I have 2 10 gallon tanks that I am using as fry grow-out tanks. After some problems with some contaminated gravel that came with these free tanks, I have removed the gravel.
My concern is that there is a lot less surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow on in a bare tank and am worried that the current filters on these tanks do not have enough media surface area to handle the bioload because growing convict cichlids need a lot of food.
One tank has a Penguin MINI Bio-wheel and the other has an Aqua-Tech which I think is a 20-40. It takes the same size filters as the bigger penguin filters. The Penguin is a filter that I have just had around for a while and the Aqua-tech (Wal-Mart brand penguin without biowheel) came with the tanks. Both of these filters have fully cycled media in them even though the tanks themseves have just been setup.
Also, I would love some tips on how to maintain bare bottom tanks. Right now I am using a little hard tube siphon I made to suck up any debris off of the bottom each day.
I am thinking that I might get a couple Aquaclear 50's and set the flow rates very low to take advantage of the large media basket without having to have the full flow rate of this filter that most would consider over-sized for a little 10 gallon tank. I am so impressed with the large media basket in my AC-110, and I could fill the new filters with cycled Seachem Matrix and Bio-Max tubes from the 110 to ensure that I don't lose my cycle.
Right now, these two tanks are going through a mini-cycle since being set up this weekend, but water testing is showing a good trend toward getting back on track.
My concern is that there is a lot less surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow on in a bare tank and am worried that the current filters on these tanks do not have enough media surface area to handle the bioload because growing convict cichlids need a lot of food.
One tank has a Penguin MINI Bio-wheel and the other has an Aqua-Tech which I think is a 20-40. It takes the same size filters as the bigger penguin filters. The Penguin is a filter that I have just had around for a while and the Aqua-tech (Wal-Mart brand penguin without biowheel) came with the tanks. Both of these filters have fully cycled media in them even though the tanks themseves have just been setup.
Also, I would love some tips on how to maintain bare bottom tanks. Right now I am using a little hard tube siphon I made to suck up any debris off of the bottom each day.
I am thinking that I might get a couple Aquaclear 50's and set the flow rates very low to take advantage of the large media basket without having to have the full flow rate of this filter that most would consider over-sized for a little 10 gallon tank. I am so impressed with the large media basket in my AC-110, and I could fill the new filters with cycled Seachem Matrix and Bio-Max tubes from the 110 to ensure that I don't lose my cycle.
Right now, these two tanks are going through a mini-cycle since being set up this weekend, but water testing is showing a good trend toward getting back on track.
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