Filtering Questions On A Planted Tank

[Boids-n-more]

Ok i've read alot on this forum about planted tanks. Theres tons on here about light,substrate,co2 but not much mentioning of filtration. The question i have is how much filtration do you need for a planted tank , i'm looking at a 40 gallon with some neons in it but its mainly to grow plants. Can anyone give me some tips or tell me a good filter type for plants.

 

[RadaR]

External filter is best. Plsu you would want quite a good one with a high lph as the water would then be crystal clear and also its best to keep the nutrients flowing all around the tank. Dead spots can get gundgey.

 

[ChrisP]

Yep get an external, you want to turn the tank over about 3 times an hour in my opinion so base that on what model you choose. Make sure you get a spraybar or lilly pipe or something with it too, spraybar should come as standard.

Brand wise go with Eheim if you can afford it something like an Eheim Pro II would be ideal, if your on a budget I would go with an Atman there the best Eheim ripoffs I have come across! I use one myself and am very happy with it and the quality of it seems very good, its been going years. About half the price of the real thing too!

Remember your going to have to buy some media aswel although I think some come with it.

 

[Boids-n-more]

Would hang on the back filters work ? As far as canister filters go i've always gone with fluval ( they haven't let me down yet , knock on wood ) are they ok with plants if hang on the back are not.

 

[voo]

A hang on would be fine, but too much surface water movement is bad - it releases the CO2 in the water if you are going to be injecting CO2 somehow.
Just make sure the bottom of the hang on is below the water level to create as little surface movement as possible.

Remeber to take out the carbon whatever filter you decide on. It'll remove the nutrients and fertilizer from the water that the plants need

 

[Boids-n-more]

ok thanks for the info. Soundls like a canister would be a better fit. I was planning on injecting some co2 but i haven't decided on whitch procedure to use lol. Thanks again.

 

[BBrain]

A hang on would be fine, but too much surface water movement is bad - it releases the CO2 in the water ...

You could redirect the waterfall from a HOB (hang-on-back) filter, from splashy downward to smooth horizontal. Although, I really don't know if different filter inflow directions make a difference in depleting the water of CO2. I haven't seen any scientifically measured figures; only opinions.

But if you wanted to make a smoother inflow, it's easy. Some people just fit part of a plastic pop bottle over the filter. Cut off the top and bottom, to leave a straight cylinder, then slit it lengthwise, and clip it over the top of the filter, including the bottom of the waterfall lip. Then the water flows sideways, without disturbing the surface.

Or, you could make a gizmo like I did in this topic (also includes some filter flow calculations that might be useful to you):
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?act=ST...=0#entry1239638