Overfiltering

[likestofish]

I have a fifty gallon tank that has a 100 gallon fluval 403 filter on it is this to much?

 

[Greenaveli]

IMO it is just about right

 

[ziggy2]

It's perfect. I always take the rating and cut it in half.

 

[hbluehunter]

It's always better to have too much filtration !!!! I'm running over 1200 gph in my 100 gallon tank... Not saying that's what you need but you're fine...

 

[parker21104]

my 240 I have 3 cascade 1500's rated for a 150 and a fluval fx5 with 2x36 watt uv lights. the only thing I notice with having that much mechanical filtration I have add a buffer every water change in order to keep my ph @7.2 if I dont my ph will drop.

 

[Merbeast]

I have a fifty gallon tank that has a 100 gallon fluval 403 filter on it is this to much?

Yes, or no. Maybe. Tank size does matter, but not nearly as much as the bio-load. You need to tell us what kind of fish, their size and how many you have before we can begin to answer that question. Other questions that have a bearing are:
1) what kind of substrate, if any, do you have?
2) Do you have lots of decorations?
3) how many, if any, live plants do you have?
4) how tolerant are you to the sight of poop?
5) how often do you feed?
6) what kind of filter media do you have in the fluval 403?
7) do you own a test kit? What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels?
8) is the tank cycled?

Be careful of the flippant, fast answers. "Gee, I filter 15billion gallons per hour on my 10 gallon tank, you can never have enough" means jack. Mechanical filtration will NOT cause your pH to drop. Having too many fish in a small body of water WILL cause your pH to drop if your water is not buffered enough (the waste breaking down will drop the pH).

 

[Merbeast]

my 240 I have 3 cascade 1500's rated for a 150 and a fluval fx5 with 2x36 watt uv lights. the only thing I notice with having that much mechanical filtration I have add a buffer every water change in order to keep my ph @7.2 if I dont my ph will drop.

You, sir, should not give advice if you do not understand what you are giving advice about.

 

[parker21104]

Yes, or no. Maybe. Tank size does matter, but not nearly as much as the bio-load. You need to tell us what kind of fish, their size and how many you have before we can begin to answer that question. Other questions that have a bearing are:
1) what kind of substrate, if any, do you have?
2) Do you have lots of decorations?
3) how many, if any, live plants do you have?
4) how tolerant are you to the sight of poop?
5) how often do you feed?
6) what kind of filter media do you have in the fluval 403?
7) do you own a test kit? What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels?
8) is the tank cycled?

Be careful of the flippant, fast answers. "Gee, I filter 15billion gallons per hour on my 10 gallon tank, you can never have enough" means jack. Mechanical filtration will NOT cause your pH to drop. Having too many fish in a small body of water WILL cause your pH to drop if your water is not buffered enough (the waste breaking down will drop the pH).

ok smart guy explain the waste breaking down he ph. considering I dont have much waste I feed twice a week and have 3 fish in the tank. with sand substrate and 3 pieces of bogwood.

 

[Merbeast]

ok smart guy explain the waste breaking down he ph. considering I dont have much waste I feed twice a week and have 3 fish in the tank. with sand substrate and 3 pieces of bogwood.

1) How big are the three fish?
2) Do you overfeed when you feed the 3 times a week? Uneaten food rotting in a canister will lower the pH over time.
3) Speaking of canisters, how often do you clean them? Poop trapped in the canister will be rotting and reducing the pH.
4) Is the sand chemically inert?
5) Bogwood releases tannins that soften the water and reduce the pH.

Thank you for asking. The mark of a real man is to learn and ask questions. Never be afraid to admit that you are wrong or you don't know.

 

[parker21104]

1) How big are the three fish?
2) Do you overfeed when you feed the 3 times a week? Uneaten food rotting in a canister will lower the pH over time.
3) Speaking of canisters, how often do you clean them? Poop trapped in the canister will be rotting and reducing the pH.
4) Is the sand chemically inert?
5) Bogwood releases tannins that soften the water and reduce the pH.

Thank you for asking. The mark of a real man is to learn and ask questions. Never be afraid to admit that you are wrong or you don't know.

Feeding is 8 large pieces of krill per feeding the uneaten food is pulled out 20 minutes after being dropped in.
canisters are cleand once a month. new media every other month
the sand is chemically inert.
My wallago attu is 26" my silver aro is 15" and my niger is 10"
and the bog wood pieces are not very large.
and out of my three tanks my 240 is the only tank where the ph will drop to about 6.8 to 7.0 when tested before every water change when I test the kh and the ph. my 100 gallon doesnt do this either does my 80 gallon. I add the buffer to bring up the kh which in turn brings up my ph .2 or so.