Too much flow?

Moozillion

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I am redoing my 40 gallon breeder tank. I previously kept my mud turtle, Jacques, in it in about 5 inches of water, using only the Fluval 206 Canister filter, which moves 206 gal per hour. It did just fine, but she was ill and was not eating, so she wasn't producing waste other than urine.

After totally cleaning the tank I am setting it up for my juvenile razor backed musk turtle. He's still very small- will be 6 months old next week and is about 2.5 inches long. The water in the tank will be 6 inches deep until he grows.

I was planning on using the same Fluval 206 canister filter (with all new filter media)- it moves 206 gal per hour.
I have put in an under gravel filter with a Marineland Maxi-jet 600 powerhead, which moves 160 gal per hour. BUT I didn't realize the 2 plates for the under gravel filter are NOT CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER, so each will need its own powerhead in order to function for filtration. I am in the process of setting up the tank, and had hoped to fill it to the planned 6 inches and start both filters today, but now I'm afraid that between the Fluval 206 canister and TWO powerheads (each of which move 160 gal per hour) even a 40 gallon tank will be like a whirlpool because the water depth is only 6 inches.

PICTURES BELOW: the masking tape on the tank walls shows the 6 inches depth. The powerheads will have to be close to the gravel in order to be below the surface. The 2 longer tubes towards the center and the intake and the outflow for the canister.

QUESTION: Is this going to be way too much flow for a juvenile musk turtle, a few guppies and some corys?
Suggestions for changes? @Markw84 @mark1 @Toddrickfl1 @cdmay @Pastel Tortie @Mfields72 @dmmj @wccmog10

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Moozillion

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Oops: I just remembered that when I previously used just the canister filter in this tank, the water was actually 11 INCHES DEEP, but I had created a false bottom using a plastic "egg crate" lighting panel on supports. The part the TURTLE was in was the top 5 inches, but the tank as a whole had 11 inches depth. So the current wasn't really all that much. In this tank, the water really WILL be just 6 inches deep.
 

Pastel Tortie

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I'm here mostly for moral support. ;)

That being said, I am very interested in the answers. We're looking at upgrading Bold and Pinstripe (three-striped mud turtle yearlings) to a 40 breeder tank in the near future.
 

Michael231

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I think you should be good just using the Fluval 206 and maximizing the filter media inside of it. I generally pack as much mechanical media into the filter as possible. I also tend to take out the activated carbon, as some people say it’s really just for cosmetics, just making the water sparkle more, and not doing a lot of filtering. I’ve also heard reports of activated carbon interfering with good bacteria in the biological filter media. I tend to leave it out, but that’s just my preference.

To maximize particulate filtration, and to give your Fluval 206 an extra boost, you could also take a piece of sponge (I use sponge that is slightly dense, but also filled with larger gaps to trap the particulate matter) and zip tie it to the intake of your filter. I find this to work quite well for pre-filtration on my tanks.

I don’t have as much experience with under gravel filters, but I think it would be optimal to run both the Fluval and the undergravel, as it provides more filtration.

I know the Fluval 206 outflow is moderate, and it can be modified via spray bar or gasket, but I’m not sure about the undergravel flow rate.

Where young carinatus live in the Midwest/southeast, they frequent the “quieter” sections of rivers. The more lentic habitat. So I’d say you probably just want to run one, but I’m curious what others have to say!
 

Moozillion

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I think you should be good just using the Fluval 206 and maximizing the filter media inside of it. I generally pack as much mechanical media into the filter as possible. I also tend to take out the activated carbon, as some people say it’s really just for cosmetics, just making the water sparkle more, and not doing a lot of filtering. I’ve also heard reports of activated carbon interfering with good bacteria in the biological filter media. I tend to leave it out, but that’s just my preference.

To maximize particulate filtration, and to give your Fluval 206 an extra boost, you could also take a piece of sponge (I use sponge that is slightly dense, but also filled with larger gaps to trap the particulate matter) and zip tie it to the intake of your filter. I find this to work quite well for pre-filtration on my tanks.

I don’t have as much experience with under gravel filters, but I think it would be optimal to run both the Fluval and the undergravel, as it provides more filtration.

I know the Fluval 206 outflow is moderate, and it can be modified via spray bar or gasket, but I’m not sure about the undergravel flow rate.

Where young carinatus live in the Midwest/southeast, they frequent the “quieter” sections of rivers. The more lentic habitat. So I’d say you probably just want to run one, but I’m curious what others have to say!
Thanks so much, Michael231! :):<3:
 

Moozillion

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Well, as of today, there have been 168 views of this post and so far no one has disagreed with Michael231's thoughts.
It seems reasonable to me, too.
My current plan is to go ahead and use the canister filter, CAP OFF one of the UGF ports and just use 1 powerhead at the far end to ensure good circulation.
I'll keep an eye on water quality etc.
As Nelson grows, I MAY crank up the 2nd powerhead, but for now I'll just use the one.
We'll see! :)
 

mark1

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you possibly could use the smallest diameter pvc tubing you can get to hold the filter plates just a bit off the bottom , that way the one powerhead will pull water through the entire bottom , or you can put the intake hose from your canister filter in the tube for the undergravel plate the powerhead is on ……….. my canister filters pull the water from under the gravel ……. the filter does stay cleaner longer that way ……..
 

Moozillion

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you possibly could use the smallest diameter pvc tubing you can get to hold the filter plates just a bit off the bottom , that way the one powerhead will pull water through the entire bottom , or you can put the intake hose from your canister filter in the tube for the undergravel plate the powerhead is on ……….. my canister filters pull the water from under the gravel ……. the filter does stay cleaner longer that way ……..

Now, THAT’S an interesting idea!!!!!
THANKS, mark1!!!! [emoji2]
 

Moozillion

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I did mean to put the canister filter intake hose in the tube the powerhead is not on …...

Yes, I suspected that!
Since the canister tube is a smaller diameter than the port on the filter plate, how did you manage to get them to stick together?
 

mark1

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I never did connect them , I just put the hose down the tube loose …… it fits tight enough that the canister filter has no choice but to pull water from under the plate ……. if the tube extends above the water line it can only pull water from under the plate …… I've used hang on the side filters like that …...
 

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