Suggestions Please... For 5gl. Tank Setup!

A friend gave me a bare 5.5 USgl. tank the other day. After much insistence on there part I accepted it just to shut them up! By the time I buy a hood, heater, and filter I could almost setup a 10gl(UK or US) with a slight increase in cost! Both heaters and filters please.

I would appreciate some input as to the brands anyone prefers over others. Which ones to avoid etc..
When a filters top rating is is at your tank size is it really adequate or should one jump up a level. My uninformed opinion is to jump! Three stage or bio-wheel?

Also considering black sand over gravel to do a comparison and need to know the minimum thickness. Also hints on care wouldn't hurt! Looking to add some live plants and see if they live.

Im not to sure what filters you have over there but if theres just a betta going in there than a sponge filter like this should work
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or the hang on filter like this would work
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I, personally, like the whisper filters. They're not expensive to buy or get the media for, and I"ve never had an issue with them. I have 3 such filters in 2 different sizes. I also have both the external and internal kinds. I prefer the external kind, but both work well. I ran my 5.5gal on a 5-15gal whisper filter for a long time. It worked amazingly well.

The double sponge is a weird looking contraption to me. I've never seen that one! We have one like the Aqua-One here too. I didn't notice any dimensions for the double sponge. I wonder if it might fit my 2,5gl. hex.

I could just pull hair out Kiz! I missed three complete 29gl. setups. They said you had to take them all and I lost out as I couldn't find a ride soon enough.
First come first serve and the race was on!

I think we have the Whispers here as I have a Whisper pump. I'll have to look!

Im not sure how big they are ive never seen one. Someone else might no. I wouldnt think they where that big though. Thats gutting. Ive been watching some tanks recently but im the same as you always loose bidding or cant get there. Hope you find one soon

I'll get lucky eventually and hope you do too! I check randomly with a vengeance at least 15 times daily!

Cheers. 15 times a day

walmart sells some of the whisper products, as does any petsmart or petco near you. I have had bother external and internal filters, if the external has a self start...meaning you do not have to prime it I prefer that. every single year during the winter we have temp 1-2 second power outages, well if you arnt home to reprime the filter every time that happens you can lose all the good filter media bacteria and end up recycling your tanks constantly.

I would go with straight black sand if I were you, I have had all sorts of gravel and also light sand. the black sand looks the nicest and stays the cleanest.


edit to add, instead of just looking for tanks for cheap place your own "free tanks wanted" add on craigslist. you should get a few replys for people just wanting to get rid of stuff.

I like that idea! Might entice someone to pass on equipment thats collecting dust, Thanks Newfishy for both!

I"ve bought my whisper filters at Walmart and they seem to be the self-prime ones as I never have to re-prime after a power outtage...

Just going to have a look see now! Thanks Taelin!

I used to have one of those Whisper in-tank filters. I was never satisfied with it, mainly because I didn't see exactly how it could be effective. After about a year, the suctions stopped sucking and it would constantly fall down into the water. I had the smallest size though. The bigger sizes come with hooks that hook over the side of the tank, I think.

I personally like the classic hang-over-the-back power filters cuz you know the water is actually going through the filter media before going back in the tank. I've always been pleased with the bio-wheels in the past.

One thing you might want to consider is buying a filter with a flow control. Especially with bettas, who don't like a lot of water movement, some filters will create too much current for them. Both AquaClear, Whisper and Marina make filters with flow control and they cost the same as any other filter.

For heaters, I just bought an Aqueon, the smallest size for 5-10 gallon aquariums. I like it because it's straightforward with the visible light to see when it's on, easily adjustable temp control, and strong suction cups. I've only had it for less than a week though, so I haven't thought about it much. But isn't that the sign of a good heater?