20 gal long pleco tank. A few questions.

[cableguy69846]

Ok. I need a bit of advise. I am planning on setting up a 20 gallon long for my clown plecos. I am planning on low light, no CO2, minimal ferts, if any, and lots of DW with plants on it. I am thinking lots of Java Fern, A. nana 'petite', and maybe some moss. I may throw a couple of crypts in there, but not really sure yet. I think I just want to stick with stuff I can tie to DW. If I do crypts I will use Eco Complete for the substrate and a HOB. If I don't, I have a few options.

If I don't go that route, I plan on using this for my substrate. Maybe and inch or so of it. Now, if I do that, I can go 2 ways with the filter.

1) Use a HOB filter, most likely an AquaClear 30. I love these filters, but don't think it will give me good flow in a longer tank. I could also throw a small power head in the tank as well and would be willing to.

2) A UGF powered by a power head. If I do that, I will not be able to do any plants in the substrate.

What are your thoughts on all this?

 

[zeebo]

Hi , just wanted to let you know about the Aqua Clear HOB's. I have a 70, and used to love it as i could fit alot of biomedia in there, however , it is getting older now and i have had some probs with it,sometimes very aggravating to prime it get it exactly leveled after cleaning it or a power outtage, and because I have plecs that need high oxygen,i keep the water level lower than normal, so when doing wc's the darn thing sometimes needs to be primed again. The impaler is also a problem, possibly form age , and last week it shut off, took me 2 hours and big hassle to figure out it was not the the intake, but the impaler. I contacted my aquarium store and they mentioned Fluval just came out with a replacment HOB for the Aqua Clear, they adressed all the customers issues, complaints and problems concerning the AC, then made one, hopefully the same but better, by same i mean all the sponges , biomeida etc in the basket can be transfered directly to the Fluval, so no disruptions in the cycle. The cost for the same size is $45

Personally i use all HOB's and will be replacing my AC with the new Fluval soon, unless i hear bad stuff about fluval. Just too frustrating to deal with the intake last 3 times on the AC. and i did love it at first. You perhaps dont have any probs with yours , and lucky for you , just wanted to mention another choice to possibly save others the hassles.

good luck with your set up
Georgie

 

[bigbird]

it is a personal choice, however I would rather go for a small sand substate and just Java fern tied onto DW. Gives you less hassle of the soils and growing plants. Then you could go for an UGF with the power head attached to one of the outvalves of the UGF. I do however prefer cannister filters. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[cableguy69846]

Hi , just wanted to let you know about the Aqua Clear HOB's. I have a 70, and used to love it as i could fit alot of biomedia in there, however , it is getting older now and i have had some probs with it,sometimes very aggravating to prime it get it exactly leveled after cleaning it or a power outtage, and because I have plecs that need high oxygen,i keep the water level lower than normal, so when doing wc's the darn thing sometimes needs to be primed again. The impaler is also a problem, possibly form age , and last week it shut off, took me 2 hours and big hassle to figure out it was not the the intake, but the impaler. I contacted my aquarium store and they mentioned Fluval just came out with a replacment HOB for the Aqua Clear, they adressed all the customers issues, complaints and problems concerning the AC, then made one, hopefully the same but better, by same i mean all the sponges , biomeida etc in the basket can be transfered directly to the Fluval, so no disruptions in the cycle. The cost for the same size is $45

Personally i use all HOB's and will be replacing my AC with the new Fluval soon, unless i hear bad stuff about fluval. Just too frustrating to deal with the intake last 3 times on the AC. and i did love it at first. You perhaps dont have any probs with yours , and lucky for you , just wanted to mention another choice to possibly save others the hassles.

good luck with your set up
Georgie

I am going to have to look into that. I am currently running 3 AquaClear filters, and have been for about a year and a half. No problems as of yet, but I am going to look into the new one as well. Thanks man.

it is a personal choice, however I would rather go for a small sand substate and just Java fern tied onto DW. Gives you less hassle of the soils and growing plants. Then you could go for an UGF with the power head attached to one of the outvalves of the UGF. I do however prefer cannister filters. cheers jk :thumbup:

Sand is not a bad idea. I am going to shop around a little bit. I would love to run a canister instead, but the funds may not allow it.

 

[Jamez]

Hi , just wanted to let you know about the Aqua Clear HOB's. I have a 70, and used to love it as i could fit alot of biomedia in there, however , it is getting older now and i have had some probs with it,sometimes very aggravating to prime it get it exactly leveled after cleaning it or a power outtage, and because I have plecs that need high oxygen,i keep the water level lower than normal, so when doing wc's the darn thing sometimes needs to be primed again. The impaler is also a problem, possibly form age , and last week it shut off, took me 2 hours and big hassle to figure out it was not the the intake, but the impaler. I contacted my aquarium store and they mentioned Fluval just came out with a replacment HOB for the Aqua Clear, they adressed all the customers issues, complaints and problems concerning the AC, then made one, hopefully the same but better, by same i mean all the sponges , biomeida etc in the basket can be transfered directly to the Fluval, so no disruptions in the cycle. The cost for the same size is $45

Personally i use all HOB's and will be replacing my AC with the new Fluval soon, unless i hear bad stuff about fluval. Just too frustrating to deal with the intake last 3 times on the AC. and i did love it at first. You perhaps dont have any probs with yours , and lucky for you , just wanted to mention another choice to possibly save others the hassles.

good luck with your set up
Georgie

I've had similar headaches with my Aqua Clear 20 when I do a waterchange and it can take 5-10 mins after turning the filter back on to get the water flowing again. May be my problem rather than the filter but the media isn't clogged or anything.

Luke

 

[cableguy69846]

I've had similar headaches with my Aqua Clear 20 when I do a waterchange and it can take 5-10 mins after turning the filter back on to get the water flowing again. May be my problem rather than the filter but the media isn't clogged or anything.

Luke

I noticed that it takes a min when the pips and impeller are dirty. Not sure why either. It will get going, just takes a while. If it is not sitting level too, that can be an issue.