Filter choice for long low tank

[Aqua360]

Hi all,

wonder if I could please ask for some opinions on filtration choice for a longer, lower aquarium; to be exact, the water volume is exactly 43 inch length, 11 inch width, and 8 inch height , equating to roughly 16 US gallons, or 62 litres.

Right now I have a Fluval U2 in one corner, pointed lengthways. It runs at 400 litres per hour I believe. On the other side is a small sponge filter, acting as a fail-safe filter/bacteria colony.

I'd recently considered using a wavemaker (Fluval Sea CP1 1000lph) in conjunction with a larger corner sponge filter, in the hopes that it'd look more aesthetic than the Fluval U2; but read that the sponge filter bubbles would reduce my CO2 in the tank.

This kind of opened up a few questions for me, including: "Should I take out the existing small sponge filter in the corner?" and "should I just operate the Fluval U2 and avoid surface agitation?"

I've looked at canister filters, and I've previously operated Fluval 206's and 406's, but I didn't enjoy them at all, I find the 106 to look far too bulky for my needs also. Stocking wise, it's around 20 minnows and a colony of cherry shrimp, so its not the heaviest; but at the same time it's still a generous body of fish.

Thanks!

 

[Clint Hewitt]

Any chance of a pic and plant list?

 

[jagillham]

I'd just be going with an external filter. Intake at one end, and outlet at the other. That way you get a nice flow down the length of the tank.

The tank is shallow and narrow enough I think to create a flow down the whole tank. Plus, you get to rid the tank of filtration clutter.

Any pictures - it is interesting tank dimensions

 

[Aqua360]

Here's some relatively recent pics, shows the dimensions 🙂

Right now its set up with a chosen bit of wood, and little else; so that once I sort out co2 and lighting, I can choose a carpet plant and others to really bulk out the space 🙂 As it stands, I've got a small co2 fluval kit on the go, as a temporary measure until I can source a good pressurised kit.

In terms of plants, there are 2 amazon swords just now; some eleocharus grass; then some kind of grass types I don't know the ID of lol. Also some petite anubias and hydroctoyle in there, java moss too, but i expect it to all change soon when my options broaden.

Tropica plant substrate also added underneath sand/gravel layer recently

Ordered a large LED recently, don't know if its the best, but im hoping the low tank height gives me sufficient lighting. The light in the current pics will be removed.

 

[Aqua360]

Also, it kind of bugs me that I went for a standard glass type tank when I bought the tank, especially the brace at the top; I'll do the ADA glass styles someday hopefully!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Nice tank.

but read that the sponge filter bubbles would reduce my CO2 in the tank.

While you aren't adding CO2 more surface agitation will lead to a larger amount of CO2 (and oxygen) dissolved in the water.

Because your tank is shallow, you have a large "surface area to volume ratio", which means levels of dissolved gas will more closely track atmospheric levels.

Once you have added pressurised CO2 you have the same thing happening in reverse, there is a larger gas exchange surface for your added CO2 to escape from.

I'm not a CO2 user, but my suspicion would be that maintaining 30ppm CO2 in a tank with these dimensions would be quite difficult.

I'd just be going with an external filter. Intake at one end, and outlet at the other.

Might be your best option.

cheers Darrel

 

[Aqua360]

Hi all,
Nice tank. While you aren't adding CO2 more surface agitation will lead to a larger amount of CO2 (and oxygen) dissolved in the water.

Because your tank is shallow, you have a large "surface area to volume ratio", which means levels of dissolved gas will more closely track atmospheric levels.

Once you have added pressurised CO2 you have the same thing happening in reverse, there is a larger gas exchange surface for your added CO2 to escape from.

I'm not a CO2 user, but my suspicion would be that maintaining 30ppm CO2 in a tank with these dimensions would be quite difficult. Might be your best option.

cheers Darrel

thanks 🙂

 

[AndyMcD]

Here's a random suggestion! Have you considered a hillstream set up?

With a long linear tank like this, you could use oxygen gas exchange to your advantage.

Try entering into Google 'river tank manifold design'.

Your (white cloud mountain) minnows would love it. You could consider hillstream loaches too ( Google Gastromyzon and Sewallia).

With low light and high gas exchange, you could try low tech, although plant choice may be limited.

Have you seen James Findlay from The Green Machine's Pebbles aquascape? You could consider a shallower version with rounded rocks. If driftwood extended above the water level, you could consider emersed plants or moss.

 

[Aqua360]

Here's a random suggestion! Have you considered a hillstream set up?

With a long linear tank like this, you could use oxygen gas exchange to your advantage.

Try entering into Google 'river tank manifold design'.

Your (white cloud mountain) minnows would love it. You could consider hillstream loaches too ( Google Gastromyzon and Sewallia).

With low light and high gas exchange, you could try low tech, although plant choice may be limited.

Have you seen James Findlay from The Green Machine's Pebbles aquascape? You could consider a shallower version with rounded rocks. If driftwood extended above the water level, you could consider emersed plants or moss.

That's what I had previously 😀

Unfortunately I found that the minnows didn't like the shallow water, as soon as I raised it they became far more bold

 

[AndyMcD]

Interesting! It's a type of tank I've fancied trying for a while and your tank looked ideal. Having done it, I can see why you'd like a change. Interesting about the minnows.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AndyMcD]

Another thought, with liquid carbon (e.g. Easycarbo), it can't be lost to the atmosphere, as it is a liquid. Even with a big gas exchange area, the carbon you put in, would stay in the aquarium.

There are some downsides:
- Less effective than CO2
- Can't put on a timer
- Some plants don't like it



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Aqua360]

Another thought, with liquid carbon (e.g. Easycarbo), it can't be lost to the atmosphere, as it is a liquid. Even with a big gas exchange area, the carbon you put in, would stay in the aquarium.

There are some downsides:
- Less effective than CO2
- Can't put on a timer
- Some plants don't like it



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't know if you've kept white clouds, but for me they've become probably my favourite fish lol; absolutely beautiful colours when they "fan out" to impress females, hardy, long lived (relatively); and they are super easy to care for, fitting well into these type of aquascape set-ups.

I've been doing research into liquid carbon vs. CO2, and its honestly tough to decide. I don't have any really hard plants to grow in mind, aside from some sort of grass plant, I also have another much larger tank that I'd like to perhaps try liquid carbon on, but have no idea what effect it would have on smaller shrimp such as cherries, and larger ones such as bamboo