Boston Aquarium Society Message Board

My Whisper power filter is VERY LOUD I have to unplug it to get any sleep (it's ok I don't have any fish in it yet ). The filter is for a 60 gal but the tank it came with is only 22. All in all--I'm doing it wrong.

I have some plants (including some floating ones) and killie eggs coming soon, and perhaps gourami, female betta, tetra, kuhli loaches, livebearers...not exactly sure yet. Saw some cute tiny pearl danios and some tiny barbs, forgot the name but they have a black spot w/ orange around it, would they get eaten?

Sorry, ADD, so my question is, what should I use instead? Are there quieter power filters? Should I get a canister filter instead? They're expensive and I hear they're hard to clean. If I did get a canister, would I need an airstone? should I get an airstone anyway if I use a power filter? If I have surface swimmers (clown killies), would they not like surface disturbance of a power filter?

Heeelp

Read more: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/fres ... z1nYuJluEo

check to make sure its assembled correctly - Whisper filters can get noisy if the impeller isn't sitting in the impeller well snugly (like if it is a little higher than it should be).
If its a used filter, it might be a worn or broken impeller.
If its the double-sided Whisper 60 --- way too much flow for many common fish in a 22g tank, in my opinion.
clown killies would probably hate it.

A small canister would work, and would be a little more "plant friendly" than many of the HOB filters, but I have many "planted" tanks that use whisper filters (and also Aquaclear and Marineland filters).
Having used the Aqueon filters at a store when they first came out - I'm not a fan. If I could, I would pitch the remaining ones at the store into the trash - they give us more trouble than any others I've used. In fact, I had a chance to trade in old, unworking filters from my fishroom for free, brand new Aqueon filters last fall - and I declined.

You shouldn't need an airstone with a canister, as long as you have some surface disturbance and don't overstock the tank.
I don't find canister filters hard to clean - inconvenient, but not hard, and they don't need to be cleaned as often.

Clown killies would do great with tiny gourami's (pygmy, croaking, etc) - but would probably be harassed by "full size" gouramis like pearls, blues, etc.
I think you are thinking of the celestial pearl danios (also called galaxy rasboras) - very cool fish, a trio would do great in a planted 22g tank along with small killies. Ember tetras would also work with the fishes you mentioned.

If you'd like, you can bring the whisper filter into Unique Aquaria on Saturday and I'll take a look at it.

_________________
Rich
-- ---------------------------------------
Its new, its improved (its still a work-in-progress)
its http://redpaulhus.com !

Yes, the celestial pearl danios, and yes, I saw them at Unique Aquaria!! Adorable! I may have spoken with you about them actually if you were there on Sunday...I bought 1$ worth of water lettuce The killies I may end up getting (as opposed to a bag of dirt) aren't clown killies though (although those were cute and maybe I'll get some!). I heard clown killies are the more peaceful kind.
This is what I bought:


The filter is double sided. It seems to work differently everytime I unplug it and plug it back in so you're probably right. The lid doesn't fit on snugly either so I prob don't have it together correctly. I plan to come in tomorrow morning to get my kH and gH tested like you suggested Maybe I'll see you!

I'm just there on Saturday, you probably talked to Steve on Sunday and Jeff (my boss) will be there during the week.

Ah, "nothos" - very cool fish. I highly recommend you talk to Tony Pinto at a BAS meeting - Tony has forgotten more about killies than I've learned - but when I've kept them I've generally kept them by themselves and kept the flow pretty low (I like sponge filters in killie tanks).
At the size you're going to be hatching them, you might even want to start them in a small betta bowl or mini tank until they are big enough to handle the big tank, and I'd recommend an easy live food like microworms or vinegar eels for the newly hatched fry.

_________________
Rich
-- ---------------------------------------
Its new, its improved (its still a work-in-progress)
its http://redpaulhus.com !

OH! Also, I just got my heater in the mail, and the online description said fully submersible but on the instructions it says only to submerge to the water line. Someone else said that the waterlines can pretty much be ignored but I'm afraid of being electrocuted!

Thanks! That's what the guy I talked to on Sunday said! I have a 1 gal where I'll keep them till they get bigger

LOL! Quick google search told me nothos means bastard in greek

I'm a poor speller but the latin is nothobranchius

What brand heater is it ?

_________________
Rich
-- ---------------------------------------
Its new, its improved (its still a work-in-progress)
its http://redpaulhus.com !

Aquatop, any experience w/ those?