external filter for 1.5ft tank?

[Raving_KC]

I have a 1.5ft tank and am thinking of making it into a planted aquarium. Am currently using an overhead filter and 11W light(whitelight). Is it a must to purchase an external filter if i want to start a planted tank even though my tank is so small? The light i have now - issit good enough or do i need to get 'stronger' lights?

[wks]

External filter, IMO an overkill.

[sherchoo]

Hi casey,

Glad to hear that you're going into planted.

For 1.5ft you don't need an external filter. A small internal will be fine. Maybe you can consider Eden 304 which is small and good. Cost arnd $17 (I think).

I not sure abt the size of your tank in volumes, so it's quite difficult to comment whether it is sufficient or not. Also it pretty much depends on the kind of plants you're intending to grow. Some do need more light while other don't. Normally we go by a guide of 3W per gal.

[justjoin]

hi sherchoo

me is olso abt 1.5 ft.

40(L)*30(W)*54(H)cm = abt 17gal

with 36watt PL

therefore, is 2watt per gal

DIY CO2

got riccia, amazon sowrd & Dwarf Sagittaria

running by internal filter powerhead of 500Litre per hr

DO U thing that the current of 500L per hr is too strong for my planted tank?

if yes, is it advisable to use rainbar to lower it OR in yr opinion, to change a filter-pls recommend

4 ottos, 2 SAE, 1 C.tetra, 1 angel fish(small), 10 unknown species(look like longkang guppy but with luminus blue eyes-a strip on top)

thks

[Raving_KC]

Hi Sherchoo,
I'll check out that Eden filter, thanks heaps for the info.

Justjoin,
Can i just find out how you DIY your CO2?
I tried using one of those 1.25l coke bottle and attached a tube to the screw cap. Used yeast, sugar and baking soda. If I were to just leave the end of tube in the water and allow the Co2 bubble out by itself, it wouldn't be efficient, right? Moreover, I'm experiencing a backflow problem, i.e; water from the tank flowing up my CO2 tube. Did you encounter anything like dat?

[justjoin]

hi casey

i m also new in planted tank & finally i got it(DIY CO2) up & running.

same mixture here but i used a 2 litre btle(not impt of tt).

i used a check value($2, bought at C32 to prevent water fr tank flow back although nvr encounter b4.Better be same than sorry.

I leave the other end of the tube opened but it's under the internal filter. So when the CO2 bubbled, it sort of been trapped under the media(filter sponge) & shld have enough time to dissolve in water. OR either will be output thru the powerhead. How effective of tis, i m not sure but get rather good result as my riccia is pearling like nobody business,A.sword & D.saggattaris is also pearling.

some ppl would attached it to an atomiser, bell, difusser,air-stone etc to be more efficient.

[sherchoo]

This is only a guess but I think 500L/h is really too strong.

Whether the current is too strong or not can be easily judge by you. If the water is swirling around then it's way too strong. A rainbar will be a good idea. Too much water agitation will cause much co2 dissapainting to the atmosphere resulting to alot of co2 wastage.

[Raving_KC]

Justjoin,
Thanks for the info. Have got a couple more questions to ask you []
wch internal filter are you currently using? As in which brand & model?

[NinjaFly]

Err .. How about those external clip-on filters? Does they works well for 1.5ft?

[kelstorm]

Err .. How about those external clip-on filters? Does they works well for 1.5ft?
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Raph, those are called hang-on filters... basically, they will cause too much CO2 loss too..

[Raving_KC]

Thanks for all the information. There's one more thing, i have about 6 cardinal tetras,5 rummy nose 2 SAEs,1 albino cory and a few shrimps now. If i were to make my tank(1.5ft) into a planted one, will there be an overcrowding situation in the tank?

[Fei Miao]

How abt 2ft ,80 litres heavily planted tank, currently using otto brand filter, it's hiding behind driftwoods and plantes, makes cleaning difficult[:]

just got rejected regarding upgrading to 4ft tis morn, though of channeling effort to 2ft and improve to external canister[]

[sherchoo]

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On 7/18/2002 4:15:54 PM

Thanks for all the information. There's one more thing, i have about 6 cardinal tetras,5 rummy nose 2 SAEs,1 albino cory and a few shrimps now. If i were to make my tank(1.5ft) into a planted one, will there be an overcrowding situation in the tank?
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Overcrowding? Don't see how.... shud not be a problem. In fact, I would think that the tank conditions would improve.

[NinjaFly]

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Raph, those are called hang-on filters... basically, they will cause too much CO2 loss too..
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Hmm .. if that's the case, maybe it will work well for a low tech tank... with plants like nana in it....

[kelstorm]

How abt 2ft ,80 litres heavily planted tank, currently using otto brand filter, it's hiding behind driftwoods and plantes, makes cleaning difficult[:]

just got rejected regarding upgrading to 4ft tis morn, though of channeling effort to 2ft and improve to external canister[]
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Fei miao,
are u talking abt using a hang on filter for planted?? i dun recommend it.. will cause too much CO2 loss.. me was using it previously b4 changing it to 2224

[Fei Miao]

no, looking for external canister type 4 ease of maintainence...

wat's the comparasion between 2222 & 2224?