Filtration and airation on my 55g

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R

ride1226

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 24, 2010
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San Diego
So I have been doing a lot of research and attempting to better myself and my tank. I dont have the cash or a place of my own to have monster tanks and multiple tanks like some people do, but I do want my 55g to be as good as it can.

I currently have a air pump running hose into one of my pieces of decor that is a big plastic mangrove root (you can find them at petsmart) and the air comes out the hole at the top. Nice big bubble that break the surface of the water quite well. Thats all I have in terms of bubbles.

I also have a Fluval 305 canister filter turning the water over for me. My water always looks pretty clear, never had any haze or algae besides what comes up on the sides that I clear off with a sponge. It gets occasional sun on one side when my blinds are open so a little grows and I clean it off. I however just added a big black trashbag to the back as a black background and it actually looks really nice and saves me from tearing it down and painting the back.

Im thinking my filtration is ok, but I would like to add more just incase. One problem I do have is poo and leftovers that float on the bottom. My tank has white sand, and it looks real good clean however poo builds up pretty quick and makes it look kinda ehhhhh. I vacuum and water change once a week at about 25% each time but I can never seem to get all the crap up.

Is there anything I can do to stop the bottom buildup? And is there more filtration I could use for security? Is more air in the water necessary?

Thanks for all the help. I want my tank to be all that it can be.

Oh... PS... Freshwater, and soon to be inherited by one Abei Puffer. 55g home allll to himself and his food haha. :)
 
you could try a powerhead with an integrated airline so it shoots bubbles across the tank and gives you a water current that will break up derbies that build up on your sand

heres an example of some serious water flow not mine just thought a visual would be nice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHdkr_gfmTU
 
So I have been doing a lot of research and attempting to better myself and my tank.
Awesome.

Is there anything I can do to stop the bottom buildup?
Bury a couple powerheads to create some bottom circulation.

And is there more filtration I could use for security?
A 305 is what, 250gph? That's not bad. You could add a Magnum HOT with a Bio-wheel.

Is more air in the water necessary?
You're probably fine. If you want more get a gang-valve.
 
Is there anything I can do to stop the bottom buildup?
Yup, creating a bottom circulation that'll blow towards your canister intake will help only "reduce"...

And is there more filtration I could use for security?
5x over for 1 puffer in a 55g is pretty much all the bio filtration you'll need unless your water parameters consistently blow outta whack.

Is more air in the water necessary?
Fishes aren't stupid, not enuff O2 somewhere they'll swim at the top, so if your tank is poorly aerated then you'll see it shoot up for air, or stay at the top since puffers swim everywhere. However, the gang valve method with a solid air pump is a pretty effective method to agitate more surface area. Also, consider a bubble wand? or creating a mini spray-bar with a powerhead?
 
Id rather the poop be on the bottom then making my filters all nasty. I dont think blasting your sand with a powerhead would be too great for your filter impellers either.
What I do is get a slim hose, like air line tubing. And I suck up the poop everyday or every other and It keeps it from decaying in the tank. Plus you can target poop better than a gravel vac and you dont lose more than a gallon of water or much sand.
***If you dig a pit in the sand under the filter intake, All the waste will accumulate there.
Ohh and you have ample filtration for a 55 bro. A HOB wouldnt hurt. Theres never too much filtration.
 
I was thinking the powerhead idea to at least shoot it over in the direction of the Canister filter intake. How would you use the airline as a siphon? Something that small actually work for siphoning?

Power head with integrated airline? Links to something like this? Afraid it will just stir up the sand and blow it all over.

Like I said Im trying to do my best to better myself on this subject and give my puffer the best life he can get stuck in a tank.
 
Diameter of the syphon tube all depends on the size of poop. You dont want it to get clogged, you know what I mean. Airline will work for poop thats smaller than the hole. Put 1 end in a bucket and 1 in the tank. Suck a tiny bit on the end that is in the bucket then hold the other end with your hand and it will syphon out the poop without losing much water.
By doing this I dont have to do as many waterchanges. I still do 1 a week because I like it chrispy :D
 
I just did that for about 15 minutes spot cleaning my tank and it worked great. Takes forever on my 55 though but does work. I'm debating trying a small powerhead yo create a current on the bottom. I also checked out the magnum hot filter and it looks like a great way to Polish my water but not into it hanging up top. Maybe I can find a used micron polishing type canister to add to my tank as well. That'd make for a ton of filtration and hopefully awesome looking water.
 
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