Need help on a debris problem

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erk419

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 21, 2009
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Lima, Ohio
I have a 150 gallon right now theres 1 fx5 1 55 gallon hob and a penguin 350 hob. Here in a couple weeks I'm going to be getting another fx5 and run all four until the fx5's cycle then I'll be taking the hobs off and using them else were. I've replaced the stock outtake attachment with a 3/4 inch pvc elbow which has doubled my outtake and will be doing that on my other fx5 when I get it. I'm still having a lot of trouble with debris laying on my sand. I just started feeding my clown loachs these veggie algae wafers and its making it even worse.

As soon as the filters get it all cleared up my Oscar will decide he wants to stir the sand all up again and then debris is every were again floating around. Thats one thing I can't stand is seeing debris floating in my tank.

Right now I have an adult oscar and 5 clown loachs but here soon my oscars going in a 75 by himself and the clowns will stay and I'm going to be setting up a community tank with all different kinds of fish.

Now what I'm wanting to get is a couple hydor koralias but I'm not sure what size I should get. I know my loachs and some of the fish I plan on getting would love a current to play in but I don't want so much of a current were fish can't get away from it or its just throwing them around.

So what I want is enough flow going on were debris won't have a chance to find any were on the bottom to fall and just set there. I'd like it to get blown to my filters as soon as it hits the sand or even before. I'd like a current for the fish to play in. However I don't want to go overkill to were its blowing the sand every were and blowing my fish every were of stressing them out because the whole tanks one big current.

I figure at least two would be a good idea so I can have one on each side. The two fx5's will be one on the left and one on the right. So what size and how many do you guys think would be best for me.

tank dimensions are 72 inch's long x 18 wide x 25 from top of sand to bottom of top trim.

I was thinking maybe two of these http://www.google.com/products/cata...ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CCcQ8wIwBg#ps-sellers But I don't know if that wil lbe two big or not I was also thinking aybe two 1200 gph ones but I'm pretty sure that would be two much.
Thanks
 
they got those cheap on ebay, have you ever thought of routing your outlet hoses (the ones flowing back to the tank) of the fx5 to the bottom to cause a current, and itd be free! I'm planning on trying it myself, I posted a thread and there was a person that said he did it and it worked, but that after he was lacking surface agitation, always sacrifices.
 
Thats a good idea never thought about that. The problem with that is one the fx5 I have now I've already cut the hose to fit were I have it so I would need to buy a new hose which on ebay is going for around 18 bucks. Then like you said you would lack surface agitation which is never a good thing that would mean lack of oxygen in the water and seeing how I will only be running the two fx5's I would need a hydor for the surface. If its not one thing its another lol. That would end up costing me about the same as if I just went with two hydros and prob lack a little seeing how thats what the hydors are made for and there only purpose is to move water.

So even though that was a good idea I think I'll stay with my first plan still don't know what size though I wish I could see then running in person then I would have a better idea I've never had one just penguin powerheads and wasn't to impressed with those.

Like I said I'm thinking about two 850 gph hydros but don't know if it would be to much. I pretty sure it would be more then enough just don't know if it would be to much. Hate to get them just to find out I should have went smaller. Then I would hate to to go smaller just to find out there not enough and should have went with the 850's.:wall:
 
The korallia is a decent power head, but if you pick one up go bigger than you think you need. I played it safe and regret it because the flow is a lot gentler than you'd expect. They also come with a sort of diffuser which can be used if necessary.

As for the FX5 being used to sweep the bottom, just extend the hose you've already cut with a straight section of PVC and put the elbow you're using at the bottom.
 
So do you think two 2 850's or should I go 2 1200's. Or is there another powerhead that would work better then the hydors?
 
Something I just thought of is if I got the pvc pipe like mentioned above for both filters that would take care of the bottom on both sides then I could put a hydor in the middle for that area. The only problem I see with that though is the water presure coming from the filters is pretty intense even more so seeing how it would be going only 18 inchs from front to back I think id have a problem with it blowing sand and fish around.
With just using hydors they would be running the width of the tank 6 feet. The only problem I see with that is being able to get under caves right now I have three caves basically rocks built up and a big piece of slate rock on top so even with hydors on the side water flow couldn't get under the caves.
Once I start the community tank though ill be putting driftwood in as well so I guess I could keep the caves away from the very edge.
 
Something I just thought of is if I got the pvc pipe like mentioned above for both filters that would take care of the bottom on both sides then I could put a hydor in the middle for that area. The only problem I see with that though is the water presure coming from the filters is pretty intense even more so seeing how it would be going only 18 inchs from front to back I think id have a problem with it blowing sand and fish around.
With just using hydors they would be running the width of the tank 6 feet. The only problem I see with that is being able to get under caves right now I have three caves basically rocks built up and a big piece of slate rock on top so even with hydors on the side water flow couldn't get under the caves.
Once I start the community tank though ill be putting driftwood in as well so I guess I could keep the caves away from the very edge.
 
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