Filtration opinions please...

C

cashplus

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Mar 29, 2004
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Hi all,
Ok, i am going out on a limb here and asking for your opinions. :D

I am considering upgrading the filtration on my FW tank. I have a basic set up as follows:

Hagen 25 Gal
w/ Aqua Clear 200
1 x 20W Aqua Glo light
1 1/4" of Hagen gravel
5 neon tetras
1 chinese algae eater
no living plants

I have been battling a suspended green algae problem for a couple of months and i am gaining ground with weekly water changes (the tank was neglected for a while at the end of summer), but i still have a haze in the water. I think that my bio filter is working fine, but i would like to have a mechanical filter with more positive filtration or suspended solids removal.
One other point to consider is that i would like the chosen filter to be easy to clean and flexible enouph to be used in larger future SW applications.
For the time being please assume cost is not the biggest factor...

Thanks for any help you can provide.

cashplus :confused:
 
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I personally think biofiltration is the biggest issue. Plenty of it. The mechanical can only do so much and often just hides a symptom of a tank where the bio is not quite right... A bit of floss or poly fibre or foam prefilter should get rid of the big solids, then plenty of biofiltration - like a coarse sponge - or I use a spongelike open pore ceramic at the moment. I like wet/dry as this seems to work good with the bio and keeps the tank clear. Suspended algae is more a symptom of other problems IMO. You can mechanically filter it, but shouldn't have to.
 
Could be too much light and phosphates/silicates in your water. You can try reverse osmosis water or a UV sterilzer to tackle the green water.

Your fish are small, the AC200 should be fine. You can add another small
power filter if it makes you feel better if one shuts down. Your filter can
EASILY handle the light bioload you have.
 
Filtration

I'm not the best person to ask about filtration concerning your possible future SW tank. However, you can probably cut back the amount of light since you don't have living plants in the tank. Cut back the duration and it might help.

As far as mechanical filtration, sometimes, I notice that when the sponges are new, the Aquaclears do not do a good job of removing particles from the water. This gets better over time. I have used floculants in the past, to make smaller particles clump together. That makes it easier for the filtration media to capture them.

A properly packed canister filter will do a better job than your Aquaclear. However, even the newer canisters will take more time to clean than your Aquaclear. It really is hard to beat an Aquaclear. I very rarely have to replace the sponges, which cut down on my consumable costs.

I am getting ready to install an Emperor on a 40 gallon tank. If you want, I will give some feedback in the future. But, really, you don't need my opinion since there are many people who are very high on the Emperors. You can try the smaller model for your tank. Costs are very reasonable. I have never had any experience with the hanging canister filters from Marineland, but from what I have read, they do a tremendous job of removing particles from your water.
 
Accu Clear

It's made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I haven't used in years. I don't know its current availability. It makes smaller particles stick together, forming a bigger clump. That makes it easier for your filter to trap them.

Years ago, I was setting up a plant tank. Actually, I was turning an established tank into a planted tank. I dug up the gravel and laid a layer of iron rich clay-like substance at the bottom. It was made for that purpose. I covered it with gravel and filled the tank with water. The tank looked like it was filled with chocolate. The filter was taking too long to capture the very fine particles. I had a Fluval canister at the time. I added this substance. Overnight, the water became crystal clear. All I had in the tank where Tetras.

I hope this helps.
 
Thanks everybody for your suggestions!

I rinsed the sponge, added a layer of filter floss, installed a new charcoal filter and put in some P-Clear Floculant by Nutrifin. Within 1 hr there was a drastic improvement and by morning (9 hrs later) it was so clear i had to check to be sure there was still water in the tank!!

great advice everyone!

Thanks,
cashplus
 
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