Eheim 2217 = tsunami in my 75g

[guck]

I have that current tank/filter setup:

75g/Eheim 2215 - heavily planted dirt tank
25g/Eheim 2211 - turning into dirt tank
15g/no filter yet - new dirt tank.

I bought an Eheim 2217 for my 75g then my plan was to shuffle the filters down:

75g/Eheim 2217
25g/Eheim 2215
15g/Eheim 2211

When I turned the 2217 on, it was like a tsunami in the tank.  So I put the spray bar on.  It was like a tropical strom in there.  My angels did not seem to be too impressed.

I went back to my original filter layout.  Myabe I will get a 2213 for the 25g.

The 75g being heaviliy planted, I don't put much filter media in the filter.  ceramic rings, 1-2 blue foams, coral shells.  Being so lightly packed I supposed boost the flow rate.  I don't use the pro stuff that comes with the filter. 

[Mike L]

  Hey Guck
When you put the 2217 on where was the spray bar located. It seems odd to me that it would be so much more drastic then the 2215 given that you are going from roughly 2.25  turnover rate to 3.5. Having said that  I have seen setups with a tee adaption and 2 spray bars to soften water movement. I would want the increased filtration if at all possible.
Regards Mike

[pm]

That is interesting on a 75g.  I have a 2217 on a 48g and it creates just the right amount of flow (using a diy spray bar).  Even cherry shrimps swim fine in the flow (i.e. they are not picked up like a tornado).

Mine is full of media, however, has a pre-filter, and is running a co2 reactor.  I guess all that stuff does effect it.

[guck]

I know it's odd.  Gee I read somewhere someone using 2 (two) 2217 in a 75 gallon...

The spray bar was located at the far left of the tank and water flowing lengthwise.
T-adapter could be an option.  Does standard PVC SAE fitting work on those metric tubes?

I am not worried too much about turnover.  I think plants contributes a lot to it too.  And I don't want the filter to take away all the stuff the plants are after.

Maybe another contributing factor is the height of the cabinet.  It's low at 23 inches which of course lowers the water head.  My chemical engineering degree is like 25 years away so I am rather rusty in some areas lol.

all I can tell for now is that I have a backup filter

[Mike L]

I should have been clear. What I was wondering also was how was the flow aimed. I run mine aimed and set so that the flow goes along the surface across the top of the tank.

[charlie]

Why buy another filter, the flow on all the Eheim filters can be controlled by the valve on the quick connects.

[robt18]

I think the angels will get used to it.... I used to run one on a 20gal and it was fine.

[guck]

I should have been clear. What I was wondering also was how was the flow aimed. I run mine aimed and set so that the flow goes along the surface across the top of the tank.

I should have understood.  It's set to go along the surface too. 

[guck]

Why buy another filter, the flow on all the Eheim filters can be controlled by the valve on the quick connects.

Turning one of the vavle off to reduce the flow was of course my first reflex.  But there was a slight dripping not where the tube connect, but from the body of the valve where there is some king of latch to hold the valve together. Tried with at least two valves and was not comfortable with that. 

[wolfiewill]

The 2217 gives you a flow rate of 3.52 of the tank volume/hr which is less than the minimum recommended for a planted tank. Generally accepted flow rates for a 'heavily' planted tank is in the 5 to 10 x tank volume. I have a 25 usg planted tank with a 2213 and it initially seemed like a tornado but I throttled the valve to the tank back and over a week gradually increased it to full to get the fish used to the higher flow rate. The top of the tank is 35" above the bottom of the filter so it too has little head to pump against. However, having said this, I don't know how the Angels will respond to the flow rate as I've never had Angels. A heavily planted tank needs the high flow rate to provide nutrients to all plant surfaces. The Eheim gives the following flows rates for Eheim filters: 2211 @ 60 usg/hr; 2213 @ 116; 2215 @ 164; and the 2217 @ 264 usg/hr.

[exv152]

I would fill the 2217 with media, that will definitely reduce the flow. But it should be fine. I have a 2217 and a 2026 pro II on a 75g with no issues. I aim the spray bar close to the surface to leave room underneath for the angels to hang out.

[guck]

I should probably clarify a few additional aspects of my tank which are somewhat Walstad based, mainly from page 184, 2nd edition.
--I want to avoid any biological filtration from the filter.  That's the plants' job.  At most the filter accomplishes mechanical filtration.  According to Walstad, bio-filterts are unnecessary and possibly counter-productive.
--Water change, I don't do any. Except when cleaning the filter.  i.e. whatever the filter fluid content is it gets flushed (good for our house plants).  Walstad stipulates 25-50% every 3-6 months.  I have set up in June, so hard to assess this.  The only biomass I remove is from dead leaves and trimming.
--Water movement is mainly for heat distribution and provision of oxygen.  (Walstad)  And that makes som much sense to me.
--I don't vaccum the bottom.  Tank still young anyway.  That I will have to see.  The theory is that as the soil gets depleted, the fish poop will take over.  Yet according to Walstad, soil can last several years.  But that's part of my experiment.
It kind of contra the herd, and it's exciting.
--No CO2 injection.
--No fancy fertilizer.  I recently added iron chelate and Sul-Po-Mag.  Some plants felt the deficiency.

[wolfiewill]

Geez, glad you clarified that. Forget everything I said, and good luck. I'd be very interested if you would keep us posted on your progress. Dirted tanks are a different animal, but I'm very tempted to try one at some point. Cheers.

[guck]

Geez, glad you clarified that. Forget everything I said, and good luck. I'd be very interested if you would keep us posted on your progress. Dirted tanks are a different animal, but I'm very tempted to try one at some point. Cheers.

LOL I for sure will keep update coming.  There is a thread I post pictures once in a while.http://ovas.ca/forum/index.php?topic=58213.0