CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

Hi!
My hubby and I are in a debate on how much filtration we should have on our new 100 gal tank!
We have on the tank right now.... a Bio Ball system with a RIO 2100 pump pushing back to the tank. When purchased it was for a 125 gal. tank. I has 2 outlets on the prefilter that goes down to the balls and the Rio for return.
We have no other filter on the tank but we do have 4 air stone bubble bars for air cirulation.
Hubby thinks this is enough....... but I think we need to put on the just purchased (by me), Emperor 400 bio wheel system to hang on the back
The tank isn't crystal clear and the pre filter on the skimmer needs cleaning in less than a week! There seems to be alot of fish waste on the bottom of the tank and I think the Emperor will really help...... hubby dissgrees...
ALSO....I am having an interesting "growth" (for lack of a better word) on the inside surface of the tank. I seems to be forming in the places that the spraybar hits. Its clear and almost looks like bubbles.......It moves with the current if you look closely at it. It can be wiped off easily but come back within a day or so....Any ideas on a remedy??
Can someone advise us????
If you need more info let me know, as I am on this site several times a day....
Listed below are the occupants of this tank.
Thanks for your input and help resolving this.
Sabina

debate on how much filtration we should have on our new 100 gal tank!

It depends,on how far it is from the intake of the rio to the end of the hose that returns water to the tank.

If it's under 2.5' you have enough filtration with the wet/dry.

If it's over 2.5' it's a little less then ideal

IF it's over 4' you definately need more - or a bigger pump

OK
This half way answers our debate.
It seems as if our return hose is about 3.5 to 4 feet long so to add this emperor is going to help????
Does the length effect it because its's harder to push the water that far???

About the filmy bubbley "growth" on the glass???? I wiped it off on Saturday.....White towel had a brownish residue when I was done????
Starting to return today (Monday). HELP???

Water starting to smell stagnant??? I'm holping Emperor will help.

This tank has only been up for a Month!!!

Thnaks again,
Sabina

Does the length effect it because its's harder to push the water that far???

yes under 3' it pumps 600+ gallons per hour
3' it drops down to about 485 gallons per hour
4' it drops to about 375 gallons per hour
thats according to Rio , some private people say they drop off more then that starting around 30"

so to add this emperor is going to help????

yes



But is this a new setup? If so not much will make a differance until it's fully cycled.

About the filmy bubbley "growth" on the glass????

sounds like brown algae if so it's pretty common in tanks that haven't fully cycled or established tanks with high nitrate levels or excessive lighting