Some obstacles with new tank

**cosmico** · 15th Feb 2013, 15:44

I started a planted tank and faced 3 problems or issues

1).fine and elongated Hair algae on my riccia.

2)slime on my driftwood and plants due to seachem prime.
Any other anti chlorine I can use?

3) tiny air bubbles all around the tank which is caused by my hang-on filter gex slim. Is there any eheim filter I can buy for my 1ft tank? Would a lily filter work ok in terms of looks with a 1 ft tank? Space issues?

Any inputs much appreciated!

**Urban Aquaria** · 15th Feb 2013, 16:30

The fine hair/thread-like algae is quite common in new tank setups, you can just manually remove them with a pair of tweezers, or once your tank is cycled, just add a crew of cherry shrimps to help clear them up.

If the slime on the driftwood and plants is soft and brownish then it might be diatoms (also common in new tank setups), it is also easily removed manually, otocinclus like to eat it and will help to clear that too (they are good fish have in a tank after its cycled).

Not sure if Prime has anything to do with the slime though... i also use Prime and don't spot any of that in my established tanks.

As for the filter, you can try topping up more water in the tank until the hang-on filter outlet slide is slightly below the water line, that will reduce the splashing and bubbles.

If you are looking at using lily pipe sets for a 1ft tank, most people usually go for the smaller 10mm lily pipes (13mm versions tend to look rather out-of-proportion in smaller tanks). An Eheim 2211 or 2213 canister filter should be more than sufficient for that tank size (just get hose adaptors for the lily pipes and single or double taps to regulate the outflow current).

For reference, you can check out my 1ft nano tank which uses 10mm lily pipes too:

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...tre-Nano-Tank!

**cosmico** · 15th Feb 2013, 17:46

Wow insightful reply. Thank you so much! Love your nano tank simple and neat! By the way those danios are fine with crs shrimps as seen in your tank, how about chili rasboras?

**cosmico** · 15th Feb 2013, 17:49

A good place to get those filter and lily pipes ?

**wongce** · 15th Feb 2013, 19:25

A lot of lfs sells lily pipes and other glass accessories...but not very cheap though...but nice to look ah...lol

**cosmico** · 15th Feb 2013, 20:03

is it ok to switch over to the new filter immediately? I have some cherry shrimps in the tank now.I do not have any aged filter media to jump start the eheim.

And also what filter media should i get for the eheim?

**sqwerc** · 15th Feb 2013, 23:59

Should be fine to change filter. Just shift the mature media in your HOF into the canister. Think running 2 filters in a small tank not such a good idea.

**Urban Aquaria** · 16th Feb 2013, 00:43

Originally Posted by cosmico

Wow insightful reply. Thank you so much! Love your nano tank simple and neat! By the way those danios are fine with crs shrimps as seen in your tank, how about chili rasboras?

Thanks!

The danios i kept in that small holding tank are max. 20-30mm size species and they don't bother the adult shrimps... some of the fully grown shrimps are even larger than those danios and bully them during feeding time!

Even small fish will occasionally snack on baby shrimplets if given the opportunity (especially those tiny transparent 1-2 week old shrimplets, only the fastest and smartest ones will survive to large enough size not to be eaten), hence the shrimp population in such tanks will not grow as fast as in "shrimp only" tanks without fishes... nowadays i keep another small tank just for shrimps only (kind of like a shrimp nursery), only when they are large enough then i transfer them back to the larger tanks.

Chili Rasboras are even smaller in size, i recently added a group of them in one of my tanks too. They look really nice when acclimatized well and displaying their bright red colors... but from my observations so far, although they are okay with adult shrimps, it seems they also snack on baby shrimplets too.

**cosmico** · 18th Feb 2013, 19:32

cherry shrimps and octos cleared up most algae and I slowly picked with tweezers and my fingers for those long hairy algae.

On the topic of changing filters....I don't think there is any way I can transfer media from current filter (Gex hangon slim filter) to the new eheim 2211.The media for the GEx are just 2 slim foamfilters.
Not so sure how I am going to go about doing this.There could be casualties.

**Urban Aquaria** · 18th Feb 2013, 20:06

Good to hear that the cleaning crews are hardworking and efficient!

Yeah, those cartridge media from hang-on filters are not really suitable to be transferred over to canister filters... i guess you could try running both filters in the tank for a few days, just adjust both their flow rates lower so that it doesn't become a washing machine.

**qngwn** · 19th Feb 2013, 00:58

The medias are of two different types and may not be sufficient even if you manage to transfer them in.
Run both filters at the same time to cultivate BB in your 2211.
Stopping your gex and running only on the new 2211 might do harm and disrupt the nitrogen cycle as there not be enough BB as compared to the Gex slim

**cosmico** · 19th Feb 2013, 21:46

I will try to run both until I feel the eheim can run on its own. By the way the media that came with the filter is it sufficient or should I add anything else? Recommendations?

**milk_vanilla** · 19th Feb 2013, 22:18

If you add more media om your eheim, you will slow down the flow rate. Make sure its enough to cover the tank size. I'm in the opposite side, trying to loosen my media less to get better rate.

**qngwn** · 19th Feb 2013, 22:20

Originally Posted by cosmico

I will try to run both until I feel the eheim can run on its own. By the way the media that came with the filter is it sufficient or should I add anything else? Recommendations?

Media that came with it is eheim substrate pro, should be more than sufficient unless you are planning to have a high bioload in your tank.

Some prefer the biohomme series, some Seachem. Many are happy with the ones provided. Personal preference I feel.

Stay with the ones provided and you can save some money.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**cosmico** · 19th Feb 2013, 22:52

Originally Posted by qngwn

Media that came with it is eheim substrate pro, should be more than sufficient unless you are planning to have a high bioload in your tank.

Some prefer the biohomme series, some Seachem. Many are happy with the ones provided. Personal preference I feel.

Stay with the ones provided and you can save some money.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is good advice that I can use thank you.

**cosmico** · 19th Feb 2013, 22:55

Originally Posted by milk_vanilla

If you add more media om your eheim, you will slow down the flow rate. Make sure its enough to cover the tank size. I'm in the opposite side, trying to loosen my media less to get better rate.

Thanks! I think I will need a slower rate for the start since I will be running 2 filters simultaneously.

**Urban Aquaria** · 20th Feb 2013, 12:55

Originally Posted by cosmico

Thanks! I think I will need a slower rate for the start since I will be running 2 filters simultaneously.

Btw, if you are planning to use a Eheim 2211, that model doesn't come with adjustable flow taps, so you should get a single or double tap for the output hose, so you can control the flow rate more accurately.

Most people just get a set of double taps for both the input and output hoses so that its easier to handle when cleaning the canister filter too.

**cosmico** · 21st Feb 2013, 04:40

Originally Posted by Urban Aquaria

Btw, if you are planning to use a Eheim 2211, that model doesn't come with adjustable flow taps, so you should get a single or double tap for the output hose, so you can control the flow rate more accurately.

Most people just get a set of double taps for both the input and output hoses so that its easier to handle when cleaning the canister filter too.

Yeah forgot about those taps. Anyway I just got back home from office trying to setup the 2211..... Disastrous! The water just refuse to pump and can only work if I place the filter below the tank level. I had to give up because it was getting too dangerous(office got too many vital equipments) with water spilling everywhere trying to make the filter to work.And also yes the power is just too strong without the taps.I just don't have space luxury to place the filter below the tank. Having the tank itself is already a gamble considering the idea of a tank might not sit well with my boss although he has not mention any displeasures,I just don't want to push my luck.For now I will just enjoy with what I have. I will keep the 2211 for future projects,if any.

Will try to post some pics of the tank when I get the chance.

**cosmico** · 21st Feb 2013, 04:41

Originally Posted by Urban Aquaria

Btw, if you are planning to use a Eheim 2211, that model doesn't come with adjustable flow taps, so you should get a single or double tap for the output hose, so you can control the flow rate more accurately.

Most people just get a set of double taps for both the input and output hoses so that its easier to handle when cleaning the canister filter too.

Yeah forgot about those taps. Anyway I just got back home from office trying to setup the 2211..... Disastrous! The water just refuse to pump and can only work if I place the filter below the tank level. I had to give up because it was getting too dangerous(office got too many vital equipments) with water spilling everywhere trying to make the filter to work.And also yes the power is just too strong without the taps.I just don't have space luxury to place the filter below the tank. Having the tank itself is already a gamble considering the idea of a tank might not sit well with my boss although he has not mention any displeasures,I just don't want to push my luck.For now I will just enjoy with what I have. I will keep the 2211 for future projects,if any.

Will try to post some pics of the tank when I get the chance.

**Urban Aquaria** · 21st Feb 2013, 10:45

Originally Posted by cosmico

Yeah forgot about those taps. Anyway I just got back home from office trying to setup the 2211..... Disastrous! The water just refuse to pump and can only work if I place the filter below the tank level. I had to give up because it was getting too dangerous(office got too many vital equipments) with water spilling everywhere trying to make the filter to work.And also yes the power is just too strong without the taps.I just don't have space luxury to place the filter below the tank. Having the tank itself is already a gamble considering the idea of a tank might not sit well with my boss although he has not mention any displeasures,I just don't want to push my luck.For now I will just enjoy with what I have. I will keep the 2211 for future projects,if any.

Will try to post some pics of the tank when I get the chance.

I see... in that case, you should get the Eden 501 canister filter instead, its more compact and is designed to be placed on the same level as the tank (and has a self-priming feature), and its the ideal size for small tanks too. I use it for my 1ft/13 litre nano tank.

Here is some info about it: http://www.edensrl.com/index.php?id=81&codice=17

Btw it doesn't come with adjustable taps too, but you can just get a 9/12 single tap and install it on the output hose to control the flow rate.

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