Tank set up for eclipse 6??

[Jared Cooper]

I apologize for the many questions of mine you've seen on the board.

I was wondering, should I trash my bio wheel, or even the whole filter set up? I plan on having a 4" sand bed, some live rock, and a pipe for a burrow burried in the sand. One idea I had was to put some LR rubble in the eclips filtration area that normally housed carbon and a polyfilter. I would use some LR rubble currently in my reef tank sump which is full of sponges in the eclipse system. I figured I'd add a small powerhead as well as calurpa.

Any more suggestions I could use 'em, do you agree or disagree with my set up??

 

[JEMichael IV]

I removed my biowheel in my eclipse 6. I did however leave the normal filter in there and continue to use the regular filter cart with carbon. I noticed a drop in my nitrates with the bio-wheel gone and I have a 6 inch sandbed which he has dug down to the bottom of the tank, it was interesting to watch this 7-9 pound rock slowly drop lower and lower over time.

 

[Mantis the Menace]

I did not remove my biowheel or my filter in my eclipse 6 just make sure you clean out your filter ( every 2-3 months) but I have fish in mine. I have 2 pieces of live rock and a 2" sandbed.

 

[Jared Cooper]

do you guys have a powerhead in your tank? If so which one. I am not sure if I need one or not.

 

[Mantis the Menace]

Jared Cooper--I dont have a power head in my tank Becuse it is doing just fine.Oh yeah I agree with your set up. but where are you going to place your plastic tube? I suggest that you put it in the front so you can see your mantis.I have one more question what kind of mantis do you have?
THANKS

 

[Jared Cooper]

I thought I'd place the plastic tube in the back right corner, pointing diaganaly. I don't have a mantis yet but I am going to hopefully get one tommarrow if the store is open They told me that they had a yellow spearer, about 3 1/2 inches long. It is an hour drive so I'll just have to take thier word on it. This store said they get mantis shrimps in every two weeks.

 

[kennerd]

I bagged the bio-wheel, but kept the cartridge on mine & things are fine. I don't see a need for additional water movement, as there is plenty from the filtration unit, especially without the bio-wheel. Just keep up with water changes & you'll do fine.

by the way, I removed the bio wheel from a 12 gal eclipse as well.

 

[racer340]

To me a 6 is just too small to keep stable water conditions,especially when you add in the water displaced by the live rock and then the wastes and unseen food scraps.I used a 3 gallon walmart starfish set on top of a 10 gallon tank with lr,dsb and caulerpa,removed the filtration unit entirely.I drilled the side of the 3 gal and used fittings and o rings from HD to make an outflow and put a mj 250 in the 10 with a return to the bottom of the 3.Works perfect plus the added capacity and refugium keep water quality near perfect.Had to do this for my GF who had to have a chocolate chip star, horseshoe crab and blue leg hermits,none of which I want in my reef or mantis tanks.
Just an idea for you if you have the space to do it.Total cost including the tank and powerhead was under 25.00.

 

[Jared Cooper]

racer-
sounds like a good idea to me. I just wish I had the space. If my 6 gallon turns out to be too unstable then I think I will just hook it up to my main 120 gallon system under the hood. But i'd rather have it in my home office.

 

[racer340]

As long as you keep up with waterchanges,and wash out the filter every couple of days you should keep a handle on the nitrates.For me I go for ease of maintenance,so it never becomes a chore that I hate doing.

 

[Jared Cooper]

Well I just hooked my 6 gallon up to my main tank. I have a small drip coming from the bulkhead that I'll have to fix tommarrow. I got an awsome yellow spearer. I have no idea what kind it is. I'll post a picture so the Dr. can identify it.