Proper flow in 30 gallon tank

Hey everyone,

I was wondering how everyone sets up their tank and if you have multiple powerheads that can push the fish waste, deitrius, etc to the power filter. Is it possible to have an extremely powerful filter that has power heads pushing all of the stuff that accumulates on the bottom into the filter so the sand stays clean or are most filters not designed to pick up larger things such as fish poop, etc. Thanks

 

Most people use multiple power heads to keep the detritus suspended in the water column. this way it can get sucked into the power filter or sump and be filtered out of the water. Most power filters do not have enough power on there own to accomplish this kind of flow. Just be sure to clean the filter media in your filter often so the detritus doesnt build up and cause nitrates.

 

ok so putting one in back and another in front would help the flow better and I would see less detritus on the bottom? Thanks..

 

I would not say most aquarists have "stuff" blowing around in the water so a filter can suck it out. "Most" aquarists use what we refer to as a "CUC" (clean up crew) which consists of Hermit Crabs, Snails of various sort, bottom cleaning fish, Starfish etc. I rarely see detritus floating around.

 

Yah its difficult when you have 2 small puffers that eat a lot of the clean up crew. Is there any other possibly solutions? Maybe they would leave a crab alone, are they reef safe? I have 2 spotted green puffers that I acclimated in case you were wondering what type they were. Thanks

 

DO you mean the fresh water type acclimated to salt? I don't know if they will eat crabs, probably. If you got a couple large Nassarius snails they may not be able to handle them plus they stay under the substrate most of the time. Also, a couple large Conch could work.