"Gill Passman" wrote in message
.. .
Dan White wrote:
Hi. I was told by two fish stores (one expert store and one big box)
that
you need to buy a filter that is sized for twice the size of your
tank. So
if you have a 55 gal tank, you need a filter that is sized for a 110
gal
tank. In other words, ignore the recommendations on the box. This
didn't
sound right, but two different places recommended the same thing.

Any comments?

thanks,
dwhite


Hmmmm....it really depends what you intend putting in the tank and your
stocking levels....I have managed to do deals with my LFS's when buying
a tank to switch out the bundled internal pumps with externals...I tend
not to run any of my tanks with the pumps/filters that are sold with
the tanks...If you are going with a very low stock level (and by this I
mean below the 1" per gall) you could probably get away with what you
are sold with the bundle....personally on my bigger tanks I go for
externals and sometimes use an internal as backup...IMO you cannot over
filter a tank - in reality it comes down to budget - if you can do a
deal and swop out when buying a tank it will not cost you too much more
and will give you and your fish peace of mind

I'm not sure about the twice the tank size rule but I always put in
additonal filtration....over and above what is given with the tank off
the shelf - but that is just what I do...I'm not saying you wouldn't be
OK with what is offered by the manufacturer

Gill

Just to add to Gill's good comments, I try to use two filters, each rated
for about 75% of the tank (or more). This way, in the event of a
failure, the one remaining filter will carry me through any needed
repairs on the other.

More ramblings about filters:
http://www.2cah.com/netmax/basics/filters/filters.shtml
--
www.NetMax.tk