Tank Turnover

[SteveR]

I've been keeping fish for 4 years and I am well versed on filtration.

I have a tank (see my signature) which is filtered with one FX5. I was thinking, what are the pros/cons of increasing tank turnover rate (I mean by converting the centres all to bio balls vs leaving spongues in some of them (which obviously reduces the flow)

At the moment I have rings in the top, balls in the middle with one spongue and then 3 spongues in the very bottom,. The output is still awesome but it just came to me today sitting in work.

Is turning the tank over 15 times better than 10? Why? Surely if the amm and the nitrite gets moved to nitrate it doesn't really matter either way? I can easily take out more spongues as I have tones of bio area for my fish load.

Discuss!

 

[boldtogether]

Turnover just means that each drop of water will pass through the cleaning action of the media more times per hour....like scrubbing up for surgery. I wash my hands with soap and water like everyone else. Doctors, however, scrub. And scrub, and scrub, and scrub....just so they dont miss anything. Turnover also aides in O2 saturation. The more the water is moving from bottom of tank(lower O2 level) to the top(O2 exchange), the better the saturation.
You could improve the turnover by removing the mechanical, but that really isnt going to do much for water polishing. The added flow in the tank will help with the O2 saturation but adding bio-media can depleat O2....
You could get higher performing bio-media and end up needing less thereby increasing the efficiency of the filter.
I think when people want to increase turnover they usually get additional filters. If added circulation is what your after then you could get a powerhead and aim it at the surface. End up spending le$$.
Just my 2¢.

 

[SteveR]

THanks. But really, whats the pro/con of me getting say lets use the example tank turnover of 15-16 as compared to leaving it around 10-11 like it is now. I have more than enough bio media for the fish I own, more than enough so I could loose some.
Come on guys!

 

[boldtogether]

Experts say 5-6 turn-over is ideal.
You arent going to get anyone on here to say no to high turn-over...the only negative I can see is rediculous turbulence in the tank stressing the fish.
What do you want to hear? Dump out some bio and let the pump have at it? I dont get the question.
Try Google.

 

[azazal]

I've been keeping fish for 4 years and I am well versed on filtration.

I have a tank (see my signature) which is filtered with one FX5. I was thinking, what are the pros/cons of increasing tank turnover rate (I mean by converting the centres all to bio balls vs leaving spongues in some of them (which obviously reduces the flow)

At the moment I have rings in the top, balls in the middle with one spongue and then 3 spongues in the very bottom,. The output is still awesome but it just came to me today sitting in work.

Is turning the tank over 15 times better than 10? Why? Surely if the amm and the nitrite gets moved to nitrate it doesn't really matter either way? I can easily take out more spongues as I have tones of bio area for my fish load.

Discuss!

ok i thought bio went on bottom tray ...my understanding of FX5 is the water comes up the outside sponges then down middle so bottom inner tray is last in line for filtration ie that's were the bio media goes...i have prefilter in top(mechanical) charcoal in middle (chemical) and biomax in bottom (bio).sponge on top of rings and prefilter....am i wrong?

sorry not trying to hijack

 

[dr_sudz]

Less it was a salt water tank, and I wouldn't recommend the canister for a salt in its current condition and its also not great to have more flow from your filter should be using power heads to achieve a higher flow rate.
I would also think that the guys at fluval have placed a lot of time and research to insure that your going to get optimal results in your freshwater tank. Just a thought.

 

[SteveR]

Experts say 5-6 turn-over is ideal.
You arent going to get anyone on here to say no to high turn-over...the only negative I can see is rediculous turbulence in the tank stressing the fish.
What do you want to hear? Dump out some bio and let the pump have at it? I dont get the question.
Try Google.

LOL the output is not gonna stress my fish trust me. The question is as i said! in red!

 

[CHOMPERS]

It was already answered for you.

If you own a car that will do 150 Km/h and you sell it for a car that will do 200 Km/h just so you can brag about it, but the speed limit is 75 Km/h, what have you gained?

You've gained nothing but bragging rights.

If 3-6 is suitable, but you have 10 already, 15 is going to do nothing for you or your fish.

But to people who don't know any better, you'll be a god.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

All but the rediculously over stocked tanks will have no problem keeping ammonia and nitrate to undetectable levels with as little as 1-2 turnovers per hour.

But with such low turn overs there will be a ton of build up on the bottom and possible suspended sediment in the water column.

A turn over of around 5-7 will take care of 99% of the suspended junk in the water column and gives you much clearer water than a 1-2x turn over. But still does very little to stir up the mulm from the tank floor.

From my experience a turnover rate of around 12x or higher starts to keep the tank much cleaner over all.

In my side by side 125's I have 10x in one and about 20x in the other. Both have the same substrate, stock levels and decore. And the lower turnover tank needs a vacumming about every month or sooner. But the 20x tank has never needed a single substrate vaccing in the 3yrs its been up. The only time I have ever seen mulm on the tank floor is when i have moved drift wood.

So the question is...is it worth the extra money in power consumption and price to have a cleaner tank and save yourself a hour or so every so often vaccing the tank floor?

Some would say yes and some would say no.

Its personal preference

IMO removing media that cleans the water to get more flow would be pointless.

 

[SteveR]

It was already answered for you.

If you own a car that will do 150 Km/h and you sell it for a car that will do 200 Km/h just so you can brag about it, but the speed limit is 75 Km/h, what have you gained?

You've gained nothing but bragging rights.

If 3-6 is suitable, but you have 10 already, 15 is going to do nothing for you or your fish.

But to people who don't know any better, you'll be a god.

Thanks for that info.
Just wanted to know what the pros are doin'!