Aquaclear filter in planted tank-

fishlady · 01-23-2004, 03:33 PM

I am new to planted tanks

. Just started a 30 and it looks great. I presently have a 90 gallon with plastic plants that I would like to plant. It has two Aquaclear 500s on it now. I read alot of posts where you have a HOB filter and a canister. Is it possible to do a planted with 2 aquaclears or does it mess with the C02?? Thanks-

Rolo · 01-23-2004, 03:55 PM

As far as CO2, you want to make sure that there is hardly any surface agitation. You can do this by cutting a AC 500 sponge to fit into the overflow outlet so that there is no waterfall. I do this for my AC 150, but am unsure how it will work for a 500 since it is much more powerful.

ginnie5 · 01-23-2004, 05:24 PM

I did cut the lip on them (not easy when they are on the tank) I run my co2 into the intake tube of one of them. Everything is doing great. I get plenty of co2 in the tank and the plants are growing and pearling. I've never done a cannister filter so I don't know if they are better but I'm happy with what I've got. It's also easy to put whatever media I want in the aquaclears.

fishlady · 01-23-2004, 05:45 PM

Thanks, think its possible to do a planted 90 gallon with low light plants and NOT do the c02 injection?? (Something I am not familiar with yet) If I stick with low light plants such as anubia, crypts etc can I get away with not doing the C02 if I have low lighting, say 2 wpg or less?? Thanks for your help-

Wasserpest · 01-23-2004, 05:51 PM

It's definitely possible. You won't get the "dutch tank" look, but still can create some really nice scapes. As a matter of fact, a few years ago light levels used on planted tanks were much lower than nowadays, and CO2 injection wasn't as common as it is now.

fishlady · 01-23-2004, 09:51 PM

Wasserpest: How about using the 2 aquaclears, think that is ok for filtering a planted tank?? Thanks for your help, I am excited

Wasserpest · 01-23-2004, 10:01 PM

I think if you do what Rolo suggests, in some way reduce surface agitation (waterfall splashing down), it would work well. Many of us use Aquaclears on planted tanks. Cheap and easy to clean.
Investing $100 in a nice canister filter

is probably money well spent. But since you have the AC's already, just stick with them for now.

csfish · 01-24-2004, 12:17 AM

I have a pair of Aquaclear filters on each of my three tanks (well, the goldfish tank doesn't really count as a planted) and without any CO2 supplementation other than some Flourish Excel, I get some decent growth from crypts, anubias, Java fern, Java moss, watersprite, wisteria, and small swords. I haven't done any modifications to the filters at all, other than keeping the water topped right up to the lip of the outflow. Using Excel on a 90 would be prohibitive in cost, but with 2wpg and a careful selection of plants, you would probably do fine to keep it simple. HTH.

fishlady · 01-24-2004, 03:52 AM

CSFish- What do you have for lighting on your low light tanks?? I know there is a special board for that :lol: but thought I would ask while I am herel. Thanks for your help!

csfish · 01-24-2004, 09:31 AM

Hi Fishlady,
I have two 20gal tanks where most of the plants are and each tank is lit by a 55w 6500K PC kit from AHSupply. The 50gal goldfish tank has some Java ferns and anubias lit by two 26w 6500K (screw-in, spiral-type) compact flourescent bulbs in an ordinary incandescent hood. I know I could have gone with a couple of shoplights for more light and better coverage on this tank, but I thought I'd just try out the hood I had. It's not the best, but seems adequate for the few plants in this tank (the goldfish keep trying to dig them up and do their own aquascaping ). Hope that helps...

fishlady · 01-24-2004, 02:46 PM

Thanks for your help. I think I should probably move this over to the lighting forum to continue. thanks again- :lol:

01-23-2004, 03:55 PM	#2
Rolo Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 1,716	As far as CO2, you want to make sure that there is hardly any surface agitation. You can do this by cutting a AC 500 sponge to fit into the overflow outlet so that there is no waterfall. I do this for my AC 150, but am unsure how it will work for a 500 since it is much more powerful. __________________

01-23-2004, 05:51 PM	#5
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	It's definitely possible. You won't get the "dutch tank" look, but still can create some really nice scapes. As a matter of fact, a few years ago light levels used on planted tanks were much lower than nowadays, and CO2 injection wasn't as common as it is now. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

01-23-2004, 10:01 PM	#7
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	I think if you do what Rolo suggests, in some way reduce surface agitation (waterfall splashing down), it would work well. Many of us use Aquaclears on planted tanks. Cheap and easy to clean. Investing $100 in a nice canister filter is probably money well spent. But since you have the AC's already, just stick with them for now. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

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01-23-2004, 03:33 PM	#1
fishlady Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 289	I am new to planted tanks . Just started a 30 and it looks great. I presently have a 90 gallon with plastic plants that I would like to plant. It has two Aquaclear 500s on it now. I read alot of posts where you have a HOB filter and a canister. Is it possible to do a planted with 2 aquaclears or does it mess with the C02?? Thanks-

01-23-2004, 05:24 PM	#3
ginnie5 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SC Posts: 276	I did cut the lip on them (not easy when they are on the tank) I run my co2 into the intake tube of one of them. Everything is doing great. I get plenty of co2 in the tank and the plants are growing and pearling. I've never done a cannister filter so I don't know if they are better but I'm happy with what I've got. It's also easy to put whatever media I want in the aquaclears.

01-23-2004, 05:45 PM	#4
fishlady Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 289	Thanks, think its possible to do a planted 90 gallon with low light plants and NOT do the c02 injection?? (Something I am not familiar with yet) If I stick with low light plants such as anubia, crypts etc can I get away with not doing the C02 if I have low lighting, say 2 wpg or less?? Thanks for your help-

01-23-2004, 09:51 PM	#6
fishlady Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 289	Wasserpest: How about using the 2 aquaclears, think that is ok for filtering a planted tank?? Thanks for your help, I am excited

01-24-2004, 12:17 AM	#8
csfish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 88	I have a pair of Aquaclear filters on each of my three tanks (well, the goldfish tank doesn't really count as a planted) and without any CO2 supplementation other than some Flourish Excel, I get some decent growth from crypts, anubias, Java fern, Java moss, watersprite, wisteria, and small swords. I haven't done any modifications to the filters at all, other than keeping the water topped right up to the lip of the outflow. Using Excel on a 90 would be prohibitive in cost, but with 2wpg and a careful selection of plants, you would probably do fine to keep it simple. HTH.

01-24-2004, 03:52 AM	#9
fishlady Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 289	CSFish- What do you have for lighting on your low light tanks?? I know there is a special board for that :lol: but thought I would ask while I am herel. Thanks for your help!

01-24-2004, 09:31 AM	#10
csfish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 88	Hi Fishlady, I have two 20gal tanks where most of the plants are and each tank is lit by a 55w 6500K PC kit from AHSupply. The 50gal goldfish tank has some Java ferns and anubias lit by two 26w 6500K (screw-in, spiral-type) compact flourescent bulbs in an ordinary incandescent hood. I know I could have gone with a couple of shoplights for more light and better coverage on this tank, but I thought I'd just try out the hood I had. It's not the best, but seems adequate for the few plants in this tank (the goldfish keep trying to dig them up and do their own aquascaping ). Hope that helps...

01-24-2004, 02:46 PM	#11
fishlady Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 289	Thanks for your help. I think I should probably move this over to the lighting forum to continue. thanks again- :lol: