180 g Freshwater Tank with Sand Bottom

[Ron R.]

I have a 180 g tank with a CaribSea Aragamax Select sand substrate and lots of holey rock. I constructed an undergravel jet system (UGJ) with 3 jets each running off 2 Eheim 1262 pumps. I don't like the look of the undergravel jets or the intakes hanging down the back of my tank. I am running 2 2217 Eheim cannister filters at opposite ends of my 6 foot tank.

I have a colony of Moba Frontosa (10) and want to nix the UGJ system. I need good water movement through the tank so fish waste and any uneaten food can be moved to the intakes of my 2217's at either end of the tank.

I know you have a quality product and needed to know what advice you could give me. Would I need 1 Tunze pump or more.......what size........to get the water flow I need for my freshwater application?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[rvitko]

I would just get a single Stream 6080. This would get the whole tank moving pretty well at not to much cost.

 

[Ron R.]

thanks for the quick reply. Can a 6080 be magnet mounted? If so, my tank is the standard Oceanic 180 g (6x2x2). What would the glass thickness be for my tank? It was made circa 1988.

Also, what would be the best place to mount the 6080.....a side corner near the rear of the tank or another area?

Lastly, what on-line retailers would have this unit and mount on supply?

Thanks again for your assistance.

 

[rvitko]

The 6080 should be readily available from Champion, Premium or MD, in Houston your local dealer is Global Fish and Pet. The magnet mount will likely have a wait but it will work for that pump. I am unsure how thick the glass on a 180 is, I would measure it at the seams, for 1/2" you would use the 6080.5, if it is up to 3/4" it would use the 6200.5. I would suspect it is 1/2" or 5/8"

 

[Ron R.]

thanks again for the quick reply. I will measure the 180 g this evening.

What is the best place to mount the 6080? All my holey rock is positioned running down the center of the tank from end to end. There is about 7" of sand in front of my holey rock (to the front glass) and the same distance in back of my holey rock (to the back glass). How much distance should I leave between the sand and the bottom of the 6080?

Thanks again for your assistance.

 

[rvitko]

I would mount them near the top, maybe 1 on each side of the rock structure. 4" down from the surface or just deep enough to prevent vortexes from forming.

 

[Ron R.]

Since I am only looking at getting one 6080, would the best placement be in front of or behind my holey rock structure? Would the current follow the edges of my rectangular tank, all around the tank?

Thanks again for your assistance.

 

[Ron R.]

Roger, what do you think about my question above?

Have a great weekend and thanks for your help.

 

[rvitko]

That is a tough call, I would place it high and hope the flow got to both sides reasonably well, you would just have to try it, but assuming the filters are in the back I would guess the front would be more in need of flow.

 

[Ron R.]

Since my holey rockwork is running down the center of my 6 foot tank, are you thinking 1 6080 might not be enough? 2 6000's or 2 6100's on a controller would probably be overkill.

What about 2 6060's or 2 6080's instead, running them 12-14 continuous hours on an auto timer and shutting them off at night for feeding and so the fish can rest in calmer water?

I think my flow and debris control (on my sandy bottom) will be better with the Tunze's vs going 3 or 4 MJ1200's right?

I don't want to overdo the current with my Moba Frontosa colony. What do you think Roger?

 

[rvitko]

Tanganyika is a huge lake with tides and massive currents, not unlike the ocean. I don't think current is the problem. Start with one and add a second if you think you need it, I think the 6080 is the right model for this application.

 

[Ron R.]

thanks Roger. Have a great weekend.

 

[rvitko]

Thanks, you to Ron.