AC 200

[rocketshrimp]

I have heard that some of the power filters can be to powerful. i was wondering if a ac 200 would be to strong for ottos, platies, mollys, ghost shrimp zebra danios, i dont want my fish to be pulled toward the filter all of the time.

 

[Jawz]

how big is the tank?

 

[rocketshrimp]

I am planing on getting a 20 gal tank in a couple of weeks.

 

[Jawz]

Hmm id think it be alright, 10x turnover is usually optimal, if there are problems then simply move the intake tube over and the flow rate decreases. Hmm or maybe go with the 150 instead. I have 2 AC 150s and a powerhead on my 35 gallon tank.

 

[treewhale]

Anything smaller would be a bit risky. My friend Jean had 4 White Clouds sucked up into her AC200 on a 10 gallon tank. It was just too much power, too much water movement. Now she just keeps it turned down as far as it will go, which seems to work. At least the tank's inhabitents seem to be less prone to getting sucked up, even the guppy fry.

 

[rocketshrimp]

So if i turn it all the way down it will work. thanks

 

[dogmaiwli]

OR even better go buy some fluval 4 (blue foam sleeves) for the intake, you increase your bacteria surface area, you keep the flow at a high rate, which is good for your fish, and you keep the little stinkers from being sucked up into the filter

I've got one on my 55 (AC 300) and my 10 (AC Mini)

 

[Wormo3188]

The AC 200 should be fine. I have an A 200 on my 20g tank with danio, minnows, plecos, cats, whatever. They all seem fine and I even had to increase the water flow by putting in an Air Bubbler for the minnows and danios to play around in.

 

[rocketshrimp]

Thank you for calming my fears i will look into the fluval 4 spnge.

 

[GT3050]

A friend of mine uses an AC 300 on a 20 gallon with te flow rate at max without problems. There are some very small in there as well such as neons and several others around an inch. I wouldn't worry about the AC 200 at all!

 

[catfishmike]

only sick or weak fish get stuck to the intake so don't worry about it.although i was at a discus forum the other day and most discus keepers are doing the same thing with the pre filter foam.i have been looking into it as well.

 

[jkulysses]

You can also take a AC mini foam and cut an X into it and slip it over your intake tube. THis works really good for keeping sand out of your filter also so you don't ruin your impellor.

Jake