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The tank (4ft by 18 inch by 18
inch) was filtered
by 2 external canister filters.
FLUVAL 403.
Bought in 1996, this pump has an output of about 1100 litres/hr with a
filter volume of 5.4 litres. I used SIPORAX, plastic material,
sponge pad and wool in this filter. The impeller shaft was also changed
once in 2000.
The return tube was sited horizontally at the
water level to agitate the surface of the water for better gas exchange. In early 2002, I added a
surface skimmer (click to read review) to the input
of the
pump to better the filtration. The actual flow rate of the pump was probably
300 to 500 litres/hr considering the length of hose I have and the
amount of filtering material in the filter.
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EHEIM
2217. With a pump output of 1000 litres/hr and
a filter volume of 6 litres, this filter will theoretically
turn over 3-4 times the volume of the tank in an hour. Again, the
actual flow rate was probably
about halve the figure. I used the original filter pad
that came along with the filter with ceramics and wool. Bought in 1993,
this pump is still operating excellently after changing the impeller once in
2000. The return to the tank is sited vertical at the back of the
tank to create some form of movement in the tank.
In all, the volume of the
tank was being turned-over by the filter at least 3-4 times assuming some losses
due to the hoses and connections.
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Specifications
of FLUVAL 403
Flow
rate (litre/hr) : 1100
Filter
Volume (litres) :
5.4
Wattage
(Watts)
: 22
Comments : Very good filter, value for money. comes with full
accessories and quiet. Spares difficult to find in Singapore
Advise
: Read
installation carefully, especially on installation of
impeller.
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Specifications of
EHEIM 2217
Flow rate
(litre/hr) :
1000
Filter
Volume (litres) :
6
Wattage
(Watts)
: 25
Comments : Excellent
filter but expensive, need to purchase additional accessories e.g..
double tap, etc. Silent and reliable.
Advise : Correct
installation of impeller is important for quiet operation.
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| As
we previously kept marine fishes, most of the tank decorations were from
the marine tank set-up. Corals rocks and gravels were used for the
tank bottom. This was quite ideal as cichlids require
relatively hard water and the corals and stones were quite suitable for
them.
In addition, I added
some lava rocks in early 2002. Black foam is used as the back
ground but as I was reluctant to strip the tank to put them into the
tank, the foam are pasted at the back of the tank. The effects were
equally good.
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Plastic
plants were added to better the aesthetics and I also found that they
form good barriers and screens for fishes fighting for territory.
The coral rocks
provided plenty of hiding places for the fishes. PVC pipes were also
added to provide more shelter but the fishes did not seemed to like them
very much. They liked it better with 4 inch PVC elbow joints as hiding
places.
View the tank
photos of the tank set-up
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As
Cichlids are quite indifferent to lighting, I initially used the light
that came with the hood. It was a 30 Watts fluorescent
light. However, as of Jul 02, I added 2x36W PLC (6500K) with
e-ballast and they lighted up the tank like daylight. The Africans were
not affected by this sudden brightness, in fact they looked better.
The
lights are controlled by 2 different timers, the fluorescent light is the
first and last to be off in order to avoid suddenly lighting the tank.
In a way, this also simulates effects of dusk and dawn.
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