Will Upgrading My Filter Kill My Plants?

[JoshuaA]

After recent advice to purchase a powerhead I am impressed but not yet satisfied, I'm still tweaking around with my tank but I think the "upgrade" I would like to make is to ditch the Fluval 205 I have an replace it with this.

The tank is a Rio 125 and I would say medium plant mass after a large trimming session, however the flow from the output is minimal as it is broken up by plants an wood before it can reach the other side, my powerhead is great but positioning is a pain in the " " because of the lack of cable that comes with it, there is really only two places I can put it.

The Fluval 205, initially starts of great but the flow just diminished relatively quickly and the maintenance is simple to perform but doesn't help boost the flow at all, I'm happy to keep it going but I do think that as long as the filter above doesn't create an overkill of flow then I should be ok, I was thinking perhaps just using a spray bar to dissipate the flow with that filter or would this just set me back to lack of flow situation? I've started to notice an increase in particles in the water which the filter is taking it's time picking up.

I want something with a much bigger turn over and well I think I've convinced myself this is what I want but am I going to be making a mistake is what I want answering? I also like the idea of having the UV bulb, whether useless or not it's always there.

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Once again, thanks in advance!

Edit: I would simply go for a Fluval 305 or similar but the value for money from APS seems astonishing.

 

[lljdma06]

I personally think it would be fine. I'm not an expert in filtration, though. Again this is coming from a person who uses two filters designed for 50g tanks in a 15g tank and is considering adding a small powerhead to that same tank. For me, my success has come largely, if I look back at all my scapes, from good flow. You can mess up a lot of other things, if the flow is working well.

By the way, watch the swear filter. It caught you on a word. I sometimes swear as a well. I'll edit it to something harmless and amusing. No worries.

Liz

 

[Sanj]

Changing to a more powerful filter is not going harm your plants. Greater turnover will benefit nutrient transport. You want to run both filters in tandem for a while (1 or 2 months) so that the new one will become seeded with bacteria. You could also just run the new one with old media added from the other filter, but I think the first option is safer.

 

[Jamepsss]

I'm doing exactly the same for very similar reasons. I'm going to order the APS 2000 external to replace my Fluval 305 as I've read so many good reviews about them. Can't see any reason why it would harm your plants.

My 305 is not as good as it once was and has become noisy and bubbly. I've added a fluval 3+ internal (temporalily) and I already have a Koralia 1 powerhead along with the 305. That's a total (maximum) turnover of 16.5 times tank volume. The plants are swaying, the water looks great and the fish are loving it.

Once I get the APS 2000 I'll ditch the internal and 305 and will have a maximum flow of 3600 LPH (I know in reality the flow rate will not be this high).

 

[JoshuaA]

I personally think it would be fine. I'm not an expert in filtration, though. Again this is coming from a person who uses two filters designed for 50g tanks in a 15g tank and is considering adding a small powerhead to that same tank. For me, my success has come largely, if I look back at all my scapes, from good flow. You can mess up a lot of other things, if the flow is working well.

By the way, watch the swear filter. It caught you on a word. I sometimes swear as a well. I'll edit it to something harmless and amusing. No worries.

Liz

Well certainly sounds like my "overkill" is nothing compared to yours haha, I will no doubt get around to ordering it during the week then!

The word it got me on was donkey...

 

[lljdma06]

was going to replace the bypass with "donkey" LOLOL

Yeah, the way I see it, a Planted tank should sway like a Marine tank. At least that is what I think, since my best planted tanks definitely did that. I could be wrong. Whether that circulation is accomplished through filters or through powerheads is up to you. If I ever setup that little 8g again, I may abandon filters (plants filter very well) and circulate the water with powerheads instead. Might be a neat little experiment.

 

[JoshuaA]

Oh wow... a quick search on the interwebs found me "JAN-SALE" discount code. I just got myself 20% off that filter and only ended up paying £48 + free shipping .

I almost went for the 2000L/H however that has got to be seriously over doing it right combined with the powerhead lol.

I'm questioning whether I should keep the current Fluval 205 running side by side, although I will be transferring all media as I have done the past couple of times on a filter change. The only issue is the trim on the Rio 125 isn't as roomy as I would like an only seems to be accepting towards one intake and outlet pipe. Perhaps I can play around with this to make it work but hmmm...

Edit: An initial review will be coming shortly for those who are questioning APS products.

 

[lljdma06]

Yay! Sale!

Do let us know how that filter works. I just installed a powerhead to my tank.

Liz

 

[Jamepsss]

Oh wow... a quick search on the interwebs found me "JAN-SALE" discount code. I just got myself 20% off that filter and only ended up paying £48 + free shipping .

I almost went for the 2000L/H however that has got to be seriously over doing it right combined with the powerhead lol.

I'm questioning whether I should keep the current Fluval 205 running side by side, although I will be transferring all media as I have done the past couple of times on a filter change. The only issue is the trim on the Rio 125 isn't as roomy as I would like an only seems to be accepting towards one intake and outlet pipe. Perhaps I can play around with this to make it work but hmmm...

Edit: An initial review will be coming shortly for those who are questioning APS products.

I used the code too, it was posted on this forum by scotty a few weeks ago. Just ordered the 2000LPH for 60 quid delivered, unbelievable.