Seio's in the loach tank...

[crazy loaches]

In know Martin has a Seio, and if anyone else wants to chime in...

I am trying to get the final pieces to the puzzle so I can start setting up my 240g tank soon. I dont think my return pumps in the sump will give me quite enough flow for what the Clowns and other botias would really like, so I am thinking of supplementing with perhaps a pair of Seio 1100's.

One of my concerns is with small fish. I am thinking of including a large school of small fish, either cardinals or rummynose tetras. Anyone know if these pumps will be too much for them? I dont have to include them, but my wife really wants em too.

Unfortunately with the dual overflow design its hard to get a continuous circulation through the tank. What current thought is to have the spraybars setup to span most of the back of the tank, nearer the bottom pointing forward. The tank water will more or less go up the front to the top and roll to the back were it will go down the overflows. Not exactly sure how thats all going to work with the powerheads. Might just have one going across the back and one across the front. I am open for any suggestions.

[Martin Thoene]

I've definitely found with mine that they totally appreciate good current.
I would think the best way to go with your tank is to try and get a rotational current. That gives a longer distance of current than creating a back to front one as you suggest.

Here's an idea. Place a Seio at top left with a vertical spraybar close to it. Another Seio on the right end with a spraybar above or below it. Or a mirror image of this.



That should create some kind of rotational, lengthways current. The overflows will give surface disturbance and skimming, the drop into the sump will give good gaseous exchange so you don't need surface rippling like in my tank.

My only misgivings with Seios as regards small fish are that while I think the size of the slotted box that optionally fits over the pump is big enough to dissipate the suck over a wide area, there's not a good fit close to the outlet nozzle and small fish could find their way inside the box where they would be subjected to the full intake suck from the peripheral ports around the impeller top. I guess one could fix some mesh over the area around the outlet.

Martin.

[Curtis]

Do you like the Tunze streams better than the Seios?

[crazy loaches]

Martin thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure if that flow would work that well, the tank is much longer and skinnier (unfortunately) and I think that is the main problem with flow. But perhaps your suggestion is better than what I have come up with so far. I'll try and draw a scale picture and see if you have any further suggestion.


I have found a new possibility, a pump I heard of but never looked into yet. I posted roughly this same question on The Planted Tank and the first response was to look into the Hydor Koralia. They use a propeler like turbine and suppose to have a more diffused outflow than a Tunze for cheaper than the Seio's. It appears they still havent trickled out to all the retailers (just came out a few months ago) and those that have them are having trouble keeping in stock. Anyhow if anyone hasnt seen them yet here is Drs Foster & Smith, the 1200gph is $48 (not in stock currently): http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... =2004+2035

[Martin Thoene]

Yeah, I've seen these in use in my local Big Als marine display tanks. They're quite compact and the magnetic fixing is a very neat idea. The outlet is VERY open, basically has 4 vanes bridging the opening.

< See what I mean?

Having had curious loaches stuff their noses up powerhead outlets and hob intakes I think I would be very wary of these in a loach tank though.

Martin.

[crazy loaches]

Excellent point. So then the flow alone wouldnt keep them away I assume? (sorry never used anything with that much flow before). It probably wouldnt be too hard to put some stainless steel screen over it, not sure if epoxy would stick to that plastic though. I do believe I have some stainless steel 'hardware cloth' I think its called. Or should I just get a different unit.

[Martin Thoene]

It's often the flow that attracts them. To be honest, the greatest risk is from newly introduced loaches while they're going through that "loachy dance" phase and inquisitive about everything.
I had kubotai up to their "shoulders" in powerhead outlets.....that'll oxygenate your gills right? Had a histrionica go right up a HOB intake and get minced in the impeller....yuck!

My smaller Botia have been no problem with this Seio. I think it's ok when you put a pump into an established setup, but new fish might be a problem.

I don't know what the intake suction would be like on that Hydor powerhead as regards small tetras. Once they grow up they'll be ok and they're not an issue re: the outlet flow.

Martin.