Floating plants and aquaclear filter HOB

[EMcT1985]

Hi there,

I have an aquaclear 30 on my tank, and get annoyed that all of my water lettuce bunches around the filter. Is this a common problem? I've used extra tubing to corral the water lettuce, but it looks kinda bad. I still get a little bit of surface agitation, but I worry about oxygenating the water if there isn't enough surface agitation (because all the water lettuce are bunched around the filter output).

Also, would it be a good idea to switch to a couple of sponge filters? Would water lettuce do OK with that?
Thanks!

 

[tomiyama]

I have an aquaclear as well and my water lettuce (little salvinia) hang around the filter intake too. They still float and don't form more than a single layer, right? I think that's where they settle because there is the least current there. I don't mind it there, they camouflage the filter intake a bit.
Would it help if you raised the water level a tad? It may not make a difference but may weaken the current a bit. I agree with you that the tubing doesn't look good....

 

[RayClem]

If floating plants are getting stuck in the intake tube, you can minimize that problem by using a prefilter sponge on the intake.

Some people build a floating coral using tubing or straws to keep floating plants where they want them. There are some DIY videos on YouTube that will show you how.

 

[Crimson_687]

I use clear tubing and I use a piece of expanding tube to cover the space where they connect to prevent air from escaping the tube. Initially the tube was visible, but eventually the plants become so overgrown you wouldn’t notice the tube unless you looked for it or already knew it was there