raymond_h2002
12-01-2005, 11:27 AM
Hi everyone,
This is my first post on this forum. I really appreciate all the help and expertise that is shared among the members here. I've been doing a lot of searching and reading in order to avoid asking redundant questions, but my search abilities have reached its limits when it comes to the following issue:
I am looking to set up a secondary filter to supplement my primary filter (rena filstar xp2) in my 37g tall tank. I'm approaching the end of my cycle as i have just set it up last month; it is currently occupied by 6 zebra danios, 1 dwarf gourami, and 2 corys. In the near future I would like to get a few more gouramis, guppies, and a fleet of clown loaches, as well as a few more corys.
I have considered RUGF to cover half the floor, but can't help but think that *some* gunk will bypass the sponge pre-filter on the reverse powerhead, leading to an eventual build-up of crud underneath the plates. I am also not looking forward to having to move the gravel out for the plate installation. One big reason why I am considering RUGF is because of the low currents it produces; I think I get enough surface agitation from the XP2 spraybar and bubble wand, and I don't want the gouramis blown around too much.
As a compromise, I thought of the idea of attaching the penguin 660R reverse sponge powerhead to a regular sponge column. In other words, instead of having the powerhead output through the gravel bed, I would have it pass through the sponge near the bottom of the tank, which can be covered with gravel or plants. I am hoping that this would dissipate the current (though obviously it wouldn't come close to the dissipation efficiency of a gravel bed. I also understand that I might not get nearly as efficient biofiltration as RUGF. I am hoping that the xp2 and the biostars are sufficient.
Has anyone tried doing this? What are your thoughts on this idea?
Thanks everyone!
This is my first post on this forum. I really appreciate all the help and expertise that is shared among the members here. I've been doing a lot of searching and reading in order to avoid asking redundant questions, but my search abilities have reached its limits when it comes to the following issue:
I am looking to set up a secondary filter to supplement my primary filter (rena filstar xp2) in my 37g tall tank. I'm approaching the end of my cycle as i have just set it up last month; it is currently occupied by 6 zebra danios, 1 dwarf gourami, and 2 corys. In the near future I would like to get a few more gouramis, guppies, and a fleet of clown loaches, as well as a few more corys.
I have considered RUGF to cover half the floor, but can't help but think that *some* gunk will bypass the sponge pre-filter on the reverse powerhead, leading to an eventual build-up of crud underneath the plates. I am also not looking forward to having to move the gravel out for the plate installation. One big reason why I am considering RUGF is because of the low currents it produces; I think I get enough surface agitation from the XP2 spraybar and bubble wand, and I don't want the gouramis blown around too much.
As a compromise, I thought of the idea of attaching the penguin 660R reverse sponge powerhead to a regular sponge column. In other words, instead of having the powerhead output through the gravel bed, I would have it pass through the sponge near the bottom of the tank, which can be covered with gravel or plants. I am hoping that this would dissipate the current (though obviously it wouldn't come close to the dissipation efficiency of a gravel bed. I also understand that I might not get nearly as efficient biofiltration as RUGF. I am hoping that the xp2 and the biostars are sufficient.
Has anyone tried doing this? What are your thoughts on this idea?
Thanks everyone!