Thanks to everyone who has been answering my questions lately. I thank you and more importantly, my fish thank you. My question today is about filters. I originally bought a 10 gallon aquarium starter kit. Since that purchase (the tank has been up and running about 6 weeks) I have upgraded and replaced the heater, thermometer, and hood. I still am using the Top Fin 15 filter. Is this sufficient for a 10 gallon tank which I am planning on adding multiple plants to? Should I invest in a better filter?
Filter Brands
- Thread starter dcbluemeanie
- Start date
If you have a flow rate of atleast 6 times turnover(60gph) then your tank has adequate filtration. I am assuming the TopFin 15 is rated for up to a 15gallon tank....so yes its adequate. If the tank is to be planted you dont want to have to much turbulance anyway becuase that would depribe the plants of needed CO2.
go for it dude.if you don't like the filter don't use it.top-fin is petsmarts knock off of a tetra whisper filter.you said you bought a starter kit right?you also said that you replaceed the hood too right.if you have the room put the old filter and the new on your tank.just make sure that the current from two filters is too much and stresses the fish out.i like aquaclear filters because they have foam blocks for filter media and if they get cloged rinse in the water from your water change and they'er like new again but with all that good bacteria.in contrast to what you may have read in my other posts i like bio wheels i just don't like penguin filters the filter cartridges that go w/penguins just aren't re-useable enough for me gets too expensive,and it doesn't give you the option to use carbon or not.
The Top-Fin filter is alright. In my opinion, they don't flow well enough to be truly effective, but they do get the job done (slowly). Since you're wanting to add plants, you should be alright with it though. I would plant very heavily. The more plants you have, the less of a filter you need. Many heavily planted tanks don't use any filtration at all, provided the plants are growing at their optimum capacities.