Less filtration !!!!!!!!

[fooman]

Okay hear is my question or theory . I have a 400 gallon tank that is running two fx5 filters and a 40 gallon sump . I am about to install a drip system that will drip 2 gph = 50 gallons a day = 350 gallons a week .
Would i be able to get a way with taking one of the fx5 off the tank to start a new tank ? My thoughts are with that much water changing every week i will not need that much filtration any more.
Oh and my stock list is 1 oscar 1 gt 1 jag 1 Festae 5 clown loches and i would say in the future another 6 to 8 cichlids .

thanks in advance

 

[Hot Slime]

If your planning to add "6-8" more cichlids then I would first make sure you got enough bio in your filters to support everything. What's the GPH on that return pump in your sump?

 

[fishman61]

You can't have too much filtration especially for a tank that size and with that many fish.

 

[duke33]

I'd make sure the drip was working properly then add the other fish 1 at a time so the BB can keep up.

 

[fooman]

Well the return pump is rated at 1200 gph . The way i was thinking is that if you are loosing 50 gallons a day then with it goes the nitrates and the water that is left is diluted with fresh water. In theory if you changed all the water say every two days then you would not need any filtration . It would be like doing massive water changes every day. Well that is my theory any way .

 

[clekchau]

I'd make sure the drip was working properly then add the other fish 1 at a time so the BB can keep up.

with the drip and seachem stablity, i have zero ammonio and less than 5 ppm nitrates, and i have a high bioload. adding cichlids 1 fish at a time causes alot of territory and aggression imho

 

[bbortko]

If your tank has a lot of rock, wood, and substrate you actually need very little bio in your filters.

 

[y26tan18]

If your tank has a lot of rock, wood, and substrate you actually need very little bio in your filters.

really ? coz the bacteria will grow on the decor ? and so all he would need is a good mechanical filtration ?

 

[gangster]

i wouldnt take away any filtration. I would just get another fx5 and steal some old media and put it in the new fx5. Two fx5's and a 40g sump is minimal filtration for a 400g imho.

 

[bbortko]

Beneficial bacteria will grow on every hard surface in the system, you'll need some bio but now where near the amounts that people commonly use. The bacteria grows to the amount of waste produced not the amount of bio in your filters.