Are You Over-Filtering?
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2018
- Is the old saying, "You can never have too much filtration" true? Or is it just a fishy myth?
Here I ask the members of the Facebook group, Ben O'Cichlid, and after a lively discussion, here is the consensus.
I thank the group members that participated and I look forward to reading your comments on this, sometimes heated, topic!
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Thank you for watching. YOU ROCK MY FRIEND! - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
More filtration is not only about bb, it’s the key to keep your water crystal clear. I have fluval306 and sunsun304b and fluval fx6 which just added month ago on my 100g cichlid tank. Each time when I add new filter to my established tank I can obvious see the difference. It definitely worth to spend extra money/maintenance on it.
Looks like a pentair clean and clear plus filter, raypak heater and possibly a salt chlorine generator in the beginning... LOL
My equip is a lot simpler than that Chris, LOL, thanks for stopping by!
Ben, great video and topic as usual. 50 years doing this, and I don’t think you can over filter, but rather it is over cleaning the filtration and over doing the water changes. Don’t do water changes and filtration changes at same time. And if running multiple filters try not to clean all at same time.
ATF intheHouse so true about cleaning filters at the same time or even overdoing cleaning the whole tank how many time you hear people taking the fish out of there tank and scrubbing everything because it was dirty and there asking you why there fish are dying
When I was a kid I kept my tank and filter pristine, and my fish dead. Excellent point.
Because of how I clean canisters I do need a couple buckets of tank water to work with. But that is okay because I run two canisters and alternate servicing them. Together with the B.B. in the substrate and on other surfaces, it keeps things in check. Thanks for watching and commenting 😀
Always love your videos 👍
Glad to hear it!
I'm planning a black water discus tank. They love very clean water. But just what is "enough" filtration with a fussy (and expensive) fish like that? The canister manufacturers will often give idealistic or marketing numbers. And when you have a non-commercial filter (like a sump) then who knows what is enough! In fact when it comes to a sump one website said if you have a basement make it as large as possible! My plans, though, are simple. First chamber is the sock and sponges. Second chamber is fluidized K1. This keeps strongest bacteria and the media is kept clean by fluidization. Finally my heater area and pump return with a layer of very fine filtration material before it gets sucked up into the aquarium. I'm planning on a 40 long breeder for my sump. Writings say that is the size to use for a 180 tank which I seem to remember was a 20% water volume of the aquarium.
Good discussion. I keep additional sponge filters but primarily as a backup.
Mad Fish Diva Good thing to do. Thanks for watching Diva.
Great discussion! I agree for sure, you can defiantly have to much
Down the Worm Hole Thank you for tuning in
I keep a fx5 and a fx6 on a overstocked 180 and i have the outer trays filled with vigro lava rock and the center levels filled with polyfil i clean 1 filter every 2 weeks and i never use new water when i clean its kept me rolling strong peace Ben
Congratulations!! Very good video!!
After listening to pond Guru, I believe there’s no need to over filter when in fact he basically explained to everyone that size the filter right and bio media correctly, everything else will fall in place and take care of the bio load! I have a 75 gallon tank with a Sun Sun 304b with 5 kg of Biohome media and my tank perimeters are always good! Thanks Ben and Pond Guru for for helping a new fish keeper like myself
Smokedawg i believe theres no need to overfilter, but he prefer a media that base how much you need on the amount of water, i mean thats probably the worst measurement on how much media is needed, i mean whats in that water?
As a home brewer, I look at my wort as a habitat for my yeast that I have the pleasure of drinking. Perhaps my tank/sump will be a habitat for my bacteria that my fish and plants have the pleasure of living in.
I used to intend to over filter. Then toward the end of the life of my tank, I learned about balance. I didn't know anything about nitrifying bacteria then. This next tank, my largest ever, I intend to balance. I'm going to put as much water in the sump as I can. I'm thinking about using that biohome media with the trace minerals(anyone?), And a whole lot more cheap(less effective) stuff. But, I'm planning to balance that with a load of minnows, and a load of low co2 plants. Perhaps if the fish really take off then I'll need to add a co2 hungry plant or two, but that's a year from now. Right now I'm waiting for the waterlox to arrive so I can move on to plumbing.
In my beginning days as a fish keeper, I trusted the misleading info on the filter boxes concerning water volume per filter. Well, sadly I learned the lesson that bioload trumps advertised gph.
Now, I’m a big believer in over filtration...for life. Also, my aquarium bioload never stays constant, so having different types of filters(HOBs, sponges, & box filters) that always complement each other works perfectly in my fish house.
I just have an fx6 and a fx4 on my 75 gallon i just wanted a little more filtration for the amount of fish i have. I do believe too much filtration is over kill if not needed. Great topic Ben! Thanks for sharing.
Good video topic. I think all the comments were spot on. Since there is no magic number/ratio to tell you exactly how much filtration you need (that I know of anyway), I think you have to over-filter (at least slightly) to be safe.
Eh, my money to "waste". I will always choose overkill than underkill. I never know if I might want to add more fish to my tank. I would rather have the extra power in case I eventually need it.
I am running a 704b on a 45 gallon tank. lol
I believe almost everyone over filters.
Think about all the water changes and the filtering together in nature the water is not that clean why do we need to make it cleaner I think that's the majority of why fish get sick they have no immune system where as if they had less cleaniness they would be a little tougher.
Carlin once said that no one in his river died from cancer or anything like that. No why? Because they swam in the East River!
My question, are there fish there? Are they healthy? Don't know, but I think it's the occasional exposure that's key.
Great info ben I followed in on the group and had a comment as well has me thinking if I am running to much on my tank but I am pretty dialed in my water is good and happy heathy fish is was a great question something I have always thought about
Ry Mac cichlids I wouldn’t change a thing when the fish are healthy. Thanks for watching Ry.
Wow Ben the fish are looking Fantastic !! Your Ex Tank Boss recovered Wonderfully !
Thank you.
New issues arose with "Poly Half-Tail" that are addressed in a later video (and a follow-up that I'm working on now).
Thanks for watching and commenting.
I personally like the run a canister filter with the hanger on the back and a sponge filter in the tank
That gives you a lot of back up especially when you're cleaning one of them or if one stops working you're still in good shape.
Thanks for watching.
I am presently running in FX6 on a 65 gallon aquarium my plan in the near future is the move up to 150 and I didn’t wanna have to buy another filter when I move up so this one will work on the 65 until I move to a bigger tank
As long as I don’t lose any fish,Then I am doing something right 👍🏻
I tend to agree, people do tend to over filter I know that myself I turn over the total capacity of my tank up about 10 times per hour which is more than most people would. However inside of my tank it's actually a low flow system. I use a undergravel setup as my return and it very gently disperses water throughout the base of the tank giving a very low flow through the system itself. Although my flow rate is closer to 750 gallons per hour. That being said I don't filter below 200 Micron currently. That gives a water and extremely polished appearance and can even take out some tannins. As far as biofiltration goes I don't believe it there's too much biofiltration. At the end of the day the beneficial bacteria will only colonize equivalent to your pile load. So having more doesn't necessarily mean you have more actual filtration going on or breakdown of chemicals it simply means that you have the capacity for it should you need it. Those of us that are fortunate enough to have a Sump System have the extra room for this question of biofiltration. And some of us who remember way back when in the hobby there were things called diatomaceous earth filters which could filter well below 5 Micron and even into the half Micron range depending on the size of diatomaceous earth used. These filters are actually dangerous to the Hobby if not use simply as a polishing filter as they can strip 100% of the nutrients out of your water that your fish need including minerals salts slime coat or biological material whatsoever in the water column. It is actually possible to remove the very things that your fish and or plants need to survive using that type of filtration so yes there is a limit to what you should filter out of your water
Very interesting points. I had a similar discussion with someone regarding using RO water treatment.
I have no filter. Or so I've been told on numerous occasions.
Back on topic (and 4 years late to this particular party) I am awaiting delivery of a new to the market beast of a filter rated to 4500 litres.
So even if it only filters half that in reality I plan to overfilter a 450 litre (approx 119 US gallons) Juwel aquarium. You saw some of their tanks during your trip to Dublin.
Good stuff Ben.. Having appropriate cleaning procedures is crucial in maintaining a healthy bacteria colony in any filter. Also, I will say that if the water is pumped through the filter to rapidly, it can reduce bacteria contact time and lessen the ability to convert the ammonia to a less toxic nitrite/nitrate.. And agreed that too much media can be a waste, unless there are more stocking plans, or fish are going to grow a lot more.. More filter pads can however, help to catch floating trash.
Good discussion. I agree that the beneficial bacteria will only grow proportional to the food supplied.
Makes sense doesn't it? A little extra bio for stock additions is not a bad idea, but 10 kilos of biohome on a 40 gal breeder is just too much.
Ben im setting up a planted discus tank in a 110g and currently have a 30g sump DIY filter and a hang on emperor double bio wheel. I just bought a G90 Eheim canister filter to add as well to buffer any nitrates that might creep up basically to protect my Discus. Over filtering or was this a safe move?
IMO, On a 110, with discus, no, it's not over filtering. Discus need super pristine conditions. You might even consider adding an in-line UV Sterilizer.
@@BenOchart thanks i appreciate the response. Canister filters create soooo much surface area for beneficial bacteria so i thought it was a must to add it. Thanks.
I'm currently running a fluval 405 canister, 2 emperors HOB on a 55g long tank.. and yet my water is not crystal clear... What am I doing wrong? I have 3 labs, 3 strawberries, 3 red tops, 2 Venustus and 1 Snow White
Do you use some kind of water polishing media like Poly-fil (crib batting) or Pinky Floss? How about a chemical filtration agent like ChemiPure or Seachem Purigen? Any or all of those can help.
people don't believe me that 2 sponge filter, 2 inch sand substrate and a powerhead for circulation, oxygenation could filter 40 haps/peacock tank 😂 The tank do cloud for quite sometime after every feeding but that could be solved by feeding less but more frequently. We spend too much on gimick filter media that claim to has 100x the cheap media surface in fact more surface area doesn't mean those tiny uncirculatable flow area suitable for bacteria to grow. Or the cheap media surface area aren't enough for our load. We do waste a lot of money on that one. In my humble opinion for home size aquarium (210 and below) having 2 filter is enough ex: 2 canister or 2 pump system sump. Some people going for a sump + canister or 2 canisters+HOB it just wasting electric and adding more work. Unless u add HOB to polish the water and modified canister or sump to be completely biological for the sake of maintenance I don't see why 2 forms of reasonable size filter isn't enough for a tank. Overfilter doesn't hurt your fish but it hurt your wallet and waste energy.
Edit: I do have pothos in my overhead box. I think aquarium have been blessed with Pothos and Lucky lily but people seem to pay no attention to natural way of filter and keep handing out money to company and wasting energy all the way 😂 Terrestrial plant is the mother of filter stick a few cut of Pothos into your HOB and wait for the results when they start to shoot off with hundred of root.
I think turning the tank (water) twice an hour is good. For HOB's never clean filter and substrate at the same time substrate is thr best bio media.
Good points. I hear that the bulk of our BB might very well be in the substrate. Sometimes a tank crash (spike in ammonia) can be brought about with too much cleaning.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
BIG K I wonder if there’s studies on the optimal turn rate. Most will say twice is too low as I read 4-6 times an hour is best.
Totally agree. I think we should turn all that extra money toward increased circulation which helps waste move into the the filters; and purchase the filter with the highest gallons per hour. The fish love it.....more water movement, more oxygen.
If you follow my channel you know I'm a big O2 guy. All my tanks have tremendous surface tension break up. I've noticed better color and activity after adding something that increased O2.
Thanks for tuning in, much appreciate.
Hi there. My 450 ... liters aquarium is filtered by 2 canister filters.
- JBL e1500 (1500 liters/hour)
- Eheim Pro 600 (1200 liters/hour)
I prefer having 2 average filters instead of a unique strong one. More reasons to that :
1. if a filter stops, the second still works
2. More beneficial bacteria surfaces
3. cleaning a filter every month keeps the bacterias in the second
4. The filters are placed in opposite corners. The water flow seems better
At the beginning, I made weekly water changes.
After two weeks without water change, the water parameters were the same, and the fish were still healthy.
So I made my water changes every two weeks.
... And after 3 weeks without water change, I had the same conclusion.
So, now, I over filter, and change 120 liters water every 3 weeks.
There is many videos on YT like this which I consider useless when it comes to filtration and removing nitrates from the system . The only true and reliable filtration is so called deep sand bed ( combined with living plants) which mimics nature . It stabilises water parameters , greatly reduces water changes ( if any ) and creates perfect condictions for fish and other creatures in aquarium .
I could not see the font. I read by mistake as “ are you over flirting” 😂😂
🤣🤣🤣
I got 4 fluval 306 on my 125 heavily planted tank. Debating should I lose two over time….
I am scared of consequences….
I'm using 2 emperor 400 on my 60gal tank and all is good but the real benefit is water circulation. I think that is key for a healthy tank.
Hi ben thanks for all the videos they help a lot. I have a question to much flow on a tank what does do to african cichlid peacock i have 75g and i have 1 fx6 and 1 fluval 406. Ty in advance
Hello Mark. That seems like plenty filtration but there are other factors to consider like the total bio-load (number of fish and how much you feed), water change schedule, filter maintenance schedule. But just as a quick opinion I'd say you have plenty filtration but really stay on top of things.
Yes i feed my fish twice a day 7 am and 7pm 1/2tsp 1mm northfin there like 2" to 3" i have 20 peacock cichlid in a 75gallon.i water change every 4 days. But my concern is does my fx6 and fluval 406 is to much flow or current. There both facing up.
Hey Ben, great video. I still stick to my original comments that there comes a point where no matter how many filters and media we run on our aquariums, the bio load present will dictate how much bacteria is needed. I am not aware of any formula that exists that spells out how much bio media is needed in a system, especially since bacteria is present throughout the system excluding the water column. However, I am a proponent of running one backup filter in the system in the event of filter failure. Anyways, thanks for sharing
I would rather over filter then under filter
For example I have a Jardini arowana in a 180. I have a fx6, 2 penguin 350s hang on the back, and four spong filters, Just like in life I believe variety is a key for healthy fish
I have a 125 gal using 3 emperor 400's and just added a fluval fx6. For sure overkill, before the fx6 I had 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 15-20 ppm nitrate. I simply wanted an fx6... go figure. Always had crystal clear water. I'm now converting one of the emperors into a "pot" for pothos to uptake the nitrate.
I feel it depends on the various types involved in the total system. Case in point: I use a internal filter filled with Poly-Fil and a knee-high stocking filled with bio-media, in conjunction with a pair of powerheads atop an undergravel system. I clean half of the substrate weekly, and perform a 50% water change beforehand... along with changing the floss in the filter.
Mind you, I keep a fairly heavily stocked 29-gal community tank that includes a pair of Parrot Cichlids, I I've been using the same internal filter in a smaller tank with similar stocking for months prior starting the 29-gal with no issues, and "perfect" 20/0ppm nitrification levels. So I must be doing something right!😕
Hey Ben, great video! I was wondering if you could let my know what you use to filter your 60 grow out tank. I have a 65 grow out filtered by a Cascade 1000 canister filter and a penguin 350 HOB. I don’t know why, but my water is not nearly as clear as yours in your 60 gallon and after struggling with this for so long I’m about to explode lol. I use plenty of poly fil as well as chemi pure blue. And do weekly water changes. Please help thanks!
That 60 grow-out has a Marineland Emperor 400 dual bio-wheel with pinky floss in the filter cartriges and I'm running two SunSun 302 B's full of sponges, biohome ultimate and MarinePure Cermedia. I also use Seachem Purigen. I hope that helps.
Ben Ochart thanks so much. You’re the man!
I'm running an old school tetra whisper 60 and an aqua clear 70 both with biomedia and carbon in it. The aqua clear side is actually the cleanest side of the tank.
I still don't know much about overfiltering and all as pondguru it depends on fish which you have if fish are mesy eaters like discus, chicld and all the media lvls need to be very high if you can't fit into one better to use booster or another filter as back, few use sumps which uses more medias added in there if your stock is mesy or overstock if you are media is more it handles them I guess nothing harm in adding booster more important clean water without ammonia nitrite and nitrate spikes is important
I am new to the cichlid hobby but I got a 37 gallon tank and have a fluval u3 internal filter. Stocking is 3 Mabuna and 3 peacocks I am not planning any more. The tank is very peaceful but due to its size I upgraded to a sun sun 1000 e.g. to help with things etc. The fluval is still running to let the new filter media etc to get bacteria. But I do wonder if I have gone overboard with filtration. 🤔
If the fish appear to be doing well I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you do remove a filter, transfer that seeded media to the new filter and you can gradually remove it over time as the new filters build up.
Better over than under. Better to be Great than Just Okay 👌🏽
I have to support the algae, so, the more algal biomass in a system, the more is available to absorb ammonia spikes. Just like a lake.
Always better to have too much than not enough here but it can become an overkill situation where your wasting money. So much factors in. The needs of the fish. Bio load. More fish= more work whether u got one fx6 or three. Don’t go out and buy extra filtration if all u really need to do are more water changes to remove nitrates from the water and feed less. I think extra filtration does more for appearances than anything. If you are able to turn more water in an hour by adding an extra filter then the chances of u having crystal clear water are better but this does not mean that the parameters of it your water will be correct for the fish and this is the goal for real.
Hi Ben, new subscriber here. Just want to say I'm learning a lot from your videos. Just wondering if there's a way we could get in touch. I'm a relatively new cichlid owner and I'd like your advice on some things. I've had my share of issues and I just want to correct them. Hope to hear from you.
Hello Dave. The best way is to come join the "Ben O'Cichlid" Facebook group. I will respond when I can but there are many others in the group with tremendous fish keeping knowledge that are willing to help as well.
Was reading Diana Walstad's book and if i remember correctly plants have a higher affinity for absorbing (taking up) ammonia rather than nitrite or nitrate. Probably the future lies in using emergent plants and floating plants in our aquariums and sumps. Like reefers do with their refugiums. Plants would be able to handle spikes and varying levels if ammonia. This solution though wont make companies money so probably wont gain much popularity.
As already mentioned, you can't over filter BUT it can become a waste of money...a better way to discuss this would be how to do smart filtration. People can save money if they buy the right products. For instance, a lot of people do unnecessary water changes in the hopes of having a clearer tank. You could buy a 50 micron filter roll on Amazon for $12 and it would almost instantly make your water crystal clear.
True. Poly-fil tends to make an immediate positive impact for pennies.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@BenOchart Ben, this is the fine 50 micron filter pads I was referring to...you would be amazed at what it can do:
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B071NMMR86/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A1S24LKBJ790QQ&psc=1
Probably are over filtering because after 20yrs with the fish tank and all I’m definitely been trying to do less maintenance on the canister filter and the home made bio filter which has lava rock and clay balls all works great also big fan of pool sand substrate
HI BEN....GREAT VIDEO....LIKE ANYTHING ELSE THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING TOPIC. EVERYONE HAS THERE OWN OPINIONS....I DON'T THINK ANYONES OPINIONS ARE WRONG...ITS UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS. I HAVE A 125 GALLON ACRYLIC TANK, I HAVE AN FX6....AND FX4....A 406....2 HANG ON THE BACKS....AND 2 SPONE FILTERS IN MY TANK.... MY WATER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR....I HAVE ZERO AMMONIA.....NO NITRATES AND ALL THE OTHER PARAMETERS ARE PERFECT. I KEEP AN OVERSTOCKED TANK, SO I ALWAYS LIKED HAVING MORE FILTRATION.....AFTER ALL THIS IS A CLOSED SYSTEM.. AND THE FISH DO PEE AND CRAP IN THE TANK. I WOULD RATHER OVER FILTER THAN UNDER FILTER....BESIDES THE FILTERS ARE ALL LOW WATTAGE ANYWAY....I HAVE SOLAR PANELS ON MY ROOF....SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST....ITS IRRELAVANT TO ME AS LONG AS MY FISH ARE HEALTHY....I ALSO DO MY WEEKLY 50% WATER CHANGES FOR MAXIMUM HEALTH FOR MY FISH....WHEN IT COMES TO MY FISH, I TRY AND PROVIDE THEM WITH WHAT I THINK IS THE BEST......BUT WHAT IS BEST FOR ME, MIGHT NOT BE BEST FOR SOMEONE ELSE.... THE WAY I TAKE CARE OF MY FISH GIVES ME A CLEAR CONSCIENCE THAT I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GIVE MY FISH A FAIR CHANCE IN SURVIVING A HEALTHY LIFE. I'M ALSO RETIRED, SO THATS ANOTHER REASON WHY I HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON MY HANDS. AND CONCENTRATE ON MAKING MY FISH KEEPING AS BEST I CAN.....
DANIEL VENDITTI That’s a lot of filtration on that 125. I’m sure it’s crystal clear. How many fish do you estimate you have in there?
45 FISH DIFFERENT SIZES....FROM SMALL TO LARGE.....
I use sponge filters besides the HOB filters...the fishes seem happy...and the water is clean...
I don't believe this such thing as over filtration. I have on my 220 gallon tank a 90 gallon sump running off a 4200 l pond pump and a 2000 l APS canister filter filled with floss I use this as a water polisher. This is not expensive to run it's by far cheaper than running 3 canisters. Thanks Ben great video good subject.
What most of these people like Frankie need to understand is many people who heavily over filter really only run bio media in one canister. The other canisters are mostly just mechanical, water polishing water movement. Over filtering at least in terms of cichlid tanks isn’t about bacterial colonization as much as it is achieving perfectly clear water. I’m currently running g an fx6 and c360 on a 60 juvie tank and the fx6 is almost nothing but polyfil and the c360 is almost nothing but media. I even took out most of the perimeter foams on the fx6 and stuffed even more poly in their place.. with over 30 cichlids in a 60 I likely do have enough load to support both filters setup with bio media.. but I prefer fast high flow filtration for water polishing and slower flowing filters with larger capacity for bio filtration. There is more then enough high quality media in the c360 and more then sufficient flow to filter a 60g tank no matter the stock level. That’s why the fx6 is nothing but poly. It also helps the c360 as there is less muck in the water so in return I need less mech in there before the media. This in return allows more media then if I were to set up each independently with corse To fine mech and then media. I run a prefilter sponge on the c360 in a medium density sponge which with the help of the fx6 allows me to stuff 12l of bio into one canister. If I were to run each conventionally.. I would only get 6-7l in the c360 and 2 more in the fx6 after using mechanicals and chemicals in both. End result I achieve more bio capacity and much more polishing this way. It’s much less about over filtration as it is using each tool properly for the best results.
Isn't the force of the FX6 output too much for a 60 gal or do you dial it down a bit?
Also, the purpose of mechanical mixed with bio is to keep the bio from clogging. Have you noticed any gunk or detritus building up on you bio media? This would choke the BB living deeper in the creveces of the Bio media.
Great points for sure.
Ben Ochart no the fx6 on a 60 isn’t even close to too much flow. Maybe if it had one outlet instead of the two it could be? In fact my pleco and venustus school together swimming in the return flow of the fx6 lol. Pretty cool seeing such active pleco! The most sensitive fish I have innthere would be my clown loaches and I even catch them swinningn in the current from time to time lol. I also have very high water line with the fx6 pointed at the surface as far as the nozzles will allow. Being a 60 and not a 55 I think the added depth with the position of the nozzles do a lot to have a little calmer water deep in the tank wo adversely effecting current and circulation. They are also pointed outwards as far as I can till they sit against the glass. I’ve also got 2 500gph wavemakers on the other side helping to push deep water back to the intakes. As for the mechanical on the c360 I run a medium sponge prefilter on the intake. I rinse it weekly and it seems to be plenty of mechanical. You also have to remember the fx6 is Turning over about 2x more water then the c360 so it is really taking most of the brunt in terms of mechanical filtration. So the c360 with slower flow really doesn’t need as much mech as you would think cause the water is already cleaned before getting to it. I also use pondguru method of placing cheap media under the baskets to collect any larger debris. When I open that filter all the muck is in the very bottom and the prefilter will easily make a couple classes of chocolate milk by itself lol. I had a very hard time finding a medium density sponge that would work wo collapsing and choking off the filter as most filters of this type are very corse foam or too soft and flimsy. I actually buy a replacement filter for another canister. I think it’s one of the mech sponges for an Ehiem internal canister filter. It’s greenish square block that comes in 2’s with a perfectly sized hole for most intake strainers. Cleaning my media baskets takes nothing more then one dunk in a bucket and swishing the basket by twisting it left to right a couple times then into another bucket with cleaner tank water and doing the same. The media is pretty clean to start with but there is the occasional floating biofilm to be removed but that’s usually only the bottom basket. Above that the canister filter water looks as clean as the water in the tank does.
As far as the fx6 goes.. I’ve been trying different ways to replace the perimeter foams round the media baskets to reduce bypass in this area and get better filtration. Even packed full of poly I can’t seem to do this. When I clean that filter the top basket where the biofoams are generally placed still take the bulk of the filtering. I’ve tried small bioballs, cutting my own foams to have less voids and now I’ve gone to full poly. But the top center is still easily 4-5x dirtier then even the bottom perimeter baskets poly. I’m also sure as much poly as I’m running that it also drastically reduces the flow as well. I also forgot to mention.. I don’t run sand or fine substrate like many of you do. I used regular old natural color river pebbles in small and medium sizes so I don’t have to worry about the current uplifting sand to the filters. My fish don’t mind it at all and are still able to make holes for spawning and pick up the gravel in their mouth and move it where they want. Being river rock it’s all got smother edges. There is also around 10l liters of various bio media laying in there as I’ve been keeping it seeded as I try different setups in different filters trying to find the most efficient combination. Let me tell you this seemed like a good idea until I have to actually scope it out cause the fish have rearranged it everywhere and it’s now all mixed together and even worse mixed in with the substrate lol.
Nothing I ever thought about I have a 75 hob on a 40 breeder is that too much?
Donna Kate Morgan I have a tidal 110 and water crystal clear. Your 75 is just right for a 40.
Shawn Paul 954
Thank you !
No problem
If the water looks good, the fish are healthy and your tests are good, then it’s perfect.
I'm currently running a fluval 405 canister, 2 emperors HOB on a 55g long tank.. and yet my water is not crystal clear... What am I doing wrong? I have 3 labs, 3 strawberries, 3 red tops, 2 Venustus and 1 Snow White
I think if you keep cichlids it's better to have to much filtration than not enough because cichlids have a very healthy appetite and they produce a lot of waste and I over stock my mbuna tank to equal out the aggression. So better safe than sorry.
I agree, especially the way they eat, produce waste and grow. But too many fish keepers go way overboard and just waste energy for very small gains in the quality of their filtered water.
Use a filter booster or pre filter canister before the main canister filter (pondguru already explained this method). That will reduse the maintenance needed in the main filter and maximizing the bio media (biohome, matrix etc) in the main canister. I only clean the pre filter that consist only foam filter (mechanical filter)
I have 2 tank
200liters tank use 4 canister (1 eheim, 1 jbl, 1 atman and 1 sunsun hw603b) link 2-2 as pre filter and 1 HOB... (This is over kill) i have around 20++ fish medium inside. Have some plants
And 40liters long tank
Using undergravel filter (as mechanical filter) connected submersible pump to sunsun hw-603b canister filter that only use medium pad, fine pad, filter floss and a lot of media (biohome, matrix, denitrate, sera) and i have more than 50 small fish inside
To much? 😅😅😅
I think all this is true about filtration and bio load I keep a notebook of pms on all my tanks when I did water changes and clean filtration so I’m not over cleaning and get time suggested on media. Not all my filters are for Bacteria like carbon filters and UV and high micron water polishers. You can’t never overdose on filtration especially on salt water tanks
Personally, I don’t know if you can have too much Filtration. I understand the comments being made regarding biological filtration, but there is also chemical and mechanical filtration to be considered. Not to mention the fact that filters circulate water versus providing gas exchange and current. Personally I use more filtration than what most would consider to be needed. Why just use a power head or air stone to circulate water when you can be using a filter to do the same thing but have the added benefit of mechanical, chemical, and Biological filtration. Unless your fish are being pinned against the glass or are being stressed by the amount of circulation, why skimp on such an important aspect of an aquarium? Thanks for the great video with Ben, I am a big fan and enjoy your content
You can not over-filter your tanks just as you can not over-water your aquatic plants. No such thing as over-filtering. The more filter media you have, the faster bacteria recuperate after maintenance. Can some of the filter media remain underutilized? Absolutely. But I rather have too much of a good thing, thereby redundancy, than fragile balance in my tanks that is easy to tip, and I'm glad you seem to agree. Where is the follow-up video? :)
We're on the same page. What would like to see emphasized in the follow-up?
We're on the same page. What would like to see emphasized in the follow-up?
@@BenOchart Well, I personally have no expectations, I was just curious to see a follow-up video since you've said there would be one. If there isn't one yet, I'd really like to see something in the range of correct ratio between mechanical and biological filtration, since the size of our filters is a given, but we might overdo one type of filter to the disadvantage of the other. I haven't seen such a video anywhere yet.
Wouldnt over filtering have sum kind of bleaching affect on the bacteria in the water or is it just a poor mans osmosis
Ok wouldnt over filtering cause a bloom of bacteria n wouldnt a ppm meter be able to read it
Sorry to sound so niqqa but im more of an underfilterer n clean alot of algea out my 60 gal sterolite container I'm more of a baking soda, lemon juice, and spagnum to minipulate the ph n of water and of course sum ph up n down isa must but yea Talapia
When my way doesnt work and its an emergency i geuss im a bit organic to my intrest
How can it be a waste of money to run backup filters? That’s not a waste...your paying for backup insurance! I run a 60g tank with 8 small 50gph pumps spread out over 3 outlets for lots of redundancy. I probably could scale down to 5-6 put I’m paying the extra electricity for the peace of mind if a pump or two fail or if one outlet fails.
The theory is that you are only going to support the amount of bacteria that your set up can feed. Beyond that it's over kill. However, running more is better than running less since you want that extra capacity to be there when you add stock. That being said, some say that the majority of your benefical bateria lives on the decor on the substrate.
Ben Ochart I agree but I was merely stating that there is additional value in running extra filters in case of power and/or equipment failure. That’s not really “wasteful over filtering” but rather building redundancy in your system.
I rather have more filtration then I need then less
Always better to be at more than less. I agree!
this Is a hobby where people get Caught Up in promoting the hobby with overkill....it generates $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for nanufactures
people Loooooove spending more n more and it becomes an Ego thing
No, Ben, I am not over filtering, but I think that you are with all the paraphenalia I saw you have in the cupboard under your aquarium.
I don't know much but all i can say is too much of anything is bad.
To be honest I think I'm under filtered. But I'm probably just delusional and most likely am over filtering my tanks lol
My thoughts.....you are only going to grow enough bacteria to handle the load of the tank, provided you have enough surface area. This is why the bacteria should be grown inside the tank with the use of substrate. Seems alot of fish keepers are trying to get away with less and less substrate to make ease of cleaning and then can't figure out why their tank is not stable. This is where ammonia spikes really hurt a tank, bacteria needs time to grow to the needs at hand. I do not stuff my canister filters with alot of bio-media, instead I use them for mechanical filtration. As mechanical filters, I use ALOT of filtration on ALL of my tanks!!!!!
Corporate fish manufacturers way over rate what their canister filters will handle. At least this has been my experience while keeping and raising african cichlids.
Great topic, keep up the good work.
jack jill, GREAT points. Substrate is the seldom brought up in these discussions yet is a vital component to the ecosystem. Understanding this, how do you maintain your substrate? Do you rake or stir it up occasionally? Do you vacuum or deep vacuum if gravel? A topic for another video!
Yes, this would be an excellent topic for another video.
Hi .. in facts we dont fish keepers .. we exact water keepers ...imagin that fish live in the wild .. more and more healthy water ... we make it live in a water boxes ... so its need more and more water healthy like wild ... Whatever we do, we are in fact deficient in their right.
I believe that I understand what you are saying and I agree. We try our best to give them a good life but it is still living in captivity. Some would argue that their life in a well kept aquarium is superior to that in the wild. Interesting questions.
Are you over filtering? ..Nope: Still kind of fixated on it.
Its under filtering thats the problem
Agree. People don't take into consideration the impact of fish growing and the adding of stock. This can eventually overwhelm the available filtration. Then come the ammonia spikes and the die-offs until the tank re-balances itself. Better to have underused bio media that gives room for expansion instead of maxed out bio media that can't handle one more fish or an increase in feeding.
@@BenOchart
Water flow in every corner , top to bottom helps more .
I have seen other tanks with nothing at all , fish are stationary !
Lets start with a common sense ... a little over filtration wouldn’t be too much if you have more than enough money to spare specially when you ate talking about pets. But on the other side of it is when you turn your hobby into a business , then funding will have to be accounted for to the very centavo. Other than that, back to common sense,,, as a human being we tend to like to live in a very comfortable life,,, that is just the same thing with the fish,,, if you want to live longer get a place where you are far from viruses, bacteria and all sickness that are contagious,,, with that if you put your fish in an inadequate filtration , they wont live any longer than you would expect but if you put them in an adequate tank and filtration, granted they will live longer to your expected time. The more the better,,, always have a backup and makes life easier,,, COMMON SENSE
You wont be able to dial it in. Bacteria need time to multiple. You are better of doing a water change
Too many bowls and very little m&ms
Oh, you're referring to Aquarium Co-op's excellent presentation on filtration. Now I get it. At first I thought that you were drinking early :)
Ben Ochart I never drink early 😆