Filter Help!

spencypoo1 · 03-15-2009, 01:41 PM

Well here I go again! Looking for some tips and tricks (mostly opinions

) on a secondary filter for my 18 gallon freshwater tank. My Moor Goldfish is great at producing messiness, and I was looking at doubling the filter power of my setup. It's an older tank that just has the Eclipse In-hood filter with bio wheel. It does what it can, but I think it could use some help.

I have been extensively searching canister filters.. but i am so limited on space in this cabinet, that it doesn't seem likely to fit one. Not to mention the price tag they come with.

So I started searching in-tank filters. But the maintenance and putting it in an accessible place, seems like a challenge. Plus i don't know if the addition would be noticeable enough for the effort.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated
P.s. Obviously the Cds can be removed if the right setup comes along

louistheloach · 03-15-2009, 03:31 PM

It seems like part of the problem with the eclipse and trying to add filtering power is the hood. I know on my little eclipse, the tank is actually not a true rectangle, but I don't know about the larger ones.

My thought is that if they are a true rectangle, would it be possible to remove the hood, (keeping the plastic top frame) and fashion a different top like putting a versa top on it which would allow you to up grade to any H.O.B filter.

It seems like even if the tank is not a rectangle, you could build your own top. At my local privately owned fish store I can buy the hinge and the back plastic piece where you would cut out for the filter and the handle. Then all you have to do is buy and cut a couple of pieces of glass to fit your top, which you can get at most big hardware stores.

I just went onto Drs. Foster and Smith, and I did not see anything that would work as an add-on to that style of tank, mostly because of the lid of the Eclipse.

good luck with it......

ltl

spencypoo1 · 03-16-2009, 04:53 PM

hey ltl! yeah, the hood is definitely keeping things from happening, i'm just not sure as of yet how much time/money i will be willing to put in on "customizing" this tank... i am still considering a smaller canister filter that can be lead into the tank from the back so i can keep using the hood filter as well...

appreciate the input!
thanks.

louistheloach · 03-16-2009, 11:09 PM

I had to replace the top on my 26 gal bowfront in order to improve the lighting for the plants.....I think it cost around 20. One that is not curved would be a little cheaper, if you are able to buy one from versa-top.......

Hope you get something up and running....

ltl

knuss3807 · 03-17-2009, 09:33 PM

Hello,
I got an overstocked 29g tank that I run 2 HOB filters with good results. I don't know how this would work on your Eclipse tanks but 2 filters seem to work for me. I am currently fighting an algae problem but all the water tests look good. I got a thread in the general discussion area titled algae identification where there is a pic of my tank.

peanutbowl · 03-18-2009, 10:29 AM

you could maybe consider something simple like a power head with a sponge filter on it. it's not fancy filtration or anything, but it would be inexpensive and would easily fit in the tank, under the hood. the extra water movement might help that hood filter pick up a little more waste too.

spencypoo1 · 03-23-2009, 07:58 PM

So I'm looking into converting that 18 gallon tank to accommodate an HOB bio wheel filter... It just seems to make sense to ditch the overworked standard filter with a newer streamlined HOB... then I started thinking of how I have never replaced the Bio wheel I have in the hood. Are there steps to acclimating new bio wheels to the tank? Because obviously all that funky monkey bacteria on my old one is good for the fish. Just curious if someone could clear the air on replacing a very well "lived in" tank with brand new Bio Wheels.

Thanks for all the help!
Spencer

*On a side note... all that algae i had in the first pic on the glass has been nicely "maintained" by the new pitbull pleco i got the other week!

louistheloach · 03-23-2009, 08:38 PM

hey spence,

nice looking tank. Are you sure you want to go with a biowheel. Consider this: 1) on your size tank, all the biological warfare you need will be found in your substrate and on your decorations 2) As long as you have a filter that will move the surface of the water around, it will keep your tank well oxygenated.

Sometimes the added attachment of the biowheel setup just adds expense to the system and takes up more room.

Just my opinion but, I have a small eclipse that I use for a quarantine tank and I can't see that it does anything more for the water than the tetra whisper (HOB) or the canister with a spray bar.

ltl

spencypoo1 · 03-24-2009, 07:30 PM

Thanks ltl! Good point. I am starting to get more creative with devising a way of disecting the Eclipse hood so I can still use the lamp, get a glass versa-top, then use what money was saved on that to get a decent pump. Without the added inclusion of a bio wheel, it could save me some steps. Assuming the bio wheel wasn't needed, what power filters do you folks consider worthy of such an endeavor

This is becoming more of a DIY Project all the time...
I know I wanted to get something intended for a larger tank, so it could be my stand alone, I have been comparing all sorts of filters, but after awhile, they all seem the same.
*On another note, this is the same tank I was mentioning I wanted to setup a rock wall for. (located in the "I wanna Rock! thread). Still am searching for some good stacking rocks.
Thanks for any assistance you could give

louistheloach · 03-24-2009, 09:13 PM

The sad part about HOB's is that so many of the companies are making their's so specialized that you are locked into their media and their's alone.

Tetra has a nice little HOB that is inexpensive and does a decent job, but they are discontinuing it for their EX model, so they are getting hard to find, but I did just find one at petmountain.com. It is an on line store. I talked to tetra and they will continue to put out the parts and the media for the whisper, because there are so many in use. Also at Foster and Smith you can get a generic version of the filter media that actually works better because it is a better design than what comes with the filter.

The only other plain old filter that I am aware of is the Aqua Clear. The thing that I like about that filter is that it is easy to customize your filtering needs. What I dont like about it is it doesnt agitate the water surface as much as the whisper does. It still aerates the tank because of the water flowing out of the box and hitting the water. You can also add a bubble stone for added aeration.

Both of the above filters come in a 30 gallon, the whisper comes in a 40, but I am not sure what the next jump is for the aqua clear. The 40 would not be too big for your tank and would allow you to upgrade to a larger tank in the future. I like to go larger on my filters whether I am thinking of upgrading or not. On my 26 gallon bowfront, I have the whisper 40.

If you are considering the whisper, I wouldn't wait long. Many stores have quit carrying them so the only way you will find one is from a store that is trying to sell the stock they have.

Have you ever tried looking on craigslist.com to find used equipment?

I know the magnum is a good HOB, but it may not be well suited for an eighteen gallon, the force that the water comes out of the spiget might be too turbulent.

good luck, it is sometimes very challenging coming up with solutions to our DIY ideas.

ltl