125g - internal filtration only - possible?
- Thread starter FishInMaryland
- Start date
I don't think you need to match the power heads if they are running individual sponges or powering a UGF plate. However, if driving a RUGF plate and you use more than one powerhead on the same plate, I like to keep them of matched capacity.
If you're running them reverse-flow bigger is better (stronger suction to draw debris into the prefilters, and the discharge is moderated by the filter plates.) If you're using one or more on a sponge filter or simply to increase circulation you should consider the current strength. Some fish like a stronger flow than others.
I have an aquaclear 110 powerhead lying around. It pumps over 900 gph, and in a 55 or 75 creates a very strong current, similar to a fast-moving stream. I use it (with a quickfilter) occaisonally to quickly polish the water after siphoning the gravel, and have found that my polka-dot botias enjoy the strong flow. The pleco's and cichlids generally take cover though.
I use large ones (model 70/801) on the UG filter plates, and smaller ones (model 202/201 or 30/301) for sponges or additional circulation. The larger models are equipped for reverse-flow, but simply reversing the flow on the powerhead reduces the max flow rate considerably. Also, there's no way to prefilter the powerhead that way.
I have an aquaclear 110 powerhead lying around. It pumps over 900 gph, and in a 55 or 75 creates a very strong current, similar to a fast-moving stream. I use it (with a quickfilter) occaisonally to quickly polish the water after siphoning the gravel, and have found that my polka-dot botias enjoy the strong flow. The pleco's and cichlids generally take cover though.
I use large ones (model 70/801) on the UG filter plates, and smaller ones (model 202/201 or 30/301) for sponges or additional circulation. The larger models are equipped for reverse-flow, but simply reversing the flow on the powerhead reduces the max flow rate considerably. Also, there's no way to prefilter the powerhead that way.
No math or science. Just a decent size powerhead will suffice. If you get a powerhead that is too large, it will not fit on the sponge opening though so I would recomend you buy them together so you can make sure they fit together well. I think mine is on a penguin 550 model. Good ole fashion air power works great too and aerates the water. Two birds, one stone kind of thing...
Amount of filtering depends on the amount of fish, not just the size of the tank. Of course bigger tanks usually have more or bigger fish, but if you set up your 125gal tank, and put 50gal of internal filters in it, and stock it like it was a 50gal, it will work.
The thing with big tanks is that enough internal filtering tends to take up a lot of space, so people move the filtering to canisters or sumps to get it out of the way. But very few things are impossible. Some big power head sponge filters and internal filters will work, you may just end up with 120gal of tank and 5gal of filters, but so what?
Take the internal filter that fits in a 25gal tank, make it 5 times bigger, and it's a big ugly bucket, so they put some pipes on it and call it a cannister so you can hide it under the tank stand.
Plants make a big difference too, they can be huge nitrogen sinks and drastically reduce the need for power filtering.
So set up your tank, go with lots of plants, and understock. You can still have a nice looking easy care tank.
Ian
The thing with big tanks is that enough internal filtering tends to take up a lot of space, so people move the filtering to canisters or sumps to get it out of the way. But very few things are impossible. Some big power head sponge filters and internal filters will work, you may just end up with 120gal of tank and 5gal of filters, but so what?
Take the internal filter that fits in a 25gal tank, make it 5 times bigger, and it's a big ugly bucket, so they put some pipes on it and call it a cannister so you can hide it under the tank stand.
Plants make a big difference too, they can be huge nitrogen sinks and drastically reduce the need for power filtering.
So set up your tank, go with lots of plants, and understock. You can still have a nice looking easy care tank.
Ian
For simplicity, what I was thinking was to get two of the Pro V sponge filters, and get the stacking kits for both, and use "ole fashion air power" to drive the filters. I was also going to put in a powerhead or two, possibly the Koralia nanos (if I can determine they will work), for water circulation. This is a strangely built acrylic tank, so I have a nice corner to hide a bunch of stuff, as well as the rockwork that the Africans like, and an odd plant here or there. I'm not worried about not having hiding places - for fish and equipment!
I really appreciate all of the help and suggestions from everybody! It's nice to see all of the possibilities :clap:. The guys at the LFS just shook their heads when I asked about internal filtration!
Ruth
