Fish only 1.5ft tank

[BlueTerror]

Hi all!

I am thinking of starting a fish only tank. Have been reading up on the filtration systems for marine tanks and it seems that live rock is the way to go with biological filtration. A powerhead or two seems necessary to provide water circulation rite?

How powerful do i need for a 1.5ft tank? I see from 80 gallons to 500 gallon powerhead monsters, very confused. Any good brand/model to recommend? Some one mentioned Maxxi-Jet?

[Bluebeard]

for me i'm a 2feet fish and shrimps only tank.

got a bit of live rock only and also some plant.

i am using top filter around 5 layers. i think for 1.5 feet if you bioload is not too much, maybe power head with UGF should be ok.. and also try not to over power by buying too powerful power head, too much water current also not good for the fishes mah.

can also use canister filter, or those hang on filter.

[BlueTerror]

one question i have is, how do i create waves with the power head?

how is the surface agitation using hang on filter/powerhead as a comparison?

Also can someone advise on the throughput of the powerhead for the tank?

200-400litres/hour i guess?

[tigershark]

unless u are talking about hardy fish like damsel/clown..... 2 of my 1"clowns is staying in my 1'x0.5'x0.5' tank for 2 months liao, no problem.... but never use overhead pump.... your water temp could shot up to 30~33 deg cel easily in such a small tank... use an air pump with those corner filtering unit instead.... also, u must monitor the water paremetervery closely......

[BlueTerror]

You mean those sponge filters????

Does your 1 ft tank have any liverock??

[hongqixian]

I like the Eheim Liberty hang-on filters. A bubble operated filter would most likely be inadequate for ur tank. Too weak and the bubbles spill salt everywhere when they burst. Outside-tank canister filters are very expensive but they will work, and the overhead box filters for luo han tanks splash a lot and get rusty easily.

The hang on filter does not splash if the water level is raised just right and does not get rusty. Very quiet with little heat. Two should be just right for you. They come in 3 types, 100gph, 150gph and 200gph. 200gph are much larger and worth the cost. About $55 apiece.

I use a 200gph and 150 gph on my nano reef and it does great. Go take a look.

[Bluebeard]

I like the Eheim Liberty hang-on filters. A bubble operated filter would most likely be inadequate for ur tank. Too weak and the bubbles spill salt everywhere when they burst. Outside-tank canister filters are very expensive but they will work, and the overhead box filters for luo han tanks splash a lot and get rusty easily.

The hang on filter does not splash if the water level is raised just right and does not get rusty. Very quiet with little heat. Two should be just right for you. They come in 3 types, 100gph, 150gph and 200gph. 200gph are much larger and worth the cost. About $55 apiece.

I use a 200gph and 150 gph on my nano reef and it does great. Go take a look.

actually for the overhead box filter, if your water level is high enough, there will not be much splash too.

actually i feel that overhead box filter is more effective and cheaper than hang on filter since it's bigger. but one thing bad about the overhead box is that it's big and take up space, space where you need to put your lights.

[BlueTerror]

actually i was thinking of having a powerhead for water circulation and using liverocks as biological filtration. just wanna noe which powerheads are good and quiet and small.

there are so many different types that i see until blur.

[hongqixian]

Your liverock will be inadequate for a fish only unless you understock it. A lot. If you are a beginner it is much safer to use a proper filter first such as bioballs in a multi layer trickle filter (such as the transparent ones). It may sound outdated but works.

Just look for german brand powerheads, tend to be of better quality.

BB, I used to use the overhead black box filter and seemed to generate a lot of stray voltage leh (my guess). But your overhead trickle with a few levels works.

[Bluebeard]

Your liverock will be inadequate for a fish only unless you understock it. A lot. If you are a beginner it is much safer to use a proper filter first such as bioballs in a multi layer trickle filter (such as the transparent ones). It may sound outdated but works.

Just look for german brand powerheads, tend to be of better quality.

BB, I used to use the overhead black box filter and seemed to generate a lot of stray voltage leh (my guess). But your overhead trickle with a few levels works.

what do you mean by stray voltage?

so far i only got stray voltage from lights only and the fishes are still ok.. ehehe

[BlueTerror]

Your liverock will be inadequate for a fish only unless you understock it. A lot. If you are a beginner it is much safer to use a proper filter first such as bioballs in a multi layer trickle filter (such as the transparent ones). It may sound outdated but works.

Just look for german brand powerheads, tend to be of better quality.

BB, I used to use the overhead black box filter and seemed to generate a lot of stray voltage leh (my guess). But your overhead trickle with a few levels works.

What do you mean my liverock would be inadequate unless i understock it? I was hoping to keep only 1 or 2 fishes with maybe shrimps later on.

Mine is a 1.5ft 5 plan tank.

[hongqixian]

what do you mean by stray voltage?

so far i only got stray voltage from lights only and the fishes are still ok.. ehehe

Your fish are okay and so were mine but my corals were very unhappy

[hongqixian]

What do you mean my liverock would be inadequate unless i understock it? I was hoping to keep only 1 or 2 fishes with maybe shrimps later on.

Mine is a 1.5ft 5 plan tank.

I meant that your liverock alone would not be enough to filter your tank if it was a typical FO tank (where people try to cram as many fishes as possible in the tank) but since you only want to keep one or two small fish that won't grow large it's fine. Note that since it is filtered by live rock you have to be very careful not to overfeed it as the rock unlike a filter will not take out the larger pieces of food until they rot, then it is denitrified and whatelse. You will have to change water more often.

[BlueTerror]

he he, i was hoping to use a internal powerhead filter as filtration. any to recommend that create waves?

[Tanzy]

I saw an advertisement for some Eheim ball thingy powerhead that can swivel in a magazine. You might want to consider that.

[hongqixian]

he he, i was hoping to use a internal powerhead filter as filtration. any to recommend that create waves?

A lot of heat in a small tank though. But aquamart had something similar last time. You may want to go and take a look there then scout for better prices.

[bawater]

another option- u could use an external canister filter(ehiem/fluval/jebo/resun)- $70 onwards

This will allow u to create water movement & also keep the mech.head out of the water,keeping temp. down.

Also to raise your lighting abt 4" off the water's surface helps temp.

considering that canisters do the same job as internals- they do process ammonia & nirites very well- thus u end with a lump sum of nitrates- which u could think of having a deeper substrate(although 1.5ft won't give u much process area,but it will help).

fill canister with sponge,floss & a bacteria medium(extra sponge/ceramic/zeolite or even crush coral).

skip carbon in canisters cause u will have to change carbon often-

Also a major factor with small tanks is to do very* regular water changes- even if its 2 ltrs every week.every bit helps.

[ZeRoC00l]

A lot of heat in a small tank though. But aquamart had something similar last time. You may want to go and take a look there then scout for better prices.

you could get some fans to blow directly over the water to create the rippling effect.

but I think for marine tanks we want more current then waves rite?? I'm new to this "dark side''

Like what Bawater use canister filter, will reduce abit, but the output maybe too powerful, get a splitter to have several water output for circulation.

Else can also get a chiller? Aquatechnic selling a mirco-chiller for small tanks.

[bawater]

chiller for a 1.5ft?!!

could just put the tank in the fridge

& cut a small window for front panel of tank.

[ZeRoC00l]

Hmm... Y didn't I think of tt!!!

It's a good idea you know, can have yr food and see yr fish at the same time

Back to topic>>>>>.

I think a 1 - 4 fans are more than enough to have a temp of ~27.5 degrees

Else, on the lights at night only when the temp is lower <_<

[BlueTerror]

I like the Eheim Liberty hang-on filters. A bubble operated filter would most likely be inadequate for ur tank. Too weak and the bubbles spill salt everywhere when they burst. Outside-tank canister filters are very expensive but they will work, and the overhead box filters for luo han tanks splash a lot and get rusty easily.

The hang on filter does not splash if the water level is raised just right and does not get rusty. Very quiet with little heat. Two should be just right for you. They come in 3 types, 100gph, 150gph and 200gph. 200gph are much larger and worth the cost. About $55 apiece.

I use a 200gph and 150 gph on my nano reef and it does great. Go take a look.

Whoa, ehiem filters sure are ex. But i haven't seen any ehiem hang on filters yet. Saw some other brands selling though, some petecetra or something

[Tanzy]

I think a 1 - 4 fans are more than enough to have a temp of ~27.5 degrees

I'll be very worried about evaporation and the change in salinity.

[Bluebeard]

Whoa, ehiem filters sure are ex. But i haven't seen any ehiem hang on filters yet. Saw some other brands selling though, some petecetra or something

yes eheim do have hang on filters

3 model, 100, 150 and 200.

i don't know about the price of 100 and 150 but 200 will cost $47 at Nature or $48 at Petmart, with media inside. i just bought one for my bro.

[BlueTerror]

some hang on filters have an airvalve to increase aeration, is it advisable to turn this on?

[hongqixian]

Why not if the bubbles don't cause any problems like salt creep? Assuming it produces bubbles?