Newbie Hello

I have a PF1 I've used but is currently a spare.  Replaced by a sponge filter when the shrimp tank was converted to a betta tank.  It has a built in venturi system on the top if you want the extra bubbles.   The instructions will tell you how to set it up as I can't recall off the top of my head.

Do you think that filter will be enough to aerate the tank or should I add an air stone in line as well?

I have now set my stand up with the tank on just so I can get the feel of having it in the living room.
hope it does not end up being too noisy as I am deaf on my right side and that is going to be on my left when I sit watching tv. Might have a play tomorrow and just see if it will fit in opposite corner. not sure about space.

Starting to get a little bit anxious and excited together, going to start reading up on the water testing. 

Thanks, All Bxx

The flow rate of the Interpet PF1 is rated at 380 litres/hour. The minimum usually recommended is 5 times the tank volume per hour so for your 55 litres you need around 275 litres per hour. The PF1 should be plenty.

However, the manual says it has a white foam and a black, carbon impregnated, black foam. The on-line manual appears to have been photocopied from a creased sheet of paper. It ends the bottom of one column with "The foams can be washed in a bucket containing aquarium water. The carbon" and that sentence is supposed to continue at the top of the next column, only it's missing in this poor copy. If it says it should be replaced regularly, don't. Carbon gets full which is why they probably say to replace it, but carbon isn't actually needed. Since this carbon is in a sponge, just treat it like a white foam.

http://www.interpet.co.uk/Media/InterpetUK/Skoo/2201/2201_7.pdf

I agree the PF1 alone will be enough.  I see you went with the same aquarium stand as I use for my betta tank and volcano tank.   So much störage.

Hi Mark,
 I was a bit wary about what to use as a stand, I did not want anything too big or too small. Weight bearing is a problem with some of the high street cupboards/storage unit as they can be rather flimsy I have the larger 6 hole unit in my dining room as a book case so thought this should be ok for my tank which will be 55kg + once fully set up.  What size and approx weight are your tanks if you don't mind me asking.

It has been known for me and my wife to both sit on a cupboard to test its weight bearing capacity! 

I wonder if it might be worth changing the carbon sponge for some ordinary filter sponge. I have read about carbon releasing the nasties it's taken in when it becomes full... agree with Sue that it should not be replaced regularly though as you would loose all the beneficial bacteria within it.

I have a larger tank that is a meter long it fits great into an alcove opposite corner to the one I showed last night. So I will be looking for something similar to put that on. The cabinet that came with it (second hand) on closer inspection is a bit damaged, we have flat packed it and keeping it for now as we might use it as a template to build a new one ourselves if we can get a similar coloured board or wood.

Which version do you get Ian? Print or digital?

My understanding is that with no water movement, the same bit of water stays at the top all the time. But moving that top layer down and the bottom layer up effectively creates a larger water surface because it is not the same bit of water at the surface all the time.

I could be wrong though 

Hi Matt
I get the print version of Practical Fish keeping. It's my understanding that it's both the surface aggertation and the water movement, around the whole tank that helps with the re oxygenation of the water. I hope that make sense.