ForestDave
Member
Hi.
I'm just setting up my 200L Fluval Roma and have used it as a plant holding tank for the past month. I will be using CO2 from an inline diffuser into a DIY reactor and dosing Ei ferts. Lighting will be Iquatics 4x 39w tube T5s. Filter is an FX6 listed at 3500lph. I have an APS surface skimmer and at the moment an in tank heater which will I'll change to an inline one at some point.
I thought I'd guarantee good flow by putting an intake in both back corners and using a full width DIY spray bar fed from both ends to create some sort of vortex which would cover all areas of the tank. This works well but I needed to drill the spray bar holes (20mm apart), to about 7mm dia. otherwise the floating plants just churned around. After doing this the floating plants stopped churning around but instead just spun in a circle either side of the tank. This is a low light area and also quite annoying to watch. I also fitted sponge, shrimp safe filter intake covers on the 22mm pipe intakes but am concerned that they collect too much crap and slow the flow down as well.
So before I build the scape proper I am contemplating plumbing a different set up. I have attached some sketch diagrams which show the present set up and 2 possible set ups. I suppose Plan A I see as probably the best option for floating plants as the water would have 90 odd cm to calm down and the floating plants would congrugate up one end of the tank. Plan B would probably give the best overall flow though but I think I'd still need big holes in the spray bar which in turn cuts down on the good flow to the back of the tank and defeats the object of the arrangement.
Any suggestions for the best set up/controlling of floating plants would be most welcome!
Thanks.
I'm just setting up my 200L Fluval Roma and have used it as a plant holding tank for the past month. I will be using CO2 from an inline diffuser into a DIY reactor and dosing Ei ferts. Lighting will be Iquatics 4x 39w tube T5s. Filter is an FX6 listed at 3500lph. I have an APS surface skimmer and at the moment an in tank heater which will I'll change to an inline one at some point.
I thought I'd guarantee good flow by putting an intake in both back corners and using a full width DIY spray bar fed from both ends to create some sort of vortex which would cover all areas of the tank. This works well but I needed to drill the spray bar holes (20mm apart), to about 7mm dia. otherwise the floating plants just churned around. After doing this the floating plants stopped churning around but instead just spun in a circle either side of the tank. This is a low light area and also quite annoying to watch. I also fitted sponge, shrimp safe filter intake covers on the 22mm pipe intakes but am concerned that they collect too much crap and slow the flow down as well.
So before I build the scape proper I am contemplating plumbing a different set up. I have attached some sketch diagrams which show the present set up and 2 possible set ups. I suppose Plan A I see as probably the best option for floating plants as the water would have 90 odd cm to calm down and the floating plants would congrugate up one end of the tank. Plan B would probably give the best overall flow though but I think I'd still need big holes in the spray bar which in turn cuts down on the good flow to the back of the tank and defeats the object of the arrangement.
Any suggestions for the best set up/controlling of floating plants would be most welcome!
Thanks.
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