Bunch of questions on equipment

[MdngtRain]

So I have the opportunity to upgrade one of my 29g to a 29g.... It was recommended by a friend to use sand... I like the idea of sand, but have concerns about the cost of having to convey from gravel. Also, how effective is sand for a planted tank? I know about the pockets of anionic bacteria that can flourish in sand... How could I avoid that?

What is a good canister filter that I could use for a 55? I have hob filters at the moment, but many people are telling me to convert, especially if I go bigger. Also, what kind of power head would I need to create enough of a current in the 55 for my glass cats to be happy?

Does anyone know a reliable online supplier for equipment that wouldn't be too expensive? I also want to get a faucet-mounted siphon so I can give my back a break with the buckets. I have sufficient tubing, but I need the pump. I can't seem to find them in any local lfs, but I have seen a number of them online. Is there one brand that is better then the others?

Sadly, I am limited in funds, so I am trying to piece this all together as inexpensive as I can. The tank would be free or very cheap from one of my jobs. I would just need the to, the added our new filter, some more gravel or sand, and the power head... I have enough plants to spread out in the bigger tank, and the fish population would remain the same for the time being (only thing I would add would be a few more cats for a proper school).

I think that's it for now. Thanks!!

 

[MdngtRain]

Wow, just re-read that... Auto-correct sucks!
I would upgrade to a 55g... Convert, not convey. Anaerobic, not anionic. And top at the end, not to.
Sorry!

 

[Kiara1125]

lol, I'm on my "smart" phone and I hate the auto correct. I also have Swype technology which sucks.

I would go with the gravel, sand can cause so many problems for your filter. If you find the right gravel, it's not too much. I'm thinking about doing something different and cleaning some marbles and putting them in my tank. I have over 500 marbles, so that might do good.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; While not the current norms, I have run many tanks over time that would be considered under filtered now. There have come into being standards for filtration that are well in excess of what I used for several decades. I was able to have successful tanks during that time. I was also limited by funds during much of my early fish keeping time. I have used filter setups from smaller tanks to operate a new larger tank many times.
One way to consider it is that the filters do two things. One is to provide some mechanical filtration of detritus and the other is to produce some circulation of the water. The circulation can be aided with some bubblers or sponge filters buried in the substrate. Excess detritus can be siphoned out during water changes.
While it is likely that you will get suggestions for more powerful filtration, in my experience a filter from a 29 gallon will do just fine on a 55 gallon especially if some bubblers are added. The exception may be if you intend to stock the bigger tank with very high densities or do not plan to have live plants.
On many posts it sort of reads like the beneficial bacteria (bb) are found only in the filter media of a tank. That does not seem correct to me. I have run several tanks with only bubblers ( including sponge filters) and felt that the bb must have been on the surfaces in the tank. While there may be a higher concentration of bb in filter media than elsewhere, there will be bb on the substrate and other things in a tank. If the filter is a bit smaller than what is considered standard today, the bb will reach a population large enough to service the amount of ammonia from the waste of the fish , plants, snails and decay produced in the tank and will exist somewhere.
For many reasons I have come to prefer gravel over unsifted sand after using both. Gravel seems better for a planted setup in my experience as well. When I do use sand, the very fine stuff is dry sifted and discarded. This can leave sand particles that are roughly gravel sized if you want to go to the trouble.

 

[Thyra]

Why do you need a pump on the siphon? I thought when you attach the tubing to the faucet with the correct attachment and turn the faucet on, that created a vacuum which in turn siphoned the water from the tank.

 

[MdngtRain]

Thyra, that's just what they called it when I searched for it... Its not really a pump, just the piece that attaches the house to the faucet... I have no idea why they call it a pump.

 

[Thyra]

Try this: Big Al's Online
When the site comes up it has some Python products and click on that and I think you will find a Python pump for $7.99. Then if doesn't fit your faucet you can get an adapter. Although I have never used it, I found its possible to get an adapter to fit even those really fancy kitchen faucets. I have all the pieces and parts and know it would work - I am just nervous about using it the first time if I am alone and something goes wrong and I have a flood. Also I am concerned about temp control when I go to refill the tanks.

 

[skjl47]

Try this: Big Al's Online
When the site comes up it has some Python products and click on that and I think you will find a Python pump for $7.99. Then if doesn't fit your faucet you can get an adapter. Although I have never used it, I found its possible to get an adapter to fit even those really fancy kitchen faucets. I have all the pieces and parts and know it would work - I am just nervous about using it the first time if I am alone and something goes wrong and I have a flood. Also I am concerned about temp control when I go to refill the tanks.

Hello; If something goes wrong turn the faucet off to stop the tap water from flowing. If a siphon has started (this apparently can happen when the faucet is lower than the level of water in the tank.) it likely can be stopped by pulling the end of the hose from the tank. The process should probably not be left unattended.

If the faucet is lower than the water level of the tank, the waste of tap water can be reduced by turning the faucet off and allowing the siphon effect to drain the tank water. I have seen this posted on another forum. The siphon apparently will drain water a bit slower. Leaving the tap water running seems like a big waste, and potential extra expense, of water that just runs downs the drain to speed up the siphon effect.

 

[Thyra]

Isn't the purpose of the siphon also to vacuum the substrate? If so you would want the increased vacuum from the water running. As far as "unattended" - if I was doing this alone, one end of the operation would certainly be unattended and that is the part that bothers me. lol Quite a while back I read a thread where someone "cooked" there fish because of a big temp change when filling the tank! If I needed to shut the water source off quickly, I would have to leave the end in the tank and should it flip out while I am getting to the kitchen, I could have gallons of water on the carpet! Although I know the day will come when I will be forced to use it, I am proceeding with caution - age does that to a person. lol

 

[KcMopar]

LOL, I had gallons on the floor a couple days ago. I am re-plumbing my drain and fill plumbing to my 125G so I was filling it from my holding tank as usually but had to connect a hose to it and run it through the window. The holding tank has a huge water pump on it, like the ones for a house with a well. Anyway, imagine holding this hose connected to the pump at about waist high. This is how I held it to test it before I took it into the house and turned it on. Its a bigger garden hose the 5/8's size, it squirted water straight out for about 8+ feet before it hit the ground!!!! Talk about water pressure, I was very impressed as I was holding the hose straight out. I know it was quit powerful as it fills my tanks very fast but, never had it hooked to a hose and watched it. Now I drag the hose into the house put it in the tank and close the two glass covers over it so it stays in the tank. I turned the pump on and rushed back into the house to be sure it didn't fall out and all was fine but, that was only for about 45 seconds. All of the sudden the hose through it self out of the tank!!! I was on the other side of the room, about 25 feet away. By the time I made it around the furniture and kinked the hose I bet there was two gallons of water on the carpet!! Needless to say I need to baby sit this procedure until I finish my new plumbing strategy.

 

[Thyra]

Yup, Kerry, the very reason I am concerned. I don't move that fast anymore and I also can no longer get down on my knees so I really do worry about those kind of disasters.

 

[KcMopar]

I understand, it could have been really bad!!! Once I came back in and seen it was fine I almost went out to the back deck to grab a Miller Light out of the cooler because by this time they had to be pretty darn cold but, I knew better due to age and wisdom. With almost forty years of experience of doing stupid things I know better LOL!! So I stayed in the same room just to be cautious and so I would not have to explain to my wife that I flooded the house because I wanted a cold Beer. LOL. Its a pretty big house, 2600 SQ FT and a 40 foot long deck with a cooler of cold Miller Lights on the far end so you can image the dilemma I could have faced if stupid would have intervened. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[skjl47]

Yup, Kerry, the very reason I am concerned. I don't move that fast anymore and I also can no longer get down on my knees so I really do worry about those kind of disasters.

Hello; Getting up and down is a slow process for me as well. Can the end of the device/hose that goes into the tank be secured in some way??. I still use buckets and a short siphon hose, but will need to come up with something less physical eventually, especially if I set up more tanks. i have a cheap pump that chucks into a drill and has garden hose fittings. I may get one of those big wheeled wagons to haul the buckets in and try the pump in a chordless drill.

 

[Thyra]

Maybe we "oldsters" need to start a thread on how to deal with some of those problems. I use a hand siphon into a bucket as I vacuum and dump the water over the deck and then use a couple of those jugs for drinking water from the grocery store. I set the temp and then keep running (I don't actually run anymore) back and forth while I refill the tanks and keep checking the temp on the water. This works for now. I will need a plan for as I get more debilitated.

 

[MdngtRain]

I've used the faucet siphon at work, and made quite a mess (20+ gallons on the floor and furniture!), so I am aware of the hazards. I will look at the site this weekend. I got house from home depot, but I think it is too thin. I need to get the 1/2" one...
I found a filter and some more supplies from one of the advertisers on this site. I will have to look up reviews on them before I order tho (too many internet mishaps).

I agree with the thread for how to make things easier. I've got a horrible back that makes the hauling a literal pain.

Thanks!