Need help with water circulation in a 150 gallon

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erk419

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 21, 2009
1,133
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Lima, Ohio
Objective:
I want to no dead spots for debris to just set on the bottom and I want a current available for fish to swim/play in if they want but also not to much for the ones who don't like it.

Background:
I have a 150 gallon tank that I've had now for over a month. Two days ago I got my first fluval fx5 and stuck it on there. I have that one on the right side and a pengiun 350 hob on the left. In a week or two ill be ordering another fluval fx5 and be sticking that were the 350 is and running all three tell the two canisters cycle then Ill be taking the hob off and using it else were. Right now I have 1 adult oscar and 5 rather small clown loachs. I will be moving the oscar to a 75 by himself and leaving the clowns in the 150 and setting up a community tank. I'm not sure of the final stock list yet but I haver some in mind some will like a current and some won't. I don't plain on anthing super small like neon tetras but most still will be rather small and there will be a lot of different kinds. I have playsand as a substrate and my decor will be driftwood and rocks with plants attached to them. Tank dimensions are 72 inchs long x 18 wide x 25 height

Problem:
Now my problem is pretty much the whole bottom of the tank is one big deadspot debris just sets down there waiting on the weekly water change. When one of my fish swims by low over the sand it kicks debris up from the sand it starts to float around. Just when the filters almost get it all cleared up here comes another clown zipping by. Now I've used powerheads before the pengiun brand and really didn't like them and I had two and neither lasted that long. What I've been thinking about getting is a hydro koralia. I was looking at the series 4 1200 gph and the series 3 850 gph. Now the main problem I'm having is deciding on what size and how many I would need to get the results I want. Like I said I want a current for the fish to swim in. But I don't want my whole tank a current. I don't want any dead spots that will allow debris to just set there I want it to get directed to the the filters so it can get taking out. But I don't want to much to were its blowing sand everywere.

What do you guys suggest how many and what size? Or if you guys can think of a better solution id love to hear it.

Thanks
 
if your using the stock output on the fx5 get rid of it and replace it with a 3/4 inch PVC elbow piece. that will double the flow on the fx5. the stock output is a piece of junk. That should help alot with the cirtculation. The elbow piece costs 25 cents at home depot.
 
no, you need a 1" hose barb x slip elbow.
 
Thanks a lot for the help and picture so all I need is 1 inch hose barb x slip elbow. Then I just take the outlet attachment off and shove that in the rubber boot on the hose and 1 inch is the right size not 3/4 right?
 
the 3/4 inch elbow will work and so will the barb it doesnt matter. They will both double the output of the fx5. I put the elbow on my fx5 and it works great. take your pick. lol. you will notice a huge increase in flow with which ever option you choose.
Hope this helps.
 
Yeah that helps a lot I'm going to stop and pick two up on the way home from work here in about an hour getting two so when my 2nd fx5 gets here ill have the piece. Only question I still have is should I get 1 inch or 3/4
 
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