Need assistance on picking the right filtration system

[Britni]

I have a 135 gallon tank that I am shutting down as of next week to do an over haul on the filtration system. Here is my issues. My tank it set up in my living room witch has five windows in it. I'm getting a lot of brown algae and I already know I don't have enough filtration or water circulation going on. Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions?


TexasHuntress

[crazy42bmx]

Throw a UV light on it as well with, when u upgrade ur filtration !

[Bedlamer]

How long has the tank been running?

It is a fresh water tank?

If so are there live plants in the tank?

Is the tank drilled (have holes in the glass for plumbing)?

What is you current filtration/circulation system?

What sort of light do you have on the tank?

How many hours per day does it run?

How often do you do a water change?

[Bedlamer]

If you think there is an excess of light coming from the windows you can cover the back and sides of the tank to limit sunlight exposure.

[Britni]

The tank has been up for over a year. At first all I had in it was a pleco and a gojo ell. It has fluorescent lighting on it and it hardly ever gets turned on. I have one... Yes.. One and I know that's not enough over the top filter. Hints why I am here asking about filtration systems and the best rout to go. It's over 6ft long and about 24-28 inches wide.


TexasHuntress

[Britni]

It is a fresh water tank no ore drilled holes and no live plants with the exception of the moss ball I bought from petsmart. I haven't really been to worried about getting it right up until now because I had no idea what I wanted in it.


TexasHuntress

[Britni]

Pre drilled*


TexasHuntress

[SunnyHouTX]

Do you still have only the pleco and eel?

Also, for a light load, one FX5 should be enough given that you don't overfeed.

[Britni]

Both of those died. Now I have a bass and catfish.


TexasHuntress

[Bedlamer]

I'm asking a lot of questions because the more information you give us, there is a better chance, we will come up with the best solutions for you. The filter you are referring to as "over the top"--is it like one plastic tube that sucks up water from the tank dumps it into a plastic box at the back of the tank--makes the water flow through some media then spills out back into the tank? If so that is commonly known as a hang on the back style (HOB) filter (so we can talk the same lingo). Can you tell us the brand name and model of it?

A brown algae problem is usually associated with lighting and nutrient issues more so than filtration/water circulation issues in fresh water. Usually you'll see a brown algae bloom in the first few weeks a tank is set up and then goes away. If you were getting too much sunlight, you would expect a green algae bloom to the point it turns the water green. To my mind the UV sterilizer solution mentioned earlier would treat green water in suspension pretty good, but if you have clumps of brown algae in the tank, it wouldn't do much for that, and is a fairly expensive piece of gear. You mention the tank is about a year old and you have a fluorescent tube light (single bulb right?) but you hardly use it. If you were using it for plants, and using it daily, I would tell you that after 9-12 months of use you should change your fluorescent bulbs after 9-12 months of use. They still light up and look fine, but as they age they experience a spectrum shift that makes them less suitable for plants, and the first sign a lot of people start to get is an increase in algae, and often brown algae. I'll post some more in a minute. Anything I'm posting here you think I have the situation wrong, please correct me as we go so I'm not barking up the wrong tree.

[SunnyHouTX]

And both of those can be messy LOL. FX5 should still be enough for those two. How often do you change water in the tank?

[Bedlamer]

Approximately how many inches long are your bass and your catfish? The size determines the bio load--and therefore the size of the filtration system you should have.

[Britni]

It is a hob filter. It's a penguin bio wheel 350. Most of the algae is collecting with in the rocks on the bottom of the tank and on the decorations. I'm not getting upset by any means I'm looking for help. Hob filtration has to go. The light bulbs in the fixture are older than dirt I'm sure.


TexasHuntress

[Bedlamer]

You should be aware as well that your moss ball will shed off little chunks of it over time and colonize other areas of the tank. Sorta gives a Spanish moss in the bayou effect, that some people like. There is at least one display tank at Aquarium world (the last time I was there) that has that look going on. If you don't like that look I would consider selling off your moss ball before it spreads.

[Britni]

I'd say the bass is about six inches and the catfish is about five inches


TexasHuntress