power filter advice

[twoluvcats]

i'm condiering getting a Emperor 280 for my 29 gallon tank. and I have a couple questions...

Is that going to be too much filtration for a 29g tank? (i'm guessing no)

There's a media basket supplemental to the filter pads...what, if anything, should i put in there? (or what would you put in there, if you had one?)

Tank info: I have a easy-plant planted tank, with angelfish, guppies, cories, and tetras...hard water (even with a softener)-GH 107.4, KH 161.9, ph 8.1, nitrates >10, currently filtered with a pengiun 170, plus 16" if bubble wand, in the back corner of the tank...opposite the filter outflow.

[amanichen]

twoluvcats said:

i'm condiering getting a Emperor 280 for my 29 gallon tank. and I have a couple questions...

Is that going to be too much filtration for a 29g tank? (i'm guessing no)

Not really, but if you're worried about flow rate, then let me know what it says on the package for peak flow rate.

There's a media basket supplemental to the filter pads...what, if anything, should i put in there? (or what would you put in there, if you had one?)

Well, it depends on what you want to do. If you want fine mechanical filtration then use polyesther floss, if you want extra surface area for bacteria use an open-cell foam, or if you want to put in carbon for odor and color absorption then you can do that (if you don't feel there's enough carbon in the filter cartridges.)

Being that this is a planted tank, you may or may not want to run carbon. If you're not intending to purposefully fertilize, then carbon won't be a problem. If you're going to fertilize, then skip the carbon.

Tank info: I have a easy-plant planted tank, with angelfish, guppies, cories, and tetras...hard water (even with a softener)-GH 107.4, KH 161.9, ph 8.1, nitrates >10, currently filtered with a pengiun 170, plus 16" if bubble wand, in the back corner of the tank...opposite the filter outflow.

Is this tank a new setup, or has it been established for a while? The reason I ask is because I remember you wre possibly going to start using R/O water for any new fish you acquired.

[twoluvcats]

this tank is a year old. I use R/O water for my bettas in my small tanks...but i just use softened water for my big tank.

Even with my R/O water and Seachem's Neutral Regulator my betta tanks are only down to 7.6...better than 8, but still high I know.

Well, it depends on what you want to do. If you want fine mechanical filtration then use polyesther floss, if you want extra surface area for bacteria use an open-cell foam, or if you want to put in carbon for odor and color absorption then you can do that (if you don't feel there's enough carbon in the filter cartridges.)

I was thinking maybe a heavy meatal remover, or a water softener...but i wanted to see what other people had for opinions.

[twoluvcats]

I got a NIB Emporer 280 off eBay for a screaming deal last night