Filtation for a large tank

[Keith Stedman]

I am setting up a 125 gallon tank that will house discus, tetras and
clown loaches. The tank will also have live plants. I have already
purchased an external cannister filter (eheim 2228). I will also
perform weekly water changes. Do I need additional filtering
capability?

I am wondering if it makes sense to purchase a cheap extenal power
filter to catch particulate matter. My thought is that it is easier
to change media in an external power filter and the mechanical
filtration load on the eheim will decrease.

So the mechanical filtration would peformed primarily by the external
power filter and augmented by the eheim.
Biological filtation performed primarily by the eheim.
Chemical filtration performed primarily by water changes.
I'd like to eliminate or reduce the use of charcoal.

Any thoughts?

[Soren 'Disky' Reinke]

Keith Stedman wrote in message ...

>I am setting up a 125 gallon tank that will house discus, tetras and
>clown loaches. The tank will also have live plants. I have already
>purchased an external cannister filter (eheim 2228). I will also
>perform weekly water changes. Do I need additional filtering
>capability?

Another external filter would not harm.

Or connect another external filter after the first one. Without a pump.
Connect it so, that only about 5-10% of the water going through the first
filter, comes through the second filter. Then you would have an excellent
biological filter. Fill it with Siporax or something like that

>
>I am wondering if it makes sense to purchase a cheap extenal power
>filter to catch particulate matter. My thought is that it is easier
>to change media in an external power filter and the mechanical
>filtration load on the eheim will decrease.

External filters are always the best.

With many Thanks

Soren ' Disky ' Reinke ICQ #1413069

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[Bob]

I've found the best way to keep filter maintenance down is to put a sponge "pre filter" on your filter intake strainer. Then, every week or two remove the sponge and rinse it out. I can go at least 6 months before I have to break down my external canisters to clean them using this method. You can get these sponge prefilters from many mail order and LFS's, they are used for reverse undergravel powerheads. The one I use is from Marineland.
HTH,
Bob
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"Keith Stedman" <s200...@surf1.de> wrote in message news:p2gg7s8395nskoeco...@4ax.com...

> I am setting up a 125 gallon tank that will house discus, tetras and
> clown loaches. The tank will also have live plants. I have already
> purchased an external cannister filter (eheim 2228). I will also
> perform weekly water changes. Do I need additional filtering
> capability?
>

> I am wondering if it makes sense to purchase a cheap extenal power
> filter to catch particulate matter. My thought is that it is easier
> to change media in an external power filter and the mechanical
> filtration load on the eheim will decrease.
>

[Paul Cardoza]

Isn't the 2228 only rated for 90 gallons? Sounds like you're under
filtered for sure. Get another 2228! The Ehiem W/D's are wonderful. I
have the 2229 on my 75 gallon tank and absolutely love it.

--
______________________________________________
Paul Cardoza, [ICQ#33792507]
New Bedford, MA
______________________________________________

[Kudzu]

> Any thoughts?

Keith I am planning a large tank like yours in the next year or so. I have
been thinking on filters for a while now and here are my thoughts on this.

First I have to agree with Bob on the sponge prefilter. I am not doing that
but I am about to add them to my canisters intakes. Mine need to much
cleaning now and I think that he is absolutely right! I plan on adding
sponges to mine soon.

Adding another filter might help but I think you are still going to have
particles getting into you canister and clogging it up. Sponge sounds much
better to me.

I know you didn't mention additional biological filtration but here is my
thoughts on upgrading and adding second filters for that reason.

Second thing are your test showing ammonia and nitrates at 0? If so then
your biological filter is adequate. Adding another filter will not change
the amount of bacteria in tank. Bacteria live off the food that is in the
tank, the fish waste. If you supply more food then your bacteria colony can
grow larger. Remove your fish and the food supply with them your bacteria
will starve to death. Larger filters just move more water in a case like
this.

I am going to make up some numbers here but lets say 1 bacteria cell can
consume 3 parts of ammonia. If your fish create 300 parts of ammonia, then
you have enough food (ammonia/nitrate) to support 100 bacteria cells. Adding
more filter material or filters will not change that. There will still only
be 100 bacteria cells. There is a direct relationship to how much bacteria
is there to how much ammonia. If you want more bacteria you have to make
more
ammonia. If your filter is keeping ammonia and nitrates at 0 then it is able
to house enough bacteria. If you keep getting ammonia or nitrate levels
above 0 then maybe your filter is not big enough to hold the bacteria
needed.

I see so many people wanting to upgrade their filters when there is no need.
I know it is none of my business but just seems like a waste of money to
upgrade to filter that is working now!

Kudzu <*\\><
Research is what I am doing when I dont know what I am doing.
Werner VonBraun.
http://kudzupatch.home.mindspring.com/Index.html

[Kudzu]

As someone kindly pointed out I mixed up my nitrates and nitrates and didn't
catch it. Nitrites should be 0 not nitrates. Sorry if that caused any
confussion.
--

[Melissa]

>Isn't the 2228 only rated for 90 gallons? Sounds like you're under
>filtered for sure. Get another 2228! The Ehiem W/D's are wonderful. I
>have the 2229 on my 75 gallon tank and absolutely love it.
>
>

The 2228 is an ehiem pro series and is rated for up to 160 gallon tanks. I
mean, in petwarhouse, the thing cost 200 bucks!

Melissa

"He's a real nowhere man

Sitting in his nowhere land

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody"
-Beatles

-Remove "ehither" to reply by mail ~~

[Peter Aitken]

Soren 'Disky' Reinke <di...@disky-design.ihsyd.dk> wrote in message
news:W1_d4.2456$E4.6...@news010.image.dk...

>
> Keith Stedman wrote in message ...

> >I am setting up a 125 gallon tank that will house discus, tetras and
> >clown loaches. The tank will also have live plants. I have already
> >purchased an external cannister filter (eheim 2228). I will also
> >perform weekly water changes. Do I need additional filtering
> >capability?
>

> Another external filter would not harm.
>
> Or connect another external filter after the first one. Without a pump.
> Connect it so, that only about 5-10% of the water going through the first
> filter, comes through the second filter. Then you would have an excellent
> biological filter. Fill it with Siporax or something like that
>

I do not think this makes sense. The bacteria in a biological filter require
oxygen, and by routing a small flow of water thru the 2nd filter you greatly
decrease the O2 it will get and therefore it will not have much biological
activity. Even routing all the water thru a 2nd filter in series with the
first one makes no sense because of the O2 limitation.

The Eheim 2228 is rated for tanks up to 150 gal. If you have plants, and do
not overload the tank with fish, it will be fine by itself. Put a sponge
over the intake - this will catch 99% of the gunk and as a result the filter
will need cleaning very rarely - every 6 months at most. Every 2nd or 3rd
time you do a water change, slip a plastic bag over the sponge and remove
it, rinse it out in tank water, and replace. There's no need for charcoal at
all in a properly set up system.

Cheers,

Peter Aitken

[Soren 'Disky' Reinke]

>>
>I do not think this makes sense. The bacteria in a biological filter
require
>oxygen, and by routing a small flow of water thru the 2nd filter you
greatly
>decrease the O2 it will get and therefore it will not have much biological
>activity. Even routing all the water thru a 2nd filter in series with the
>first one makes no sense because of the O2 limitation.

Haven't tried it myself, but i know specially german aquarist love that
system.

But they do feed the bacteria something to eat, can't remember what though.

>
>The Eheim 2228 is rated for tanks up to 150 gal. If you have plants, and do
>not overload the tank with fish, it will be fine by itself. Put a sponge
>over the intake - this will catch 99% of the gunk and as a result the
filter
>will need cleaning very rarely - every 6 months at most. Every 2nd or 3rd
>time you do a water change, slip a plastic bag over the sponge and remove
>it, rinse it out in tank water, and replace. There's no need for charcoal
at
>all in a properly set up system.

I can only agree.