Filtering a 55g
- Thread starter sma
- Start date
I know it's old school but still like to have an undergravel in addition to a canister. But I use a filter plate built for a tank half the size of the tank I am building. This allows for anaerobic bacteria to build up in the corners of your substrate to break down nitrate. This allows you to go a lot longer between water changes (if you have to do water changes at all). My best tank hasn't had a water change in 7 months.
jungledriver;813337; said:
Great Concept, but you might read up on Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOCs).. Although anaerobic bacteria might break down nitrates, it dosnt break down DOCs. Eventually the accumulation of DOCs can have negative effects. I tried a method similiar to yours for a planted tank, and it worked really good for about 6 months... I added 1 fish, and the entire tank broke out in 3 types of disease and it was fairly difficult to treat because of the condition the tank was in (low pH,etc)..
I know all about DOC's and VOC's, and beleive me I've had problems with both. However, with this setup, if you stir your DSB every three or four weeks you can avoid the potential time bomb that is organic compounds. Stirring your substrate allows the "organics" to be released into your water column where the canister pads will trap them. You just have to clean you canister after stirring the sand bed. DSB's can potentially turn into a disaster, but if well maintained they are beautiful things. From my expeirience anyway.
amesbien;813341; said:. I have an AC110 on it just for mechanical filtration and let me tell you, I never have floating particles of anything. Overfiltration never hurts
I Love the AC110 highly recommended..
