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I am setting up a new 10 gallon and had a few questions.
1-Which filter would be better an AQUA-TECH 5-15 or a WHISPER 10 POWER FILTER?

2-If I run the new filter on my other tank is that okay? Would it be bad for my fish or anything?

3-When can I add my fish to the new tank? I have some I want to move from my 20 gallon and I would like to add a few new ones.

4-Can a BN Pleco be kept in a 10 gallon or not? Are there any plecos that can be? And would a BA tetra bother an otto?

Oh and I am going to be using the gravel and water from an established tank would that be okay?

Last edited by RipSpark at 24-Nov-2004 14:16

Oh and 1 other thing. Is it okay to put my stand in a room with carpet? It wouldn't be unstable or anything would it?

1- I am not familiar with either filter, but as long as there is about a 7X turnover rate, you'll be fine. I'd recommend an Aquaclear mini for your tank--I have had good experience with them.

2-I'm not exactly sure what your question is, but yeah, if you run your new filter on your established tank, and then run it on your new tank, you don't need to cycle your tank!

3-If you let the new filter run on the old tank for about a week or so, you can add fish when you put the filter onto the new tank.

4-A BN would be ok temporarily. Remember, they produce A LOT of waste, so even if it was a juvinile pleco, you couldn't really keep much else. I know of the bulldog pleco that grows only about 2 inches that could work in your tank.

5- Using gravel from your other tank is great, because you are transfering benifital bacteria into your new tank...that's basically instant cylcing.


6- Carpet is fine. All my tanks are on carpeted floors.

HTH

Thanks for your help

I will be putting my 3 BA tetras in there for a while. Should I get a few more of them? Or add some diff fish? Any suggestions?

Last edited by RipSpark at 24-Nov-2004 15:47

Tetras are schooling so more of them would be better, before getting other fish...hopefully it wont' be for too long though they need their swimming room too.

About the filters, I'd have to second an Aquaclear, they might seem a bit more pricy to start with, but IMO&E they're better in the long run. Have them running on your established tank for 3-4 weeks to populate them....You'll still want to stock slowly, but it'll help reduce mini-cycles.

^_^
[link=H2g2]http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/upgrade.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] 2005 Don't Leave Home Without it[/font]

I'll have to "third" the AquaClear suggestion.

They aren't that pricey as far as filters go. AC's are a great HOB, very easy to maintain too. I run an AC on my 15 gallon community and I'm very pleased with the results. It's quiet, and I don't usually have problems with water clarity either.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Sorry folks, but I'm going to have to disagree with the aquaclears. I used to love them, but now after keeping fish for a while I would have to say they are very unreliable. I bought 4 approximately 1 1/2 years ago. Today only one of them is working. The 3 all stopped working at different times. What seems to happen is that during a power outage, or when the filter stops taking in water for whatever reason the aquaclear motors burn out very quickly. Again, I used to swear by them, but now I would highly recommend against them.

I have a Whisper filter rated for a 15 gallon on my 10 gallon, never had any problems with it, its only been running for about 1 year though. Very quiet, too.

most of this has already been said but....

1 - I dont know anything about aquatech filters, but I used to have a whisper filter on my 10 gallon and it totally died on me after about 3 months and I had to fix the impeller alll the time before that. I have had an aquaclear mini on it for almost 6 months with no problems. so I would also reccomend the aquaclear mini, at least over the whisper.

2 - yeah its fine to run the new filter on the old tank, in fact this will significantly shorten the time it takes to cycle depending on how long you leave it running on the old tank

3 - this depends on what method you use to cycle. if you are cycling it traditionally then you should add a couple new fish in slowly at intervals a few weeks apart.

4 - a BN is kinda big and messy for a 10 gallon so if you put in a BN and intend to keep it then it would take up most of the room in your tank. If algae is your problem, then I suggest otos for that size tank.

and using gravel and water from an old tank is fine as long as the old tank is healthy.

edit: also, I have a penguin filter on my 29 gallon and i like it very much so maybe you could check those out and if you are looking for inexpensive filters and supplies and such, may i reccomend http://www.bigalsonline.com. I got my penguin 330 for $23 there, and at the LFS they were selling the same one for $85!

Last edited by devon7 at 30-Nov-2004 17:05

you can keep clown plecos in a 10g, but you WILL need some driftwood. and don't expect them to eat your algae, they won't if you want something to eat algae that won't get too big in a 10g, your only bet would be ottos or malaysian trumpet snails. any other snail would be a pest (except the apple/mystery variety) and no other fish will stay small enough to live happily in a 10g

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Ottos, parottos, a few ancistrus sp., a most hypancistrus sp., certain panaques... all of the above are fairly common plecos available that may or may not fit in a 10 gallon, depending on the sp.

SJinNJ, that never happens if you properly maintain them according to the directions. Least IME anyway

^_^
[link=H2g2]http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/upgrade.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] 2005 Don't Leave Home Without it[/font]