Cleaning Arowana Tank - HELP!

[Coryloach]

Yuuup cows are home. So your arguing about something you have absolutely no knowledge of ?

The conversation was about efficient filtration. But you know, just because a factory worker assembles the phone/computer you're typing on, it doesn't mean they have knowledge of how it works. Just because you're a user, doesn't mean you know why it works either. It does not make me automatically incompetent because I am not assembling or using sumps because I know how filtration works and I've read tons on the micro-organisms involved. And if you've had, you'd know its not just about ammonia...

Yup plants are ok.....my 150 is covered in water lettuce nothing new there

Small plants like floating plants get totally oucompeted in a tank with large emersed plants. Over the last few months I killed tons of salvinia and water hyacinth from nitrogen deficiency. Same happened in my previous tank in the picture. I could never keep floaters alive, water is too bare on nitrogen. If your floaters are happily multiplying, your water quality is not up to scratch...So there, I finally got a hint of how good your 'sumped' water quality is. Floaters use aerial CO2 and their biggest limitation is nitrogen....Happy floaters, bad water.....

 

[jaws7777]

The conversation was about efficient filtration. But you know, just because a factory worker assembles the phone/computer you're typing on, it doesn't mean they have knowledge of how it works. Just because you're a user, doesn't mean you know why it works either. It does not make me automatically incompetent because I am not assembling or using sumps because I know how filtration works and I've read tons on the micro-organisms involved. And if you've had, you'd know its not just about ammonia...



Small plants like floating plants get totally oucompeted in a tank with large emersed plants. Over the last few months I killed tons of salvinia and water hyacinth from nitrogen deficiency. Same happened in my previous tank in the picture. I could never keep floaters alive, water is too bare on nitrogen. If your floaters are happily multiplying, your water quality is not up to scratch...So there, I finally got a hint of how good your 'sumped' water quality is. Floaters use aerial CO2 and their biggest limitation is nitrogen....Happy floaters, bad water.....

Correct they are more efficient at reducing ammonia than submersed "clap" "clap" hyacinth does better with direct sun light. Sorry you couldnt keep salvinia alive.

Your full of assumptions and some out right lies as well. Your canister holding 20L of bio is a great bed time story. No ammonia or nitrite in my tanks. Fish are disease free and growing...im good

Enjoy your fish brother.

P.s. the conversarion was about cans for a large ray tank nothing to do with efficiency...your butt hurt because op didnt take your advice most of the sumpers love for sumps is ease of maintenance at the end of the day a can, sump, sponge filter will all do the same thing....make a glass box nice and cozy for a fish.


Again statt a thread in the filtration section as this will be my last reply to this thread, its going no where

 

[Grinch]

I'm surprised more people haven't chimed in on this. Probably due to the initial title of the thread. If everyone really thinks I'm making a huge mistake I need to call my custom aquarium guy and get him to start drilling holes or building chambers lol.

Ring ring ring With your tank and intended inhabitants, I'd suggest a sump. That said, I've never kept either aro's or rays.

Sounds like the sump is great but more work and more potential for failure. With 6 fish or less in 300gallons it seems like a sump is more overkill than 2 legit canisters. Has anyone really had terrible results from two FX6's??? Ahhh

Sumps have a higher initial investment of time to set them up, but the regular maintenance is lower than filtration methods such as HOBs and canisters. Eventually the time invested in the sump will catch up to the plug-and-play filtration methods and you'll be happy to have a sump. I'm not comfortable saying that the risk of failure is higher for one or the other... if you have two return pumps in the sump I'd say you're in good shape.

**** it im getting a sump I hate you guys. Once and for all what is your opinion on the best way to set up the actual intake outake so it's least visible in the tank but still effective?

You will be happy with the sump

I can read quite well and perceive intentions for myself. I agree that the comments about media were made mostly not because large amounts are needed but because they were a way of attack on my statements. I just played your game afterwards I am surprised that you think I am upset over it because I in fact enjoyed it

I think its about time I stop. Thanks for the compliments I quite like your poly tank with red sand

I hope instead of just stating things for facts, people chime in with pictures of their setups and history of the fish inhabitants. That will give a better idea of how well a set up is functioning...

C Coryloach tagged me in J jaws7777 !!

What it boils down to here is that different filtration methods provide different costs/benefits and you have to balance those costs/benefits when choosing your filtration method. I doubt this is controversial.

We have centralized our tanks into one location, so we are using centralized filtration methods. We have an air pump that runs sponge filters on all of our tanks >5 gallons. All of our tanks have a heavy bio-load, but one tank has a particularly heavy load, so it has an FX6 canister filled with bio-media as a supplement. Bi-weekly 75% WC.

Our new rack, which is not fully functional yet, is fully outfitted for air-driven filtration but this capacity will only be used if a tank needs to be isolated. Otherwise, all of the tanks on this new rack flow to a central sump. I decided to do a sump on this rack because it is composed primarily of a dozen 5.5 gallon tanks, which would really limit our filtration options. The sump greatly increases our options in this case AND small tanks are a real pain in the butt to get right, so this turns a dozen small tanks into one big tank in terms of cycling etc.

Details/pics etc. are at the link in my sig.

 

[Bigfishnut]

Soooo, you figure out how to clean that arowana tank??? Lmfao

 

[fattubwhale]

I used nothing but sponges till I got a big boy tank

 

[Coryloach]

Your full of assumptions and some out right lies as well. Your canister holding 20L of bio is a great bed time story. No ammonia or nitrite in my tanks. Fish are disease free and growing...im good

I am glad your fish are ok. I'd be surprised if you had ammonia and nitrite in your tanks but the story of water quality doesn't end there.

Regardless, I measured the bottom bucket part of the filters without the head. They are 20x20x35 which gives roughly 14L. Lets be pessimistic and take 4L for plastic thickness, round edges, etc...that gives 10L for the 4 baskets per filter, around 2.5L a basket. I've got 3 filters, which roughly gives total 30L amongst them when you do the match.
Before you start doubting the volume of media in this filters(no fancy round trays like the FXs), I want to mention I also own a JBL 1901e which has a total volume of 19L with media capacity of 12L(you can google it yourself). So I am not wrong to think I've got minimum 10L volume media per SunSun filter and between my three I can fit your 30L media you've got in the sump. That's all I stated.

However, my filter's media is majorly blocks of sponges, not a standard fancy media, which were cut out to the exact size of the baskets. I also have a large sponge block on each intake too. On a 180G tank I have plenty of media, even with cans, but not the extra water volume capacity of a sump...

P.S. The measurements of the JBL Crystal Profi 1901e I gave as a comparison are 41x18x18 without the head, roughly 13.8L.

 

[DN328]

No, because I've never worried about ammonia issues. But I know you'll use this against me now I hope the cows come home soon

This is my previous set up before it cracked up. I had 4 cans on it and those green ammonia mops above
I could barely register nitrate ever, not to mind ammonia and needing sumps...

Those plants look really healthy. I'd like to add, but not practical for me with a tank in my living room. If I do ever add, it may be some plants, um, in my sump to help with nitrates.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I am relatively new to rays,but have been keeping a 3 year old reticulated ray for the past few months.
I have always used canisters on my cichlid tanks and have never had any issues. I have always been happy with the performance and with the right bio media I can achieve a huge colony of beneficial bacteria.
I have never felt I needed a sump before and have always stayed away from drilling tanks and had concerns of leaks.

However, I have soon found out that keeping rays is not the same as keeping many other fish species.While I still like canisters, when I upgrade to a bigger tank(currently have her in a 7x2x2)I will definitely be looking much more seriously at a large sump.
One of the problems I have is I don't like bare bottom tanks.I see many benefits, just like a more natural look.
The trouble is rays kick up an incredible amount of sand.I find I am cleaning my externals weekly now as apposed to every month.They get lots of sand inside them from the ray so the extra maintenance is necessary.
Water changes are also bigger and more frequent.
I feel if i was setting up again from scratch or when I upgrade, I will be adding the largest sump i can possibly fit under the main tank.
I have never wanted a sump before and I do manage my water ok with the canisters and my ray is healthy.
I will say this though. Listen to the advice of the experienced ray keepers on this forum.
I have been keeping cichlids for around 30 years and thought I knew it all.
Rays are a different kind of animal creating a different kind of mess.My advice would be to add the largest sump you can. Constantly cleaning my canisters is getting a bit of a bind.

 

[jaws7777]

I am relatively new to rays,but have been keeping a 3 year old reticulated ray for the past few months.
I have always used canisters on my cichlid tanks and have never had any issues. I have always been happy with the performance and with the right bio media I can achieve a huge colony of beneficial bacteria.
I have never felt I needed a sump before and have always stayed away from drilling tanks and had concerns of leaks.

However, I have soon found out that keeping rays is not the same as keeping many other fish species.While I still like canisters, when I upgrade to a bigger tank(currently have her in a 7x2x2)I will definitely be looking much more seriously at a large sump.
One of the problems I have is I don't like bare bottom tanks.I see many benefits, just like a more natural look.
The trouble is rays kick up an incredible amount of sand.I find I am cleaning my externals weekly now as apposed to every month.They get lots of sand inside them from the ray so the extra maintenance is necessary.
Water changes are also bigger and more frequent.
I feel if i was setting up again from scratch or when I upgrade, I will be adding the largest sump i can possibly fit under the main tank.
I have never wanted a sump before and I do manage my water ok with the canisters and my ray is healthy.
I will say this though. Listen to the advice of the experienced ray keepers on this forum.
I have been keeping cichlids for around 30 years and thought I knew it all.
Rays are a different kind of animal creating a different kind of mess.My advice would be to add the largest sump you can. Constantly cleaning my canisters is getting a bit of a bind.

Forgot you got into rays. Hows it doing ? I think cans are fine but once you get uaed to the ease of maintenance with a sump the cans just become all the more troublesome. Atleast thats what happened with me

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Hi jaws.

The ray is doing great mate and I am really enjoying keeping her.Im keen to get her a bigger tank though.
I had a bit of trouble getting her to eat a varied diet at first but she is starting to take other foods too.

It's the initial setting up of a sump that puts me off and the chance of leaks.
Having said that I think I will take the plunge on my planned upgrade.
Maintenance is not the most enjoyable part of the hobby and it has become quite extensive since I got the ray.
I think I would keep my externals running for mechanical filtration and have a massive biological sump.
That's the plan at least.