Is there such a thing as too much bio filtration in a freshwater setup? Unlike a marine tank, there isn't the live rock to harvest bacteria. I have a 125 that has 3 emperor 400's running with the regular pads and media baskets filled with ceramic rings. I don't have any issues. Just wondering if u can over do a freshwater tank and make a nitrate factory out of the bio filtration. Thanks for reading.
Bio filtration in the freshwater aquarium.
- Thread starter mudslinger
- Start date
Most people here stand by overfiltration. Only exception would be more flow than your fish can handle :O
the bacteria doesnt create nitrates out of thin air, their has to be a source of food for the bacteria and that will convert to nitrates. so in that same train of thought the bacteria should be limited to the amount of waste in your water, in order to survive. this is just my educated guess. so not 100% but i think im right.
Thankfully, my nitrate factories are top notch and convert all nitrogenous waste into nitrates like magic.
The only reason you'd get more than normal nitrate production is if you let muck build up in your bio. Then you end up with big rotting piles of fun. Prefilters pretty much cure that.
The only reason you'd get more than normal nitrate production is if you let muck build up in your bio. Then you end up with big rotting piles of fun. Prefilters pretty much cure that.
LOL good old laws of thermodynamics. You will never ever ever ever ever have any more nitrates than the ammonia your fish release. Of course, nitrates build up, so you have to do water changes.
A little more bio-media is better, simply because in case there's an ammonia spike for any reason, there's surface area for the bacteria to colonize. But you also cannot have more bacteria than the ammonia output allows (because all ecosystems will eventually reach equilibrium).
I have no clue how salt water works, but in freshwater, the more bio-media, the better.
A little more bio-media is better, simply because in case there's an ammonia spike for any reason, there's surface area for the bacteria to colonize. But you also cannot have more bacteria than the ammonia output allows (because all ecosystems will eventually reach equilibrium).
I have no clue how salt water works, but in freshwater, the more bio-media, the better.
Not true. Uneaten food, old turds and rotting plant leaves contribute as well. Keep them out of your bio chamber and out of your system for best results.
you guys aren't understanding his question.
in sw, most people stray away from regular filters and use live rock as their sole bio filtration
regular filters are avoided because they create nitrates faster than the aquarist would like, it probably is also possible in fw, but people are too busy "jdm'ing" their tanks and insanely overfiltering it to notice
in sw, most people stray away from regular filters and use live rock as their sole bio filtration
regular filters are avoided because they create nitrates faster than the aquarist would like, it probably is also possible in fw, but people are too busy "jdm'ing" their tanks and insanely overfiltering it to notice