Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => General Fishkeeping advice => Topic started by: Diz1 on March 06, 2015, 04:52:57 PM
-
Hi everyone,
I've been thinking about adding a second filter to my main tanK – Juwel Rio 180.
I'm thinking of the Allpond Solutions Aquarium filter 700LF all in one with UV steriliser (for tanks up to 150 litres). Or, the Allpond solutions internal 800LF (no UV steriliser, for tanks up to 150 litres).
The reason for this is to give extra filter capacity, and to have spare media for QT tanks etc. should the need arise. I don't want to overstock my tank at all, but I think that having the extra filtration will be beneficial for the fish. I don't want to go for an external filter because I'm not at all handy with that kind of thing.
My questions are:
1. Would either of these filters do the job, or are they too big?
2. Would it be beneficial to have the one with the UV steriliser?
3. Where in the tank would I position the extra filter? I have several surface-dwelling fish and don't want them blasted from one side to the other or caught in a cross current. Would it therefore be better to have the filters quite near each other rather than at opposite ends of the tank?
4. Would I be better with a smaller filter so as not to cause too much water disturbance for the fish?
Any advice welcome,
Diz
-
There is only 50 litres per hour turnover difference between the two filters so I don't think it matters which one on those grounds. Looking at their website, apart from the UV, the 800 has a spray bar while the 700 doesn't.
There can be problems with running UV if it is used all the time. It kills anything in the water than passes in front of the light, so it kills microscopic algae in the water and bugs of various types. This results in the fish having no immunity as there are no low level amounts of bugs to stimulate their immune systems. The bulb must be changed regularly as they do wear out and if left unchanged, the fish will succumb to any pathogens that get into the tank eg on plants that have been kept in a tank with fish, or with new fish.
Given the choice of those two filters, I would go with the one with the spray bar and no UV, ie the 800lf.
-
Thanks Sue,
And where would you situate it in the tank so as not to blast my surface-dwellers about, which I'm concerned might happen if the filters are at opposite ends?
-
Where I have two filters I do put them at opposite ends of the tank. This maintains the filtration rate, but the opposite flows across the surface tend to cancel each other out somewhat so there is no excessive current. It produces a range of flows within the tank and different fish choose different areas according to their personal preference. Its also good for feeding as the food tends to get distributed around the whole tank quickly letting everybody get some.
-
Brilliant Richard W, that's what I'll do then!