55g Turtle Tank filter question

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I haven't ordered the filter yet, I have gotten bogged down in my stand build (and life in general). I think I overbuilt it a little :) I could probably use it as a jackstand fro a Sherman Tank!

I should be ordering the filter this week. I am leaning toward a SunSun 303. 3 trays but with the higher flow #s. If I need extra flow I will either add a 302 or a powerhead. If I was just doing fish it would be easier to decide (302 most likely) but turtles are so messy!

Thanks, I'll keep you posted.
 
The 303 should serve you well. My 304B took my green tinted free floating algae colored 55g to almost crystal clear in 3 days. But then again it has the UV bulb in it as well. So you may want to consider the 303B as an alternative.

Another thing you may want to consider is doing what I am doing with my 302. And soon my 304B as soon as I fininsh the stand. I am replacing the tubing with 3/4" SCH 40 PVC. I read on one of the reviews of the 302 where the 1/2" plastic tubing that comes with it for the intake and spray bar, actually reduces the flow rate by 15gph. I know that isn't much for a lightly stocked fish aquarium. But for turtles and a normal / heavy stocked aquarium on the other hand. That is alot as far as I am concerned. I "think" that the extra capacity of the pipe should keep the flow rate at a maximum (no flo rate drop due to restriction) by going 3/4" from about a foot from the filter to the tank on the intake and return lines. Granted it did cost me an extra $75 from my local hardware store for PVC pipe and fittings. Then again that is for 2 aquariums. A 55g (turtle tank) and a 20L (soon to be fish aquarium). Gotta love small town prices.

And as far as over building an aquarium stand. There is no such thing. It's called extra security in my opinion. I think my 55g stand will hold a 150g if it would fit on the stand. :ROFL:
 
I will keep the pvc intake/return mods in mind, thanks.

I haven't been able to find the 303A on ebay so I will probably be getting the 303B with the UV. Wouldn't having UV inside the filter canister affect the growth of benficial bacteria? I can't wrap my head around it being ok for the UV to be inside with the media. I guess i can always not turn it on.

I know what you mean about the stand. i used basically whatever leftover building materials I had from other projects (Beadboard, 2x4, 2x6, 3/4in ply) so it is WAAYYY overbuilt. I will certainly not have to worry about the stand failing.
 
smp2112;4550020; said:
I will keep the pvc intake/return mods in mind, thanks.

I haven't been able to find the 303A on ebay so I will probably be getting the 303B with the UV. Wouldn't having UV inside the filter canister affect the growth of benficial bacteria? I can't wrap my head around it being ok for the UV to be inside with the media. I guess i can always not turn it on.

I know what you mean about the stand. i used basically whatever leftover building materials I had from other projects (Beadboard, 2x4, 2x6, 3/4in ply) so it is WAAYYY overbuilt. I will certainly not have to worry about the stand failing.
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The UV isn't inside of the media. It's within the intake channel of water. The water swirls through the intake channel around the glass containing the UV bulb. So the UV never actually hits the media.
 
DUH! I never looked at it close enough to realize that the UV was in the Intake tunnel formed by the trays. I was going by the cutouts in the filter pads and thought the UV went through them.

Now it makes a lot more sense.

Zen - I'm on the fence but leaning toward the sususn303 today, tomorrow who knows. :)
 
smp2112;4551803; said:
DUH! I never looked at it close enough to realize that the UV was in the Intake tunnel formed by the trays. I was going by the cutouts in the filter pads and thought the UV went through them.

Now it makes a lot more sense.

Zen - I'm on the fence but leaning toward the sususn303 today, tomorrow who knows. :)
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Either way you go. I don't think you will be dissapointed. I have read all the reviews of both them that I could find. There was almost no negative remarks to either of them. You could always get the CFS for the Mechanical filtration and in a few weeks or whatever get the SunSun. Then stick a tray of foam filters on the bottom and a crap load of bio media in the rest.

It basically boils down to personal preference and what you can afford.
 
That is pretty much where i am at right now. I have been reading all of the review thread for both filters on Aquariacentral, here and plantedtank.net. I almost wish there were more bad reviews for one of them to make the decision easier :)

I should be ordering one or the other this weekend, and I'll post any updates.

Thanks again for all of you help!
 
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