Hi,
I am wondering if there is a need to have both a Prefilter and Filter with Eheim Mech Pro running under the same tank?
Currently my 2ft tank is configured with APA Prefilter, connects to Eheim 2213 of Substrate Pro.
Tank --> Prefilter --> 2213 --> Back to Tank
Is it necessary to add in another canister filter with MechPro running under the same tank?
Regards,
Alvin
If you have a pre-filter, then its not necessary to use the Eheim Mech Pro (which is designed as a form of mechanical filtration media to trap larger debris) since your pre-filter will already be doing that job.
In this case, it would be a better idea to fill the space with more bio-media instead, create more areas for beneficial bacteria to grow and helps keep the tank conditions more stable.
Hi Urban Aquaria,
Thank you for letting me know! =)
So cultivating BB is more important than keeping the water's purity.
I may be wrong, but isn't 2213 a bit small for a 2ft tank with a prefilter?
Initially i thought so too. My 2ft holds about 100L of water.
2213 is at 400L/Hr. So its still alright?
The APA PF is 1L, same hose size as 2213.
Well, both are important... but if your meaning of water purity is based on seeing less suspended particles and debris in the tank, then your pre-filter already does that job by trapping debris from large to small with its series of pre-filter sponges, so the Mech Pro is made quite redundant when placed after that, since it only traps large debris and there is nothing else for it to trap anyways.Originally Posted by paladin
Btw, also agree with siatc's post, a Eheim 2213 with pre-filter might have its flow reduced abit too much to properly circulate a 2ft tank, though i guess it also depends on your plant and hardscape layout.
It depends on your layout, but for most planted tank owners with 2ft tanks, they usually look to have around 10x flow rate vs volume... which is a common guideline to enable sufficient circulation to get nutrients and Co2 to all the plants, especially if the tank is heavily planted with lots of hardscape.
Your 2213 at 400 l/ph works out to 4x flow rate vs the tank volume, and that's before the pre-filter is factored in, so the flow rate will likely be even slower.
I guess if you have a bare tank or a very open layout with just a flat terrain of low carpet plants and no hardscape to obstruct flow, it could still be okay... though there could still be a higher chances of issues popping up due to low circulation and dead spots (ie. concentrated areas of algae growth or perhaps poorer plant growth at certain places).
Hi Urban Aquaria,
Thank you for the detailed insights!
Looks like i've got to get a more powerful canister filter... but 10x flow rate vs tank volume kinda looks like overkill to me.
Not sure if those 750L/hr will do fine? Eg. Eheim Ecco Pro 300?
Yeah, 10x flow rate is indeed quite high if used in a sparsely planted or bare tank, the fishes and shrimps would tend to be washed around, since there are less areas for them to rest from the flow... so usually for those type of tanks, owners will reduce the flow accordingly.
But in a planted tank, especially in a tank with high plant density and mass, the flow will need to push through lots of plants so the higher flow rate will ensure sufficient circulation around all the plants.
Note that even with 10x flow rate or more, due to certain layouts and hardscape arrangements, many people can still encounter issues with dead spots and areas and insufficient circulation, which result in poor plant growth and algae issues. So its always best to scape a tank with overall flow and circulation in mind too.
I'd consider the Eheim Ecco Pro 300 at 750 l/ph ideal for a planted 2ft tank, i actually use that canister filter model for my 2ft planted setup too.
For reference, here is a link to my journal thread to get an idea of the planting density in that tank: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...320#post752320
For planted tank, Get something that will suffice with 10x rule and have flow control. So you could adjust the flow, when your plants getting dense and wilder.
Other items that you add along the line of the filter like:
Prefilter
CO2 Reactor
Chiller
Sharp angle joints
Hose size adaptors
etc.
Reduces the overall flow rate by certain percentages.
Not forgetting that increase in length of the hose, as well as media also lowers the flow rate.
Over time, as your sponges get clogged, the filter will have a hard time pushing the water through it, resulting a drop in flow rate with use of the filter.
As a safe guideline, people get a 10x flow rate vs volume to have more for buffer, but after setting everything up, flow rate might be 5 to 7x of the stated flow rate of the filter due to the losses.
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Thank you guys for replying!
So its better to overkill it, then slowly reduce the flow?
My tank is only using a PF and canister with Substrate Pro, with a long self-made rainbar. No CO2 involved.
But my limitation now is that the canister needed to be placed in a cabinet of height lesser than 38cm. Ecco Pro 300 is about 41cm in height. So i got to find a canister that got high flow rate but is able to fit in my cabinet. ...
Yeah, its better to start with higher flow rate filters and then have the option of adjusting it lower if required... rather than getting stuck with a lower flow rate filter and not being able to increase the flow.
With the height limitation in your cabinet, maybe you can consider the Ecco Pro 200? Its around 35cm tall so should be able to fit. The flow rate is abit less at 600 l/ph, but its still a good amount of flow for a 2ft tank.
The other alternative is to use 2 smaller canister filters in the same tank, instead of one big one. For example, maybe 2 x Ecco Pro 130 or 2 x Classic 2213, both models will also fit easily into that cabinet space. The advantage of using 2 smaller canister filters is you can strategically position their inflow and outflow pipes separately to cover various areas of the tank, which is useful to cover dead spots more effectively and achieve more complete circulation.
how about connecting a pump inline? It should be able to boost up the flowrate. Or how about eheim 2215? 37cm, 1 cm less than your cabinet
Connecting the pump inline will not be able to increase flow rate, but will increase max head instead. To increase flow rate, you need to connect the pumps in parallel instead of series (inline).
2215 is sufficient if able to fit the sizing. However as for Eheim Classics, the outflow comes out of the top and thus will need a bit more height for the hoses to connect to the canister properly.
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I did it once before. I connect an external pump in series to an eheim canister, and I notice the flowrate increase
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