Just curious because it seems to me in the past month or so everybody is talking about running 10xhour filtration what people think is more important. I know ideally it would be both but I want to see which one people feel is more important.
general key for filtration
- Thread starter ammerman19
- Start date
running 10 times the filtration is impostant,or at least when keeping monster fish from cichlids to snakeheads or even lung fish and etc.these type of fish produce more waste then your average pet goldfish.
you should be turning it over atleast 7 time with a good wet/dry.. that would be perect. but the more the better
i have a 180 and with a mag 18 (1800gph) pump to turn the water around.. but with headloss and some other stuff it comes down to at least a 1100 gph turn. 
that's around 6x only. i would say... your bioload and filters are the main part but it would help to turn the water more, just make sure you're tank is long enough or big enough that your fish is not spinning in circles.
my wet/dry filter is designed for a 400 gal tank... as you can see.. my turn around is not 10x but my filtration is for a double size tank. all my water parameters are in good shape.
that's around 6x only. i would say... your bioload and filters are the main part but it would help to turn the water more, just make sure you're tank is long enough or big enough that your fish is not spinning in circles. my wet/dry filter is designed for a 400 gal tank... as you can see.. my turn around is not 10x but my filtration is for a double size tank. all my water parameters are in good shape.IME it is not necessary to create a vortex in your tank by turning the water over 10x per hour. If you have sufficient bio filtration it is a waste of energy.
For example: My 265 has a large bioload (big fish, big turds). It barely turns the tank over 3x per hour, and the nitrates and ammonia are ZERO!! Guess what! That's the filters job!
Why is it necessary to run so much more volume through the filter if the end result will be the same? It's not necessary. Simple.
For example: My 265 has a large bioload (big fish, big turds). It barely turns the tank over 3x per hour, and the nitrates and ammonia are ZERO!! Guess what! That's the filters job!
Why is it necessary to run so much more volume through the filter if the end result will be the same? It's not necessary. Simple.
Faster turn over for mechanical filtration (logs, frogs and turds)
Slower turn over for biofilters.
It is very difficult to have a system that can do both exceedingly well. I like HOB filters with high flow rates for mechanical filtration and good surface turnover. My fave is the Emperor 400 filter and I'll gang them up on the back until I get enough mechanical filtration. They are relatively easy to clean and inspect. I use XP3 cans for biofilters but agree that a wet dry in a sump would be more effective at this. I just dont like all the heat and moisture loss.
Slower turn over for biofilters.
It is very difficult to have a system that can do both exceedingly well. I like HOB filters with high flow rates for mechanical filtration and good surface turnover. My fave is the Emperor 400 filter and I'll gang them up on the back until I get enough mechanical filtration. They are relatively easy to clean and inspect. I use XP3 cans for biofilters but agree that a wet dry in a sump would be more effective at this. I just dont like all the heat and moisture loss.
