Advice needed on filter

[lonelobo]

Hi all

I have a 2ftx1ftx1ft tank approx 63litres. with a moss wall some forground us fissiden and windelov. There is also 9 zebra danio and 1 bristle nose pleco in the tank together with 2 big rock ornaments. Currently I am using a aquazonic internal filter with at about 600l/hour or so it says on the box. But i am seeing cloudy stuff on the surface of my water and have quite a dirty gravel bed. Therefore i am thinking about changing my filter to a ehiem canister filter. So can anybody advice me whether 2213 or 2211 is better suited for my tank? or is there any other filter to recommend? thanks

[Shadow]

2213 or 2215 or anything similar flowrate. Cloudy stuff on the surface probably surface oil/protein, you need surface skimmer or you can also add couple of guppy. For dirty gravel bed, you need to siphon it during your water change, assuming it is not algae.

[eviltrain]

2x1x1feet or 60x30x30cm is equal to 54 litres.

As mention by Shadow, 2213 or 2215 will do the job. for surface scums, add a air pump or lift the rain bar above the water surface to create agitation.

[lonelobo]

2x1x1feet or 60x30x30cm is equal to 54 litres.

As mention by Shadow, 2213 or 2215 will do the job. for surface scums, add a air pump or lift the rain bar above the water surface to create agitation.

what about the 2211? is it not suitable? the stats writes that it is suitable for tank up to a volume of 150 litres and can anybody tell me whether it is better to use canister filter or hang on filter by ehiem? If i agitate the water so much would i need to buy a co2 tank too since the co2 evaporates more quickly with surface agitation

[redsuns]

what about the 2211? is it not suitable? the stats writes that it is suitable for tank up to a volume of 150 litres and can anybody tell me whether it is better to use canister filter or hang on filter by ehiem? If i agitate the water so much would i need to buy a co2 tank too since the co2 evaporates more quickly with surface agitation

I think 2211 would be too "small" for a 2 feet, its always better to over filtrate and with bigger canister like 2213 or 2215, you can put in more media for BB to grow there as well. IMO I think canister would be better than HOF because more media can be added in, if priming is a concern for you, you can look at the ecco pro series, they comes with a self priming handle.
I cant help you on the CO2 part because I do not know much it.

[equidorz]

2215 or 2217 will be good. If you ever find the water too strong if your tank, get a double tap to control the flow as classic does not have a valve to control the flow rate. If you are doing a planted then go for something stronger. Internal filter like what you are using wont look nice in your tank and it also takes up alot of space.

[lonelobo]

I am kind of on a low budget. so am considering for 2211 seeing that it should be cheaper than the 2213. is the pricing very different? because i saw a 2213 selling at 105. and off track a little.. what kind of gravel cleaner are you guys using?

[equidorz]

2211 and 2213 price is not much of a difference. I suggest you go to lfs to check out the prices so you can do some comparison.

[redsuns]

Ya, I agree with what equidorz said, the price difference is not much, might as well get a bigger capacity. Gravel cleaner? I just use tube/hose to suck out dirt and do wc.

[lonelobo]

i do the same too but the one i am using not very efficient in getting out the dirt but very efficent in the water. a lot of water come out but the dirt not so much

[Shadow]

you need to make slight disturbance near the substrate, the dirt start to go up and you siphon it. Just make sure slight disturbance not washing machine kind of disturbance . No need to siphon until 100% no dirt, just do bit by bit every time you do weekly water change

[lonelobo]

tried that but not very effective. best way was to stick the whole thing into the gravel and it was able to suck out more dirt. but those that came up into the water could not be help till they settle down for the next water change

[redsuns]

Are you using soil? As I am keeping shrimps, I would avoid disturbance to my soil as much as possible as it would create ammonia spike which would be deadly to my shrimps. Do not know how it would affect your daino and pleco as I do not keep them but as what bro shadow mentioned, you can do it slowly, bit by bit or you can get those gravel cleaner to try? But the hand pump motion would cause quite a big stir I heard.

[lonelobo]

well im using the hand pump motion type and im not using soil its those small rocks type and traps lots of dirt underneath

[situkwokhan]

I normally stir the surface of my gravel to get the shit floating for sucking.

However most of the shit gets stuck near the rocks and the stems of the plants.

[|squee|]

I think 2211 would be too "small" for a 2 feet, its always better to over filtrate and with bigger canister like 2213 or 2215, you can put in more media for BB to grow there as well. IMO I think canister would be better than HOF because more media can be added in, if priming is a concern for you, you can look at the ecco pro series, they comes with a self priming handle.
I cant help you on the CO2 part because I do not know much it.

Reason for choosing overfiltration is because when you factor in plants and driftwood, water flow in the tank isn't so "smooth" anymore and a higher rated filter will help with water circulation in all parts of the tank