Oscar filtration/current

[Domesticsage]

Hey there,

I currently have a couple of wild Columbian Oscar babies (around 2"). I currently have a Fluval 404 but have a Rena XP4 on the way. My tank is a ~140gal 39Dx36"Wx24"H tank with silica sand for my substrate.

I have read about using powerhead to keep the poo from settling in the sand. With the rated flow rate of 450gph on the XP4 should I look at purchasing a powerhead to assist with keeping the poo from settling? If so, which of the Koralia Evolution line would be a good fit for my tank?

The tankmates with my Oscars are 5 baby Convicts, some of which will be moved to another tank when they get bigger, and in a month will be some sort of bottom dweller (still trying to figure out which to get).

 

[knifegill]

Bump!

I don't use substrate in my tank, so I don't know what powerheads would do to sand, but I suspect it's not pretty.

 

[Gobrian44]

get bichir...no need for a powerhead...prob wouldn work well wiht sand.. bare bottom with powerhead would work great

 

[PSU21Reef]

powerheads are fine with sand bottoms, just don't point them directly at the sand. I keep saltwater tanks also and they have massive amounts of flow with sand bottoms and it has never been an issue. check out any reef tank and you'll see what I mean.

Also, you spell Colombian without any u's. I lived there for a few years and it really irritates colombians when people spell it wrong.

 

[m1ste2tea]

if you are going to have 2 filters for the tank it might be a good idea to make either one or both of them with a return flared nozzle instead of a spray bar. That should create some helpful current. Also what kind of decorations do you have on the bottom of the tank. I have a few rock caves in the corners of my tank and the heavy oscar poop finds and weak points even with a good water current... It just keeps circulating until it either finds a nook or the filter inlet. I'd say if you're a perfectionist, do get a good powerhead and remove any obstructing decorations, or better yet remove everything and the sand as well.