Many people refer to the need to have 10X or more turnover rate if they are "over stocked" or have "messy fish" like cichlids. I have two tanks full of African Cichlids (75 & 150) and I don't think they are any more messier than any other fish of the same mass. As far as over crowding; the limiting factor is how often you are willing to change the water.
Some people go overboard with mechanical filtration because they don't like to see floaties. I can understand if you have a planted tank and dead leaf debris is floating around; but if you have plastic plants, what would cause all the floaties? Granted you have some food floating around at feeding time, but usually within a few minutes, that settles down (either gets sucked up in the filter or lands in the gravel where it sits a few days before it is vacuumed out at water change time). I also don't see a big deal with fish pooh; it goes away just like any excess food. Since both food and waste are removed weekly, that's far sooner then they have a chance to break down and produce ammonia.
Since African Cichlids are lake fish, the flow rate should be as low as possible if you want them to "feel at home". The occasional waste floatie would also be natural in a lake. I think 10X would be fine for trout or salmon.
I run between 4 and 5X flow rate, mainly for biological filtration, and my tank water is crystal clear. I feed my fish slowly, so I rarely see any food particles go uneaten. Fish pooh comes and goes.
The only thing I can think of is maybe people are not paying attention to "controlling" the water flow. All my tanks have the output tubes/spray bars on one side of the tank directing a relatively weak, but coordinated, flow to the return tubes at the opposite end. I have one return tube near the bottom to pick up debris and the colder water; and one return hooked to a surface skimmer for surface debris and warmer water.
This whole issue with people running 10x or even 20x water flow rates reminds me of the PC hardware forums I also frequent. There are a bunch of folks who have 5 or more AIR fans trying to cool their monster gamer PCs (heat is the waste they are trying to get rid of). They show off their highly modified computer cases with big holes cut in the top, sides, and front. They mount high speed fans in the holes, and the air flow is so strong, the PC acts like a hover craft. Then you have the engineering minded folks who use two strategically placed fans and have no problems with heat, and as a bonus, they can actually hear the sound from the games.
So, do you have 10x to 20X flow rates for your enjoyment or the fishes enjoyment. Of course if you are keeping fish that naturally occur in swift running water, then 10-20X may be necessary.
Some people go overboard with mechanical filtration because they don't like to see floaties. I can understand if you have a planted tank and dead leaf debris is floating around; but if you have plastic plants, what would cause all the floaties? Granted you have some food floating around at feeding time, but usually within a few minutes, that settles down (either gets sucked up in the filter or lands in the gravel where it sits a few days before it is vacuumed out at water change time). I also don't see a big deal with fish pooh; it goes away just like any excess food. Since both food and waste are removed weekly, that's far sooner then they have a chance to break down and produce ammonia.
Since African Cichlids are lake fish, the flow rate should be as low as possible if you want them to "feel at home". The occasional waste floatie would also be natural in a lake. I think 10X would be fine for trout or salmon.
I run between 4 and 5X flow rate, mainly for biological filtration, and my tank water is crystal clear. I feed my fish slowly, so I rarely see any food particles go uneaten. Fish pooh comes and goes.
The only thing I can think of is maybe people are not paying attention to "controlling" the water flow. All my tanks have the output tubes/spray bars on one side of the tank directing a relatively weak, but coordinated, flow to the return tubes at the opposite end. I have one return tube near the bottom to pick up debris and the colder water; and one return hooked to a surface skimmer for surface debris and warmer water.
This whole issue with people running 10x or even 20x water flow rates reminds me of the PC hardware forums I also frequent. There are a bunch of folks who have 5 or more AIR fans trying to cool their monster gamer PCs (heat is the waste they are trying to get rid of). They show off their highly modified computer cases with big holes cut in the top, sides, and front. They mount high speed fans in the holes, and the air flow is so strong, the PC acts like a hover craft. Then you have the engineering minded folks who use two strategically placed fans and have no problems with heat, and as a bonus, they can actually hear the sound from the games.
So, do you have 10x to 20X flow rates for your enjoyment or the fishes enjoyment. Of course if you are keeping fish that naturally occur in swift running water, then 10-20X may be necessary.
