Any fish tank gurus in the house?

[Homerr]

I got back into a fish tank (freshwater).<br />Although, this time I'm starting a bit smaller with a 20 gallon. <br />If it was up to me, I'd put a 200 or 300 gallon tank in the house. I love fish tanks. <br /><br />I want to know about the reverse flow power-head filtering. From what I read, it's the best way to go. Anyone use this method?<br /><br />My question is... I put a Aquaclear 402 power-head on my under-gravel filter. (The 402 is a bit large for the tank under the normal flow, but I got a good buy on it)<br />Is the 402 head large enough for my 20 gallon tank using the reverse flow? It doesn't seem to be moving a lot of water, but then again... I've always used a normal flowing power-head.<br /><br />And is 1 riser tube enough? I'd think a power head twice the size it needs to be should be enough to filter things without adding a second riser tube on the under-gravel filter.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />H.

 

[GradyBob]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

Wow, a topic which I can actually give real input and it's not about a boat! <br />H - reverse UG filter is nice - it is just another way to move water through a medium for denitrifying bacteria to grow on. The basic premise behind the reverse flow is the potential for less organic buildup in the gravel - since water is flowing from the bottom to the top and not the other way around.<br /><br />The size/volume of the powerhead appears to be fine for 20 gallons of water. Bacteria can only remove so much ammonia/nitrates/nitrites at a time, so there is actually a diminishing return on high volume powerheads.<br /><br />If you really want to have a bang-up filter - invest in a wet/dry "mini-reef" filter with bioballs or some other filter medium. These devices have a huge amount of surface area for bacteria to grow. But you are spending potentially hundreds of dollars for the box, pump and medium.<br /><br />All else fails - remember to change 20% of the water monthly and use a device to remove the organic solids from the gravel.<br /><br />Good luck<br /> GB

 

[ob]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

Reverse flow undergravel filter system works well only if there is enough flow to suspend particulates that ultimately are removed through mechanical filtration(ie power filters.)Otherwise your tanks occupants will be more suceptible to external and internal bacterial infections.<br /><br />Remember that any aquarium set-up requires three basic types of filtration. Biological ,mechanical,and chemical.<br /><br />Your ug filter will provide a substrate for growing the essential aerobic/anaerobic bacteria bed for the biological filtration.<br /><br />The power filter provides the mecahnical filtration by stripping the free water of suspended particulates and bringing it to a central location (filter cartridge) where it can be easily cleaned.<br /><br />The chemical filtration is most commonly attained in a fresh water set-up through the use of either activated carbon ,or bio resins,which remove phenols ,albumens ,and proteins from the water.Live plants are also beneficial in lowering nitrate levels,which is the final product of the nitrogen cycle genarally allieviated through partial water changes.<br /><br />If you are running a one piece UG filter on a 20 long tank ,I would just use the conventional flow method of UG filter with that 402 powerhead and diffuse most of the discharge just below the water surface.This greatly increases the amount of disolved oxygen in the water and helps to cultivate a stronger number of beneficial bacterias.<br /><br />An air pump either driving one other lift tube or just a stone in the tank would also be beneficial in maintaining disolved oxygen in the water that if not present can cause excess buildup of carbonic acid which lowers ph levels.<br /><br />Sounds like a mouthfull,but actually is just the tip of the iceberg.Remember ,when running an aquaruium ,we are trying to reproduce a natural biologically active body of water with living specimens.The more we know ,the closer we can attempt to emulate.Have fun.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

Hey Homerr, where you been? You must have missed this thread:<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=004489

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

The only thing that worried me about running the power-head in a normal flow is the amount of water it moves. It really puts a swirl in the tank! The little fish are almost fighting the current. I like to see them come up front instead of ducking behind an ornament to escape the flow.<br /><br />The UG filter was a 2 piece thing, but I removed the knock-outs in between them, thus it acts like a one piece unit. I can't utilize the other lift tube now because I'm using the reverse flow.<br /><br />This power-head doesn't have a means to put a pre-filter on it, so I may go down and get a penguin power-head. They seem to do a good job and you can reverse-flow them with a pre-filter.<br /><br />H.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

A 20 gallon tank seems pretty small for a powerhead. I have always used air stones in each lift tube and that has been sufficient. You are still using some kind of air stone I hope even if it is not in the lift tube. The air stone is critical for difusing carbon dioxide and putting oxygen back in the water

 

[Butch Ammon]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

Hey, this is a great thread....<br /><br />I have a 29 gallon tank and have a two piece UG filter system with two lift/flow tubes (one each in the back corners). It's powered by a beefy Whisper dual flow air pump, which I can regulate.<br /><br />Freshwater fish tanks are a true science and a lot of fun. I have had my tank so successful, I've bred Mollies (and Mollies and Mollies, etc...) and sold them back to the pet store. Now I just have a single male and female left among the other fishes (neons, zebras, swordtails, etc..)<br /><br />You should be able to regulate the air flow, so not to cause a fish tank typhoon or whirlpool! Have fun with it.<br /><br />Butch

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

I went down and exchanged the 402 power-head for a smaller one that has the reverse flow capability and a pre-filter. It should work nicely.<br /><br />The standard lift tube and diffuser are OK, but they always seem to clog. With a power-head, that doesn't happen. And I don't care for the noisy air pumps.<br /><br />And yes, I have another diffuser in the tank. I like the 'air curtains'.. They oxygenate the water real well, and look neat in the bank of the tank.<br /><br />I've never tried to have the fish breed. Is that hard to do? Sounds like fun.<br /><br />Thanks for the help!<br /><br />H.

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

hmmmm never went the reverse flow way. please let me know if it works any better. i am getting ready to set up a 40 gallon long for salt water and undergravel will definatly be part of the filtration. that and a big cannister filter. right now i am still running my 125 with south american cichlids. that has a wet dry filter that does 1200 gallons an hour. so i use no undergravel filter in that tank at all. like i said in the other thread i have to be careful or i will let it get out of hand again. i promised my wife only two tanks this time one salt and one fresh. honest honey i promise!

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

LOL!<br /><br />Yea, the other half would string me up if I brought home a 100 or 200 gallon job.<br /><br />I think it would be worth the bun-chewing though... <br /><br />H.

 

[Butch Ammon]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

<I've never tried to have the fish breed. Is that hard to do? Sounds like fun.><br /><br />It is not hard, you just have to make sure your tank is spotlessly clean, the water is clear, and pH, nitrates, etc... are all in the proper range.<br /><br />I learned the hard way at first by having too many male Mollies (they would chase each other all over the tank, and try to keep others away so one of them can hook up with their "woman") <br /><br />You have to make sure you have thick, dense, plastic plants too, so the babies can hide and not get eaten. Or pick up a floating nursery tank after the babies are born - but then, trying to catch them in a net is a feat in itself!<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br />Butch

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

We bred guppies and it was pretty cool. They had unique tails but never got to full size. Might want to check with the fish store on the 40 gallon tank for salt. Might want to go bigger. 55 gallon should be minimum. I think the term is dolimite for gravel instead of crushed coral. It is a lot cheaper and works well as a ph buffer for marine tanks.

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

get a bunch of nice african cichlids. they are very pretty and colorfulfish.probably the most entertaing to as they are always fighting and breeding. and they have some unique breeding habits. most will protect the nest and the fry. i remember the first time i had a pair of psuedo macrothalmus breed for me. i see all the little fry swimming around and i am excited that they had bred. next thing i know all the fry are in the mothers mouth. i was mad, i was ready to reach in there and choke the mamma. well i learned later that these fish were mouth brooders. and watching them closer the second time. the female actually picks up the steralized eggs and broods them in her mouth. after they hatch the fry will continue to seek safty in the females mouth when any danger approaches. very interesting pair of fish. getting them to breed is not all that hard just make sure water conditions are right. i have had lots of different fish breed in my tanks and by far the egg layers are the most interesting.

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: Any fish tank gurus in the house?

no with the new technology out now you can have a sucessful salt water tank even down to 10 gallons. granted bigger is still easier, i had the 40 gallon setup once before and for me it made the perfect salt set up. wish i would never have sold that one. yes it is dolamite for gravel. mainly it is for the calcium in it. it buffers the water and keeps it the proper hardness and ph.