup. I used to have a few more but the last fish I bought killed half my tank Regardless, there will only be a few fish (ones mentioned above) at start up and no live plants. Going from a 10gal to a 30gal should not be much more work should it? Besides the obvious pwcs and cleanings... ?

02-28-2008, 07:21 PM	#6
davidtcb1 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 136	If you keep it lightly stocked like that, you should be fine with a Penguin HOB and your normal water changes.