use of circulation pump in my mbuna tank

[twong727]

I have a 125g 6 foot long tank with mostly mbuna. My filter is Eheim 2217 and 2215 and a bunch of texas holey rocks and miscellaneous decorations.

Being a relatively new hobbyist (2 years), can someone explain to me the use of a circulation pump? Will it enhance the function of my filters? What will be the best brand and particular model for my tank if I want to get one?

For now I am hoping the pump can help stir up the poop so it gets sucked up by the filters more easily...

Thanks for feedback in advance. Tony

[fishandfire]

While Lake Malawi has current, in most places it is not real strong. Using a pump to lift fish waste to the filter will take quite a bit of current. Much more than the fish would typically see in the wild. If you have sand in the tank, the sand will be sent to the filter before the waste. The sand will destroy the impellers. The best way to get rid of fish waste is to vacuum it out of the substrate.

[twong727]

Thanks. I got sand so sounds like it is not a good idea to use the pump for this purpose. But is there any reason to use circulation pump for Malawi tank at all? Or it is only required for salt water reef tank? I would prefer to use as little electricity as possible....

[fishandfire]

The two Eheims should provide plenty of circulation for mbuna. I wouldn't worry about the pump.

[pitdogg2]

If placed right it will help with gas exchange at the surface. As for moving fish waste not so good as your rock prevents most of this from happining.

I would if it were me add some sort of circulation power head or pump in that 6' tank you have a very small turnover rate with the Eheim 2217 and 2215. In my 75 with 4 Rotkiel Serverums i have a Magnum 350 and a XP3 plus a Penguin 300gph PH.

[twong727]

The Eheim 2215 is rated at 164 gph, and the 2217 is rated at 264 gph. With filter media included I guess the gph will slow down substantially.

What gph is considered sufficient for my 125g tank (only 25 2-4 inches Mbuna so far)? A fellow hobbyist showed me his Fluval FX5 rated at 925 gph and I wish I had bought that...

[pitdogg2]

The Eheim 2215 is rated at 164 gph, and the 2217 is rated at 264 gph. With filter media included I guess the gph will slow down substantially....

And that is CLEAN no grime.

I subscribe to the 8-10x turn over rate. I think the FX5 might be a bit much as it seems to be more commerical, but you could then turn both Eheim's into bio-filters. Just fill them both full with a matrix,Siporax type of media.

[twong727]

Please kindly elaborate on "matrix,Siporax type of media". I have the "glass balls", "ceramic rings" all come with the orginal Eheim filters, you mean there are better media out there?

[Parrothead]

I've got a 75 gallon Victorian tank, lightly stocked at the moment:(, but working on that, but back to subject, I run a wet/dry rated for a 125 gallon tank, with a mag 5 return pump, along with emp 400 hob, and a marineland 1200 with mod(1600gph) for additional oxygen exchange, I've kept reef tanks in the past, as well as freshwater for about 20 years, I just like the flow, seems to keep the water chemistry more stable, especially the pH. Just my .02 worth:cool::cool:

[pitdogg2]

Please kindly elaborate on "matrix,Siporax type of media". I have the "glass balls", "ceramic rings" all come with the orginal Eheim filters, you mean there are better media out there?

same thing "Bio-Media" google is your friend. Type in matrix,Siporax this is what you get....

http://www.aquagenie-us.com/biopearls.html