how do I keep poo off the bottom of my large tank

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rcflyer1976

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 19, 2011
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Northern california
misc_012.jpgSo I got my 530gl tank up and running. It is 8x3x3. I have 2 fx-5's and one e-bay special sunsun good for a 200gl tank. I also have 2 powerheads 1300HPG on each side of tank. I have to vacuum the bottom every 2 days and still looks bad I have around 13 cichlids various sizes. Jardini arowana, large clown knife, pair of jagure cichlids, large green terror, 2 large plecostomus. How can I make it so I dont have to vacuume every day. do I have to lose the drift wood and make it a bare tank. I cant stand that look. Please help

misc_012.jpg
 
Get fish that poop less? ;)

Seriously, you've got some big fish, kind of just comes with the territory once they're that large. You can try to blow it in your filter intakes, but with fish that large you would have to clean your filter media A LOT.
 
Also, you're pretty underfiltered IMO. I would just install a sump on a tank that big. I wouldn't even run 300 gallons on what you've got running on your 530.
 
Nice tank, except for the air stones they look cheap. if worried about oxygenation. Point the fx5 outlets towards the surface as to cause surface agitation, plenty of oxygen then.

Yes like others have said your under filtered for tank size and stocking density.
A few points that may help
1. An under tank sump will help but your restricted to overflow box design which draws water from the surface because the tank is already up and running.
2. You could do an above the tank sump / trickle filter where water is pumped up above the tank, then gravity feed down over media. Pump sits on bottom inside of the tank helps to pick up waste.
3. Another 2 x fx5
4. Your inlets for your fx5 would be best served if they were placed at the very bottom of the tank in the back corners. This is easy to do with the fx5 since it has 1" inlets and outlets. Replace the the standard hoses with 1'" hose plumbing with various 90 degree fittings and a couple of 1" bulkhead strainers at the end. This will be more effective than picking up waste half way up where it is now.

This will also increase maintenance on your fx5's. I hope your using pre filtration before the media. The more filters you add the longer in between maintenance periods.
 
Thanks guys, man two more fx-5s ? I have the pickups in the corners with them almost to the bottom. the poo just cant find them. I cant seem to get my tabj with no dead spots. the above the tank filter is out of the question needs to be quiet the wife hates a loud tank as it is the filters are behind a wall. the airstones are there for the wife she loves the bubble look. she also has all the cichlids. So the fx-5 says good for 400gl tank so I have filtering for 1000gl tank. guess you cant go by manufacture specs. The tank stays clear and water always tests good. test every 3 days. Man my power bill on 4 fx-5 might be a little high
 
were are the filters..i dont see them...if better if you put it under the tank....i think you can try modify the inlets and outlets of ur filters i did that with my sunsun and i have a 180..and it works pretty fine...try to make a cascade with some filtration media..in my opinion not all canister filter capture all the particles and dirt from the tank..my cascade capture alot of things that my canister dont do....
 
the two plecos are probably causing most of the seen poop and i agree that your tank is underfiltered. i have two cans and two hobs on a 30 gal dwarf tank so more is always better. nice tank though! powerheads and gravelvacs are my problem solver of choice
 
That picture was when it was first set up and the second fx5 was not on yet. The two pickups are at the corners of the tank in the back and the outlets are in the center back blowing to front and each side. have two powerheads on each side bowing in a circle so the one on the right is blowing to left and in the back and the one on the left is up front blowing right. the poo travels for a while the drops. The cichlids seem to always have some poo on its way out. I feed them 2 times a day and my wife im sure sneeks them some treats when I am not there. so I should find a new home for the placos. I hope the jardini will eat a few small cichlids. My fx-5 are behind the tank, so half the canister is below the bottom and half above. should I make a new pickup with pvc with a larger intake area? I dont think more fx-5s are an option. So if the fx-5 says it will handle a 400gl tank then that means 200gl? I though these were the king of filters? Thanks guys for you info

Why cant any one breed something and make a crayfish or crab that likes to eat poop.
 
modify the fx5 outlet to sweep a current at the bottom so that all settled debris is kicked up for the filters.

also, plecos are infamous crap machines

oh, dont waste your money buying more fx5s, get a sump....
 
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