Doug Osborn
Mon Nov 03, 2008, 12:14 PM
Hi All,
I'm getting back into keeping fish after 10+ years out of the hobby.
Have purchased a 6'*30"(h)*24"(w) which I'm slowly setting up as a display/planted tank with discus as the intended showcase inhabitants (besides the plants/aquascape ;-)
The tank holds about 850l and I'm looking for the right filtration set up. The filtration factors to consider seem to be:
1. Getting the mechanical/biological mix right
2. Achieving the 'rule of thumb' minimum of 4* tank vol turnover per hour (3400l/h)
3. Not creating turbulence (which discus apparently dislike intensely)
4. Ensuring that there are no 'dead spots' in the tank
5. The usual gang of considerations such as minimising cost, maintenance effort, power consumption, water changes, etc.
3 is probably achievable through some plumbing (outlets as PVC pipes with holes in, or an off-the-shelf equivalent).
Having done some reading and talking to (seemingly well-informed) LFS, a fluidized bed filters (FBF) seems like a good idea and would cover off the majority of biological filtering. The FBFs I've seen online have a reasonably low flow rate at around 900 l/h.
This leaves mechanical filtration and around 2500l/h to make up. Initially I was thinking along the lines of the Fluval FX5 but in the only rigorous published comparison I've been able to find between it and the Eheim 2080 the FX5 has an 83% failure rate (5 out of 6 died). Despite the warranty and price advantage, with that sort of reliability it seems inconceivable to purchase one.
So I'm thinking that a Pentair FB600 with suitable pump attached, plus an Eheim Pro III 2080 (1 unit first, then a second) with filter media biased to mechanical filtration would be the way to go. Or a larger pump/filter (pond?)
Any advice/comments on the thinking process so far? Does anyone have a similar sized tank and a combination that has worked for them?
Many thanks,
Doug
[also posted to 'the fish tank' - apologies for cross posting if anyone is seeing this twice]
I'm getting back into keeping fish after 10+ years out of the hobby.
Have purchased a 6'*30"(h)*24"(w) which I'm slowly setting up as a display/planted tank with discus as the intended showcase inhabitants (besides the plants/aquascape ;-)
The tank holds about 850l and I'm looking for the right filtration set up. The filtration factors to consider seem to be:
1. Getting the mechanical/biological mix right
2. Achieving the 'rule of thumb' minimum of 4* tank vol turnover per hour (3400l/h)
3. Not creating turbulence (which discus apparently dislike intensely)
4. Ensuring that there are no 'dead spots' in the tank
5. The usual gang of considerations such as minimising cost, maintenance effort, power consumption, water changes, etc.
3 is probably achievable through some plumbing (outlets as PVC pipes with holes in, or an off-the-shelf equivalent).
Having done some reading and talking to (seemingly well-informed) LFS, a fluidized bed filters (FBF) seems like a good idea and would cover off the majority of biological filtering. The FBFs I've seen online have a reasonably low flow rate at around 900 l/h.
This leaves mechanical filtration and around 2500l/h to make up. Initially I was thinking along the lines of the Fluval FX5 but in the only rigorous published comparison I've been able to find between it and the Eheim 2080 the FX5 has an 83% failure rate (5 out of 6 died). Despite the warranty and price advantage, with that sort of reliability it seems inconceivable to purchase one.
So I'm thinking that a Pentair FB600 with suitable pump attached, plus an Eheim Pro III 2080 (1 unit first, then a second) with filter media biased to mechanical filtration would be the way to go. Or a larger pump/filter (pond?)
Any advice/comments on the thinking process so far? Does anyone have a similar sized tank and a combination that has worked for them?
Many thanks,
Doug
[also posted to 'the fish tank' - apologies for cross posting if anyone is seeing this twice]