Just 2 weeks to go

[JonasBygdemo]

Me and Hanna will be moving to an appartment the 1st of April, and that means more room for aquariums Hanna joined LOL today btw (Hanna.Ö). We've put a down payment on a Juwel Vision 450L to ensure that we get it when we can move it somewhere, since we both live with our parents at the moment. We are EXTREMELY anxious to set it all up! We have 6 clowns, 8 kubotais, and 3 yoyos in a Juwel Rio 60L q-tank right now, and we'll treat them for ich once again (done it before, but we've added fish recently), and internal parasites as well. They all look healthy though, so we don't expect any issues with them.

The tank setup will be, as I said, a Juwel Vision 450. I won't add all the pumps right at the beginning, but have it as an evolving project. I'm aiming to get about 8000-10000L/h eventually, but the tank will cost a lot, and I'm unemployed (got a lot tucked away though). Also the stock filtration is a bit weak, with the pump being rated for 1000L/h which gives a non-impressive turnover of 2.22. I don't want a canister-filter, so I've decided to go for a Fluval U4 (1000L/h), so that will double the filtration, at least flow-wise. The only filter I could find which had a stronger pump was an Eheim, but that is basically twice as expensive as the Fluval, and the Fluval has nicer features as far as maintenance goes. I also like the triple outlet design.

So the stocklist will look like this:

* Clown loaches
* Kubotais
* Yoyos
* Sewellia Lineolata (Alien)
* Gastromyzon Ctenocephalus (Predator)
* Spotted Raphaels
* Angelfish (6 of them)
* Bala sharks
* Pterygoplichthys Joselimaianus (L-001)

I'll also get these ones later:

* Garra Flavatra
* Maybe B. Dario or Striata

We'll set the temp to 25*C to get a compromise for the Hillstreams. Probably not ideal for them, but it'll be plenty of current in a couple of months though. I cant really justify buying a Hillstream-tank at the moment. I'll try to have a pH of 7. I'd like to have below 7, but I guess the Hillstreams wouldn't like to have the water too hot AND to acidic, so I'll stop at 7.

One of our oddball clowns that are going in the 450. The Yunnanilus Cruciatus will be going in a different tank.


Our newly bought Kubotais


The Pterygoplichthys Joselimaianus

[JonasBygdemo]

I've uploaded a video of our quarantine-tank. As I said in the first post, it currently holds 5 Clowns, 8 Kubotais, 3 Yoyos, and 6 Yunnanilus Cruciatus. The Yunnanilus will be in our 120L instead of the 450L. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y4Ml0iNVjE

[clint]

Just going from my own minimal experience here i think the canister is way the better choice as you have a much larger bio area for your media of choice. GPH doesn't mean much when the little mechanical filter is clogging on the fluval. Those units like the eheim aqua ball are fine for added water current, circulation. I wouldn't count them for overall filtration. Best bet is a canister if not that then a HOB, in the long run thats the best bet and leaves you with the least headaches in terms of maintenance.

[JonasBygdemo]

Just going from my own minimal experience here i think the canister is way the better choice as you have a much larger bio area for your media of choice. GPH doesn't mean much when the little mechanical filter is clogging on the fluval. Those units like the eheim aqua ball are fine for added water current, circulation. I wouldn't count them for overall filtration. Best bet is a canister if not that then a HOB, in the long run thats the best bet and leaves you with the least headaches in terms of maintenance.

I agree, canisters usually have more filter-media, and stronger pumps. However, it's a personal thing. I've heard of so many people who have had leaks in their canisters, hoses that have came off, etc. I'm just a bit too scared to have a canister. The Fluval will not be alone, I'll still use the stock Juwel filter (which holds a lot of media). I'll just use it to get even more filtration.

[clint]

I use marineland 350 magnums and if hooked up properly there is little chance of leaking. To each their own though i understand the thought of finding a leak to late, its my worst nightmare . Good luck with your new tank.

[JonasBygdemo]

I use marineland 350 magnums and if hooked up properly there is little chance of leaking. To each their own though i understand the thought of finding a leak to late, its my worst nightmare . Good luck with your new tank.

A guy on a Swedish forum drained his 720L when a hose jumped off. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I had a canister, I'd just have a pic in my head of a leaking tank all the time :S I've heard that canisters have been improved, and are less likely to leak nowadays though.

Thanks a lot!

[JonasBygdemo]

I just thought about it. Is it better to get a complementary filter, or a powerhead (for current only)? I plan to get strong powerheads later, but what I'm asking is, will it be worth getting a filter, or should I get a powerhead instead?

[andyroo]

If broken pipes and accidental draining is a worry, on the intake pipe put a (set of) holes about half way up the tank's depth. That way, if a leak happens it'll start sucking air (and not kill fish) at 1/2 depth.
With 400L this trick won't save your carpets or your downstairs neighbour's stereo, and the pump might burn out.
Fine for me though, as my tank is on my balcony. Might over-water the hibiscus and scare the cat....

[JonasBygdemo]

That's a good idea actually. I guess I could put the canister in a bucket as well, so small leaks won't be a risk. Still, I'd be a bit worried. Also canisters are pretty expensive, at least for our tank-size.

[JonasBygdemo]

Just wanted to share another pic of the Pterygoplichthys Joselimaianus that's going in the tank



He's such a little cutie Hard to think that he'll grow bigger than the clowns!

Edit: Thought I'd ask again, is it worth the extra cash to buy a second filter, or should I get a powerhead?

[clint]

I'd go with another filter, as you want to turn the tank over at least 5-8 times per hour. The filter that comes with it putting out only 2.2 turnover rate is way too weak. More filtration the better, then you can think about a power head. I have a 90g that is turned over 7.7 times an hour and thats good, i'm at a point where i'm thinking about a koralia or something similar. I say get your tank turning over 5 times an hour at least then see you if you still feel the need for a power head. I get a nice gentle flowing as noticed by my plants swaying. I wouldn't mind a powerhead to stir things up a bit more and maybe clear out, stir up more debris. Not to mention all the fish i have wouldn't mind the extra current either.

[JonasBygdemo]

Okay, thanks. I'd love to be brave enough to get a Fluval FX5, but I'm a bit of a sissy when it comes to canisters :S

[JonasBygdemo]

When doing our regular fish-drooling at an LFS, we found two clowns, one of them slightly bigger than the ones we have, and one that's quite larger. We've reserved them so we can put them in the q-tank as soon as we have the 450 up and running, with all the current loaches in it. Can't wait!!!




Clowns going at the speed of light isn't easy to photograph

[JonasBygdemo]

I'd just like to update you guys and say that my girlfriend got me a Fluval U4 for my birthday! Well technically it's tomorrow, but my parents are going away so they wanted to celebrate me yesterday, so Hanna gave me my present earlier as well

Since the Fluval is going in the 450, I haven't tried it out yet, but I have checked out some functions and thingamajigs on it, and it looks awesome! Really clever design for the flow, both direction and speed, and the venturi was a nice touch. What I like the most though is that you can remove the filter from a bracket, so the suction-cups is still fastened to the glass, but removing the filter from the bracket is a piece of cake. I'll be able to try it out in less than 2 weeks!