Planted tank/attached sump

[metalyx]

Hey folks, I've been lighting up these boards recently as I'm moving back into freshwater and if I'm posting to the wrong section, please let me know.

Here's my problem.

I have this 65 gallon acrylic tank that comes with a built in, 2 chamber sump system. Water flows through the overflows, typically over bio-balls, and back into returns on either side of the tank. Great for SW, working on FW. My dilemma is getting enough filtration, paired with what will be a suitable filter. I currently have a canister tied in where a return pump would go, and have been going back and forth between a carbon cartridge and the water polisher. This is a heavily planted tank, and I am dosing with ferts. I recall there being problems with carbon retaining things such as anti-biotics and other additives.

Is this the case with the fertilizer? Is there any sort of mechanical filtration, or other filtration route that I can take? Will the bioballs do any good? Attached for your consideration is the sump, empty of all but the return lines and the drip plate. Any suggestions would be very appreciated, though a 30 gallon a week water change is hardly working hard, I would like to refine the system.

Thanks and swim on!

 

[mrunlucky07]

I think there is a planted forum where you may get some more help if you post over there. I had a heavily planted 29gal that I am going to SW with, Making the opposite switch I wasn't an expert at it, but my plants did grow like crazy and take over the tank every week.

If it were mine I would probably try and place floss (poly stuffing) that you can throw away easily after the overflow if possible, for your mechinacal filter. Then the bioballs if you already have them for your bio. Carbon is not necessary for a planted tank IMO. You can run the HOT as a return or use a return pump. I would recommend plumbing the return under the surface for as little surface disturbance/O2 transfer as possible.

Few key pointers which you may already know:

You don't want much aeration. The plants need CO2. Injecting CO2 made 1000x more difference than anything else IMO. The bioballs work fine for bio, but do mix in air. if you want to try DIY CO2 you can inject it right into the intake of that mag250 canister and it will chop the bubbles like a pinwheel skimmer into microbubbles so they will diffuse in the tank, Cost next to nothing. Just yeast and sugar.

The plants take up the nutrients form fish waste, I wouldn't overdue the fertilizers or even use them at all until you see how the plants are doing.

Watch your PH from day to night, especially if you are using CO2, too much Co2 and it will crash.

If it is planted heavily and thriving it will pretty much sustain itself.