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Posted by George Pontis on September 13, 2005, 8:12 pm
Please log in for more thread options I have a fairly newly setup cichlid tank, and thinking that my filtration is
marginal. The tank is 125G nominal capacity but actual water volume is more like
100 gallons. Size is 6' long, 18" wide, and 20" high. The population consists of
six 3.5" to 5.5" Lake Malawi cichlids, mostly peacocks, no mbuna. Also six 3.5"
to
4.5" clown loaches and a 6-7" common plecostomus. There is an assortment of
plants
around the sides and back. Substrate is 3-5mm smooth quartz gravel. Large pieces
of slate are stacked on the right and left sides two high with maybe 2" gaps.
(The
clown loaches favor the bottom story on the left.)
Filtration is a single Fluval 404 drawing from a suction tube at the right side
and low. The return is split three ways: two Marineland Pro30 near the middle of
the tank and the Fluval return nozzle at the left side. The nozzle gets most of
the flow, maybe 50% of the total 340GPH. This filter is rated for 100 gallons
maximum, and at this rate the filter could turn over the tank around 3 times per
hour. I assume that the biowheels add significant extra biological capacity.
Marineland rates them for 30 gallons each.
I don't think there is really enough flow in the tank to effectively draw debris
from one side of the tank to the other and into the filter inlet. Especially
with
the rockwork, I don't know if the filter is going to create any meaningful flow
under and between the slates. I recently took apart much of the rockwork to do a
thorough gravel vacuuming and found several pockets of junk. It was a lot of
work
and I wouldn't want to have to do this for every gravel vacuuming. My thinking
is
to add additional circulation or filtration, but am unsure how the fish would
like
that or how effective it might be. The tank is too close to the wall to use a
hang-on overflow or behind the tank filter of any type.
Any comments or suggestions ?
George
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Posted by kay-bee on September 13, 2005, 8:54 pm
Please log in for more thread options
Not necessarily a filter, but for added water flow/current you could add a
power head or two.
Decently placed, the water flow provided by the power head can assist in
preventing waste from settling on the substrate and direct it to the general
area of your intakes. There are a wide variety of power heads out there, the
one I use has a measured flow of 295gph.
Lots of options for filters. Aquaclear 110 power filters are rated at 500gph
(probably somewhat reduced when loaded with media), and definately provide
some movement as well. I've got two of those on my 125g in addition to an
XP3 canister and a generic 330gph HOB.
kay-bee
>I have a fairly newly setup cichlid tank, and thinking that my filtration
>is
> marginal. The tank is 125G nominal capacity but actual water volume is
> more like
> 100 gallons. Size is 6' long, 18" wide, and 20" high. The population
> consists of
> six 3.5" to 5.5" Lake Malawi cichlids, mostly peacocks, no mbuna. Also six
> 3.5" to
> 4.5" clown loaches and a 6-7" common plecostomus. There is an assortment
> of plants
> around the sides and back. Substrate is 3-5mm smooth quartz gravel. Large
> pieces
> of slate are stacked on the right and left sides two high with maybe 2"
> gaps. (The
> clown loaches favor the bottom story on the left.)
>
> Filtration is a single Fluval 404 drawing from a suction tube at the right
> side
> and low. The return is split three ways: two Marineland Pro30 near the
> middle of
> the tank and the Fluval return nozzle at the left side. The nozzle gets
> most of
> the flow, maybe 50% of the total 340GPH. This filter is rated for 100
> gallons
> maximum, and at this rate the filter could turn over the tank around 3
> times per
> hour. I assume that the biowheels add significant extra biological
> capacity.
> Marineland rates them for 30 gallons each.
>
> I don't think there is really enough flow in the tank to effectively draw
> debris
> from one side of the tank to the other and into the filter inlet.
> Especially with
> the rockwork, I don't know if the filter is going to create any meaningful
> flow
> under and between the slates. I recently took apart much of the rockwork
> to do a
> thorough gravel vacuuming and found several pockets of junk. It was a lot
> of work
> and I wouldn't want to have to do this for every gravel vacuuming. My
> thinking is
> to add additional circulation or filtration, but am unsure how the fish
> would like
> that or how effective it might be. The tank is too close to the wall to
> use a
> hang-on overflow or behind the tank filter of any type.
>
> Any comments or suggestions ?
>
> George
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Posted by George B. on September 23, 2005, 7:40 pm
Please log in for more thread options I have a 75 gallon African tank using a Fluval 404 and a dual biowheel
powered with a powerhead. There is more than enough filtration (0
nitirites). Nitrate build up is controled by partial water changes. If you
want more circulation then I agree with the powerhead. I ran one attached
to a sponge filter and the sponge gathered more debris than the Fluval.
Adding another 404 would be, in my opinion, overkill.
>I have a fairly newly setup cichlid tank, and thinking that my filtration
>is
> marginal. The tank is 125G nominal capacity but actual water volume is
> more like
> 100 gallons. Size is 6' long, 18" wide, and 20" high. The population
> consists of
> six 3.5" to 5.5" Lake Malawi cichlids, mostly peacocks, no mbuna. Also six
> 3.5" to
> 4.5" clown loaches and a 6-7" common plecostomus. There is an assortment
> of plants
> around the sides and back. Substrate is 3-5mm smooth quartz gravel. Large
> pieces
> of slate are stacked on the right and left sides two high with maybe 2"
> gaps. (The
> clown loaches favor the bottom story on the left.)
>
> Filtration is a single Fluval 404 drawing from a suction tube at the right
> side
> and low. The return is split three ways: two Marineland Pro30 near the
> middle of
> the tank and the Fluval return nozzle at the left side. The nozzle gets
> most of
> the flow, maybe 50% of the total 340GPH. This filter is rated for 100
> gallons
> maximum, and at this rate the filter could turn over the tank around 3
> times per
> hour. I assume that the biowheels add significant extra biological
> capacity.
> Marineland rates them for 30 gallons each.
>
> I don't think there is really enough flow in the tank to effectively draw
> debris
> from one side of the tank to the other and into the filter inlet.
> Especially with
> the rockwork, I don't know if the filter is going to create any meaningful
> flow
> under and between the slates. I recently took apart much of the rockwork
> to do a
> thorough gravel vacuuming and found several pockets of junk. It was a lot
> of work
> and I wouldn't want to have to do this for every gravel vacuuming. My
> thinking is
> to add additional circulation or filtration, but am unsure how the fish
> would like
> that or how effective it might be. The tank is too close to the wall to
> use a
> hang-on overflow or behind the tank filter of any type.
>
> Any comments or suggestions ?
>
> George
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>is
> marginal. The tank is 125G nominal capacity but actual water volume is
> more like
> 100 gallons. Size is 6' long, 18" wide, and 20" high. The population
> consists of
> six 3.5" to 5.5" Lake Malawi cichlids, mostly peacocks, no mbuna. Also six
> 3.5" to
> 4.5" clown loaches and a 6-7" common plecostomus. There is an assortment
> of plants
> around the sides and back. Substrate is 3-5mm smooth quartz gravel. Large
> pieces
> of slate are stacked on the right and left sides two high with maybe 2"
> gaps. (The
> clown loaches favor the bottom story on the left.)
>
> Filtration is a single Fluval 404 drawing from a suction tube at the right
> side
> and low. The return is split three ways: two Marineland Pro30 near the
> middle of
> the tank and the Fluval return nozzle at the left side. The nozzle gets
> most of
> the flow, maybe 50% of the total 340GPH. This filter is rated for 100
> gallons
> maximum, and at this rate the filter could turn over the tank around 3
> times per
> hour. I assume that the biowheels add significant extra biological
> capacity.
> Marineland rates them for 30 gallons each.
>
> I don't think there is really enough flow in the tank to effectively draw
> debris
> from one side of the tank to the other and into the filter inlet.
> Especially with
> the rockwork, I don't know if the filter is going to create any meaningful
> flow
> under and between the slates. I recently took apart much of the rockwork
> to do a
> thorough gravel vacuuming and found several pockets of junk. It was a lot
> of work
> and I wouldn't want to have to do this for every gravel vacuuming. My
> thinking is
> to add additional circulation or filtration, but am unsure how the fish
> would like
> that or how effective it might be. The tank is too close to the wall to
> use a
> hang-on overflow or behind the tank filter of any type.
>
> Any comments or suggestions ?
>
> George