copperband
Member
I've spent the last few weeks reading all the threads about filtering well planted aquariums and the conclusion I've come to is that people seem more positive about high flow in the tank to let the plants do the work vs lots of media in external filters.
This leads me to the question of how to achieve the target of 10 times turnover?
I currently run a 90 litre tank with an Oase Biomaster 350. It has been gone through periods of looking great, to periods where I wanted to throw a blanket over it and forget about it (Cyano that covered everything). After trying various things I decided I would start again, a new aquarium with almost double the water - 170L. I will start with new Tropica soil (as I try every possible way to have nothing from the old tank in the new to minimise cyano entering new set up). I will have all new plants and plant very heavily from day 1. I have been pre preparing the plants by opening "Tropica 121 grow" packs and growing them in glass ramekins in media held in a shallow water trough. They are all growing well.
My intention is to use the same Biomaster 350 on the new set up, I will remove some of the clay type media and put back some of the plastic media that it came.
Quoted turnover is 1100l/h but i suspect it is closer to half that with all the flow restriction. Let's be generous and say it's 700lhr, that still leaves me needing a further 1000lhr.
How do people achieve this shortfall nd add to their tank turnover.
I don't want to add powerheads as they look ugly and will liquidise my Shrimps.
I've read about people using wave makers from Marine aquariums, but these give the same issues as powerheads.
The only real solution I've come to is to add a second Biomaster, 350 or 600, perhaps empty (other than prefilters)? This would give me more flow, but would mean doubling up with 2 sets of lily pipe inlet and outlet?
Thoughts and suggestions welcome.
This leads me to the question of how to achieve the target of 10 times turnover?
I currently run a 90 litre tank with an Oase Biomaster 350. It has been gone through periods of looking great, to periods where I wanted to throw a blanket over it and forget about it (Cyano that covered everything). After trying various things I decided I would start again, a new aquarium with almost double the water - 170L. I will start with new Tropica soil (as I try every possible way to have nothing from the old tank in the new to minimise cyano entering new set up). I will have all new plants and plant very heavily from day 1. I have been pre preparing the plants by opening "Tropica 121 grow" packs and growing them in glass ramekins in media held in a shallow water trough. They are all growing well.
My intention is to use the same Biomaster 350 on the new set up, I will remove some of the clay type media and put back some of the plastic media that it came.
Quoted turnover is 1100l/h but i suspect it is closer to half that with all the flow restriction. Let's be generous and say it's 700lhr, that still leaves me needing a further 1000lhr.
How do people achieve this shortfall nd add to their tank turnover.
I don't want to add powerheads as they look ugly and will liquidise my Shrimps.
I've read about people using wave makers from Marine aquariums, but these give the same issues as powerheads.
The only real solution I've come to is to add a second Biomaster, 350 or 600, perhaps empty (other than prefilters)? This would give me more flow, but would mean doubling up with 2 sets of lily pipe inlet and outlet?
Thoughts and suggestions welcome.
