Sump filter in a planted tank?

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L

Liquidplants

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 15, 2010
312
0
0
Long Island
Hello MFK

Right now I run a 30G planted with discus and injected Co2. My question is with my filter. I built a DIY - Mechanical <> bio-ball drip <> Peat Moss - sump filter.

filter%20sketch.jpg


I stepped up my Co2 injection to around 3-4 Bpm the past week and my fish are looking fine but my drop checker hasn't moved from dark green. I realize that once the water leaves my tank most of the Co2 off-gasses because of all the aeration in my filter, so I have my flow cranked real low.

Any recommendations for a sump filter in a planted tank setting?

:help2: ~LiquiD~
 
Oh I mistyped it's Bps, i diffuse with a power heads impeller.
 
Liquidplants;4727152; said:
Oh I mistyped it's Bps, i diffuse with a power heads impeller.
Click to expand...

are you doing the needle wheel modification? is the power head in the tank or in the sump?


A sump will oxygenate the water more and diffuse more co2 so to counter this you just have to increase the co2 rate a bit more. In your drop checker are you using 4dkh solution?
 
63842373.png
 
@ ROCKHOE14ER - I'm not sure what "needle wheel modification" is, so..... maybe =]

The power-head is in the tank and shoots the Co2 water down and all around the tank.

Yes i bought a 4dkh solution off E-Bay a while back. Does it go bad?

@ SPIRITOFTHESOUL - I thought Bio-Balls only work if they are exposed to air, like a bio-wheel. in your design they are submerged.

Yes I'm using an air-stone under the bio-ball tower.
 
I would get rid of that airstone that's going to cause a lot of co2 to be lost from the system. You don't need it. If you have a sump you will never need an airpump.
 
The only way you can avoid gassing off is to completely seal the sump, make sure it's air-tight. That, or you can use ceramic media and get rid of all the drip trays. The water dripping is what's gassing off your co2. Look how I set up my sump (link in sig).

However, if you're running 3-4bps with a sump and have dark green color, that is pretty good I'd say. Most people run way more than 3-4bps.

And TURN OFF that air stone!
 
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