Filter Overkill?

[HappyKirky]

Hey FishForums, i'm currently running a modest 60L tank and have been doing for about 7 months now. However I have been suffering from algae for some time now due to my inadaquate filter. So logically I have decided to invest in a new filter.

So heres my question: I have a friend who is prepared to sell me his unboxed, but unused Eheim 2224 for £30 (been sat on a shelf for a year). This to me sounded like a pretty good deal, however the filter runs at 700L per hour, so it would potentially be fully cycling my tank roughly every 5 minutes, is this too big for my tank? Does it have too much filtration?

This may sound like a stupid question but I just wanted to make sure it was good to go

All answers appreciated.

 

[HappyKirky]

Also, is the Eheim 2224 a "good" filter, the reviews I read were positive but then I could only find 3. Or would you reccomend a different filter?

Thanks.

 

[Hermithall]

I would grab that unused Eheim 2224 for £30 as quick as possible - great bargain! Eheim is a very well repected brand, and it's only the high price tag that sometimes puts folk off.
Don't worry about 'filter overkill' - the more times you can turn your water over the better, you really can't have too much flow through your filter media - it's a good thing! The only possible concern might be too much water movement for your fish's liking in your 60L created by the return pipe - but I'm sure you can get around this by directing/diffusing the flow.

Remember to move all the filter media from your old filter into one of your new Eheim's filter trays when you make the switch

 

[moochy13]

i concur. you cant overfilter the water, but in a little 60l tank the unaltered output is probably to much. eheim filters are great, and they are the only brand that give the ACTUAL LPH measurement, as they measure with media in the filter. every other brand, far as i know, measure without media, which obviously means less obstruction and more LPH. then when you fillt it with media you find out its not as good as you thought.

the filter should come with taps, if not they can be brought seperately. these can be used to reduce the output flow by half shutting them or whatever. a spraybar will also help diffuse the pressure.

 

[HappyKirky]

Thanks alot, the filter comes with two taps, so if I alter these along with the addition of a spraybar, would that be ok?

In case it makes a difference my tank has 6 Danios, 2 Corydoras, 2 Dwarf Gouranmi, a pearl Gourami, a baby pleco and a small Ruby Shark (will probably remove in future).

Again I appreciate the answers

 

[moochy13]

you will only need to alter the output tap. obviously you dont want to close it too much, id imagine that would extra strain on the motor. i turn mine half shut when im feeding to stop food getting blown about and sucked straight into the filter. you might get away with it without a spraybar, i would try first. if its too much, you can get a spraybar, will definitely solve the problem.

as for your fish, you really need a bigger tank. danios really need 4 feet+ tanks, as theyre very active. at least you have the number right, shoaling fish should always be in at least 6's. this includes corydoras. the shark will definitely have to go, do you know what type of plec it is ? hopefully a bristelnose, if not chances are its a common or gibbiceps plec, cheap and easy to get, but can easily grow to well over a foot in a tank. again, this requires a massive tank. as such many common plecs have to be given back to pet shops, they are worth nothing because of their difficulty to house and they're easy to get. cant comment on the gouramis, know nothing about them.

but at least with this new filter you'll have a better chance of keeping the water clear, and you will be able to free up some internal tank space. but id get on ebay or free-ads and start looking for a bigger tank. a 3-4 foot tank would be fine for all but the plec and shark. you could also make the number of cories up to 6, and possibly add another school of fish.

 

[HappyKirky]

Thanks, i'll try without the spraybar first, and yeah, I would like another slightly bigger tank but unfortunatly I currently lack space and funds currently.

I planned to remove the shark when it grew as its still quite young, but currently it seems to be quite content.

As for the plec yes its a Bristlenose, I don't fancy having a foot-long common plec in my already slightly over-stocked tank I'm not a complete fish newbie.

 

[moochy13]

haha thats good to hear, i think the majority of us are more restricted than we'd like by space and money i had a black shark that was fine until one day it just decided it was big enough to get rude on everybody, so he had to go.

 

[Tizer]

However I have been suffering from algae for some time now due to my inadaquate filter. So logically I have decided to invest in a new filter.

How did you come to the conclusion that the filter was responsible for the algae? I would be looking at your lighting before filtration, what lighting do you have and how long is it on for?

 

[HappyKirky]

However I have been suffering from algae for some time now due to my inadaquate filter. So logically I have decided to invest in a new filter.

How did you come to the conclusion that the filter was responsible for the algae? I would be looking at your lighting before filtration, what lighting do you have and how long is it on for?

Didn't think I meant to use the word "logically" there

When I first had the algae problem I didn't presume it was the filter, I though I may have been over feeding them or have been leaving the light on for too long, so I tried reducing food and light time for a month. But this didn't really impact the algae. I then tried replacing 50% of the water every week instead of my normal 30% and replacing the activated charcoal for a month. Again this had no lasting effect, the water would clear a bit, but by wednesday it was back to its normal green tint (I change the water on a sunday).

I'm now left wondering whether my filter is still working properly, as it is a few years old and doesn't seem to have the output it used to.

Some Tank Stats:

15W flurescent tube (on for about 6-8 hours a day, I reduced it to 4 to see if that was the issue)
Tetratec EasyCrystal 300 (supposedly 300lph, i don't think it does half of that)