Filter and flow for horse

[mangelo]

I've added a Bio Wheel filter and a small power head for my 26 gal BowFront. My question is should I let them run all the time or have them timed.

I used to leave the lights on from 1:00pm - 11:00pm and then let the filter and flow kick on until 1:00pm the next day. Should I continue this schedule or leave the flow on all the time or ....

Thanks.

 

[pledosophy]

I would not ever turn off the filter, or the powerhead. If the powerhead is blowing food out of a feeding dish, maybe move it or turn it off for feeding, but otherwise always leave it on.

You need something moving the water at all times. Stagnate water is not a good thing.

What kind of power head are you using?

I don't want to be the guy who sounds all snobby about filters and equipment and tells you that your filter sucks, but IMO there are better options out there then the biowheels IME. I like the natural route and use macro algae. It's pretty, it's cheap, it's a good filter. There are more expensive things as well, but IME I was not so happy with a biowheel. I don't think they do much IMO.

 

[namxas]

i agree with Pledo here. I'm a huge proponent of live macro and LR, esp. in SH tanx. IMHO, bio-wheels are one of the worst filters for SW there is...one step up from UGF's. and don't turn it off for Gawd's sake. SH are hard on water quality to begin with, and need rather heavy biofiltration, which bio-wheels only add to since they can only process as far as nitrates. in fact, just to give you an idea, my two SH setups are the only tanx i have out of 12 tanx that ever grow hair algae.

if you run a PH, make sure it has some sort of guard or is of a design that prevents your SH from getting caught/injured in it.

 

[mangelo]

So just throw some macro in the main tank? I have a refugium on my 75gal SW. I could take some from there, but would like the nicer purple kind whatever that may be.

 

[ctenophors rule]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15503839#post15503839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mangelo
So just throw some macro in the main tank? I have a refugium on my 75gal SW. I could take some from there, but would like the nicer purple kind whatever that may be.

purple algae?

well their a rhodophytes, red algae, that can have nice colors...but no purple algae..

the most common red algae is red grape.

i would recomend sticking with the greener algaes, like ulva and chaeto for nutrient export (ten dry grams of chaeto removes 12 ppm of nitrate from a 67 gallon tank!) and mangroves.

if all u can do is stick it in the tank...then that will do, their should be macro alhgae in a seahorse tank anyway, (and in the tank you should stick to caulerpa, and ulva, chaeto will restrict the swimming area of the seahorses, and hide them from view).

if you can set up a nice big sump and put some macros in their.

what is your water temp? jw

 

[mangelo]

Ok. That sounds good. I keep the temp 72 and below.