Should i add another aquaclear 110 on my 75 gallon?

[tiger15]

My tank is quite heavily planted and i find myself wanting more and more water movement. The op has substrate plants that wont be harmed by the flow as they feed from the substrate. Worrying about co2 levels is only something that needs to be done if you are dosing it. Low tech planted you just want surface movement for oxygenation.View attachment 1377419

Planted tank needs more, not less water movement for gas exchange and to evenly distribute nutrients and CO2, but not strong current to uproot plants, particularly carpet plants during establishment stage. Humus rich substrate can provide nutrients to rooted plants for some time, until eventually runs out of nutrients and need to be replaced or replenish of nutrients from the water column. Moreover, potassium and iron are absorbed through water column mainly as not much is biologically available in the substrate.

The Columbia tetra look good in big group. Do they still school or males spend time fighting one another?

 

[Zanzag]

Im fairly certain ive got all males for the tetra, but they school very nicely. Not the tightest school but almost zero fighting.

 

[Zanzag]

Also the strong current blasting the substrate away really only happens if the water level is allowed to drop too low. Kinda the downside to hob filters with sand in general. Ive got an ac70 on a 20L. i run it wide open with a prefilter sponge the sponge that came with it and 2 bags of bio media. Water is nice and clear and is decently heavily planted with anubias and duckweed.

 

[tiger15]

The best way to provide even water movement is circulation power head or canister filter of which the flow can be directed appropriately. HOBs circulate flow from back to front, not a good flow distributor in long tank. In my 125, I lined up 3 HOBs in the back, still not enough for lack of longitudinal cross flow which I augment with a circulation power head at one end. Circulation power heads come in all size and I prefer one with magnetic attachment so it can be placed anywhere in the tank walls.

The water circulation circuit of HOB changes as the water level drops, and makes loud splashing noise. HOB is not for lazy taker as one needs to top the water level and change filter frequently to make it work properly and stop the noise. But frequent filter maintenance is better than infrequent maintenance to maintain good water quality. This is one reason I dislike canister filter which is made for lazy people.

 

[SandNukka15]

Just to make things clear there really isnt that much movement especially on the right side of the tank. The ehiem outlet is placed behind the driftwood to flow out any debris back there. Which limits flow throughout other parts of the tank. The aquaclear pours right on top of the driftwood so that piece takes majority of the flow impact.

 

[tiger15]

Since your AC is providing back to front circulation on the left side, I would suggest that you keep the Eheim intake on the left side, and relocate the return on the right side to creat longitudinal cross circulation. Alternatively, you can attach a circulation power head on the right side for longitudinal circulation. It’s not necessary to have your filters flush dirt out behind the drift wood constantly. You still need regular WC for planted tank, and you can wait for WC to siphon out dirt accumulated behind. I actually prefer that way so as not to overload the filter demanding more frequent cleaning than I like. The goal of your filtration system is to keep the water crystal clear for your enjoyment and to maintain even water movement to nurture plants. Uneven water movement can lead to poor plant growth and algae in dead zones.

 

[SandNukka15]

Since your AC is providing back to front circulation on the left side, I would suggest that you keep the Eheim intake on the left side, and relocate the return on the right side to creat longitudinal cross circulation. Alternatively, you can attach a circulation power head on the right side for longitudinal circulation. It’s not necessary to have your filters flush dirt out behind the drift wood constantly. You still need regular WC for planted tank, and you can wait for WC to siphon out dirt accumulated behind. I actually prefer that way so as not to overload the filter requiring more frequent cleaning. The goal of your filtration system is to keep the water crystal clear for your enjoyment and to maintain even water movement to nurture plants. Uneven water movement can lead to poor plant growth and algae in dead zones.

I need the ehiem outtake behind the driftwood bc it's hard to get back there to siphon out small debris. I would literally have to take out all of the java fern back there everytime. Which is a hassle. So its best in that position.

I had stated that the flow isnt strong as in blowing the plants away but theres enough circulation to evenly turnover the water. I do have a small koralia that does about 240 gph I could add to the right side of the tank. But that's where my original question comes into play where I can just add either the aquaclear 110 or marineland 350 from the 55 for added flow and filtration for debris from the right side of the tank if needed

 

[SandNukka15]

Just tested my perams as I usually do after adding fish. Ph 7.5 nitrite 0 nitrate 5ish ammonia 0

Like I said my wc schedule is 50% mon and fri.

With this stock, filtration and all the plants. I'm wondering if I'll be ok doing 50% once a week. My only problem is i overfeed every few days since the rams are so picky and slow eating food to make sure they get some. Regular feeding schedule is every other day.

 

[tiger15]

If you do 50% WC twice a week, it’s an overkill. Your stocking is low, and rams don’t contribute much to bioload. I have probably 10x your bioload, and I do 75% WC weekly. Did I read it right? Your nitrate is only 5 ppm, which is good for the fish but too lean for the plants. Do you dose nutrients after WC. Fish food and waste don’t provide balanced nutrients for plants, lacking typically potassium and likely iron and other micro nutrients.

The goal of your filtration is to make the water crystal clear for your viewing, not to remove every detritus trapped underneath ornaments, and it won’t be feasible unless you run your tank bare bottom. Your weekly WC should include detritus vacuuming your filtration cannot reach. If you don’t over feed with excessive food waste, detritus is mostly inert having been degraded by micros.

What type of carpet plants do you have. Carpet plants are detritus magnet, and maintainable only for small fish with low bioload. If your future stocking includes angels and higher bioload, maintaining the carpet clean is a challenge. Your future concern is not about detritus you can’t see behind the wood, but visible detritus mating the carpet.

Adding another AC500 to the other end is not the same as redirecting flow longitudinally to provide gentle even circulation. I’ve seen double AC500 for a 200 gal tank to provide vigorous filtration to tank busters. Double AC500 for an 75 is an overkill.

 

[SandNukka15]

If you do 50% WC twice a week, it’s an overkill. Your stocking is low, and rams don’t contribute much to bioload. I have probably 10x your bioload, and I do 75% WC weekly. Did I read it right? Your nitrate is only 5 ppm, which is good for the fish but too lean for the plants. Do you dose nutrients after WC. Fish food and waste don’t provide balanced nutrients for plants, lacking typically potassium and likely iron and other micro nutrients.

The goal of your filtration is to make the water crystal clear for your viewing, not to remove every detritus trapped underneath ornaments, and it won’t be feasible unless you run your tank bare bottom. Your weekly WC should include detritus vacuuming your filtration cannot reach. If you don’t over feed with excessive food waste, detritus is mostly inert having been degraded by micros.

What type of carpet plants do you have. Carpet plants are detritus magnet, and maintainable only for small fish with low bioload. If your future stocking includes angels and higher bioload, maintaining the carpet clean is a challenge. Your future concern is not about detritus you can’t see behind the wood, but visible detritus mating the carpet.

Adding another AC500 to the other end is not the same as redirecting flow longitudinally to provide gentle even circulation. I’ve seen double AC500 for a 200 gal tank to provide vigorous filtration to tank busters. Double AC500 for an 75 is an overkill.

I dose iron, potassium, flourish and excel 2-3 times a week.

The nitrates get used up by the plants and via water changes.

I'll slow I'd down to 50% weekly and check nitrates see how it does over the next 2-3 weeks.

The carpet is pygmy chain. I try to vac inbetween the plants as well as I can every water change so twice per week. Part of me wishes I would of dirted this tank like my last planted tanks but removing plants is such a pain.