Frequent Aquarium Questions

• I have a 39 gallon 6 sided tank with freshwater fish. What would be an excellent choice for a filter?
  
  
• I will be setting up an aquarium for an octopus. Will a protein skimmer be a necessary piece of equipment?
  
  
• Will two Hagen 802 powerheads provide sufficient tow for a 125 gallon aquarium with an undergravel filter?
  
  
• What air pump do you recommend for a 30 gallon tank to drive an air curtain diffuser?
  
  
• Is it normal for my 20 gallon glass tank to bow slightly when filled with water?
  
  
• What is a wet/dry filter?
  
  
• I have an Eheim 2215 canister filter and it keeps blowing out a very fine mist of air bubbles. What can I do?
  
  
• How long should it take a new Eheim 2028 pro II to clear the water in a new 90 gallon freshwater tank?
  
  
• My heater fluctuates within 4 degrees. Is this normal?
  
  
• I have a filter laying on its side inside my tank. Can it be in this position or does it have to be upright?
  
  

• I have a 39 gallon 6 sided tank with freshwater fish. What would be an excellent choice for a filter?
  
  I highly recommend a good canister filter like an Eheim.
  
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• I will be setting up an aquarium for an octopus. Will a protein skimmer be a necessary piece of equipment?
  
  Yes. Octopus are sensitive to nitrates so a very good filtration system would be a benefit.
  
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• Will two Hagen 802 powerheads provide sufficient tow for a 125 gallon aquarium with an undergravel filter?
  
  Yes.
  
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• What air pump do you recommend for a 30 gallon tank to drive an air curtain diffuser?
  
  I recommend the Rena 100 or the TetraTec 100.
  
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• Is it normal for my 20 gallon glass tank to bow slightly when filled with water?
  
  No.
  
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• What is a wet/dry filter?
  
  It is a top choice for many hobbyist. It is comprised of a dry section which holds the bio-media, and a wet section for the return pump.
  
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• I have an Eheim 2215 canister filter and it keeps blowing out a very fine mist of air bubbles. What can I do?
  
  Your Eheim is not primed completely. You need to bleed all the air out, or the impeller will just break up the bubbles into more bubbles.
  
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• How long should it take a new Eheim 2028 pro II to clear the water in a new 90 gallon freshwater tank?
  
  The filter will not clear a new tank completely, unless the tank is fully cycled.
  
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• My heater fluctuates within 4 degrees. Is this normal?
  
  You probably have a faulty heater.
  
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• I have a filter laying on its side inside my tank. Can it be in this position or does it have to be upright?
  
  If it is a type of internal box filter, the pump can draw water from any position.
  
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