150g for Suki the Fahaka- updated pics 1/14

[eklikewhoa]

Hit it with excel!

just make sure there's no plants that don't take well to it.

[LooksLater]

Definitely need some taller plants to help with the scale, the size of this tank just keeps blowing me away every time I look at it.

And thanks you guys!

Things are going pretty well, the cycle fish -danios- are getting way fat and coloring up really nicely. And Stability is amazing, I don't think I'll ever start up another tank without it.
Getting some algae- brown on the back wall and wood, some green on the rocks. Realized I'd pulled some BBA into this tank on the temple bells and anubias...
(nnNNnnnNnoooOoooOoo!!! )

I pulled it out to spot treat in a bucket and will put it back soon. Do you guys think I should start heavy Excel dosing & try to get the algae under control, or just wait for it to stabilize?

[allysangels]

just a thought... most "mechanical" media is bio as well... sponge and bonded padding have tons of surface area for bacteria growth as well. suki is one lucky "girl".

[troy tucker]

Suki will be very happy...

[mnemenoi]

I like the layout and it gives her a nice amount of sand bed to dig in if she wants. Now to get those plants throwing out some growth and leaves to fill it all in and look dense. Nice layering of the crypts. I'm all for nabbing some taller plants if we can find some though. Some Crinium, Ruffled sword, and taller Aponogetins would all fit the bill. Oh, and taller Temple Bells....

[Ogrodii]

Re: 150g for Suki the Fahaka- updated pics 2/9

+1Fx5 I had two 2260's and replaced them with two Fx5

[Geral]

I rather have fx5 than Eheim , that's a never ending thread.
I have Eheim and fx5 and I rather have fx5 as mechanical
And a wet and dry as biological . Just my 2 cents

[SunnyHouTX]

Re: 150g for Suki the Fahaka- updated pics 2/9

I can't quite explain, but can demonstrate how I place powerheads when I come over for the native collection trip

[LooksLater]

Sasha, you'll be surprised how much junk ends up in the canister even with just one bonded blue pad up top.

Oh, I know. Mine get plugged up pretty fast. I was hoping all that mech at the bottom and back-flushing would help me stretch out maintenance. That's why I'm asking. I'll service as much as I need to, but if I can find a way to pack the canisters that's good for her and easier for me, then...awesome.

So do you guys have any suggestions as far as how to set up the intakes/spraybars for good flow and movement of detritus? I suck at that. So far, my plan is- 2262 spraybar on right side wall of the tank, pointed down at an angle to push crud off the floor to the left side of the tank, where the 2262 intake will be. Then use the 2215 spraybar for surface agitation, maybe on the left wall, pointed straight across to aid in a circular-kind-of flow? With that intake maybe in the right back corner, where I'm thinking there may be a bit of a dead spot. Sound like it'd work? I'm open to any suggestions.
Also have the powerhead to place in there somewhere...

[SunnyHouTX]

Re: 150g for Suki the Fahaka- updated pics 2/9

Yeah, I also ran my FX5 filters with just bio media and the sponges that came with them. Worked great.

Sasha, you'll be surprised how much junk ends up in the canister even with just one bonded blue pad up top.

[eklikewhoa]

I've always ran the eheims like this and wet/dry the same.

Never used fx5s till recent and they're the worst pos I've owned. The FX5s now run only bio with zero mechanical.

With the eheims I relied on the wetdry to do most of the mechanical since it was easier to service, just change out the bonded pad more often.

[LooksLater]

Re: 150g for Suki the Fahaka- updated pics 2/9

Thanks, Sunny. That makes sense. Though I'm surprised that's all the mechanical you run. Your tanks always look so ridiculously clear! Though I'm sure the W/C schedule helps.

...and yes, totally did not acknowledge the MECH in the name. Filing that in my (all-too-small to hold all my blonde moments) drawer!

Sent from my C5155 using Tapatalk 2

[SunnyHouTX]

Re: 150g for Suki the Fahaka- updated pics 2/9

Thanks guys.
So mostly bio, with enough mech to keep it from getting plugged up too fast? I'm assuming you were running a Fx5 or something else for mostly mech, Quoc? How often would you have to service the bio canister?
Sunny do you do the same, run focused mech in a canister...you have your wet/dry for bio,eh?

I just learned for the first time that ehfimech is considered mechanical, with possibly some bio benefits. And I've been using that stuff forever, as bio. haha. Der. With Suki's messiness...her filters pick up so much detritus, I'm hoping all the mech at the bottom, then coarse pad will help stretch out maintenance.
I'm looking forward to the back-flush feature on here, that's pretty sweet and I can see that helping a lot.

I'm going to put the 2017 on this tank as well- but that's probably way too weak to use as mostly mech, and really get anywhere, right?

Sasha, I have my 2262 canisters set up with mostly bio media with one bonded blue pad on top doing mechanical and my wet dry filters also have a bonded blue pad under the drip trays, that's the only mechanical filtration I have TBH. Water stays pretty clean, helped with 90% weekly WC.

So I see you've completely glossed over the "mech" in EhfiMECH? I take it you've already filed that in the blond moments drawer?

IME, back washing doesn't really do much for me. Just better to properly clean the canister every 2 - 3 months, give or take

[Andrew_B]

Very nice!! That long piece of wood is kind of awkward how it sits now. I think if it was more horizontal, near the sand bed and only have the big right piece of wood and plants go high in the tank, it could look better imo. That big piece of wood is such a show piece, show it off!

Looks good regardless!

[LooksLater]

I trimmed and moved a few plants that were losing leaves, and messed up the nice clear water today, haha. Still a work in progress, I might rearrange as needed once I figure out how flow is going to work in here.

Got my good friend at Barking Squirrel Photography Studios to snap a couple shots for me, since my camera is dead...and lets face it, I'm not very good with it anyway...here's some pics, finally!