Inherited a tank: Advice/Ideas needed on filtration, scratches and inhabitants.

Hello good people of TASA

I was fortunate enough to be given this tank. :bigsmile:
As you can see it's two hexagon tanks with bridges connecting them.
Total capasity 35 litres.

Was thinking of creating a Guppy tank and maybe adding a few others.
(This is where the first part of advice comes in.... Ideas?)

On filtration:
I am planning on putting two undergravel filters in the tank but was wondering if I should add some additional filtration as well.

Any recommendation on a small capacity external filter.
Something like this: http://www.boyu.us/eng/canister-filter/EF-05.htm
Any ideas on where to get one and cost?
The idea is to take water from one side and then return to the other.

Other option would be an internal filter but my concern is that one side will be filtered nicely and the other not so much. Any ideas on how to solve this issue?

A HOB filter is not an option. (Lid won't close)

Also being an old tank it has a lot of fine scratches inside and out.
Any advice on how to remove them.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

I would go with the external, and leave the Under Gravel ones out all together! They are very outdated, and cause more problems than they are worth.

Just be careful not to have TOO big a current cycling through, or the fish won't like it! Thats the drawback of smaller tanks! No real control over current!

Cheers
G!

 

The boyu would work well. Have the intake in 1 and the output in the other. Nothing wrong with an undergravel, just do regular gravel vacs. Hth

 

Cute little tanks... how about a species tank for a small crew of celestial pearl danios? Just a bit different? Are there lights? Maybe lots of moss?

 

hi i agree with Firefly UGF works fine specialy in a odd shaped tank whear theres not mush place to hide equipment i use them in a 82 lt 8 sided thak similar to yours Memakdaand it works fine i just use a small powerhead to move te water through the one tunnel and back through the other mine is purspex and had some scratches when i got it and removed most of it with braso and soft cloth
take care
PS: Firefly try smoking the moss might taste beter hehehe

 

Just don't see the point of using an UGF when you are looking at using the external? Seems pointless? Also UGF's can cause issues with plant roots.

Upto you, they do do something, but it seems a waste of literal space to use when already using the far more effective external!?

Regards
G!

 

Now those are nice tanks! Or is it tank?
I say go brackish and do the puffer thing odd looking tanks with odd(cute but odd looking) fish 3 or 4 green spotted or figure 8 would look awesome in there lots of drift wood java and moss hmmm will look real nice...

 

Sorry that's java fern and moss ( any moss) but Taiwan or Spiky moss would look extra sweet...
Maybe some gloss and hair grass hmmm sounds like a nice project..

 

laying some moss in those tunnels like a christmas moss carpet or something and have them hanging down each side...would look so nice

 

Thanks for the advice Guys:
@Big G, @Firefly, @Reaper

Think I'm not going to have a choice and will have to use under gravel. can't find an external within budget. No one seems to keep low capacity externals at decent prices.

@tracyp
those are lovely fish will keep them in mind

@Lizid
One tank :noworry:
Will def be adding some moss and driftwood to the tank.

@zaqwsx15
Will try it out

 

Agreed. If you keep stocking low, use correct gravel, under gravels can work perfectly fine. A LPS in my area uses ONLY undergravel on all their tanks... and in my opinion, they sell some of the healthiest stock. I think we have let some people talk holes into our heads about undergravel filters. If used correctly, they work fine!

We talked via PM... make me an offer... Prices are always negotiable

 

Go secondhand. lots of bargains, especially when you are not looking for them. But maybe you can find something.

About the scratches. Is it glass or another material?

 

I would look at getting a small power head placing it in the bottom tube - then plug both sides with 20 ppi filter foam - that should provide all the biological filtration that you might need. At the same time you should get circulation via the top tube ..

 

@memakda when you are ready for the moss give me a shout I might be able to help you out...

 

Hi guys

Tank's up and running. Still waiting for the external filter.
Using a homemade one currently.
Decided to go with a guppys for the tank. (buggers are hard to photograph)

Here's some pics:

 

Nice DIY on the filter ... be sure to check for leaks after a while - I recall the rubber does not like the heated water to much in the long run.