Tank equipment set-up

[deon]

Hi Bros,

I am intending to restart my 2Ft planted tank.

What would your choice of order be if I wanted to fix up a external filter(2213), UV Light, Chiller, External CO2 Reactor, and external water pump?

I am intending to do it this way (left to right):

Tank intake -> External filter -> UV Light -> External Water Pump -> Chiller -> CO2 Reactor -> Tank Out Put.

I am mostly unsure of where to put the external water pump because im not sure if different positions will affect water flow rate.

Also, what capacity of external water pump do you guys recommend? The lady at NA told me to get the 1000L one but i think it is going to be too powerful for my 2FT.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,
Deon

[blue33]

Tank intake -> Eheim 2026(or Eheim 2028 -> UV Light(not necessary) -> CO2 Reactor -> Chiller -> Tank Out Put.

[Shadow]

since you are driving chiller, CO2 reactor and UV, your 2213 flowrate will not be enough. Chiller, CO2 reactor and UV will take out some of your flowrate away.

By the way, it was not adviseable to run UV all the time. You dont even need UV if your tank is healthy.

[deon]

I thought of using the UV because my previous try ended up with a tank full of algae which was unrecoverable...

And i thought of installing the UV, then incase of a break-out i could use it and hopefully it helps..( it would be a nightmare to install the UV once the tank is running, might as well do it during set-up )


Anyone tried using external pump to power the tank? Is it okay to switch off the filter and just depend on the external pump?

[stormhawk]

You can do it this way.

Tank output 1 -> 2213 -> CO2 reactor -> back into tank
Tank output 2 -> external water pump -> chiller -> back into tank

This is to maximise your Co2 diffusion, and also allow for your tank to be chilled, without putting too much strain on your 2213. Plus since both are separate circulation systems, you can take off one without disturbing the other, during maintenance. The UV light is optional, but if you must you can attach it to the chiller's side. I know some Teco chillers have this option for a UV-C light to be added to the chiller itself. Read Teco's website for info. I am not sure for the other chiller units though.

Check the minimum flow rate required to push water through your chiller unit (the manual should state this), and you will know exactly which pump is required. A higher gph/lph rating would be required, if you are going to attach the UV unit to the chiller's circulation system though. If you are going to use an external water pump, get an Eheim unit.

[Shadow]

depend on what type of algae. UV very effective agains green water, it is less or not effective to other algae like BBA, hair algae, etc. You can always buy those hand on back filter with UV on it.

if you are using external pump, don't forget to remove the impeller from 2213. I prefered to do what stormhawk suggested though it might be too much for small tank. You end up with lots of piping.

[stormhawk]

Yup there will be too much piping for a 2 ft tank. Better to just buy another canister filter with a higher rated pump output to accommodate the higher flow rate needed for the chiller and UV filter.

[deon]

Yup, sounds like alot of piping haha...

not really willing to buy a new filter as mine is only a few months old...

think i will probably connect all in series and use a double-tap connector for easy filter cleaning...

Any one has experience using Hailea external pumps? Eheim is too expensive..

[Wackytpt]

It will cost you alot for the double taps.

For my 3ft set up.

Tank Inlet -> double tap -> Pre filter -> double tap -> Ehiem 2028 -> double tap -> chiller -> double tap - Tank Outlet.

I used a total of 4 of them.

[blue33]

Too much obstruction will reduce the flow greatly.

[deon]

yup that seems to be the case; too many things to connect..

in the end the equipment ends up occupying more space than the tank haha!

and if something breaks down... well i just hope it doesn't... or else it would probably be a huge turn off haha..