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1st 'Stream' Tank 20 G Long

Started by Guest_UncleWillie_* , Dec 03 2008 03:58 PM

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10 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_UncleWillie_*

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Posted 03 December 2008 - 03:58 PM

Hello All. I have recently obtained a 20 Gallon long tank with a Aquaclear 30 HOB filter. My intentions are to have it set up as a stream set up. It have been running for about 2 weeks with substrate from a local stream. I have a few questions about powerheads and lighting.
All of my tanks have been bought used, so i have never had to buy lights separatly and have never purchased a powerhead.
As of today, the tank only has 3 tiny blacknose dace. I would like to eventually add a few more BND, and a few snubnose and/or fantail darters.
I have kept all of these species a few years back with very little circulation, and I think they would be much happier with some current.

First, Powerheads. I was close to getting one today. However, I did not know what size / gallons per hour I needed for a tank this size. I want to have current to keep my fish happy, but dont want to blow the fish out of the water. If remember correctly, I saw 120 GPH, 135 GPH, and 250 GPH. I also didn't know if anyone suggests/don't suggest a particular brand. I have plenty of wood and large rocks to have shelter. Also, this tank stays in the coolest part of the apartment, so I don't think heat fromt the powerhead will do too much damage.

Second, Lighting. There are 30'' Fixture/light combo available for $40. This will be my first unplanted tank. Although, I may like to attach some java moss to the driftwood in there. Also, a little bit of algae on the rocks does not bother me. Are there any suggestion or other options. I have been reading others' posts about natural lighting that don't wash out or spook the fish.

Thanks in advance!
-Willie

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#2 Guest_Bwood_*

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Posted 04 December 2008 - 11:13 AM

I would not think that you would need anything crazy. I have an old unlabled power head at my house that will push fish against the glass in a 55. So i dont even use it. If i was to buy another powerhead id definitly go for the lower if not lowest rating available.

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#3 Guest_UncleWillie_*

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Posted 04 December 2008 - 01:00 PM

Thanks. After a bit more research it looks like I will be going with the Maxi-Jet, either the 110 or 160 GPH powerhead. If the 160 sounds too powerful for a 20 G long, let me know. I will be picking one up This weekend.
Again, thanks!

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#4 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 04 December 2008 - 11:39 PM

Not exacly sure of what fish you are planning on, but I do ont think there is a powerhead out there that will blow the fish up against the glass, if the fish are shiners or darters... they live in some pretty stiff current and seem to be able to use the current to their advantage... more current will be more like the habitat they live in... go for a current that you think is too stout (but of course keeps the water in the tank)... the fish will appreciate more.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

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#5 Guest_drewish_*

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Posted 05 December 2008 - 12:03 AM

Thanks. After a bit more research it looks like I will be going with the Maxi-Jet, either the 110 or 160 GPH powerhead. If the 160 sounds too powerful for a 20 G long, let me know. I will be picking one up This weekend.
Again, thanks!

I know it is much bigger but in my 180g I'm using a modified maxi-jet (2000gph) and a FX5 canister filter (925gph). The darters love it. I have a few minnow-types and madtoms as well. I would go at least 10x your gallonage.

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#6 Guest_dafrimpster_*

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Posted 05 December 2008 - 09:14 AM

I know it is much bigger but in my 180g I'm using a modified maxi-jet (2000gph) and a FX5 canister filter (925gph). The darters love it. I have a few minnow-types and madtoms as well. I would go at least 10x your gallonage.

Is that the propellor mod? I have been thinking about adding that to my stream tank. The videos I have seen show tremendous water movement.

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#7 Guest_UncleWillie_*

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Posted 05 December 2008 - 12:52 PM

Thanks everyone - I am getting some good info here. I think I will end up with at least the 160 or 250 now. Man, there is a huge price jump from the 160 to the 250 rated powerheads.
The current plan for stocking is to have ~ 6-9 blacknose dace and ~ 4-6 snubnose darters and/or fantail darters combined. Of course this is subject to change.
Anyways. I will more than likely purchase one by the end of the weekend. Thank yall very much for info.

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#8 Guest_Kanus_*

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Posted 05 December 2008 - 01:10 PM

I know it is much bigger but in my 180g I'm using a modified maxi-jet (2000gph) and a FX5 canister filter (925gph). The darters love it. I have a few minnow-types and madtoms as well. I would go at least 10x your gallonage.

I'd like to be the second to extol the benefits of the modified maxijet. I bought my maxijet and the mod from drsfostersmith.com for about $35 and have more than enough current to make everyone happy. My cyprinella have been spawning in front of the powerhead for the last few weeks. The only downside is that I have some fish with shortened tail fins. I have noticed an improvement in that since I removed the mosquitofish though, so they may be responsible for that. I wrapped two ouchless elastic hair ties around the intake to prevent smaller fish from getting sucked in and it has been successful thus far.

This rig would be too big for your tank, but I figured you guys would probably find the recommendation useful.

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#9 Guest_smilingfrog_*

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 03:38 AM

Thanks everyone - I am getting some good info here. I think I will end up with at least the 160 or 250 now. Man, there is a huge price jump from the 160 to the 250 rated powerheads.
The current plan for stocking is to have ~ 6-9 blacknose dace and ~ 4-6 snubnose darters and/or fantail darters combined. Of course this is subject to change.
Anyways. I will more than likely purchase one by the end of the weekend. Thank yall very much for info.

Keep us posted as to what you end up getting and how well it works out for you. I've been thinking about doing something similar, but have no experience with powerheads.

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#10 Guest_UncleWillie_*

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 12:42 PM

Keep us posted as to what you end up getting and how well it works out for you. I've been thinking about doing something similar, but have no experience with powerheads.

No problem. Yesterday afternoon I bought a Maxi-Jet 600 (rated for 160 gph). I was a bit intimidated by the 250 gph, so I went with the smaller. I am still tinkering with placement as I still don't have my tank set up the way I like it. I still have a few pieces of driftwood that have been soaking for about a month, but won't sink. Once they do sink, I will play around with it and the placement of my larger stones.

I am very pleased with it right now. I think I could have gone for the 250 gph, but the way I have it now -working with my rocks and HOB filter, it is creating a very nice swirl that is not overwhelming. The BND (1.25'') seem to be happy with it. There are still penty of places for them to get out of the current, but they don't. So, this is excactly what I pictured and wanted. I will not be adding anything else to the tank until the new year.

So smilingfrog, if you have a 20 G long, you could go for either the 160 for a gently flow, or 250 gph with some structure. Either will do fine depedning on what you want.

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#11 Guest_UncleWillie_*

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 01:00 PM

Oh, I figured I will post some pics as well. I also bought a light for it yesterday, too. It turns out, this tank is so old, it is not the standard 20 Long. It is about 1/4'' shorter, 3/4'' wider. So it will remain with no cover for a while until I can cut some plexiglass or something.
Here is the powerhead with a decent amount of aeration. And here is the tank right now with the air dialed down a good bit. Like I said, right now things are just stuffed in there, but I will do some scaping when the 3 peices of wood sinks.
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