Is Flow That Important?

[techen]

Because am using a Ehiem with a really slow flow rate I have next to nothing in terms of flow really. WIll this effect the plants I have? All of them will be low tech under T8 light and with liquid ferts.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Yeah it will affect them as without flow the plants wont get the nutrients they need, you wanna aim for at least 10 x full tank turnover per hour at least, a powerhead might be an idea if your not close to that. What size is the tank and what litres per hour is your filter?

 

[CezzaXV]

It can also be an issue for the fish. If the water isn't going through your filter often enough, then the ammonia won't be getting processed, it'll just be sat in your tank.

 

[techen]

Am not sure what the flow rate of the filter is as I never got a box or a booklet with the filter. So it's really just a wild guess, I have the outflow away from the inflow so that the clean water will be away from the water being filtered into it. I mean the flow is enough to make the top of the water ripple alittle but I wouldn't say it was ...good?

If I was to get a powerflow what kind would I need? I have a 200L tank.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Look on the top of your eheim, it should say the lph, you want the inlet below the outlet so the water is pushed outof the outlet along the top, down the end of the tank along the bottom back towards the inlet so it creates a flow all round the tank, if your getting a powerhead then stick it the opposite end of the tank from the filter facing slightly downwards so it blows back towards the inlet helping he flow circulate the tank. Look on your filter and calculate how much extra flow you need.

 

[techen]

Look on the top of your eheim, it should say the lph, you want the inlet below the outlet so the water is pushed outof the outlet along the top, down the end of the tank along the bottom back towards the inlet so it creates a flow all round the tank, if your getting a powerhead then stick it the opposite end of the tank from the filter facing slightly downwards so it blows back towards the inlet helping he flow circulate the tank. Look on your filter and calculate how much extra flow you need.

It dosnt say the rate on the filter, believe me I would know if it did. I think it's a Eheim ecco pro, a older model but am still not 100% sure.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Flow looks ok on that, I'd give it a small nano powerhead to be safe and leave it at that.

 

[techen]

Flow looks ok on that, I'd give it a small nano powerhead to be safe and leave it at that.

Where could I pick one up? Gonna be tight on plugs now

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Ebay.

 

[techen]

Cheers Steveo. Shall have a look around. A nano seems atad small for a 200ls though lol.