Should I get more filters?

[quasar]

Hey everyone! So I currently have a 125g with a Hoplias Curupria (about 7"), and a Tilapia Polleni ( 4.5/5"), there's also some snails in there).

The tank currently has an FX6 and an AC 110 running for filtration. I've never really had issues with the water but given the fish aren't done growing I wanted to know if perhaps I should up the filtration? I could just get a second FX6 but to be honest I had one break on me recently and losing a $400 filter after only 6 years of use hurt. I was thinking either another AC110, or maybe a SunSunHW-3000. Or I can leave things as is and see how the water is once the fish get bigger, but I figured if I do need to upgrade I might as well beat inflation haha.

Thanks in advance!

 

[danotaylor]

You have plenty of surface area for biological filtration for the bioload of your 2 fish. Plenty!
The term “over filtration” is a myth as it relates to biological filtration. The size of the beneficial bacteria colony can never exceed the available food source which is the bioload created by the inhabitants of a closed system. You could put 50 FX6’s on a tank, and still the total size of the beneficial bacteria colony would remain unchanged.
Mechanical filtration is really achieved best by how the returns and drains are positioned in relation to the water flow in the tank.
Some folks add wave makers or internal power heads to remove solid waste from the water column and “polish” the water.
The end product of the biological process is nitrate, which your typical filter creates, not remove. The way to remove nitrates, phosphate & reduce the bacterial load in the water column is water changes

 

[quasar]

You have plenty of surface area for biological filtration for the bioload of your 2 fish. Plenty!
The term “over filtration” is a myth as it relates to biological filtration. The size of the beneficial bacteria colony can never exceed the available food source which is the bioload created by the inhabitants of a closed system. You could put 50 FX6’s on a tank, and still the total size of the beneficial bacteria colony would remain unchanged.
Mechanical filtration is really achieved best by how the returns and drains are positioned in relation to the water flow in the tank.
Some folks add wave makers or internal power heads to remove solid waste from the water column and “polish” the water.
The end product of the biological process is nitrate, which your typical filter creates, not remove. The way to remove nitrates, phosphate & reduce the bacterial load in the water column is water changes

Thank you!

I also have a couple of air stones that help with the surface agitation. But I guess if I don't get lazy with the water changes I should be good?

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Back when I started keeping aquariums the only filtration was run by air pumps. The filters were the undergravel sort or small air bubble sorts. Those air bubbles did move water but nothing like even a basic modern power filter can.
I have run tanks with nothing but an air bubble sponge filter. No power filters at all.

A point I am driving toward is adding extra power filters on top of already having

an FX6 and an AC 110 running

does not make sense to me.

I use power filters myself so do see the benefit of having them. They are good for moving volumes of water. Much better than the stuff I started with back in the early 1960's. Moves the detritus into the filter media so it can be trapped and later removed from the tank. The mechanical side of filtration. An amount of mechanical filtration makes tank keeping easier. I suspect you already have plenty of mechanical filtration.

Even if you added three more power filters you will still need to do water changes (WC). WC is the best way of dealing with nitrate build up currently so no good way around this. WC is also a good time to clean up the dead spots of a tank with a siphon.

Last observation. I know of the FX6 and the AC 110. Have not used either so have no complaints with them. But if the FX6 costs $400 that in itself is a reason to avoid one. The last few power filters I bought were from Wal-Mart. They move water well. I have gotten many years use from them. The biggest one they carry was around $60 maybe ten years ago.

Guess i should ask what you want a third power filter to do for the tank.

 

[quasar]

Hello; Back when I started keeping aquariums the only filtration was run by air pumps. The filters were the undergravel sort or small air bubble sorts. Those air bubbles did move water but nothing like even a basic modern power filter can.
I have run tanks with nothing but an air bubble sponge filter. No power filters at all.

A point I am driving toward is adding extra power filters on top of already having

does not make sense to me.

I use power filters myself so do see the benefit of having them. They are good for moving volumes of water. Much better than the stuff I started with back in the early 1960's. Moves the detritus into the filter media so it can be trapped and later removed from the tank. The mechanical side of filtration. An amount of mechanical filtration makes tank keeping easier. I suspect you already have plenty of mechanical filtration.

Even if you added three more power filters you will still need to do water changes (WC). WC is the best way of dealing with nitrate build up currently so no good way around this. WC is also a good time to clean up the dead spots of a tank with a siphon.

Last observation. I know of the FX6 and the AC 110. Have not used either so have no complaints with them. But if the FX6 costs $400 that in itself is a reason to avoid one. The last few power filters I bought were from Wal-Mart. They move water well. I have gotten many years use from them. The biggest one they carry was around $60 maybe ten years ago.

Guess i should ask what you want a third power filter to do for the tank.

It's not so much a want, I'm just asking for advice as to whether or not I should up the filtration or if what I have is fine (combined with water changes). I also want a balance in terms of not needing to do 2 water changes a week, 1nce a week is fine.

 

[skjl47]

It's not so much a want, I'm just asking for advice as to whether or not I should up the filtration or if what I have is fine (combined with water changes). I also want a balance in terms of not needing to do 2 water changes a week, 1nce a week is fine.

Hello; as another pointed out in terms of biological filtration you could add 50 FX6 power filters and it will not make a difference. In terms of mechanical filtration, you have enough already. To be sure it is your tank and your money to spend so addas many filters as you want. We each get to run our tanks any way we wish is my mantra.
To the real issue, WC. There is a simple way to know if one WC per week is suitable. That being to monitor the nitrates ppm of the water. The generally mentioned standard is not acceptable by some. That being 20 ppm of nitrate. The basic truth appears to be that while nitrates are less toxic than other common aquarium toxins, the ideal number is zero nitrates.
Thing is 0 nitrates are hard to achieve. Would essentially mean a constant and ongoing WC. Some numbers of gallons drained out and constantly replaced. The basis for that appears to be gained from looking at in the wild water parameters which often have 0 nitrates. So, we, many of us, accept some number of nitrates, and many fish keepers call it good.

A thing is whose number do you accept. Fish are known to survive in high concentrations of nitrates. Some folks just want the water to be clear & pretty (water polishing). So, nitrates are not visible and high numbers are unseen.

My tactic of the last decade or so has been more to keep freshwater plants rather than pointedly keeping fish. I do keep fish. I have maybe eight zebra Danos in a heavily planted 55 gallons. Four tiger barbs in a 29 gallon. Five harlequin tetras in a 29 gallon. I still do WC and often cut and remove plant leaves. Sometimes pulling entire plants and giving them to a favored fish shop in Kingsport TN.

Some keep the roots of emergent plants in their tanks. Pothos I think. The idea is the live plants will pull nitrates from the tank and incorporate the nitrates into their leaves.

Last from me for now. I catch my WC into five-gallon buckets. I then pour it onto my creeping phlox in a portion of my yard.