I don’t know how I missed this advice: that the filter for a planted tank should turn over the water volume in the tank 10 times per hour. Are you freaking kidding me? I thought I was spending a decent chunk of change buying the Eheim Classsic 2213 filter which promised about 120 gph. But for my 40 gallon aquarium, that’s more like a total tank turnover rate of a paltry 3 times per hour. This whole planted tank gig is making me crazy. I try to do my homework, but I miss these key details. Then I get hugely frustrated. Honestly. Doesn’t anybody out there have some kind of simple flow chart or decision tree to help us newbies figure this stuff out? I’d have blown the bucks on a bigger filter if I’d known. I’ve been dabbling around with this hobby for well over a year, and I’m pretty frustrated to discover I’m still on a major learning curve. Couldn’t the fish store folks be a little more helpful when they see me coming? I own the mistake but, dudes, when I ask you if the filter will work on my 40-gallon tank, you could ask me a couple questions back.
Buyer be-freakin’-ware
27 Tuesday Mar 2012
Posted My Aquarium Obsession, Random
in
Ten times and hour? I don’t think anyone has told me that either! I’m going to check again what mine does as I thought I had a super duper external Fluval to filter my 44gallons and the water quality has been good. The plants are doing very well too. I agree it is helpful if sales staff give some decent advice. I’m off to check my filter…
My tank’s water parameters are good, but I don’t have a lot of surface rippling and I’ve been concerned that the CO2 might not be getting evenly distributed through the tank, although most of the plants appear healthy at the moment.
Hi there, my filter is actually an AquaManta EFX 200 that processes all the water volume up to four times an hour. It was recommended by the shop staff, the brand is reputable and it is specifically for tanks up to 200 litre / 44 gallon. I think after a year of fishkeeping, you are doing a good job so don’t let that onebit of advice put you off! I’ve positioned the water inflow pipe horizontally a short space above the water level so there is a constant flow of bubbles. Most of the fish like to play in them so it must be good. I’m happy it and happy to hear about yours!
And what a great bristlenose!
Thank you!