Filter Question?

[robyngunston]

Hi everybody!

Is it bad to have a filter that is too big for your tank or can too much filtration never be bad?

Reason why I'm asking is.....I seem to have hit another wall with my fishless cycling and someone said my filter has probably reached it's limit with regards to the growth of bacteria? It was recommended I get a bigger filter? I currently have a Rena filstar (the one that comes standard with the tank) and I was thinking about getting one of the bigger ones with the air devices?
I was thinking maybe the Rena filstar iv3 or the iv4? Any advice would be lovely!

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/RENA-FILSTAR-IV3-INT...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[nadajdui]

What size is your tank and filter currently?

 

[xostrawberryox]

If your filter cant handle a fishless cycle how on earth is it gonna work with fish in there. if its the standard filter from the tank it should be efficient enough for that tank size. is the tank brand new or second hand? If its second hand perhaps it needs cleaning out

 

[robyngunston]

If your filter cant handle a fishless cycle how on earth is it gonna work with fish in there. if its the standard filter from the tank it should be efficient enough for that tank size. is the tank brand new or second hand? If its second hand perhaps it needs cleaning out

At the moment I am not sure that the filter is the problem....all I know if I am adding ammonia every two days to 4 ppm and it drops to 0 in the two days. Nitrites are 0 and Nitrates high. It seems to be stuck at this and I was told maybe it was the filter? The tank is brand new, as well as everything that came std with it....filter....heater.

What size is your tank and filter currently?

Please refer to my signature for the size of my tank...the filter is a Rena Filstar v2.

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

How long have you been cycling the tank for?

If the filter is too small then their will not be enough bacteria to remove ammonia & nitrite. If the filter is too big it will be capable of supporting more bacteria than there will be as it's the amount of ammonia produced that dictates the amount of bacteria (ie. a 'dedsit' ain't big enough for a family of 6 but a couple can live in a 6 bedroom house, they'll just have plenty of space to move around). The only downside of an oversized filter could be flow rate. It may be too high for the size of tank & what you put in.

Ammonia is going down, nitrite is 0 & nitrate is high as you would expect from a cycled tank (nitrate is controlled by plants & water changes).

What's the problem? Are you concerned about how long it takes for the ammonia to be converted? From what I've read ammonia should drop within 8-12 hrs.

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

I know for sure that there is no such thing as 'too much filtration' in a tank, so bigger is better, but not always needed.

I am wondering what makes you feel or think that you have 'hit a wall' with your fishless cycle? What are your current water parameters? Have you been feeding your tank even though there are not fish in it to help give the bacteria a food source or what method of fishless cycle are you using?

These bacteria are also going to grow in your substrate and all over the place in your tank so the filter is not the only place you are going to store bacteria. In my opinoin, as long as you are not under filtering your tank, you should be able to have enough room for what you need in your tank with your current filter.

Lastly, if you are starting to worry about the progress of your tank's cycle as it relates to a time schedule, you can stop. There are so many variables that affect the cycling of a tank that it would be impossible to predict how long it will take your tank to be ready for fish. Even if you had two identical tanks, it is possible that one finishes faster than the other.

 

[robyngunston]

I know for sure that there is no such thing as 'too much filtration' in a tank, so bigger is better, but not always needed.

I am wondering what makes you feel or think that you have 'hit a wall' with your fishless cycle? What are your current water parameters? Have you been feeding your tank even though there are not fish in it to help give the bacteria a food source or what method of fishless cycle are you using?

These bacteria are also going to grow in your substrate and all over the place in your tank so the filter is not the only place you are going to store bacteria. In my opinoin, as long as you are not under filtering your tank, you should be able to have enough room for what you need in your tank with your current filter.

Lastly, if you are starting to worry about the progress of your tank's cycle as it relates to a time schedule, you can stop. There are so many variables that affect the cycling of a tank that it would be impossible to predict how long it will take your tank to be ready for fish. Even if you had two identical tanks, it is possible that one finishes faster than the other.

Hi there,

thanks for the advice
I have been attempting to cycle this tank for months and when I say months......as far back as May....in the end I had to reseed the tank a few times, empty and refill the tank a few times....you name it....as the ammonia was just not coming down quick enough.....eventually after the last seed and another 95% change of water, the ammonia started coming down quicker.....the nitrites never went off the chart but they did go up and come down and then stay down and the Nitrates are increasing steadily......so everything appears to be working correctly.....the last thing I have been told to wait for.....is for the ammonia to drop from 4 to 0 in 12 hours......this however does not seem to be happening......it seems to stay at a constant 2 days for the past 8 weeks. (I am using the add and wait method)
I am now just desperate to get some fish as it is very sad to see an empty tank all the time.