Filter Advice

[James007]

I am currently cycling a new tank - Fluval 600.

This comes with the Fluval 2 Plus filter. One thing that I have noticed is that whilst there is clearly a reasonably powerful jet coming out of the filter causing a good underwater current, there is not much of a surface ripple/bubbling. The filter unit sits completely submerged and can even be put on the floor of the tank. The nozzle of my unit is about 1cm to 1 inch under the surface.

Past problems with a smaller tank were causing by a lack of oxygen getting into the water and this was caused by the lack of surface movement causing the water to become a bit stagnant. This was cured by getting a seperate air pump and airstone which caused a lot of surface disturbance and cleared put a lot of oxygen into the water.

So, even with what appears to be a good filter - will there be a lack of oxygen getting into the water if there is no real surface ripple/bubbling? Or will the underwater movement be sufficient?

 

[karlp]

In a normally stocked tank with good water circulation and good water quality, there is no need to have an airstone.

Airstones only become necessary if...

The tank is overstocked
There are meds in the water
The water temperature is raised
There are water quality issues that are indirectly causing the fish to struggle to breath
You are using CO2 and have a CO2 problem

It's always a good idea to have an airstone/pump on hand just in case, but you shouldn't need to run one all the time.

 

[smithrc]

just raise the suction bracket on the glass to cause surface movement as required...

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

ps: how many gallons/litres is a fluval 600?

 

[Squid]

My fluval plus 2 (i think thats what it is) has the little twiddly venturi thing at the top, so if you position it a little higher so that the air intake can do just that, then all you need to do is turn the wheel until you see bubbles...

I could be speaking utter rubbish though .. it has been known.

Squid

 

[smithrc]

ps: how many gallons/litres is a fluval 600?

its 600mm long (2ft to you folks across the pond) so it'll be about 15US gal (12UK and approx 50L)

I could be speaking utter rubbish though .. it has been known.

Squid - you right - dont doubt yourself

 

[Squid]

ps: how many gallons/litres is a fluval 600?

its 600mm long (2ft to you folks across the pond) so it'll be about 15US gal (12UK and approx 50L)

I could be speaking utter rubbish though .. it has been known.

Squid - you right - dont doubt yourself

aye.. but right about the rubbish bit and not the filter eh.. ho hum.. you git

 

[smithrc]

ps: how many gallons/litres is a fluval 600?

its 600mm long (2ft to you folks across the pond) so it'll be about 15US gal (12UK and approx 50L)

I could be speaking utter rubbish though .. it has been known.

Squid - you right - dont doubt yourself

aye.. but right about the rubbish bit and not the filter eh.. ho hum.. you git

LOL -not what I ment at all - But funny

the fluvals do indeed have an adjustable venturi that clips into the outlet nozzel (an add on bit that comes in the packet)

 

[Ivan Sloshed]

Hi James007 Im just starting a 2ftx1ftx1ft tank and it also had a Fluval 2 Plus filter, it had no suction bracket or filter pads, so I purcased them from Here it also has no venturi so im using a air curtain (just a fine rubber tube with loads of air holes)
Ivor

 

[James007]

Capacity is quoted as 63 litres so water capacity slighty below this.

I did get the venturi attachment but to be honest there were no instructions with it so I haven't fitted it. Maybe this is why I am not getting surface ripples. I think it attaches to the main nozzle with an outlet protuding up out of the water along with a cap for this outlet. Any idea how it works and what its for?

 

[Ivan Sloshed]

Capacity is quoted as 63 litres so water capacity slighty below this.

I did get the venturi attachment but to be honest there were no instructions with it so I haven't fitted it. Maybe this is why I am not getting surface ripples. I think it attaches to the main nozzle with an outlet protuding up out of the water along with a cap for this outlet. Any idea how it works and what its for?

There should be a little blue knob that you screw into the venturi, you need to lift it up slightly out of the water to get ripples. i think the cap is use when you attach a spray bar
Ivor
PS i'll try and take a few pics tommorrow and post them

 

[James007]

I had a play around with the venturi last night and got it working.

Completely solved my issues with a lack of surface movement. The venturi pulls air into the the stream emitted from the filter giving an adjustible bubble stream that can kick up quite a wake.

Many thanks for the advice all.