Migrating to heavily planted - what filter?

[HanshaSuro]

Well, the goal is to switch to a layerite-based substrate, start CO2 injection and get an appropriate filter. Then I'm thinking about a combination of plants like these:

Filigree Frill - Myriophyllum simulans
Microsword - Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Glosso - Glossostigma elatinoides

My current filter is a Marineland Penguin 125 (biowheel-type), which I understand will completely defeat any CO2 injection.

What do people suggest for a first go at a canister filter for this 20g? I've heard someone recommend the H.O.T. Magnum, but without the biowheel attachment it didn't seem like it had much biofiltration. Is there a good relatively cheap filter that will work well with CO2 and provide all the fitration types?

 

[Somonas]

Canister. for my 33 gallon I have a Filstar XP1. Does a good job turning the water over, and it dispurses the co2 well.

 

[HanshaSuro]

That makes 2 endorsements for the xp1. Looks like I will give that serious consideration. Thank you.

 

[revfred]

Make that 3 endorsements for a cannister.

 

[dana307]

4 for the canister. Just to add my two cents in. ;-)

 

[HanshaSuro]

Well, I was pretty set on the canister. The question was really, what model do you recommend?

 

[Somonas]

Filstar XP1.
You could try the Fluval 104. or whatever the smallest model is nowadays. You could also try a little Eheim (2213, or whatever the smallest model is)

 

[AmazonTankz]

I had this question about my 55g awhile ago, everyone suggested a cannister filter. However, I talked to a guy I worked with at a petstore and he said that a canister would be good for the CO2 aspect of it but would be bad because they squirt the water out (outtake tube) realy fast like a power head and in a planted tank you want slow water movement... This left me pretty confused (there really isen't any other filter yoy can use in a planted tank). Any thoughts on his opinion??

 

[Somonas]

My XP1 has a spraybar on it directed just under the water surface. there is hardly any surface agitation. the tops of the plants blow around a bit. If I could have got a smaller canister I would have.

 

[klclyburn]

It's quite easy to take that spray nozzle off the out-take tube on the canister. I have a Fluval 204 on my planted 20 gal (I've got goldfish too) and I took the spray nozzle off of it, and it flows very quietly and smoothly. There's no rough water, and the swords in that area of the out-take don't move very much at all from the current. I've also got an over hang filter on it too, and it doesn't cause too much disturbance.

But yeah, another vote for canister filters!

 

[AmazonTankz]

thanks, that makes me feel better. In the future (when I have more $$$) I am going to buy a canister filter for my 55g and have it be a more heavly planted tank. I have an affinity for Angelfish so I am was worried about how the water current would affect them.