danfishy84 Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 I am trying to cut down on some maintenance in a display tank, any help would be great guys/gals! Size: 5x2x2 Substrate: Gravel Filter: FX6 Fish: Malawi Cichlids Decor: Texas Holy Rock What I wanted to do is keep particles from settling on the bottom and push it towards the intake. A UGJ setup would work but I don't really want something they can dig up. I was thinking of putting in a circulator or wave maker. Should I use a powerful wave maker, to get around having multiple circulator's as would be required with all the holy rock? Any suggestions on LPH considering my tank size and decor? How much flow is too much flow for the fish? [MENTION=1338]The Tech Den[/MENTION] I have been looking into your Tunze range. If anyone is using a similar set-up, let us know the specifics and a recommendation of Less/More flow etc. thanks, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tech Den Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Hi Dan, The Tunze are great and have been using them for years myself and a great way of getting the extra circulation with the nanostreams and the E-Jets would also do a good job. Another one worth looking at would be the Aquael 10,000lph if you wanted a unit to have lots of flow. The reason I mention the Aquael is that it has a controller so you can adjust the flow as well. I have found it handy using air bars as well to help with the circulation and gives a nice effect in tanks but you do not want it too close to the intake of the FX6. Aquael Reef Circulator 10,000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted September 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Yes value for money says the Aquael. An adjustable 10,000lph would be great and should cover all flow requirements. But would a wave maker not stir the bottom a lot more if you set the timing well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tech Den Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 The units that I have mentioned are not pulse units they are continuous flow devices. They will stir up the bottom if you want them to or alternatively you should be able to position them in a spot and control the flow to avoid the stirring if you wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted September 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Yes I understood the aquael is not a pulse unit, I was suggesting a pulse unit would stir better? But if the aquael is capable of slight stirring it might be the unit of choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted September 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 [MENTION=1338]The Tech Den[/MENTION] You should see my order in the morning. You do know I pay you more weekly than the landlord Thanks for the help! cheers, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquaholic99 Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Each person has their own set of values when it comes to filtration. I prefer to siphon the gravel clean as I water change and try to keep my canisters as clean as possible. Mine only get cleaned when flow rate slows which can be once every 2 years or more. Others prefer to physically stir up the gravel a few hours before they have to clean their canisters. If your objective is to keep your gravel from catching dirt then I would use reverse undergravel filtration. Pump water up through the gravel. You will still get good biological filtration this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 I have the aquael 10,000 lph wavemaker on my display, and I like it a lot. But if I had the option of having a tunze instead........ then thats a more solid choice. The aquaels lph control is new tech, and just not as reliable as the tunze alternative. But then again, nothing is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Your right [MENTION=470]aquaholic99[/MENTION] , everyone's maintenance is different. I clean my FX6 every 3 months and have yet to experience any flow issues. As to the reason why I don't just clean it out with the water change, it's because of my brilliant idea to put down white aquarium gravel. It really shows up nls poop and I get all twitchy when I see it fouled. Undergravel may well be a good idea, but I'm going to have to give the aquael a go seeing as I bought it lol. [MENTION=9246]Donny@ageofaquariums[/MENTION] does the aquael do you any favours re: substrate cleaning, and do your fish mind the current? What size tank have you got this beast in? thanks for the input aquaholic/Donny Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 My tank is an 8X2.5x2.5 I currently have ~3 of the fx5 filters on it. ~1 of the aquael 10,000lph circulators ~1 old dodgy 5,000lph wave maker. I have no ornaments really in that tank. Just white sand and yea it stays very clean. Clean the 3 canisters every 6 months or so. Its all about making complex water movement using multiple sources. You want to carry debris towards filter intakes. Takes a while to really get your filters in the right spots, and outputs angled to help each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smicko Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 My tank is an 8X2.5x2.5I currently have ~3 of the fx5 filters on it. ~1 of the aquael 10,000lph circulators ~1 old dodgy 5,000lph wave maker. I have no ornaments really in that tank. Just white sand and yea it stays very clean. Clean the 3 canisters every 6 months or so. Its all about making complex water movement using multiple sources. You want to carry debris towards filter intakes. Takes a while to really get your filters in the right spots, and outputs angled to help each other. Overkill much lol. I would have thought that one fx5 would do the job. Cheers mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Thanks Donny, The way I figure it, the added circulation certainly will help and hey if it doesn't help enough....add more in different spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Overkill much lol. I would have thought that one fx5 would do the job.Cheers mick It does........ if I want to clean it every 2 months........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Received the Aquael today, the flow is awesome. My tangerine peacock is hogging all the fun trying to race against the current. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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