Filter For Corydoras

[chokko]

My current tanks have been all-in-one affairs (blue planet series with filter in the hood)

My new tank will be 5 feet x 18 inches and 20 inches high = approx 350L / 92gal

Will use the same smooth playground sand i have used in the past.

Tank will contain corydoras only, except maybe 1 Bristlenose and 1 Siamese FLyinx fox, to handle any green/black algae.

Will have some plants and large driftwood piece in there.

What filters are people using in same size tank?

So far I have been looking at:
-Fluval Fx5...sounds good but worried it might be a bit powerful for this size tank and the sand/cories will all be blown up to one end
-Aqua One 1400
-Fluval 406
-Eheim 2217

Quick release taps would be nice.

Get a filter with spray bar output, and use a powerhead for current ?
Or filter whose output provides current, and use bubble stone for air?

I want this tank to be cory heaven

Discuss !

 

[snazy]

Corys like good flow in my experience so that wouldn't be my concern. Mine lay eggs right on a 2800L/H powerhead. Also, the better the flow, the less chance any debris will accumulate on the sand to harm the corys. Which filter, I can't recommend as I haven't used them but I would not think the FX5 would be a bad choice in any way. I would also suggest ottos instead of the bristlenose. They are smaller, produce less waste and will do a better job cleaning algae than a bristlenose, also they will never ever eat a fry, but they need a well established at least 6 months old tank which is planted.

And I am so jealous of a cory only dedicated large tank. Wish I had the space for another tank and I am sure yours will be super happy.

 

[snazy]

Get a filter with spray bar output, and use a powerhead for current ?
Or filter whose output provides current, and use bubble stone for air?

It doesn't matter really. You need something that creates surface movement and additionally another thing to create flow on the lower levels and prevent debris from settling there and rather get sucked into the filter. So a good size external filter to take all that in without you having to clean it weekly like if it were a small filter and a powerhead for more and directed flow to eliminate any dead spots that can appear depending on the filter position would work. Buble stone is nice and would give additional oxygen, also would help mix the bottom layers with the top layers of water and the corys love having showers in bubbles but powerheads will do better job and give you more options to position.

Edit: For a tank this size I would personally get a combo of two filters for backup in case one fails, with a powerhead that you will find out where to position after a while when you see where the debris accumulates. If not, I would get one big filter, a bubble wall as an oxygen backup in case the filter stops and a powerhead to create flow in the area of your choice.
My tank has sand and the sand is almost spotless so it can be done instead of complaining that sand substrate is hard to keep clean

 

[chokko]

thanks for all that.

What sand have you got?

How close is the filter intake to the sand?

That's my only gripe with the 170L triangle tank i've got at the moment. The water comes out of the filter horizontally at the top of the tank and i dont think the triangle shape is conducive to good circulation.
I've kept the filter intake probably 5cm above the sand surface, to ensure sand is not sucked up

So the little cory number2s do end up strewn across the sand until i vacuum them.

Fish shop suggested an Otto the other day to me also.
The BN catfish has been excellent for keeping the glass free of green algae. Do Ottos eat that algae?
Do ottos eat the green bushy type algae that forms on driftwood? The BN doesnt touch that.

 

[snazy]

The BN catfish has been excellent for keeping the glass free of green algae. Do Ottos eat that algae?
Do ottos eat the green bushy type algae that forms on driftwood? The BN doesnt touch that.

Ottos eat soft type algaes, green algae, black beard algae(the one you maybe referring to above) and suck up on the tank glassjust like plecos do. They also have smaller mouths to clean areas where larger pleco can't. They don't eat the hair type of algae but that's easily solved by increasing flow the minimum. The green spot or green dust algae is only eaten by SAEs I think.

The sand I use I can't recall the name of but it's not the very fine one like play sand for example, although it's rounded grain. I didn't want to risk it floating around each time I do something or it getting into the filter and I can confirm the corys have no problem sifting through a slightly larger grain size. I've never had any toxic gas air pockets with it that I've noticed too. If you want to be on the safe side, pick a slightly larger grain size rather than the super fine one.
I am not sure how high I have the filter intakes. I've included a picture below, they are on the very right side behind the plants. I pulled them up a bit to make sure they are not blocked by the plants I use to hide them, or try to

Also, as you can see on the picture, the external filter outlet to the left is creating the water surface movement. I don't use a spraybar as the filter is APS 2000 and the spray bar decreases the flow a lot. It creates quite a turbulence and creates a very good flow to the right and bottom of the tank, but not to the left and below the outlet as it doesn't blow there. So I've positioned a 2800L/H powerhead that you can see below the filter outlet and that combo and position keeps the tank and sand spotless, all plants swaying.Tthe 2800L/H koralia is strong and if you have too many plants with little open area, maybe use a couple of smaller powerheads instead to prevent the plants from being completely blown but playing around with position could solve that too. I've got a hood filter that came with the tank, it drips from the top but it's so poor you would make no difference whether it's on or not. I just have it for additional bio filtration and I keep a tiny spare internal U2 fluval filter in that makes no difference either.

 

[snazy]

Basically, for the flow to work right, set your filter/filters outlets/pipes the way you think it's enough for surface movement. Filters like the FX5 can give you more options to direct at the surface and even anothe outlet below too. Then watch the tank without siphoning for a week. If there is debris at the bottom, then you need the flow deeper. If it's just one or a couple of areas around the tank, position the powerheads nearby or blowing at it, low enough to disturb the debris but high enough not to disturb the sand.
Hence sand heavier than debris is a better choice but I haven't tried the very fine sand to compare how easily it floats. I don't siphon at all in this tank as there's nothing to siphon, just if I remove a rock.

 

[chokko]

So my new tank arrived, and the cabinet/hood is stained the wrong color..currently in ongoing argument with supplier to get it rectified...joy.

Decided to go with the Fx5. Watching the detailed setup vids for it on youtube, sold it for me.

Now for lighting..I saw a great looking 4ft LED array at a small (works out of house) company, it really enhanced the color of his cichlids.
As my corys arent particularly colorful anyways (and most corys arent except for say the green/gold stripe lasers), I am thinking less bright standard t5/t8 lighting is going to be better - for them to be happier?

Guess i need to think about plants too with the lighting, though im just going to have hardy stuff (java fern, anubais on wood) that isnt bothered by having sand substrate

 

[snazy]

Ps3steveo, one of the moderators here makes some lovely looking custom LEDs, you may want to check out. He has a thread somewhere as well.

 

[phantomlink]

All my tanks are t8 light and hover around 0.5-0.6 watts/gallon and my plants do just fine. I have numerous Amazon Swords, and recently got some Hornwort. These things really do grow at a nice pace without ferts or co2 and you can easily cut them to grow them more places around the tank. Eventually you will need to just cut some and toss it away since it will take over your tank but the corys might like it mine seem to do

 

[SlipperyPete]

I'm new to the hobby myself and just set up my first 4 foot 220L tank and my eheim 2215 is amazing so far and i imagine a 2217 would be a great choice. the parts are expensive but ur paying for the amazing quality