Dead spot in tank

[kurty]

While my new 2ft tank is still cycling...

I kinda realized that there could be a possibility of dead spot on the tank..
Unlike my 1.5ft that uses the same filter model.

I'm using a hob, that run around 540/hr.
Was thinking of getting a wave maker to circulate the flow.

Im into planted Hence can't be that strong..

I saw the sun sun wave maker that runs 3w, is already generating like 2500/hr..
Kinda overkill for me..

Nope, I can't run a canister due to space constraint.. very unsightly too..

Any advice?
Thanks in advance

[Urban Aquaria]

There is another option you could consider... surface skimmer.

Just get a Eheim Skim 350 (300 l/ph) or the Ocean Free Surf Clear (200 l/ph), position it with the bottom outflow port pointing towards the dead-spot, it'll create circulation in that area + you get surface skimming function, 2 benefits in one.

[mUAr_cHEe]

I agree with our idol.

I was going to suggest one of those tiny powerheads and using your hardscape to deflect the flow if necessary.

But the surface skimmer one is a much better idea. I am using that method for my current tank. The only problem I had was hiding it behind my hardscape.

[Gavan]

totally had the same idea too! most powerheads would give you more power than you need if all you want is to eliminate dead spot. surface skimmer helps you knock water out of that dead spot just enough so it gets into your "main current". even better, it's a gentle, diffused flow (OF and Eheim at least). that's how I see it. only thing is, whether your tank (or, your dead spot) is too deep in and can't be circulated by these nano skimmers.

[kurty]

thanks guys..

Attachment 45389

this is the tank i'm talking about.

The HOB is doing 540/hr, position in the centre while c02 diffuser is under the flow.
I guess the flow is not doing well or HOB is still too little for the tank..
flow goes not goes to the side of the tank.
Tank is around 64L.

if i were to use the surface skimmer, how should i position it?
Then i would need 2 surface skimmer?? 1 at each side..

[mUAr_cHEe]

I would shift your HOB filter to the left and put one surface skimmer on the right.

[Shadow]

I would replace the HOB with canister filter. If you are insist of using HOB, top up your water until almost to brim to prevent CO2 lost due to the waterfall effect.

[kurty]

I would shift your HOB filter to the left and put one surface skimmer on the right.

why do you say that?
what about the diffuser?

I'm kinda confused.. a powerhead doesn't work? the HOB and diffuser can still remain in centre, while 1 powerhead at the right side.

[kurty]

I would replace the HOB with canister filter. If you are insist of using HOB, top up your water until almost to brim to prevent CO2 lost due to the waterfall effect.

thanks.. but really no room for canister filter..
ok, will do that today.

Tank still cycling, hence save water

[Mystikboy]

why do you say that?
what about the diffuser?

I'm kinda confused.. a powerhead doesn't work? the HOB and diffuser can still remain in centre, while 1 powerhead at the right side.

You see, if you put the HOB in the center, the current goes from back to front and the sides have little to no current. If you position the HOB at the sides (left or right), then the current can travel the length of the aquarium and better circulate the water. Muar Chee suggested complementing the HOB at one end with a skimmer on the other to better augment the flow.

[mUAr_cHEe]

why do you say that?
what about the diffuser?

I'm kinda confused.. a powerhead doesn't work? the HOB and diffuser can still remain in centre, while 1 powerhead at the right side.

I did not notice a diffuser in your picture. Is it currently behind under your 'waterfall'?

A powerhead would work but its flow will be harsher compared to a surface skimmer. That might disturb your substrate if handled wrongly. Maybe do the same as I suggest then put the diffuser under the powerhead/surface skimmer on the right. If done that way, your inlet is at one end of your tank and the diffuser is on the other side, thus spreading the CO2 distribution.

[mUAr_cHEe]

Something like this.

[kurty]

I did not notice a diffuser in your picture. Is it currently behind under your 'waterfall'?

A powerhead would work but its flow will be harsher compared to a surface skimmer. That might disturb your substrate if handled wrongly. Maybe do the same as I suggest then put the diffuser under the powerhead/surface skimmer on the right. If done that way, your inlet is at one end of your tank and the diffuser is on the other side, thus spreading the CO2 distribution.

yeah, the diffuser is hidden behind the rocks..

Something like this.

wow.. muar chee..
although i seldom eat you.. nor i like to eat you due to extremely starchy and difficult to chew..

I promise, i vow..
each time, i see you.. i will think of this picture that you done for me.

Appreciate. I'm curious again.
with your layout like that, will flow be improved or dead spot eliminated?

why the diffuser under the skimmer and not the HOB?

Just like our Idol aka plant fairy aka UA mentioned, a OF 200L/hr is suffice.
or should i go a little more?
since HOB only 540.

surface skimmer actually looks much nicer and sightly compare to the powerhead.

Muar chee for the day!

[vipered]

Interesting thread, I was thinking about the same thing of using powerhead in the middle or the side. I am also using HOB on my 2ft tank with poor circulation at the sides. Do update us if you made any changes.

[mUAr_cHEe]

Its a simple sketch, cropping and uploading on my iPad Mini with Retina Display. All done in less than 5 minutes.

Your scape is quite clean and yes, I believe there should be almost no dead spots in your tank.

The thing about the diffuser is that you want it to be placed as far away from the filter inlet as you can. This will maximize your dispersion and also efficiency of the diffusion. The inlet for the skimmer is from the water surface and the outlet is under the skimmer, so the placement of the diffuser under the skimmer will gently push the CO2 bubbles into your tank's circulation. The inlet for your HOB is also at the other extreme end and this should help in the better circulation of your tank.

Pls remember that yours is a planted tank, although some form of water circulation is needed but you do not want too much flow as to sway your plants or stirring your substrate. I would think you will want everything in your tank as still as possible. That would be how I want my tank to be. The surface skimmer should provide a gentle flow to just ever sway your hairgrass so lightly. I can imagine that would be quite mesmerizing and hypnotic.

From my point of view, the flow of your HOB Filter of 540l/hour and the surface skimmer flow rate is not connected. Your HOB filter rate is more about filtration efficiency and the surface skimmer/powerhead would be more of to provide water flow.


Anyway, another of my suggestion since I also started with a 'table-top-only-and-nothing-on-the-floor-or-else-you-die' tank and also if you do have the budget to expand, you can perhaps consider getting a powerhead to CO2 reactor to lily pipe setup. What this does is that you will have a bubble-less tank which enables your tank to be clearer for you to enjoy. I have not really researched or worked on this before for a non tank set up but you can consider exploring it.

[Urban Aquaria]

I was also going to suggest putting the hang-on filter on the left or right wall of the tank so that the flow can travel across the length of the tank, as Mystikboy mentioned, but i noticed the light stand would be in the way so thats not possible, hence the hang-on filter would still have to be placed on the back wall.

Another idea could be to use hang-on filters that have an outflow pipe thats can be angled to direct flow... something like the TOTTO hang-on filters:



Photo from google images.

Essentially you can mount it on the back wall of the tank, and then turn the outflow pipe to push the flow at an angle length-wise across the tank.

Another alternative is the Top Aqua hang-on external filter (i've this particular new model being stocked at a few LFS recently):

[atolylica]

Just to add on - I just got a Top-Aqua hang on filter above, because I didn't like how my HOF is disturbing the water surface of my planted tank. My HOF also seems to push water downwards rather than across.

After exchanging my 1st faulty (leaking if I tilted it, and burped out bubbles every 3 mins) unit with a new set yesterday, I'm quite pleased with it. It has a control valve for inlet and outlet to adjust the max Flowrate of 500l/hr.

Was considering the Totto filter, but the price set me off since this Top-Aqua external filter costs me 35% of what a Totto filter will costs.

[Urban Aquaria]

Yeah, i was quite tempted to get and try out the Top-Aqua filter when i spotted it too.

I had good experience with the older Up-Aqua External 120 version, so figured this new design would work well too (seems Up Aqua, Easy Aqua, Top Aqua are all the same equipment, just different branding and color).

Btw, for anyone keen on them... here are the casing colors of the other 2 brands:

[kurty]

Its a simple sketch, cropping and uploading on my iPad Mini with Retina Display. All done in less than 5 minutes.

Your scape is quite clean and yes, I believe there should be almost no dead spots in your tank.

The thing about the diffuser is that you want it to be placed as far away from the filter inlet as you can. This will maximize your dispersion and also efficiency of the diffusion. The inlet for the skimmer is from the water surface and the outlet is under the skimmer, so the placement of the diffuser under the skimmer will gently push the CO2 bubbles into your tank's circulation. The inlet for your HOB is also at the other extreme end and this should help in the better circulation of your tank.

Pls remember that yours is a planted tank, although some form of water circulation is needed but you do not want too much flow as to sway your plants or stirring your substrate. I would think you will want everything in your tank as still as possible. That would be how I want my tank to be. The surface skimmer should provide a gentle flow to just ever sway your hairgrass so lightly. I can imagine that would be quite mesmerizing and hypnotic.

From my point of view, the flow of your HOB Filter of 540l/hour and the surface skimmer flow rate is not connected. Your HOB filter rate is more about filtration efficiency and the surface skimmer/powerhead would be more of to provide water flow.


Anyway, another of my suggestion since I also started with a 'table-top-only-and-nothing-on-the-floor-or-else-you-die' tank and also if you do have the budget to expand, you can perhaps consider getting a powerhead to CO2 reactor to lily pipe setup. What this does is that you will have a bubble-less tank which enables your tank to be clearer for you to enjoy. I have not really researched or worked on this before for a non tank set up but you can consider exploring it.

ok, i think i got your point.
as for the latter, don't get you. I'm a newbie
come, lets go shopping together. I buy you muar chee and 100+.
as this is the finale, i hope to do it well yet not taking too much of a space..
less electronic device is better as the tank just sit beside my TV and soundbar..

I was also going to suggest putting the hang-on filter on the left or right wall of the tank so that the flow can travel across the length of the tank, as Mystikboy mentioned, but i noticed the light stand would be in the way so thats not possible, hence the hang-on filter would still have to be placed on the back wall.

Another idea could be to use hang-on filters that have an outflow pipe thats can be angled to direct flow... something like the TOTTO hang-on filters:



Photo from google images.

Essentially you can mount it on the back wall of the tank, and then turn the outflow pipe to push the flow at an angle length-wise across the tank.

Another alternative is the Top Aqua hang-on external filter (i've this particular new model being stocked at a few LFS recently):

wow.. the latter filter is so so cool, remind me of transformer..
why i sense you guys trying to poison me..
maybe i too sensative? :P

the light, is temporaliy, once my light is here, i will sell it off..
overkill for me, i reckon my bill will goes up this month..

Just to add on - I just got a Top-Aqua hang on filter above, because I didn't like how my HOF is disturbing the water surface of my planted tank. My HOF also seems to push water downwards rather than across.

After exchanging my 1st faulty (leaking if I tilted it, and burped out bubbles every 3 mins) unit with a new set yesterday, I'm quite pleased with it. It has a control valve for inlet and outlet to adjust the max Flowrate of 500l/hr.

Was considering the Totto filter, but the price set me off since this Top-Aqua external filter costs me 35% of what a Totto filter will costs.

i guess the verdict is Ocean free surface skimmer VS Top-aqua external filter..
How much is top-aqua external filter?

If i not wrong, our plant fairy aka UA mentioned OF is around $30+?

so just add on such external filter with adjustable flow, will it eliminate the dead spot issues?

[Urban Aquaria]

i guess the verdict is Ocean free surface skimmer VS Top-aqua external filter..
How much is top-aqua external filter?

If i not wrong, our plant fairy aka UA mentioned OF is around $30+?

so just add on such external filter with adjustable flow, will it eliminate the dead spot issues?

If i remember correctly, when i checked with one of the LFS they mentioned the Top-Aqua filter was selling at around S$70-$80. I guess if you do get it, it'll be to replace your current filter or to be used alongside with it to improve filtration capacity and circulation. The Top-Aqua filter also comes with a surface skimmer at the intake pipe, so it does the skimming job too.

The adjustable outflow pipes on such filters will definitely give you much more flexibility to direct the flow and create a better circulation pattern around the tank, it'll be almost the same as using a set of outflow pipes from a canister filter.