CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I'm wondering if I should trust my LFS people. There's two I frequent and between both of them and my online resources I usually get conflicting advice on things.

When I bought my setup (55 gallon) they recommended a 150 W heater. The heater box itself says 150 W for a 45 and 200 W for a 65 gal. If I had known better at the time, I would have picked up the bigger heater. As it stands now, my heater rarely shuts off. I've got it set to 80° F and it holds my water at 77-78°F but never warmer so the heater never turns off. Is it too small? Am I going to have a wicked electric bill now?

Also, they recommended an Emperor 400 filter for my 55 gal cichlid tank. It seems to work fine but I'm reading about people using an Emperor PLUS another filter for their 55's. Am I under sized with the filter too?

I walked out of that store $500 lighter. I wouldn't have minded paying a little more to get the right equipment.

...or maybe I have the right equipment?

I really don't think you'll be spending less money on electric bill with a bigger heater. Now the filter really depends a lot on the type and number of fish in that tank.

I pretty much agree with what Joe said.

But personally I always take a big heater then I need - my thought if it shuts of more often - it's not so hard on the heater and there should be less chance of it sticking and overheating.

I allways take the advise from my LFS personell with a grain of salt. After all if they were really experts on the subject would they be working as a clerk in a pet store?
I have gotten the best advise from the long time hobbiest like the ones on the many forums on the web. I also research the subject from the true experts ie professional Marine Bioligist and Icthyologist. I received my best knowlage from my ex, a degreed Icthyologist some 20 years ago.
As far as the Emperor 400 I have one on each of my 4, 55 gallon tanks and 2 on my 125 gallon tank. They work great for me.
I use Vortex Diatoms as a maintance filter (weekly cleaning of the water and gravel). This is not a required methode but I feel it works best for me.
The water heater is probably under sized. Bigger is better. I use 300 watt heaters on all of my tanks.
If the heater stays on all the time and does not bring the water to the selected temp it will use a lot more power. Once the water is at temp a proper sized heater will cycle to maintain the temp.Thus using less power. Make sure that the tank is not located near any source of cold air such as a leaky window or air conditioning duct. This may cause the tank to loose heat faster than the heater can produce.

I think it also it depends if you now and can trust you LFS. There is a couple of places I will not trust around here, only trust two but owned byt he same person. Ask people who go there if it is a trustworthy place that will help out. As for the heater nothing to big never hurts. Less time spending on. Hope this helps ya

LRD

The dilemma of the heater. Here is what I have on heaters:

Up to 15 gal tank---- 50 watt heater
Up to 30 gal tank---- 100 watt
Up to 45 gal tank---- 150 watt
Up to 75 gal tank---- 200 watt
Up to 100 gal tank--- 300 watt

Hope this helps everyone on heaters on getting a certain size tank. You have to have the correct wattage.
As per/ http://www.Aquariumpharm.com/step2.html

I am the opposite I would trust my local fish store totally its a family run buisness with 3 brothers (and their mother lol)..with a few others working there but all of those who work there breed or have bred various varieties in the past its their hobbies that got the buisness started ,so they know their stuff pretty good....and anything they dont know they dont fob you off with a wrong answer theyre willing to find out the facts before they mention anything....we breed betta fish and these guys helped out tons before we got to know our stuff

what most were referring to was the BIG LFS stores, not a independent place like you have. I would take the advice from them any time, but try and get a good answer from one of the "chain stores" and be prepaired to dish out $$ and lose some fish. I was in one a while back and they could not direct this young man on how to feed his 5" Oscar. Well, he wanted to get feeders and they "were" going to sell him some, but I steped in and told him to really look at the fish. Would you feed your Oscar those? he thought and said: Well what else am i to feed him? Well that let to the frozen department and explaing to the guy about diease and live feeders. He bought what I told him to. Plus Mom and Dad got instruction on feeding a Pleco. Well the clerk who I have delt with said I need to work there! Ya right! I would never sale any feeders to any one, but direct them to "other foods". Talked to another clerk and they told Hubby and me How they are not allowed to discourage any sale of fish! As in mixing Africans and American Cichlids and so forth. Newbies need to be instructed on fish care not just handed a fish and a 10 gal tank and say "O that fish will be just fine in that tank, you can add 8 more now if you want too!! Well thats my Quarters worth. Your lucky to have the LFS you have. Trade you..