Is there a such thing as over filtering?

[fishmonster]

I have a 30 - 36 gallon tank. I had a AC 50 on it with the fluval 2, i decided to up the filter to a AC110 for extra filtration as i had over populated my tank but i love the shoals and colour my tetras have given me.

I was always told that if you have plenty of water movement and filtration you can over populate my tank. I also have different layers like i have several bottom middle and upper level fish to try and use the space wisely.

 

[guppy]

If the filter is bigger than the tank it might be a little much.

 

[Zoodiver]

Yes, you can over do a filter. Remember that there is more than just filter ability to the judge the amount of fish in the water. The amount of water must support the bio-mass you are trying to keep alive in the tank. This means all of your fish, plus the bacteria etc. that you don't see.

 

[thefishofdoom]

i agree with Zoodiver

 

[Fry]

I used an AquaClear 500/110 on my 29 gallon before and all the fish were fine as long as they weren't too weak or small to escape the filter intake.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I personally think there is no such thing as "overfiltering" if you refer to filter capacity. However, I truely think increased filtration should not be used to justify overcrowding a tank. Furthermore, too much water movement can be detrimental to some still-water species, just like too little movement can hurt fish originating from fast-flowing waters.

Bottom line: You can hang an Eheim Pro 3 on a 50 gal full throttle as long as you keep species like Beaufortia kweichowensis. You can still use that filter, however, reduced to 10 % flow rate if you keep Pterophyllum. In neither case does the mammoth filter justify an increase in fish numbers or size.

HarleyK

 

[werdna]

lol make sure u dont make the filter be to big b/c u dont want ur fishes sucked in lol then they would escape like in findng nemo......lol

 

[Big Business]

the amount of biomass does not depend on the amount of water, it depends on the ammonia and nitrites. Just keep them in check, do your water changes and watch your pH. Make sure you stick with schooling river fish and you’ll have a cool tank

 

[joeytoe]

I dont think you can over filter. I mean on my 120gal I have 2 AC110/500s an a fluval 403. An on my 29Gal I have a Fluval 403 (tring to find a slightly smaller one though) Plus soon im putting a AC 200 on my 10Gal feeder tank.

 

[qumqats]

I don't think you can over filter, but I DO think you can have too much current in the tank.

Some fish don't do well with too much water movement.
On the other hand some fish LOVE it!