Filter/Setup Advice

agaupt · 12-26-2006, 12:47 PM

My current filtration etup for my 46 gallow Bow tank is;

2 Aquaclear 50 (old 200) HOB filters 200 gph each
2 penguin 550 powerheads for UGF 145 gph each.

The fish are in my sig below, with about 7 live plants and java moss. Each week when I change out the filter media their is tons of gunk in both the filters. Water params are good, ammonia & nitrite are 0ppm, ph ranging from 6.6 to 7.2, nitrate can get high to 30ppm, but usually around 20ppm, but phosphate is usually high from 2-5ppm.

I was thinking about changing the aquaclear HOBS to a canister filter like the Rena XP3, so I could add different filter media?

gm333 · 12-26-2006, 05:30 PM

Sounds good, you can always get the cannister and leave the hob on as well.

BJP · 12-26-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

I was thinking about changing the aquaclear HOBS to a canister filter like the Rena XP3, so I could add different filter media?

I don't really like Aquaclears myself but being basically a box, you have the option of DIY media alterations. I frequently used knee highs to form baggies that could hold anything from carbon to peat. The foam blocks can be sliced up, hollowed out or left out entirely if desired. If it's just differnet media you want, play a little. You might save the cost of the cannister.

agaupt · 12-27-2006, 11:47 AM

Thanks,
I bought the Rena XP3, my local petsmart had a great deal got it for $75. The aquaclears' are good filters, but they were getting clogged to much in my bogger tank. The rena has a bigger space for media.

jd@ga · 12-27-2006, 11:38 PM

Nice deal ! It pays to window shop. I would use all filters on the tank.

BJP · 12-28-2006, 07:15 AM

Add up the box advertised flow rates of all your pumps and filters on the tank. Divide the box advertized gallonage which is 46. If it falls in the 6 to 12 range you're fine using them all. If you go way over there's probably a bit too much current in the tank.

agaupt · 12-28-2006, 11:08 AM

2 Powerheads at 145 gph each = 290 gph
Their are two numbers for the canister filter 350 gph flow rate, and 187 gph water flow
Xp3 canister filter at 187 ghp, totoal = 477 / 46 = 10.37

I have the outflow of the canister filter going to a spray bar across the back of the tank. The outflow valve is turned about half way and seems to be working good.

I will be removing both the aquaclear filters. The first day I setup the rena filter I removed one aqualcear filter and my water parameters stayed the same excpet for pH (nothing critical)

How long should I wait to remove the other aquaclear filter? I'm thinking about 2 weeks?

jd@ga · 12-28-2006, 02:29 PM

I wouldn`t remove any filters. Not unless you are gonna change the tank over to salt and keep jellies or seahorses.

BJP · 12-28-2006, 09:06 PM

Quote:

How long should I wait to remove the other aquaclear filter? I'm thinking about 2 weeks?

If you're trying to give the cannister time to develop bacteria to replace part of what may have been removed with the first filter extraction then I'd say two weeks sounds about right but testing will tell you for certain. I suspect that if the tanks established, you probably have enough bacteria in the rest of the tank to make up for any loss and to help establish the new filter.

If you're worried about it but want to try sooner, take the other filter off and leave the media soaking in a little container of tank water with a pinch of fish food. If a problem develops you can readd the filter in a matter of minutes and the bacteria on the media should still be intack.

In the future if you want to try live plants and CO2, the spraybar can usually be submerged just below the surface to minnimize CO2 gas off.