Too powerful filter!!!

[wolfie]

Hi, newbie here and newbie to the art of fishkeeping.

Was given a secondhand tank 36x12x12 and all the bits (including fish) with it...problem I have is the fluval filter, a 303, seems way too powerful for this size tank!!!! Have the 304 hose connecter with the shut off valve cos busted the original after it blocked!! Ever since then the fish seem to be struggling to swim in the current. Is there any other way than slightly shutting the valve to ease of the current? Getting another 36x15x12 to sit next to it and have thought of plumbing the two together...good or bad idea? (It has a ugf but looking at a planted tank so that's coming out!) if not any recommends for a filter for that tank?

Thxs in advance! :stupid:

 

[wetwetwet]

HiYa and welcome wolfie

Not too familiar with your filter - whqats it rated at?

You want to be looking for a 3-5 turnover/hour .... if the current seems too strong for your fish you could try a sray bar

Personally I wouldn't plumb the two together incase of transfering problems/disease unless you want to get a bit more technical and start using uv etc...

For good results for a planted tank you should be looking at a slower flow rate (3ish)


hth

 

[wolfie]

Thanks for the reply

Fluval 304
output per hour 260 USgal / 1000 L
recommended tank size 70 USgal/300 L

Just cleaned out the new tank...tis a 36x18x12 so decided to transfer the fluval across to it and try out the spray as u suggested. Hopefully that will ease it off a bit.

Which leaves me with the 36x12x12 to filter (been reading the reviews for the bio wheel but unfortunally not available here in the UK) ...looking at transfering the guppy fry to this tank so needs to be baby friendly filter! but will be some adult fish in there...(no fin nippers tho) any ideas?

 

[mostanks]

try a penguin 330 from bigals.com they're like 23.99 i have atleast one on all 4 of my tanks,the oldest one i have is uh..proly 4 yrs old still looks brand new and works great.
gph=330 just keep the wheeles clean and you should never have a problem,oh and if you have a sand substrate use a short intake tube ime they don't like sand lol

 

[wetwetwet]

Oooo the 36x18x12 is about 125L which means your getting about an 8 times turnover - I think thats pretty much the rapids m8

What you need is a bigger tank lol

 

[wolfie]

Tried the bigals.com...says coming soon...is it big als or bi gals?

Haven't got the space or money or permission for another tank!

So looking like the rapids unless can sort some valve system to ease off the flow...

Just been in my lfs for advice on a filter on the 36x12x12 70l community tank with guppy fry (possibly) they recommend an ehiem aquaball internal filer..anyone used one of them?

 

[Great Lakes]

Make sure you hold on to the Fluval so when you get a 70gal, you already have a filter.