Habitat - Indoor :: XP3 Questions

[doomsdaybob]

For all the XP3 users out there. This thing moves some water! That seems to be my problem though. I don't have much in the tank except rocks and a small fake rock hill right now. Nothing seems to sink out. The waste and bits of greens that Bob doens't get to just seem to swirl around the tank? In the old 20gal setup everything would eventually sink and I could just suck it up w/ the Python. Most times I took the water all the way down, this isn't really practical w/ the 75Gal set up. I was thinking that instead of the spraybar (which is really loud) that I could just put an extension on the filter outlet so it is under the water level. This would cut the noise and hopefully some of the current I now have. Any other suggestions. Bob is a little over 1 year old now. I'm feeding pellets every other day, greens/salads everyday now. Cut back some because of slight pyramiding on her shell. She's getting much more exercise now in the larger tank. Seems to really like it. She still has some spotting on her shell but it's not soft and doesn't smell bad. I think it's either minerals (water is very hard) or heater burns . I may be leaving the country for work soon and want to get everything smoothed out and make it easiest on my wife while I'm gone. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.

PS: If someone in the Jacksonville, FL area is looking I have the 20gal long tank, filter, and cover available. It's the All-Glass model w/the cut end piece. (Inspected by the same lady as my 75gal!) Make offer.

[marisa]

What size tank is the filter in (sorry, I forgot if you've said elsewhere)? The spraybar shouldn't be loud if you've got it under the water. Can you angle it so the outflow hits the side of the tank?

[doomsdaybob]

Marisa,
It's a 75gal, 48x18. I have the water level about 3/4 full. The spray bar is above the water line. The longer extension puts the bar closer to the waterline but that seem louder. I can live w/ the noise (some people pay big bucks for water features in thier homes) but I'd like to see the "current" in the tank a little less. I keep playing w/ it and see what happens but suggestions are still welcome.

[marisa]

Some people have said that with the spray bar just above the water line there tends to be a whistling sound. I'd put the spray bar under the water line and angle the holes facing the side of the tank, so the the water coming out hits it first, lessening the current.

[Spookster]

I use the spraybar as well in my 90 gallon tank which I have almost full. I use the full extension to put it several inches below the water level and angle the spray towards the surface of the water. This minimizes the current and agitates the surface of the water to keep it from getting stagnant.

[doomsdaybob]

Guess if I can't find or make a longer extension I'm going to have to raise the water level some more. I'll have to keep an eye on my temps and make sure my lights aren't too close. Thanks guys, pics to post maybe this weekend.

[kneecole]

I have an XP3 in my 55 gal and I've never had that problem... weird

When I didn't have my tank filled all the way I had the spray bar angled to hit the side first and that helped a lot. I still turned it off when I went to bed cause I couldn't sleep with it on. But now I've got the water level up and it's a beautiful thing not hearing that water.

Where in Jax do you live? I'm over near the beach area.