Add A Powerhead Or Another Filter?

[KISSfn]

Since my Eheim is rated at 132 gallons/hour, my tank is 50 US gallons, I've read here a 5X turnover/hour is recommended and after gravel vacuuming yesterday noticing a bunch of nasties in the gravel I presume my tank is underfiltered/undercirculated. So, should I get an additional filter or a powerhead? Thanks in advance!

 

[KittyKat]

In my experience, it should be fine, unless you are having problems with plants.

On the other hand, if you're loaded, I would definitely say "upgrade to an Eheim e3 of the right size ", I was running the 450 model on my 55 gallon and it was lovely. The danios would also appreciate it (and get both of those up to 6 of each species!).

 

[KkAaNnEe]

There is advantages and disadvantages to each, if you want more flow add a powerhead, but you dont get the additional bacteria that will form on another filter. You really need to understand what you want fromthe additional equipment first.

If it just a build up of debris and your filter can manage the stocking, get a powerhead, but you may be fighting a losing battle with gravel

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Do both! Put in a powerhead and on the intake add a sponge filter. Best of both worlds. The flow from the powerhead will be cut down a bit, but the filtration will also be increased. You do both things you want, without a major secondary expense. The pre-intake sponge filters are dirt cheap.


I was following a thread somewhere - can't remember now - and the folks over there were using the powerhead with the sponge filter in place as the ONLY filtration. They put the powerhead in a corner of the tank on the bottom - inverted. The flow was blown out across the substrate - helping to keep any detritus from settling there, then the sponge filter went on the intake which was on TOP of the powerhead. This way when they went to clean the sponge (squeeze it out into a bucket of tank water) all they had to do was reach in, pull it off, give it a squeeze and replace it. They also were using the biggest sponges they could find, cut into quarters, so that it fit perfectly into the corner of the tank. They then cut the holes themselves, and got 4 sponges from 1 they purchased. These four could last you the rest of your fishkeeping experience, assuming that you don't have more than one set-up at a time.



(They were using the Sun-Sun brand of powerhead OR sponge filter. I can't remember now.)


Best wishes with this KISSfn!

 

[KISSfn]

Thanks everybody!

 

[KISSfn]

In my experience, it should be fine, unless you are having problems with plants.

On the other hand, if you're loaded, I would definitely say "upgrade to an Eheim e3 of the right size ", I was running the 450 model on my 55 gallon and it was lovely. The danios would also appreciate it (and get both of those up to 6 of each species!).

Thanks Kat! My LFS only had 2 Leopard Danios, 1 had a shredded tail and the other looked like he lost a fight so I could only get 3 more Zebras today. I will get 3 more Leopards soon.
I'm always loaded but what does drinking have to do with it.....

 

[KISSfn]

I decided to add another Eheim 2234 so I could achieve a higher flow rate (264 gallons/hour) and more media capacity. I put my 4" active sponge from Angels Plus inside Eheim #2. Also added a UV sterilizer. Water is crystal clear! Thanks Eaglesaquarium and KkAaNnEe for the advice!

 

[stubs]

Sorry for the noob question but what's a power head?

 

[KISSfn]

No apology necessary! It's a water circulation pump.

 

[Tolak]

If you really wanted to get into it you could use this idea substituting the output of a filter for the powerhead.

 

[KittyKat]

You want to be careful with the UV steriliser: there's a reason why most of us don't use them, especially not on a regular basis.

 

[stubs]

No apology necessary! It's a water circulation pump.

Cheers

 

[KISSfn]

You want to be careful with the UV steriliser: there's a reason why most of us don't use them, especially not on a regular basis.

Why?....as I'm unplugging it...........

If you really wanted to get into it you could use this idea substituting the output of a filter for the powerhead.

That must be what Eaglesaquarium was talking about. If my tank was empty I would want that. Thanks Tolak!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yup, that's pretty close to it.

 

[KittyKat]

You want to be careful with the UV steriliser: there's a reason why most of us don't use them, especially not on a regular basis.

Why?....as I'm unplugging it...........

Do some more research before you make the decision.

My concerns are that UV sterilisers have a tendency of masking problem symptoms so makes it easier to miss the first signs of a problem. The fishs' immunity to diseases could become worse because the UV will kill all bacteria and so on in the water, which would mean that there would be nothing there to keep their immune systems strong, so if the fish are then ever moved into an environment without UV, they may be more susceptible to diseases and more likely to die if they do get something.

I don't really see a problem with running it for an hour or two occasionally, just to clear some algae or bacterial bloom from the water, but that would be the most I'd consider using it for.