Is this enough filtration for Oscars?

[Punkymom]

I was at Petsmart today and couldn't pass up a deal. I bought a Tetratec PF500 HOB filter on sale for 55.99. Originally priced almost $100.00!!! Anyway, it's for tanks up to 100 gal. These are the details on the box:

Living filter chamber
Fills with water and then empties back into the aquarium
Alternately exposes large surface area of Bio-Foam and beneficial bacteria to aquarium water and then oxygen
Becomes a Living Filter that breathes and removes ammonia and nitrites

Tidal flow alternating flow return
Returns water from the Living Filter Chamber back to the aquarium
Pulses on and off, creating an alternating current in the aquarium

Directional flow return
Continuously returns water from the Living Filter Chamber back to the aquarium
Agitates the water surface to improve oxygen exchange

Adjustible flow control
Allows slow flow at feeding time
Prevents wasteful overloading of filter with fish food

I have 2 Oscars in a 55 gal with a common Pleco. I'm looking to replace the 2 filters I have on there already. TIA

 

[grimlock3000]

Well, first up $56 is not much of a sale on the Tetratec 500 either. It goes for a bit cheaper online. Pet stores have a huge markup on hardware like filters.

The short answer to your question is no. Those Tetratec filters are not exactly known for being great filters and typically have poor userfeedback. I bought one myself a while back, and people talked me out of using it before I ever took it out of the box so I returned it. For a premium priced filter, the Tetratecs do not give you much. Look here:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/reviews/view_product_review.php?id=42&pg=all

Look at review of other popular filter here, on average they get MUCH better scores.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/reviews/view_product_review.php?id=14&pg=all

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/reviews/view_product_review.php?id=13&pg=all

For $60 you could have got an Emporer 400 AND a Aquaclear 300 from Big Als. The combination of those two would be better, much more flexiable, more reliable, and you would always have a backup.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22127;category_id=1721;pcid1=2885;pcid2=
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22137;category_id=1721;pcid1=2885;pcid2=

If you want to keep those Oscars and a Pleco for a while, I reccomend a canister along with a HOB filter to handle the massive bio load.

 

[Punkymom]

I have an Aqua Clear and the filter that came with the tank on there right now. I was thinking this was a good deal and was going to try it out, but after reading those reviews I may rethink that plan. I may just replace the odd filter out with another Aqua Clear and sell that one. May be my best bet.

 

[grimlock3000]

Might be a good idea. Hope I was not too blunt More links here:

http://www.fishinthe.net/cgi-bin/starsreview/stars2.pl?tetratecpf

http://www.myfishtank.net/productreview.php?profile=20

 

[Punkymom]

No I'm glad you were! I don't want to waste my money...kwim??? Thanks for the links BTW.

 

[TankGirl]

I definitely recommend a canister plus an HOB for oscars - an excellent price performer is the Rena Filstar line - I have an XP3 on my 55 and is a lot of filtration for usually just under $100. You could maybe get the XP2 and keep the HOB(s) you have.