Aeration in planted tank

Need some input please. Currently I have an external Dophin C-1600 as well as 3 sponge filters running of a big Tetra pump. Recently the bubbles from the sponge filters are less irrespective of cleaning them or not. This leads me to believe the pump needs to be serviced and / or the sponge filters need replacing.

Checking online the service kits for the Tetra can be found at a reasonable price. But I'm always looking at increasing flow / aeration to decrease dead spots. This has become more difficult as my plants grow and the tank is now more heavily planted.

So options are to service the Tetra and / or replace the sponge filters or add an additional corner filter (opposite from the Dophin) in the tank to keep water circulating better and increase aeration. HOB filter will not currently fit as the tank is close to the wall.

Please let me know your thoughts?

 

What size is your tank? And all those general questions. Also why not post a photo of the tank in question so we can better see

 

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...5&share_fid=4783&share_type=t&link_source=app

Link to thread with pics
Will see if I can post a more recent pic

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If this was my tank, the C-1600 would be sufficient
I currently have a C-1000 in a reasonably planted tank and the only algae I have is a bit of green spot on my wood and rock because I feed heavily.
Just make sure you have tones of biological media and you should be 100s.

Just my two cents and my experience

 

Any updated pictures? Nice thread to follow and improvements over time

 

Updated pics as requested
Cleaned out a bucket full of plants.
The Dophin flows from left to right.
My idea is to get better flow on the right side of the tank

 

Trying Pic again

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I give up
Pic available in link above

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Hmm I can see the pic .. it looks like a jungle ..

If you are not dosing CO2 then I lean to aeration in a tank in JHB is probably a good thing.

Later Ferdie

 

Sorry guys, from my mobile the pics did not show.
Thanks Ferdi, no CO2 added and no intention to add any soon. Will get a service kit and get the bubbles going properly before I make further decisions.

 

Went to Peter Bees Pets as I previously saw the Tetra spares on sale.

Chatted to the owner and he suggested to first try an air splitter. So bought one that splits into three and some new tubing and hooked it up to my Tetra APS300. Initially I thought it was a waste but after spending some time making small adjustments to each outlet the results are great. Can now evenly control the bubbles on each of my sponge filters so aeration issues resolved for now

Great when a small change makes a big difference

 

Nice @Ren ... yeah splitters work fine esp if you can keep the tube lengths the same and the depth of airstones - then the backpreasure on each line is constant. Only thing to keep an eye on is splash ... crazy how quickly you loose water as those bubble break the surface.

Later Ferdie