Thoughts on filters for Shell dwellers?

[yhbae]

No,. the hydor koralia is not a sponge adaptable powerhead.

It's a magnetically clamping power head, No sponge involved, simply for high water volume movement w/o the hi-pressure aspect of your standard powerhead.

Why would you want this in a shelly tank?

 

[reefplayground]

Well, there are several benefits. One, that pic is about life size for a koralia one, and a little bigger than a nano version. They are great because they spread the water movement over a wide range, no high pressure point from a strong water jet inside the aquarium. So you get great aeration and total water movement. Two, the look better than a sponge filter. ;D And three; they have a very low wattage consumption.

 

[yhbae]

Well, there are several benefits. One, that pic is about life size for a koralia one, and a little bigger than a nano version. They are great because they spread the water movement over a wide range, no high pressure point from a strong water jet inside the aquarium. So you get great aeration and total water movement. Two, the look better than a sponge filter. ;D And three; they have a very low wattage consumption.

I understand this looks better and helps circulation. But how would water circulation help bio-filtering? Or are you suggesting to shoot water into sponge hidden somewhere in the tank?

 

[Pittbull]

I have Hydor sponge filters in all of my smaller shellie setups with out issues i just have to be creative to hide the ugly sponge, i have also used powerheads with a Hydor sponge and works great.

 

[rogersb]

I understand this looks better and helps circulation. But how would water circulation help bio-filtering? Or are you suggesting to shoot water into sponge hidden somewhere in the tank?

Biofiltering occurs on all surfaces in your tank. It's a common misconception that it occurs in your filter and there only. With the small bioload the shellies will create, they will not need all the surface area an AC sponge will have. The surface area in your tank will have enough beneficial bacteria to do the job as long as there is movement across the surface of all the decor in the tank. They also create movement at the surface for gas exchange.

 

[yhbae]

Biofiltering occurs on all surfaces in your tank. It's a common misconception that it occurs in your filter and there only. With the small bioload the shellies will create, they will not need all the surface area an AC sponge will have. The surface area in your tank will have enough beneficial bacteria to do the job as long as there is movement across the surface of all the decor in the tank. They also create movement at the surface for gas exchange.

I understand but I don't think I will ever skip/lower filtering and rely on surfaces of objects in the tank for filtering, even for shellies. Once they start to spawn and have more bodies in the tank, I will feel much more comfortable having the additional filtering capacity. I'm all for over-filtration.

 

[rogersb]

I understand but I don't think I will ever skip/lower filtering and rely on surfaces of objects in the tank for filtering, even for shellies. Once they start to spawn and have more bodies in the tank, I will feel much more comfortable having the additional filtering capacity. I'm all for over-filtration.

I've never bought into the whole overfiltering idea for small tanks. Not because I don't like the idea of it, but because your tank only supports enough bacteria for your fish. By not having a filter you do not underfilter, you 'different' filter. In smaller tanks like a 10 or 20 with a small amount of fish, there is no need for water filters, only water movers. Here's an example - 6 multies in a 10g with a powerhead to push around the water. Enough bacteria lives on the surfaces to take care of all the filtration. An HOB on the tank only creates more movement, not necessarily more filtration - as stated, there can only be enough bacteria in ratio to fish. An example of not being able to do this would be my tropheus tank. I have 19 tropheus, 3 gobies, 6 synos, 1 bn, and 1 juli. There is not enough surface area in the tank to harbor all the bacteria I need, so I must over filter.

If you decide to add more fish, you might need a filter. Multies only and your filter is only creating movement, not actually filtering.

 

[yhbae]

That might make sense especially if you have proven that this setup works but for me, I would not be able to sleep with a tank that has no active filtering going on. I once setup a tank with low bio-load but with lots of plants and no filtering. It sort of worked for about a year but I took it apart because I was too worried about water parameters on that tank. I guess better be safe than sorry...

I'm pretty sure all the tanks I have kept in the past were grossly over filtered and if for anything, keeps my mind in peace.

 

[Pittbull]

I agree with yhbae just a peace of mind having a filter and i understand what roger is saying as well..

 

[reefplayground]

The filtration takes place in a different place, that is all. Your sand bed, your rocks, the sides of the tank. Just because theres no physical sponge in the aquarium, doesnt mean the bacteria is gone too. a 10g tank, with a 1" sand bed has more than enough surface area to support a fully stocked aquarium. All you need is good O2 levels in the water (water circulation and surface agitation) and you're set.

this approach to biological filtration has been used for decades in the saltwater side of the hobby. I'm really not too sure as why it hasnt caught on in the freshwater side.