New filter

[Galvin88]

Hey all,
I am looking into the possiblity I need a better filter.
I have a 62 gallon tank with a aquamanta efx 300 (Maidenhead aquatics own brand I think). My problem is the output don't seem powerfull enough for the tank size, the spray bar only seem to reach half way across the tank and I get alot of debris sat on my sand bed.
Any recommendations on a better filter for this tank size

Thank you

 

[Colin_T]

what sort of fish are in the tank?

can you post a video of the fish swimming and resting so we can see the currents in the tank?

 

[Galvin88]

Ignore the child making a racket

 

[PADogman]

I am putting together a FW aquarium after many years away and added a small powerhead. We used to call them powerheads... wave maker?
It is undersized for my aquarium, but as soon as I turned it on it gently agitated stuff off the bottom.
Maybe another way to go?

 

[Galvin88]

I am putting together a FW aquarium after many years away and added a small powerhead. We used to call them powerheads... wave maker?
It is undersized for my aquarium, but as soon as I turned it on it gently agitated stuff off the bottom.
Maybe another way to go?

I have a powerhead but have it at the top for more surface agitation because the filter output only reaches half way across the top. Where would you put the powerhead to move the stuff off the bottom

 

[PADogman]

My powerhead is just below the waterline on the back of the tank, angled downward towards the front glass. I kept it away from the HOB filter so it wouldn't disrupt the filter's intake current.
It's a 15g powerhead in a 27g cube.

No fish load in my aquarium yet, but it did stir up some debris caught among the rocks. It appears to have a gentle current, which is what I wanted.

My problem is tinged water. I may have to go to a Fluval C4 to get the carbon. Or buy the chemical bottle. But all the floaties are gone.

 

[Galvin88]

My powerhead is just below the waterline on the back of the tank, angled downward towards the front glass. I kept it away from the HOB filter so it wouldn't disrupt the filter's intake current.
It's a 15g powerhead in a 27g cube.

No fish load in my aquarium yet, but it did stir up some debris caught among the rocks. It appears to have a gentle current, which is what I wanted.

My problem is tinged water. I may have to go to a Fluval C4 to get the carbon. Or buy the chemical bottle. But all the floaties are gone.

Thanks I will try that see if it helps. Do you have driftwood that's causing the tint?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I have a powerhead but have it at the top for more surface agitation because the filter output only reaches half way across the top. Where would you put the powerhead to move the stuff off the bottom

The power head in my 29g SW tank is about half way up on one side, point slightly down. I have no dead spots.

You will just have to experiment with the flow and find what works best for you.

 

[PADogman]

Thanks I will try that see if it helps. Do you have driftwood that's causing the tint?

I'm betting it is.
I saw a video today where they said to soak driftwood for 30 days! Who knew, being it was being sold in an aquarium shop?
If I had known that I would have picked some up at the local beach a few weeks ago and started soaking it.

 

[Galvin88]

Iv always been lucky with mine, I have had 1 leak a little bit but cleared up pretty fast. The one I have now I boiled it for 30 mins and it never leaked. That beach is unreal, wish I had somthing like that near me

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I'm betting it is.
I saw a video today where they said to soak driftwood for 30 days! Who knew, being it was being sold in an aquarium shop?
If I had known that I would have picked some up at the local beach a few weeks ago and started soaking it.
View attachment 140843

That is prime picking territory!

 

[PADogman]

As far as the eye can see...

That's what no ice on the lake will do to a beach

Maybe I'll bag it and sell it next year

But seriously, you would think driftwood by nature would already be presoaked.
Hard lesson learned. I ordered a Fluval C3 to run that on the tank and see if it helps.

 

[Byron]

If you're talking about tinted water caused by tannins from wood...ignore it. I have never soaked wood, there is no harm in tannins, and some fish will actually benefit (soft water species). Using carbon in the filter is not advisable especially in planted tanks as this will remove some essential nutrients. It is true that in time as the carbon adsorbs (not absorbs here) the tannins it will become ineffective and then function as any filter media, a surface for bacteria to colonize.

As for all that wood on the beach...it is basically useless in a freshwater tank. It might contain salt, or worse.

 

[PADogman]

If you're talking about tinted water caused by tannins from wood...ignore it. I have never soaked wood, there is no harm in tannins, and some fish will actually benefit (soft water species). Using carbon in the filter is not advisable especially in planted tanks as this will remove some essential nutrients. It is true that in time as the carbon adsorbs (not absorbs here) the tannins it will become ineffective and then function as any filter media, a surface for bacteria to colonize.

As for all that wood on the beach...it is basically useless in a freshwater tank. It might contain salt, or worse.

Maybe that is why my well water registers as soft...
But it sure ain't pretty to look at. I can barely make out my heater looking through the front. And the glass has been cleaned. It did have a film on it, but that wasn't the problem.

I read that charcoal filter inserts can help with cloudy water. I was going to run it as long as needed, then remove.