SA/CA xp3 media

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

bl00

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2008
1,014
0
0
Baltimore
I'm plotting what would be the best use for an xp3 that i'll be putting on a 55 gallon SA/CA tank.

For bio media, I want to use some sort of porous stone-type material
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753906#prodTab1
This intrigues me, but I wonder if it will be any more efficient than breaking up a large chunk of lace rock and packing a basket with that.

I would also like to add something to soften the water, in hope that it will encourage my wc heros's breeding. My considerations as of now are peat moss or one of the Rena rechargable water softener pads. Thoughts? Are there any better types/brands of peat moss?

I was also thinking of having some sort of poly/fluff material to polish the water in about half of a basket if the water is looking a bit full of particulate.

Comments or experiences please?
 
biomax,polshing pads pot scrubbies, and ive only used peat moss before, never used that pads before
 
Unless you are keeping dicus or some other type of soft water species, peat moss filtration should not be nesecarry. Fill the extra space with more bio media imo.
 
Will this be the sole filter on the tank?
 
Heros, from what I've researched, do like softer water, and especially since they're wild caught, I assume they'd be happier in water that is softer than my well source.

The xp3 will be the main filter that I'll be using, though I could put a fairly large Marineland HOB or two on there as well if that would be a better option?
 
2 filters is always a better way to go. It wll increase your bio capacity while allowing different types of filtering medium. It seems you have researched the water parameters for your fish. Good luck with the breeding.
 
The XP3 is a great filter for allowing you to customize the way you set it up. I recommend the four black media pads that come with the filter in the bottom basket, but beyond that you've got two more baskets to do what you want biologically. I would, however, put something else mechanical in the top of the top basket. You don't need to buy the fine polishing material that they sell for that particular filter. You can use any bulk floss that's able to but cut for that and much cheaper.
 
I have an Xp3 and 2 fluval 204's on a 90gal with a spawning pair of Heros sp. Rotkeil's in it. i use all bio-max in all 3 filters. anything else besides a bio-media is a waste of space in a canister IMO. im also on well water with a PH of 7.6 and its hard. I say spawning, because right now they have a large amount of free swimming fry in the tank with them that were born a week ago.

mine are not wild caught that i know of. but if yours are doing fine in the water you have now, then dont bother trying to change it.

For decor in my tank, i just used a couple flower pots and some fine grade sand. i tryed them in bare bottom, but it didnt work out. I just conditioned them on lots of frozen blood worm, frozen brine shrimp and hikari pellets. a huge water change seams to trigger mine. a temp of 28-30c also seams to work.

mine layed eggs in a seperate 90gal one week, the fry became fry swimming, but the fry were eatin by some corydoras. so i moved the severums to their own 90 gal and within 2 days, they layed eggs again, which brings me to the free swimming fry i have now. there was only 9 days in between the eggs being layed!

so i good diet, constant water quality,water changes and a high temp worked for me. the sand also seams to get them to dig and get them into the mood. Im using a white sand which makes them appear washed out, but they still seam to like it.
 
In my XP3 on a CA/SA tank, I run 4 sponges in the bottom, the middle tray is filled with efisubstrat pro, and carbon/polishing pad in the top tray.
 
SyncereOne;2452292; said:
In my XP3 on a CA/SA tank, I run 4 sponges in the bottom, the middle tray is filled with efisubstrat pro, and carbon/polishing pad in the top tray.
Click to expand...

I run mine the same way, except I use ceramic cylinders instead of efisubstrat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom