Filter question

[Rob MacCara]

I have an 80gal tank with a Fluval 303 filter as well as a power head with a
foam "filter" on it.
I'm considering either replacing or supplementing the Fluval, and am looking
at the Fluval 404 or the Magnum 350 Deluxe. My tank is somewhat overstocked
and I can't get the water as crystal clear as I'd like.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rob

[NetMax]

"Rob MacCara" > wrote in message
...
> I have an 80gal tank with a Fluval 303 filter as well as a power head
with a
> foam "filter" on it.
> I'm considering either replacing or supplementing the Fluval, and am
looking
> at the Fluval 404 or the Magnum 350 Deluxe. My tank is somewhat
overstocked
> and I can't get the water as crystal clear as I'd like.
> Any suggestions?
> Thanks,
> Rob

You might get an assortment of 'subjectively valid' ;~) comments on
Magnums, Fluvals, and certainly Eheim and maybe even bio-wheels, but in
the final analysis, any filter which will increase the total surface area
of filtration media your water travels through will improve your water
conditions. My vote is to supplement rather than replace. Gravel vac,
water changes and over filtration is IMO, the optimal approach to getting
water basics under control in an established and over-stocked tank.

NetMax

[Rob MacCara]

Thanks - that's pretty well what I was convincing myself of <g>. I would
imagine that I'd keep the Magnum's micron filter on to remove the fine
particles that seem to cloud up the water. The tank (80gal)is not too
overstocked (I don't think - just a little):
1 pair 7" Mozambique
1 pair 5" Blue Acaras
2 pair 2" Jack Dempsey
5 each 1" Blue Eyed Cichlid
3 each 2" Rainbow Cichlid
1 each 4" Bolivian Ram
each 6" Raspberry Plecostomus
each 3" Sailfin Plecostomus

Any suggestions for the tank at this point? I do 25% water change every
other weekend and gravel the vac at the same time. I'm probably guilty of
over-feeding too. Some pics from earlier this year can be found here:
http://dvs.ca/fish/

Thanks,
Rob


"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Rob MacCara" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have an 80gal tank with a Fluval 303 filter as well as a power head
> with a
> > foam "filter" on it.
> > I'm considering either replacing or supplementing the Fluval, and am
> looking
> > at the Fluval 404 or the Magnum 350 Deluxe. My tank is somewhat
> overstocked
> > and I can't get the water as crystal clear as I'd like.
> > Any suggestions?
> > Thanks,
> > Rob
>
> You might get an assortment of 'subjectively valid' ;~) comments on
> Magnums, Fluvals, and certainly Eheim and maybe even bio-wheels, but in
> the final analysis, any filter which will increase the total surface area
> of filtration media your water travels through will improve your water
> conditions. My vote is to supplement rather than replace. Gravel vac,
> water changes and over filtration is IMO, the optimal approach to getting
> water basics under control in an established and over-stocked tank.
>
> NetMax
>
>

[NetMax]

That's a *cough* interesting mix of South & Central Americans (and
African riverine). I count,
(2x7)+(2x5)+(4x2)+(5x1)+(3x2)+(1x4)+(1x6x3)+(1x3x3 ) (pleco/Oscar/GF
multiplier is 3)= 74 fish inches as your current biological load (which
helps determine filtration requirements). Knowing how much larger some
of these fish get, I'd plan on filtering as a 150g-200g tank. Biological
load does not take into account any behavioural or territorial
requirements, which cichlids tend to have ;~) If the fish have all grown
up together, then you probably have an established equilibrium (of sorts)
in the tank, however, I would not get too relaxed. When/if the
equilibrium comes undone, if will happen fairly quickly. Your first
victims might be the larger fish which have no cover (smaller fish which
know where to hide will be too much effort at first). IMO, expect
trouble from your Jacks at some point, and any spawning groupings
(especially if your pairs are pairs) will put pressure on the others. I
believe that you're in for some 'interesting' times, far beyond your
current filtration concerns ;~)

NetMax


"Rob MacCara" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks - that's pretty well what I was convincing myself of <g>. I
would
> imagine that I'd keep the Magnum's micron filter on to remove the fine
> particles that seem to cloud up the water. The tank (80gal)is not too
> overstocked (I don't think - just a little):
> 1 pair 7" Mozambique
> 1 pair 5" Blue Acaras
> 2 pair 2" Jack Dempsey
> 5 each 1" Blue Eyed Cichlid
> 3 each 2" Rainbow Cichlid
> 1 each 4" Bolivian Ram
> each 6" Raspberry Plecostomus
> each 3" Sailfin Plecostomus
>
> Any suggestions for the tank at this point? I do 25% water change every
> other weekend and gravel the vac at the same time. I'm probably guilty
of
> over-feeding too. Some pics from earlier this year can be found here:
> http://dvs.ca/fish/
>
> Thanks,
> Rob

<snipped and now top-posting>

[Rob MacCara]

They have all pretty well grown up together. The Jack Dempsey clan all seem
to stick together and only chase each other.
Most of the fish have set sleeping/courting spaces in the tank and it really
is a relatively peaceful tank. I do recognize that the Mozambique couple may
need their own tank down the road a while. They are make a great
construction crew in the tank re-organizing gravel etc. etc. and they do
have their "own" cave.
I did have a pair (breeding, of course) of Pink Convicts, but moved them
into their own tank as they get pretty excited when protecting their
young... <g>.
I ordered a Magnum 350 Pro (with the bio wheel) kit to supplement my Fluval
so hopefully the load will balance out.
I'll keep you posted...
Thanks for your input!
Rob



"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> That's a *cough* interesting mix of South & Central Americans (and
> African riverine). I count,
> (2x7)+(2x5)+(4x2)+(5x1)+(3x2)+(1x4)+(1x6x3)+(1x3x3 ) (pleco/Oscar/GF
> multiplier is 3)= 74 fish inches as your current biological load (which
> helps determine filtration requirements). Knowing how much larger some
> of these fish get, I'd plan on filtering as a 150g-200g tank. Biological
> load does not take into account any behavioural or territorial
> requirements, which cichlids tend to have ;~) If the fish have all grown
> up together, then you probably have an established equilibrium (of sorts)
> in the tank, however, I would not get too relaxed. When/if the
> equilibrium comes undone, if will happen fairly quickly. Your first
> victims might be the larger fish which have no cover (smaller fish which
> know where to hide will be too much effort at first). IMO, expect
> trouble from your Jacks at some point, and any spawning groupings
> (especially if your pairs are pairs) will put pressure on the others. I
> believe that you're in for some 'interesting' times, far beyond your
> current filtration concerns ;~)
>
> NetMax
>
>
> "Rob MacCara" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Thanks - that's pretty well what I was convincing myself of <g>. I
> would
> > imagine that I'd keep the Magnum's micron filter on to remove the fine
> > particles that seem to cloud up the water. The tank (80gal)is not too
> > overstocked (I don't think - just a little):
> > 1 pair 7" Mozambique
> > 1 pair 5" Blue Acaras
> > 2 pair 2" Jack Dempsey
> > 5 each 1" Blue Eyed Cichlid
> > 3 each 2" Rainbow Cichlid
> > 1 each 4" Bolivian Ram
> > each 6" Raspberry Plecostomus
> > each 3" Sailfin Plecostomus
> >
> > Any suggestions for the tank at this point? I do 25% water change every
> > other weekend and gravel the vac at the same time. I'm probably guilty
> of
> > over-feeding too. Some pics from earlier this year can be found here:
> > http://dvs.ca/fish/
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Rob
>
> <snipped and now top-posting>
>
>