TruVu aquarium - two questions

[April12]

I just got a 60 gallon TruVu aquarium off craigslist. The aquarium is designed with a built-in trickle filtration system. There is a separate chamber before the media chamber that the manufacturer calls the "accessory chamber." They suggest putting the heater in there. I set the tank up and put the heater in there thinking that would eliminate the need to hide it behind plants. Now I'm wondering if that really isn't a very efficient place to put the heater, since it is sort of a tall, narrow chamber with most of the water flow skimming across the top.

Does anyone have one of these aquariums? Where do you put your heater?

I'm planning to do DIY CO2 in this tank. I know that many people diffuse the CO2 through a canister filter. Do you think it would work for me to diffuse it through the powerhead that pumps the water back into the main section of the tank from the trickle filter?

 

[Riiz]

Wet/Dry filters really dont mix with CO2 injection, they gas out CO2 very effectively. There are a few steps to help with the situation, but I dont think DIY CO2 will be able to overcome those issues.

But you can try the following, minimize the drop or waterfall in the overflow/syphon and seal up the entire filter.

 

[April12]

Hmm, sounds like I should start looking into a canister. Either that or swap everything with my other 55 gallon (mbuna tank).

Does anyone have any thoughts on the placement of the heater?