To me, it is unrealistic to expect a filter to pick up heavy "dirt",
That is what vacuuming during water changes is for.
Sucking large particles into a filter, would mean to me the filter would then need to be cleaned more often, (anything in the filter, is still in the tank, rotting away) and vacuuming that dirt out is much easier, and better in the long run, for the health of the tank anyway, rather than collecting it in a filter.
If your tank was heavily planted, this might change that scenario, I hardly ever vacuum heavily planted tanks, if at all.
A tank water turnover rate thru a filter of 5 times per hour, is considered normal, that's a flow rate of about 3600 gallons per hour flow for the size of your tank.
Of course this may depend on type fish you keep.
3600 gallons per hour may be too much for ox bow fish like discus, but ......be quite wimpy for something like African Tiger fish, Mahseer, or other rheophyllic species.
What type fish are in your tank? this is an important determiner in answering your question.
That is what vacuuming during water changes is for.
Sucking large particles into a filter, would mean to me the filter would then need to be cleaned more often, (anything in the filter, is still in the tank, rotting away) and vacuuming that dirt out is much easier, and better in the long run, for the health of the tank anyway, rather than collecting it in a filter.
If your tank was heavily planted, this might change that scenario, I hardly ever vacuum heavily planted tanks, if at all.
A tank water turnover rate thru a filter of 5 times per hour, is considered normal, that's a flow rate of about 3600 gallons per hour flow for the size of your tank.
Of course this may depend on type fish you keep.
3600 gallons per hour may be too much for ox bow fish like discus, but ......be quite wimpy for something like African Tiger fish, Mahseer, or other rheophyllic species.
What type fish are in your tank? this is an important determiner in answering your question.
