Filtration

[Gnomecatcher]

Oh boyo I just bought my new tank yesterday, a 25 gallon cube. One think I'm a little stuck on is what kind of filtration to use. I will be keeping mostly shrimp, maybe some guppies. I will be doing inline CO2 injection with an inline heater.

I hear people say 2 things:

1) You don't need any chemical filtration. You should not use carbon all the time. Chemical filtration pulls nutrients out of the water that your plants need.

2) The higher the flow rate, the better.

Are these 2 points true? Why? If I were to have a plumbing loop dedicated to CO2 injection and heating, is 160 gph for a 25 gallon tank too low?

My LFS suggested getting a canister filter, but I'm wondering if instead I should use power head for flow, CO2 injection, and the heater. My other thought is that for mechanical filtration, I could make my own under gravel filter (I will be using Aqua Soil or Azoo). If I did make an under gravel filter, does anyone have any design suggestions? Should I make the UGF air drive or connect it to the power head?

Sorry if all these questions seem a little silly, I really want to get this tank right! Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

Edit: in this thread on TPT, Liam said that a partially anaerobic substrate is ideal. I am not sure if this is valid or not. Thoughts?
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/shrimp-other-invertebrates/155975-setting-up-tank-how-sorta.html

Edit edit: Okay, now I found a thread on RFUG, and I don't know what to believe anymore. What's my name? Where is mommy? WHERE IS MY MAC AND CHEESE?

 

[Tom Barr]

I would agree with Liam.

I'd get a Rena 3 or an Ehiem anaolog.
Realize as the filter clogs, so does the CO2 flow rate and this can cause issues if you neglect.

Bio/sponge filtration only or add carbon at the start, which later turns to bio after a month anyway.

 

[Gnomecatcher]

Even an RFUG filter would clog?

I feel that a canister is overdoing it for a shrimp tank, but that view is a result of my inexperience, so I really don't know. I saw that you were using sponge filters in some 10 gallon shrimp tanks, but I don't know how long ago that was.

 

[lipadj46]

I use sponge filters in my shrimp tanks. It gives them a good spot to graze and is pretty much maintenance free. I don't inject co2 in my shrimp tanks though.

sent from my ti-85 during chemistry class

 

[Gnomecatcher]

How large are your tanks?

 

[lipadj46]

How large are your tanks?

10, 10 and I'm starting a 12 gallon long tank. I was going to to do a UGF with a couple small canisters on the 12L because it is 3 ft long but decided to keep it simple.

 

[Gnomecatcher]

Sounds good. Good luck on the 12L, I'm jealous! It's a really cool size with a lot of cool things you can do with the design.

I just finalized the design for my filter. I'm doing an RFUG and a Hamburg Mattenfilter combined with a pump and an external CO2 reactor. Hope it works!