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Tetra Whisper Internal Power Filters?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 8:49 pm
by JaYrX7
I currently have this running on my 20 gallon tank.
However, it does not do a good job cleaning the tank.
Since the tank does not have and substrates at the bottom, you can see all the poos from the turtles.
Do you guys know any good filters for a 20 gallon tank that is around 20-30 bucks? I am kinda low on budget lol
Thank you.

PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:06 pm
by untsmurf
Check on craigslist and sites like that. In order to prevent waste build up, you'll want to get a filter that is rated for three times the size of your tank.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:58 am
by mikee
J-x7 When purchasing a filter you may want to up grade to a canister that pumps at least five times the water volume you have in the tank. You need something that will stir up the water a little to pick up the poo on the bottom. Until then you may be stuck with water changes on a regular basis. Good Luck.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:14 pm
by rsour24
mikee wrote:J-x7 When purchasing a filter you may want to up grade to a canister that pumps at least five times the water volume you have in the tank.


5 is a lot. the rule of thumb is 3 times the amount.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 11:57 pm
by mikee
res-24 I am not sure you are talking about a filter rated for a certain size tank or you are talking about the number of gph needed to have a clean healthy tank. When sizing a filter for a turtle always use gph for sizing and not some, double this size or double that size for turtles. When manufactures size a filter pump it is for fish and not turtles. Turtles need and exchange at least five times the water that is in the tank. If you have a 100 gallon tank you should have at least a 500 gph filter pump. I would use more but that would be my "rule of thumb" My next tank will be a 125gallon tank and I wiil be using an FX5 which will be about 900 gph. Turtles need a lot more water to get the their bacteria filtration going and lasting.Good Luck

PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:10 pm
by marisa
I'm sorry, but I believe that last statement to be untrue. Water that's pumping through a filter too quickly will work against the colonization of beneficial bacteria. If benefical bacteria is not the aim (and with filters that do not hold adequate biomedia for beneficial bacteria to form), then pump away.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:28 pm
by Bascomb
Ms Moderator The greater the flow the larger the media and thus more biologcal filtration. The greater the flow the greater the filtration, unless you are talking about extreamly high pressure like a pressure washer. There are creeks that flows thousands of gallons of water and the bacteria does just fine. If you have a 100 gallon tank and have a flow of 50gph, it will not do the job. If you have a 100 gallon tank and the flow is 500 gph you will be a lot better off.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:59 pm
by rsour24
mikee wrote:res-24 I am not sure you are talking about a filter rated for a certain size tank or you are talking about the number of gph needed to have a clean healthy tank. When sizing a filter for a turtle always use gph for sizing and not some, double this size or double that size for turtles. When manufactures size a filter pump it is for fish and not turtles. Turtles need and exchange at least five times the water that is in the tank. If you have a 100 gallon tank you should have at least a 500 gph filter pump. I would use more but that would be my "rule of thumb" My next tank will be a 125gallon tank and I wiil be using an FX5 which will be about 900 gph. Turtles need a lot more water to get the their bacteria filtration going and lasting.Good Luck


oh ok. little mix up. guess we are both right. haha