Re: [AGA Member] Filtration and circulation

["S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>]

Hard data on what is or isn't necessary to filter a given
size tank, whether the tank conditions are specified or
not, are really hard to come across. Despite that, I offer
the opinion that a 2213 is a meager filter for a 60 gallon
tank. I'm not saying it won't work but a 2213 only pumps
about 40-50 gph most of the time (although it is performing
closer to the rated 100+ gph when freshly cleaned). That's
not a lot of water movement through the mechanical
filtration media. And unless the tank is set up for a light
fish load and slow plant growth, detritus will probably be
produced much faster than the filter can keep with.

You might consider adding a second filter -- needn't be the
same filter and needn't be an Eheim since there are lots of
good canister filters out there (the Eheim economy line
called ECCO, Filstar, Via Aqua). Generally the non-ehiem
brands have a higher flow rate for given canister volume
than classic Ehiems.

Whether the length of the siphon tube makes much diff, is
harder to guess -- it depends on how well the water
currents keep particulates suspended in the water until
they eventually reach the siphon intake. I like to have at
least one siphon intake near the substrate. If you have
some tubing that fits, you can try increasing the effective
length by adding some tubing and see if that makes much
diff over the couple of weeks. If it does, you can get a
longer siphon inexpensively from any Eheim vendor, or use
another brand of siphon tube that fits the ehiem tubing.

Hope that helps,
Scott H.
--- Belle Rahn <eyesotaupe@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have a 60 gallon hex tank with a cluster of "baby
> tears" about 4" in 
> diameter and 8" tall.  I also have some hygro and bacopa
> (in pots).
> 
> I use an Eheim 2213 as the mechanical filtration and have
> a submersible 
> power head to help with circulation.  The intake to the
> filter reaches 2/3 
> of the distance to the bottom of the tank.
> 
> Water chemsitry is fine in the tank but the water looks
> dirty with bits of 
> debris everywhere.  I use a diatom filter after water
> changes and the water 
> is crystal clear - but it becomes dirty within 2 days.
> 
> Any suggestions?
> 
>
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