Return to the hobby - some advice required

[Mikewol]

Hi all. Currently embarking on a return to the hobby after a lengthy hiatus. I have purchased an approx 100l tank (75x34x40cm) and am hoping the forum members can provide me with some advice on equipment:
Filtration - I have read that for a fully planted tank setup, 10 x flow per hour is recommended - I had thought of purchasing the Fluval 407 canister filter (manufacturer advises flow rate of 1450l per hour) which is more than sufficient, however, I am also intending to run inline heating and Co2, which will adversely affect the flow rate. Is the 407 overkill ? Would the 307 be sufficient ? I had also wanted to use Biohome filter media, but have read reports of it adversely affecting plant growth ?
Co2 - Can anyone recommend a good quality, dual stage Co2 regulator, which won't break the bank ?
Lighting - I have been leaning towards the Twinstar 600EA light although I would have preferred something from Chihiros (Chihiros WRGB 2), but they seem impossible to purchase in the UK.

Looking forward to any advice members can provide 🙂

 

[Maf 2500]

Filtration

intending to run inline heating and Co2

I would probably stick with the 407 as both those additions to the pipework are going to reduce flow a little.

I had also wanted to use Biohome filter media, but have read reports of it adversely affecting plant growth ?

It will not affect plant growth. Biohome is decent media and will do a fine job in your tank, but it is not the second coming of Jesus. Take the Youtube claims with a pinch of salt. Many other filter media are cheaper and will do just as good a job.

 

[Little]

May I suggest sticking with filter foam.
It works great, is easy to maintain and cheap.

 

[FrozenShivers]

Filtration - I have read that for a fully planted tank setup, 10 x flow per hour is recommended - I had thought of purchasing the Fluval 407 canister filter (manufacturer advises flow rate of 1450l per hour) which is more than sufficient, however, I am also intending to run inline heating and Co2, which will adversely affect the flow rate. Is the 407 overkill ? Would the 307 be sufficient ? I had also wanted to use Biohome filter media, but have read reports of it adversely affecting plant growth ?

307 or 407 should work well. In-line gismos will obstruct flow, how much exactly? I am unsure but I imagine it to be relatively low. Biohome is pretty expensive, I've yet to see any proof of the owners claims, if money is no object then work away, failing that I'd put the saved money into more plants or other components if needed.

Co2 - Can anyone recommend a good quality, dual stage Co2 regulator, which won't break the bank ?

Budget is relative, but so far I've had very good experience with my Strideways Pro Regulator Plus, around £155 so not exactly cheap for little old me at least. It does however include the feature to connect additional manifold blocks (£35'ish), allowing you to inject CO2 into additional aquariums without having to purchase another whole regulator, this may or may not be of use to you.

Lighting - I have been leaning towards the Twinstar 600EA light although I would have preferred something from Chihiros (Chihiros WRGB 2), but they seem impossible to purchase in the UK.

Looking forward to any advice members can provide 🙂

Sometimes the answer is the most obvious one (click me). Twinstar also solid (not tried their newest version IV lights yet).

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

Have you thought of a Biomaster with a built in heater?

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

Is the 407 overkill ? Would the 307 be sufficient ?

Probably. I have a 90l which was heavily planted (until very recently) and I run a 207 with inline CO2. Other than a few expected dead spots (again, HEAVILY planted) everything thrived. Ultimately the issue became swimming space and access for maintenance and I have removed a lot of plants this week.

You can always add a power head if you want more flow.

Can anyone recommend a good quality, dual stage Co2 regulator, which won't break the bank ?

CO2 supermarket is what I have. Less than £100 and it’s been reliable. I use it on 2kg fire extinguishers.

CO2 Regulator with Solenoid, Dual Gauges & Adjustable Output Pressure

Designed for use specifically with aquariums; it features an easy-to-fit design, adjustable working pressure, solenoid, dual pressure gauges, and precision needle valve. The regulator will fit to cylinders both vertical and horizontal valves.

www.co2supermarket.co.uk

 

[Miniandy]

CO2 supermarket is what I have. Less than £100 and it’s been reliable. I use it on 2kg fire extinguishers.

CO2 Regulator with Solenoid, Dual Gauges & Adjustable Output Pressure

Designed for use specifically with aquariums; it features an easy-to-fit design, adjustable working pressure, solenoid, dual pressure gauges, and precision needle valve. The regulator will fit to cylinders both vertical and horizontal valves.

www.co2supermarket.co.uk

+1 on CO2 Supermarket kit, but I use a dual stage one. Mines been running 2 years.

 

[Mikewol]

Have you thought of a Biomaster with a built in heater?

Yes, but I have read a lot of people have issues with noise related to the pre filter ? Also the Fluval filters are less expensive.

 

[Mikewol]

+1 on CO2 Supermarket kit, but I use a dual stage one. Mines been running 2 years.

Yes, the dual stage bumps up the price considerably
Dual Stage CO2 Regulators | CO2 Supermarket

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

Yes, the dual stage bumps up the price considerably

If the £55 difference puts you off, I wouldn’t worry about single stage vs two. A two stage regulator will offer consistent pressure across a wide variety of conditions. However, if you have a CO2 cylinder under your tank, it’s no effort to have a look at the gauge when you do a water change and check it’s still where it should be. You should be using a drop checker too anyway which will warn of any changes in CO2 concentration. It’s a stationary cylinder in your house which is largely one stable temperature so the pressure is only going to drop a wee bit towards the end of the cylinder, in which case you just open up the valve a bit more.

Of course, if you’re haphazard with maintenance and forgetful, it may be £50 well spent. 👍🏻

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

Yes, but I have read a lot of people have issues with noise related to the pre filter ? Also the Fluval filters are less expensive.

I have a Biomaster 350 and a 207. The Biomaster is quieter. Yes, the BM is more expensive but it’s a better filter in my view. I’m happy with the Eheim Classic 350 that I bought to replace the 207. In hindsight I should have thought more about how I was going to route the hoses using the 207 because it’s quite restrictive compared to almost any other filter out there.

 

[Mikewol]

I am looking at the FZONE FZ-0100 single stage regulator. Says the thread is W21.8, is this compatible with UK Co2 bottles ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FZONE-Aqua...5&hvtargid=pla-759170227569&gad_source=1&th=1

 

[Connswater]

I think so. Here is a potentially useful link: https://www.emme-italia.com/sites/d...n/14_-_spare_parts_for_fire_extinguishers.pdf

Personally, the one item I would spend 'top dollar' on is a decent two stage regulator from one of the specialist suppliers, I'd rather do without a solenoid and run low CO2 24/7 than have end of tank dump or poor fine control. I have tried the cheapie ones on Amazon but never again. Just personal experience. Light is basically light, filters pumps with media, but cheap regulators are flimsy, unreliable and hard to finely adjust. Others may have had better experiences.

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

Says the thread is W21.8, is this compatible with UK Co2 bottles ?

Yes.

 

[FrozenShivers]

Yes, but I have read a lot of people have issues with noise related to the pre filter ? Also the Fluval filters are less expensive.

After the updated parts which you can retrofit on the Biomasters, the air purging is fixed and the noise is better. I have multiple Biomaster's and multiple Fluval 07's, my findings are:

Biomaster has integrated heater
Biomaster has slightly easier to access filter system
Biomaster has input/output with full 360 degrees movement, which can be helpful (only if you're in a restricted space, made no difference for me)
Fluval is significantly quieter even after having upgraded all my Biomaster units
Fluval achieved more of it's rated flow
Fluval is the better value (I just wish they had integrated heaters, I expect next generation to).

If you're on a budget I would buy second hand, 3 of my 4 current Biomaster/Fluval canister filters are used and I spent a fraction of the RRP.

I am looking at the FZONE FZ-0100 single stage regulator. Says the thread is W21.8, is this compatible with UK Co2 bottles ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FZONE-Aqua...5&hvtargid=pla-759170227569&gad_source=1&th=1

Any reason you're looking at a regulator that nobody has recommended? Don't skimp for the sake of skimping, look at used gear or save a little longer if you must have new.

 

[Mikewol]

Yes.

Thanks 😉

 

[Mikewol]

After the updated parts which you can retrofit on the Biomasters, the air purging is fixed and the noise is better. I have multiple Biomaster's and multiple Fluval 07's, my findings are:

Biomaster has integrated heater
Biomaster has slightly easier to access filter system
Biomaster has input/output with full 360 degrees movement, which can be helpful (only if you're in a restricted space, made no difference for me)
Fluval is significantly quieter even after having upgraded all my Biomaster units
Fluval achieved more of it's rated flow
Fluval is the better value (I just wish they had integrated heaters, I expect next generation to).

If you're on a budget I would buy second hand, 3 of my 4 current Biomaster/Fluval canister filters are used and I spent a fraction of the RRP.



Any reason you're looking at a regulator that nobody has recommended? Don't skimp for the sake of skimping, look at used gear or save a little longer if you must have new.

Thanks for the info. Tank is in my bedroom, so noise is obviously a factor. I don't have limitless pockets and flow rate is also important, so the 407 wins on all 3. I've gone with the Aquael 300w inline heater and will be feeding Co2 inline also. I saw a lot of positive reviews on youtube for the FZONE FZ-0100 single stage regulator. I have read varying views on the likelihood and severity of end of tank dump, but for sure would be happy to pay extra for the dual stage regulator to avoid it.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

I hope you’re luckier than I was, my Fluval 207 is noisier than my Biomaster 350 and has a lower flow rate.

 

[Connswater]

Thanks for the info. Tank is in my bedroom, so noise is obviously a factor. I don't have limitless pockets and flow rate is also important, so the 407 wins on all 3. I've gone with the Aquael 300w inline heater and will be feeding Co2 inline also. I saw a lot of positive reviews on youtube for the FZONE FZ-0100 single stage regulator. I have read varying views on the likelihood and severity of end of tank dump, but for sure would be happy to pay extra for the dual stage regulator to avoid it.

My Fluval 407 is now I think coming up for 5 years old, occasional issues, fixed by using a hose to push water through it via the inlet to purge it and get it sometimes to 'fire up', but 99% of the time, it is virtually silent. My Biomaster sadly occasinally leaked after 6 months, and I never managed to properly fix it and gave up on it after 3 years and I put it in a bucket which I had to empty for most of that time. It wasn't noisy however, and the prefilter, if cleaned weekly (and I changed the foam to a less fine foam) meant little 'heavy' filter maintenance. My CO2Art regulator has proved very reliable and easy to adjust and is now nearly 7 years old.

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

on the likelihood and severity of end of tank dump

I am sceptical about whether “end of tank dump” is indeed a thing. The inlet pressure is acting on a very small area compared to the outlet pressure acting on the diaphragm. The outlet pressure is regulated by the outlet chamber pressure pushing against the spring. Unless the spring gets stuck (poor build quality) then I’m not sure how this can be an issue.

If you search “end of tank dump” almost all results are from aquarium forums. “Citation needed” is applied to all references to end of tank dump on Wikipedia. I haven’t seen it happen on my own single stage regulator.