Re: External filter and lights

[gregorsamsa]

Hey guys,

I am more or less decided on getting a 4x1.5x1.5tank and placing it on my old console, which is close to 6 feet long, non-purpose built.

My questions are,

1. I should get an Ehiem 2217 since the flowrate is about 3-4 times of the tank capacity?

2. Lighting wise, nothing fancy in the foreground, but I would want stemmed plants. I'm guessing 2x54watts T5HO, and one 36 FL for light coverage in the front. Yes/no?

3. Considering that there is an excess of 1ft on the sides, has any one place their cannister filters at the same level as their tank? is it advisable?

TIA

[Shadow]

IMO,
1. For planted tank, I would get something around 6-8 times tank volume. You need good flow to deliver nutrient to your plants and avoid any dead spot that will attract algae. You can either get 2 x 2217 or 2217 + wavemaker.

2. Are you planning to inject CO2?

3. No idea never try putting filter beside my tank

[gregorsamsa]

Yes. I intend to get CO2 injected to the tank. For the moment, I am eyeing on just one 2217 and another power head for the circulation. Have you a 4 fter? 2 x 2217 seems over kill

[Shadow]

Not really, It all depend on your scape, if your scape have lots of wood and tall plants that will obstruct the water flow then you will need more filter flow. Also sometime you might want to add chiller along the way.

[BFG]

To have an extra filtration is better than having to rely on just 1 canister filter. Better to clean just 1 canister at a time and let the bacteria population in the cleaned canister built up the population while the 2nd canister picked up the slack due to the 1st canister filter being cleaned.