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right now i have 2 150 AC going in my 30 g.
but i have noticed that it doesn't pick up alot of the goop along the gravel in front and be hind the filters.
maybe they aren't strong enough or something.
but i was thinking of adding either an undergravel filter or a under water filter like the Fluval 1 or 2 Plus Underwater Filter.
Does anybody have any other suggestions?
or know a good under gravel filter?
or can give me some tips...
thanks
LIB

Do you gravel vac? I've got just one AC 150 plus a UGF, so a vacuum is essential for me, but I believe it benefits nearly all tanks. When I do a water change, I'll hit the dirtiest areas (usually the front, because it's low and I drop the food there). I also take a peek from under the tank to see if there's anything building up under the UGF, and vac there also.

oh yea, of course i gravel vac.
i just want the best water quality for my fish.
i gravel vac with each water change and like you said i only feed near the front of the tank.
like i said i jsut want the best water quality that i can get.
thanks for the reply
LIB

I also have a 150 on my 30, try getting a submersible powerhead...I'm running an AC 301 (that might be an old number) on it, and it helps keep the waste suspended till the filter can pick it up. Just reciently I added a bit if filter floss to the intake and it's made a HUGE difference in how clear the water is, and how much cleaner the sand stays .
HTH a bit .

^_^

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I would also make sure you're using intake extentions. A 30 gal should be tall enough to add one. You want the intake strainer about 2" or so from the substrate.. this should help with circulation also.

yea, i noticed that too, both of them have an extention each.
it's a little over 2 inches though.
and if i added one more it would be in the gravel.
i had at one point the extention in one and the other one mid way so i had intake from two levels.
although i haven't really noticed much of a difference.
it's this one corner that doens't get alot of movement in it.
i'm not sure how the currents (?) within the water work.
i've had an eclipse system and the harliquin rasaboa's that i had swam through it quite offten. they seemed to follow it through, almost as if they were surfing.
it was a quite a joy to watch.
but they don't do that as offten.
it's set up like this.
(i really need to get a picture here, but i don't know how...)
in the left corner i have an air stone. surrounded by 3 plants a little roman ruin and some drift wood. to the right of the drift wood is a little cave in the back against the wall, with a stone just in front with an amazon sword. right about the cave is the first AC150.
directly to the left, and pretty much down the centre is another roman ruin and above that is the second AC 150.
then it's the corner that gets murky looking.
it has a larger roman ruin with a little cave like rock structure in the bottom, with a drift wood directly behind it. a little rock and another amazon sword to the right of this roman ruin. a piece of drift wood is directly to the left of the roman ruin with some plants surrounding it. that's the corner i have the heater in.

I"m starting to think that this is why there is no circulation in this corner. since i'm still new to this whole thing and this is my first 30 g i dont' know good set up yet.
what seems to keep happening is the i get a large build up in this corner usually right under the drift wood.
i tend to focus a lot more on vacuming this corner but it doesnt' help out when i'm not.

i was wondering... would moving a filter to this corner effect the outcome of the heater?
if i was to get an AC mini to put here would it help?
or should i look at something different like an under water filter?

oh am i fine and i'm just being paranoid.
i've had several fish die in this tank already and i don't want it happening again.
the first were some otto's but i know that might not have been my fault.
and the third and second were a neon dwarf and a honey gouramis.
the neon dwarf was attacked early into his arrival and his culprits were gone as soon as i could get them out.
after that he then was plagued by fungus and died shortly later.

i just don't want a repeat performance if you know what i mean.
i want my fish to have the best that i can get them, with the little money that i can cough up.
if anybody has any suggestions please feel free to add anything!
thanks
LIB

wow i'm sorry about the length, i didn't realize how much i wrote.
LIB

In my 29 gal I use an aquaclear 300. It's an old one and also a piece of filter sponge in the intake so a strong flow is not there. Just enough.. I hardly vac this tank as the plants use the waste.

The Amazon Nut...

I have a Fluval 2 in my 11g (uk) tank.

I'm not sure its that good (although this is my first go with fish).

It is clogged a lot, takes about 4 hours to remove stuff from the water when I change water it goes misty at least that long.

It does come in handy for the crab to sit on though.

I'm hoping to get a new one for christmas