filter to small or ok?

[Shekoi]

filter? best plant?

Not sure if this right place couldn't decided between WQ and equipment forum

In a different post i was told that my tank was fully stock and might even be slightly over stocked, which I thought it was.
36"x24"x15" around 30-35 gallon heavily planted
2 dwarf gourami
2 honey gourami
11 H. rasbora
14 neon tetra
1 small clown pl*co
2 swordtail
5 cory juilli

i was now wondering if my filter is enough and if im using it right.
i have a interpet IPF DUO 3 for aquariums up to 36". i set it on maximum output and have the venturi on fully with the bubbles and water directed downwards, along the back of the aquarium.
So should i put in my spare filter which is a corner one run by a air pump (same as for air stones).
or is it ok?

and if i use the spare filter should i turn down the flow on the duo 3? or just turn off the venturi, as don't want to much surface movement because of the plants, and for the gourami if then choose to breed.

also what plant is the best for removing nitrates, have been told hornwort? and other ideas? haven't got nitrate problem just don't want one.

cheers for any help.

 

[dwayne]

I think an extra filter can only help - not hurt - the situation! Your tank is fully stocked, imho, but adding the filter, keeping up with water changes, and not adding anymore fish should keep the tank up and running just fine! I'd lower the flow on the duo as well.

Good luck!
~Tara

ps... I don't know anything about plants, sorry!

 

[750t]

Are you using co2? If so you do not want surface movement. That is quite a bit of fish.

 

[Julia]

As far as plants go, for reducing nitrates anything that grows fast enough to need trimming every week will do the trick. I use Limnophila sessiliflora , which is a lovely plant & works great for me at 1.5 watts per gallon. I got mine here. I've had nitrates at nil since I got it established, which is amazing considering the water from my tap comes out at 20 ppm.

Your neons should love it; mine like to hang in there at night with just their spooky little eyeballs showing, very cool.

 

[Hound]

I don't know much about your filter, but in general having 2 filters is a good thing. I usually run the primary filter full blast and a secondary one at a minimal flow. I believe most of the fast growing stem plants should keep nitrates down. Anacharis, hornwort, and asian ambulia all come to mind as possibilities. If you use co2 then you should have as much surface movement as your co2 level will allow for. That is unless your plants are bubbling.

 

[daveedka]

IMO more filtration can almost never hurt, You didn't list GPH of you filter, but the main concern is too much current. And it is much more difficut to create too much current than most people think. I would put the corner filter in, I am not a fan of air pumps, but they do work. your other option (what I would do ) is get a small powerhead for the corner filter. The venturi on your existing filter probably already provides more sirface agitation than you really need especially if you are adding CO2, The powerhead will run the filter well and quietly and can be set up to create no surface agitation. If your plants don't fly around the tank, and your fish don't hide behind the heaviest decor they can find you probably don't have too much water movement. Too much filtration just isn't possible IMHO.

 

[Richer]

I personally wouldn't go off suggesting plants, nor buying any plants for your tank until you can tell us more about it. What kind of lighting do you have over this tank? Are you injecting CO2? What are your nitrate levels?
If your nitrate levels are low enough, its logical to say that your plants are doing just fine in terms of biological filtration... so if you're happy with the look of your tank, don't bother adding any more plants.

The Interpet IPF DUO 3 is not a filter commonly sold over in North America. However, after briefly looking at this filter here (which, by the way has been renamed), I'm convinced that its nothing more than a fancy version of a Fluval 3, with a lower flow rating.
Using the length of an aquarium for filter ratings is poor. Looking at the specs of this filter, and this review, I wouldn't use this filter for anything larger than a fully stocked 15 gallon tank.

That said, I would definately look into getting an additional filter for this tank. I suggest a medium sized canister. After the canister has been established, I'd switch your DUO 3 into a purely mechanical filter.

HTH
-Richer