Placement For Filter, Heater And Some Other Q's

[keiths]

Hello, I've been lurking around here for a while but now I have a question.

I'm just starting a tank (my first one actually). It's a regular 55 gallon tank with live plants. I haven't really decided what fish so far, but it's going to be a community tank.

My question is, where is the best place to put the filter and heater. Also where do I want to put the intake and the pump output on the filter? Should they be together or separate ends of the tank or what. I know you want the heater to be in the flow but I'm not really sure where the best place is.

I have the Eheim Classic Canister filter and Visi-Therm stealth heater if that matters.

Another question unrelated... Since I have plants in my tank that should help the cycle go faster. I am not planning on putting any fish in until the cycle is done. What exactly will the cycle do with the plants as far as the chemicals go. I know the nitrites and then nitrates will rise but what will happen after that?

Right now it's looking like this. My tank has only been up for about 2 - 3 days and I just added plants so I doubt it is even close to started:

pH 7.4
CO2 - 6
NO2 - < .03
NH3 NH4 - .25
KH - 6
GH - 9 or 10

If you need me to test anything else I can. I think I have every test.


Another question I had is, I have a layer of some sort of plant substrate on the bottom of my tank (it's not eco-complete or fluorite. I can't remember what it is) and then I have regular substrate on top of it. First of all, is this a correct way to lay the substrate. My real question is, I have the Python No Spill siphon/cleaner. I haven't used it yet to clean the gravel or take any water out of my tank. Will it mess up my substrate when I use it? Should I worry about it messing up the substrate or does it not even mater?

Sorry for so many questions, if you need me to clear something up I can. Thanks

 

[onemisterchristian]

Wow, that is a lot of questions. I'll attempt to answer what I can remember after that first read through.
As far as heater and filter placement, You want the filter intake and return to be at opposite ends, or at the very least, pointing in opposite directions. The heater should be placed in an area of high flow rate. This way it doesn't get innacurate readings on heating stagnant water. I put mine right by my filter intake, but thats because it's in an over flow, you could put it right by the return. As far as cycling questions, they are probably much more concise in the pinned topics. (As you can see I'm a bit verbose at times)

Substrate: I think you purchased laterite. Is it small brick colored pebbles? If so you should have bought enough to cover the bottom of your tank. It doesn't really need depth. Then yes, your substrate goes directly on top of that.

What substrate do you have?

Congrats on the python. It really is a worthy investment. It cuts my water changing time down to 20 minutes. On both of my tanks. If you have a sand substrate, the waste will accumulate on top of it and just hover above the sand to collect the waste with the python. (Try not to pick up sand) Gravel however requires more intensive cleaning because uneaten food and waste particles fall dow into the cracks between the gravel. You have to kind of stick the mouth of the python into the gravel on a lower suction.

I think I got to most things. Also I'd like to commend you on your lurking. It's good to see some beginners doing research and then asking questions. Best of luck

 

[keiths]

Thanks for the reply. I moved my intake and return so they are at opposite ends. I'm not really sure what you mean by pointing them at each other. I know with my return it seems to shoot slightly to the left or right, whichever way I mount it. Is that what you mean?

I do have gravel substrate on top of my other substrate. The thing I was worried about was when I am using the Python, I don't want to pick up the bottom substrate with it and then mix it up with my gravel substrate. Am I just worried about it to much or should I just not stick the Python down that far?

Thanks again for the response.

 

[keiths]

anyone?

 

[onemisterchristian]

Just don't stick the python down that far. And what I meant by facing opposite directions, is if you had to put the intake and return right next to eachother, at the very least, face them in opposing directions so that the water flowing out of the return isn't the majority of the water that gets sucked back into the intake.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Another question unrelated... Since I have plants in my tank that should help the cycle go faster. I am not planning on putting any fish in until the cycle is done. What exactly will the cycle do with the plants as far as the chemicals go. I know the nitrites and then nitrates will rise but what will happen after that?

Right now it's looking like this. My tank has only been up for about 2 - 3 days and I just added plants so I doubt it is even close to started:

pH 7.4
CO2 - 6
NO2 - < .03
NH3 NH4 - .25
KH - 6
GH - 9 or 10

If you need me to test anything else I can. I think I have every test.

Just having plants in your tank will not cycle it or really do much to help beneficial bacteria to grow in your filter. You need to do a fishless cycle, click on the link in my signature and follow the add and wait method. Ammonia can be bought at homebase or boots. It's also useful to have a good understanding of the nitrogen cycle in your tank so you understand what you are doing when fishless cycling.