Help with filters & temp

[laurelhed]

I currently have an overstocked 20 gallon with 7 small goldfish and a tiny pleco. I am planning a second tank, and to upgrade my outdoor pond for 3-4 of the goldfish, but right now I need way better filtration than what I've got. I'm manually doing what a filter should be doing, I think! I currently have two little Whisper Bio-Bag filters; they do essentially nothing. Going to LFS tomorrow for new filter, heater, airstone or bubble wand, driftwood for Daizy the pleco. What should I be getting in the way of a filter?
The tank sits on my daughter's dresser, so I don't have space underneath for big canisters or anything. I used to run a biowheel on my old 60 gallon, and remember liking it, but I had additional filters. Multiple filters are fine for me, as I know Goldfish are very messy. I understand for a 20 gallon I should be filtering about 200/gph. Help! What should I get? Also, something quiet. If it's too noisy, it will bug my 4 year old.
Then there's the heating issue. The tank is currently quite chilly. I don't have a thermometer, because it's a brand new setup, but I'm sure it needs to be warmed up. I'd like to bring it up to 70, which seems to be a good in between for the goldfish and pleco. How can I safely raise the temperature for these guys? That being said, I plan to set up a second, cold water tank for the comets before they move outside as everybody is growing like crazy.

 

[jlk]

I have an aqueon 50 (250gph) on my 20g QT tank plus a smaller aquaclear. I have filter foam wrapped around the intake of the aqueon because the suction is quite strong but its a decent, quiet filter. The marineland biowheel filters are good filters as well but i find them a bit noiser than the aqueons (personal opinion). I dont run any heaters with my goldies but their tanks generally stay @70. You probably should look into a little thermometer (under $10) to see exactly how cold your tanks really are before considering a heater-they may not be as cold as you think. Im sure a tropical person can provide you with a better idea on what heaters to consider if one is necessary! Hope this helps!

 

[rreekers]

on a 20g, i would say get a Aqua clear 70

i run an aqua clear 70 and a aqueon 30 on my 29 goldfish tank and it works great

also i really think that when you got to you lfs you should surrender some of your goldfish

--in my opinion you should not keep the pleco with the goldfish. plecos are tropical fish, water temp around 76 F where as goldfish are cold water... temps aroung 68-72