Good filter for a 55 gal??

laeclaserind

DrsFosterSmith.com has this: Power Filter: Bio System Power Filter & Surface Skimmer from Drs. Foster and Smith HOB filter on sale right now ($30 for a 55 gal), I was wondering if it looked like junk or not to anyone, also what is a built in surface skimmer???

Twistersmom

The skimmer removes the oil and dirt that you sometimes see floating on the water surface.

Its probaly a good filter, but I am a big fan of the Emperor 400 myself. The bio-wheels are great for bacteria to grow on, and add lots of oxygen to the tank.

Tyyrlym

When it comes to a 55 gallon get two filters. Trust me. One filter will result in decent flow in one half of the tank and no flow in the other. So one side looks clean, the other gets lots of settled out detritus. I'd get a pair of the model 35's myself.

1077

I ran an Emperor 400 on 55gal and had no complaints. Easy to service,easy to get parts, (seldom needed) and provides excellent biological and mechanical filtration. Liked em so much,, I have five.

catfishtabbi

Everyone who posted has good points. I.m currently running marineland biowhrrl and i must say half of my 50g is very still, well a dead zone. They are very noisy with a water fall sound. My marineland c-220 canister filters w/ 0 bypass quit running and are in the shop, marineland is sending replacemants. Even tho they broke i still would purchase them again. They keep water sparkling clean and have baskets for any needed filter madia and they truly have 0 bypass all water gets filtered. The co ml replaces parts at no charge so i feel safe enough.Oh you can't hear them running.

Tyyrlym

My plan for my 55 gallon is either a single Emperor 400 and a single Emperor 280 or maybe just double 280's.

Twistersmom

I have a water pump with a sponge filter attached in my 55gal. Its placed on the opposite side of the HOB filter.
It takes care of any dead water flow spots.

1077

An Emperor 400 and an Emperor 280 would do great. I used to run an Emperor 400 and 280 on 75 gal and they provided plenty of water movement and the already mentioned biological and mechanical filtration. Also ran two Emperor400"s on eighty gal Discus tank but am expierimentingwith sponge filters . I now use one Emperor 400 on both the 75 gal and eighty gal Discus tank along with two sponge filters in each. Not as much current ,although None of the fish in either tank seemed to mind.
An emperor 400 and 280 on 55 gal will do well. (PS) I very much like the sponge filters for their simplicity, but Properly sized sponge filters take up considerable room in each corner of my tanks and bristlenose ,along with White spot pleco are nibbling little holes in them They also affect the aesthetics. I may go back to the two Emperors at some point.

Tyyrlym

That's what's kept me from using sponge filters for anything but my quarantine tank, the aesthetics.

1077

Agreed.