Hi
I have an Aquaone 380 that I have recentkly setup as a tropical nano tank. The fish seem happy enough but while I'm getting great biological filtration from the overhead trickle filter (which I placed Eheim Substrate Pro in as well as the usual foam pads) the flow and oxygenation from the filter is high and causing CO2 to be expelled from the water. To counter this I have filled the tank to the brim so that the surface agitation from the filter inflow is less. The other factor concerning the plants is that they are caught up in quite a flow and my Crypts wave arounf quite a lot.
I know it's overkill for a 38l tank but I'm thinking of going for an external filter such as the smallest Eheim Ecco and using an inline heater as well. Another aim is to minimise in-tank clutter as not only does the heater look unsightly but the overhead filter places not only the intake strainer but also the powerhead in the tank.
This brings me to my potentially biggest problem - what to do with the existing overhead filter. It fits the top of the tank exactly but even if I remove the powerhead I won't be able to get an external to slot through the unti without leaving the top off the unit which will look unsightly. My next thought was to remove both the filter unit and the small lighting canopy that sits in front and replace with a custom glass cover and clip on overhead light (as used with the PFK nano). Has anyone else done this? How difficult would it be to get a pieces of glass cut that would fit the inner rim of the tank top exactly?
Sorry for all the questions - probably easier to get a different tank but I like everything about this one apart from the filter.
Thanks
Ronan
I have an Aquaone 380 that I have recentkly setup as a tropical nano tank. The fish seem happy enough but while I'm getting great biological filtration from the overhead trickle filter (which I placed Eheim Substrate Pro in as well as the usual foam pads) the flow and oxygenation from the filter is high and causing CO2 to be expelled from the water. To counter this I have filled the tank to the brim so that the surface agitation from the filter inflow is less. The other factor concerning the plants is that they are caught up in quite a flow and my Crypts wave arounf quite a lot.
I know it's overkill for a 38l tank but I'm thinking of going for an external filter such as the smallest Eheim Ecco and using an inline heater as well. Another aim is to minimise in-tank clutter as not only does the heater look unsightly but the overhead filter places not only the intake strainer but also the powerhead in the tank.
This brings me to my potentially biggest problem - what to do with the existing overhead filter. It fits the top of the tank exactly but even if I remove the powerhead I won't be able to get an external to slot through the unti without leaving the top off the unit which will look unsightly. My next thought was to remove both the filter unit and the small lighting canopy that sits in front and replace with a custom glass cover and clip on overhead light (as used with the PFK nano). Has anyone else done this? How difficult would it be to get a pieces of glass cut that would fit the inner rim of the tank top exactly?
Sorry for all the questions - probably easier to get a different tank but I like everything about this one apart from the filter.
Thanks
Ronan