Over Filtration Is It Possible Or Is More Always Better?

[fishguy22]

I have a 2 10gallon tanks each have 3 filters on them a aquaclear20 a whisper10 and a sponge filter for up to 25g. My question is are all my filters actually helping my tank adequately or is it just overkill and 3 would be as good as just one sponge filter? My tanks are all well planted as well and I do regulat water changes just wanna hear everyone's thoughts on using multiple filters or different kinds of filters together to get all the benefits from each

 

[james_fish]

There's definitely such thing as overkill but it's not necessarily a bad thing. The only real issues can be is that the flow can be too strong in some cases, plus it's not always aesthetically appealing having filters all over the tank.
 
On the plus side, obviously the tank will be well filtered, well aerated, and the individual filters will need cleaning out less often. 
 
Sure there's more pro's and con's to too much filtration 
 
 
 
James. 

 

[fishguy22]

Do you think there would be any best combination of kinds of filters to maximize benefits like undergravel filter with hob and a sponge or just multiple hob or a canister? And what is your thoughts on carbon in a aquaclear or other filters with individual bags for mechanical bio and carbon take out the carbon and just add another bio bag? Or is the carbon really that useful?

 

[baker360360]

There's definitely such thing as overkill but it's not necessarily a bad thing. The only real issues can be is that the flow can be too strong in some cases, plus it's not always aesthetically appealing having filters all over the tank.
 
On the plus side, obviously the tank will be well filtered, well aerated, and the individual filters will need cleaning out less often. 
 
Sure there's more pro's and con's to too much filtration 
 
 
 
James.

Perfect answer. My 2 filters circulate (on paper) 20x volume of tank, the flow was way to much and disturbed the sand,plants and fish. But I fixed it by drilling more holes in the outlet to spread the pressure of flow coming out.

Do you think there would be any best combination of kinds of filters to maximize benefits like undergravel filter with hob and a sponge or just multiple hob or a canister? And what is your thoughts on carbon in a aquaclear or other filters with individual bags for mechanical bio and carbon take out the carbon and just add another bio bag? Or is the carbon really that useful?

I removed mine after a few months and replaced it with some decent foams. If you already have enough foam then it's great to have some more bio filtration (balls,rings,crushed coral)
As for type of filters, external canisters are best IMO.

I use external and internal together as the internal came glued in the back. I think the less equipment in the tank the better as far as appearances go.

 

[DreamertK]

The only fish I know of that loooove super fast rapid waters are those hillstream loaches. Maybe a bit less than half the fishes on the market prefer very slow moving pools of water. Really depends on what you have in there. Gouramis, bettas, angelfish, guppies, long flowing finned fish are out.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Sounds like you should put a dirty sock or two in these tanks to clean them.
 
The words "machine" and "washing" spring to mind, 10g is only 38l before with take account of sand/bogwood etc. that will reduce water volume, 10x water turnover is considered high for all but the most specialised freshwater rheophilic fish.

 

[fishguy22]

But it doesnt seem to be that fast moving normally the bettas are all hanging out at the top and they dont seem bothered at all?