filter selection ofor planted tank

ericbullock · Post by **ericbullock** » Wed May 19, 2004 9:58 am

I am slowly gathering all the required elements (substrate
heating cables, CO2 system) for a new planted tank. This will
be my first freshwater planted tank after many years of
successful mini-reef keeping. My question to the group is which
kinds of filtration I should be looking at? The tank is 24 x 18 x
18 (@ 32 gallons). I'm thinking I should be looking at a small
cannister filter but what kind of flow rates should I have? I'm
partial to Eheim from past experience (gotta hand it to those
Germans) but am open to suggestions. I am going to use a
overflow box so there will be a sump involved.

...and why can't I browse all the forums? Do those require
membership?

Regards,
-eric-

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Wed May 19, 2004 12:16 pm

From what I've been told Eheim is the way to go, although there are several people out there who like the Filstar canisters, espescially the price tag. How are you planning on dissolving CO2. I'm guessing that since you come from a reef background you won't be skimping on the lights, which makes a CO2 system necessary.

You don't need the substrate cables, they don't do anything different that a regular heater does.

Yes to get to read more than the basic forums you need to join the group as a distance member.

ericbullock · Post by **ericbullock** » Wed May 19, 2004 7:18 pm

Too late on the substrate cables...they were such a pain to aquire there is
no way I'm not using them! <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">

As far as dissolving the CO2 I have a small Dupla reactor that I will most
likely place in the sump, or I might possibly inject it straight into the
intake of the cannister filter. I'm going to use a 150 watt metal halide
lighting system that I had lying around from my reef days. Gotta get rid of
that 10k German bulb though!

Thanks for the info on the filters. I'll most likely go with the small Eheim
2222, but I had been looking at the Fitstar filters as well.

I regret I joined GWAPA too late to make it to your meeting on substrates.
That is something I need to work out as well. I don't suppose there's
anywhere around here to get laterite? Alternatives or suggestions are
welcome!

-eb-

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Wed May 19, 2004 7:43 pm

Aquarium Center always has laterite, I think Rick's in Fredrick has laterite too. There is always potters clay from Pearl Arts and Crafts Supply.

filter selection ofor planted tank

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