Returning to Planted with Questions

Jamie

Jamie

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Jul 27, 2003
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Hi all,

I've been away from the planted community for some time. I converted my 150 gallon (5X2X2) planted tank to a salt water reef about 3.5 years ago. It was a great experience, but I am moving, and with that, I had to break down the tank. After I move into my new home, I'm looking to get back into planted.

My tank was custom built as a reef ready tank, but I am not going to be using the overflows or sump. I tried to use the reef set-up on a planted before and I always had a hard time keeping my CO2 levels up. I would like to use a couple canisters...does anyone have any recommendations? I was thinking maybe two Filstar XP4's? I have an Eheim 1262 that I used as a return pump for my SW tank...I love it. Eheim seems to have a lot of canisters to choose from...but I have no clue what I need/what would be sufficient.

Having spent the last 3.5 years maintaining a reef, I am hung up on flow...this tank had 4400 gph circulating through it. I know this isn't required for a FW planted tank. So I need to throttle back. Any general info on required flow?

I don't like to over stock with fish, but always like to buy much more filtration than I need. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Also, if anything new and exciting has come up in the hobby, please share.
 
The flow in a planted environment has been an ongoing argument from when baby-Constantine got his first stone goldfish bowl... Some will argue that you need very little flow, because the plants do most of the filtration for you and the actual filter is only there for biological purposes. In which case, a simple air driven sponge filter would be sufficient... Others, like myself, argue that regardless of what the palnts are doing, a healthy planted environment needs good circulation.

For this reason, I look at somewhere between four and six times total volume turnover per hour. Not too heavy, not too light... And, being a reefer, you'd be very familiar with supplememnting flow with small powerheads or prop-pumps such as Vortech etc.

As to actual filters, I have never used the Filstars, and (IMO) Eheims are overrated and overpriced. Have heard nothing but good things of the Fluval FX5, though, and my personal selection has always been AquaOne...many folks might laugh at that, but AO gear is top notch without the hefty price tag and very reliable...

hth and welcome back from the dark side :D
 
Welcome back, I too am an ex-reefer. You can have a very nice planted tank W/O CO2 also---Lots of Java Fern, Anubius, some val or sag, and lots of crypts.
But to have a "Super Planted" tank--CO2 is a must. I have used the Eheims but I am a Magnum "Gal". I run 4 magnums on my two tanks W/O any issues.
 
I, too, would recommend a Fluval FX with your size tank.

I'd also recommend pressurized CO2. It just makes managing algae so much easier and gives you really nice plant growth. You don't have to go overboard with it, either.

I'd recommend using Eco-complete plant substrate. It really makes it much easier to root plants and gives them nutrients through the soil, allowing you to limit water column fertilization.

I'd also aim for a medium-light set-up that includes: swords, vals, crinium (onion plant), wisteria, giant hygro, crypts, java fern, anubias and ludwigia of various types. These are all easy to grow and attractive IMHO.

You haven't mentioned stocking, but you might consider a South American theme. My planted tank is Bolivian rams, two schools of tetras (inluding the much loved rummynose), cories and albino BN plecos. It's a very compatable group with good movement, good color and interesting behavior . . .

good luck!
 
Thanks for the feedback so far. I saved all 160 lbs of flourite from when the tank was planted before...so I'll be using that for the substrate. I plan on using my existing reef lighting...but replacing the bulbs with 6500K bulbs...I have 2 Ice Cap 660's powering 6 X 60'" T5's for around 600 watts with great PAR. I also have my whole pressurized CO2 set-up from before...so I'll use that as well. The big change will be to dump the sump/wet-dry filtration for a canister or two so I don't gas off all my CO2.

So for the Fluval FX...would I only need one?

FWIW, here are a couple older pics of my reef before I tore it down...the corals grew much bigger from this pic...the tank was a lot of fun.
FTS.jpg

DSC00650.jpg

DSC00653.jpg
 
Well somebody was good at the dark side. That's probably one the best looking reefs I've seen.

Almost enough to tempt me over the darkside.....but then my empty pocketbook pulls me back.
 
If you go with Rena(filstar) the XP3 offers about the same turnover,with one less basket. The extra basket isn't worth the money,IMO. SO if that is the brand you go with, 2, XP3's would be the way to go.

I personally own too many Eheims not to recommend them. For a 150 gallon a 2260 would be all you need. More than enough room for media,and plenty of turn over to keep it clean. Overpriced? Maybe. But overrated? No way.

Your reef was incredible. It must have been tough to take it down.
 
Thanks V, yes...it certainly lightened my wallet...but the experience was something I always wanted...I miss it already and it's only been 3 days. I'm excited to go planted again though. A well scaped planted tank can easily rival a reef in its beauty. I'm actually not leaving SW completely...I'm keeping a 57 gallon seahorse tank planted with macro algae....shhhh....don't tell anyone.

Man...I entered the realm of "which canister filter's the best" today...blah...everyone has their opinions...I hate having to make educated decisions.
 
67chevelle said:
If you go with Rena(filstar) the XP3 offers about the same turnover,with one less basket. The extra basket isn't worth the money,IMO. SO if that is the brand you go with, 2, XP3's would be the way to go.

I personally own too many Eheims not to recommend them. For a 150 gallon a 2260 would be all you need. More than enough room for media,and plenty of turn over to keep it clean. Overpriced? Maybe. But overrated? No way.

Your reef was incredible. It must have been tough to take it down.
Click to expand...


Thanks 67. After reading up for the last 2.5 hrs, I was thinking about the same choices you recommended...2 of the XP3's or 1 2260. I think that having 2 XP3's provide better flow options than the 2260. But I know Eheim quality...and when comparing the cost of both options...they're about the same. Hmmmmmm....how do you feel about only having 500 gph of flow in a 150...is tha enough? What about the 2262?
 
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Also, I have this weird idea....

Right now my tank has two corner over flows as a part of the reef ready set-up. I'm considering installing power heads at the bottom of each weir with an outlet to the main tank. Then I would fill each weir with bio-balls and top off with some foam. I think I might end up with two really nice additional "built in" anerobic bio filters....plus if I go with the 2260, the powerheads will help supplement flow a little.

Does this make sense?
 
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