Advice On Filters

[gunman]

I'm slightly confused again

I have a 160l tank with a fluval 4plus internal, flow rate is 1000lph, rated to 215l tank. Now, this filter has 2 foam pads as media. I thought about upgrading as the tank has mbuna in it (all juvi at present) so it will probably end up overstocked, therefore I want to overfilter.

I had thought of a fluval external, now the 205 would seem to me to have a lot more media than the 4plus but has a lesser flow rate (around 700lph), it is rated (by manufacturer) at 200l, others suggest 150l.

my 305 (on my other tank) has 4 foam pads and 6 conatiners of ceramic hoops etc and a flow rate of 1000lph and is rated for 300l tanks (mine is on a 210l)

So, my question is, 'Is it more important to have more surface area for media, or more flow rate?' I want to overfliter my tank but don't want to create a white water rapid effect in my mbuna tank (not sure they should have much current really).

Ok, I know the obvious answer, fit a 305, same flow as my 4pus but more media, but I'm just curious which is more important.

 

[fluttermoth]

Surface area of media is more important for nearly all fish, the exceptions being things like hillstream loaches which need very fast flowing, highly oxygenated water.

As you'll probably be having to crowd the mbuna to reduce aggression, the larger area of biological media will be more useful.

Hope this helps

 

[kizno1]

I agree with fluttermoth.

I would go for atleast the 305. I have a 405 on my 110l with no problems at all of to much flow.

 

[gunman]

Thanks, that's pretty much what I thought, just confused how an external filter (whith what I imagine has more media) is rated less than an internal.
I may even run the internal with say a 205 to give a bit of fault tolerance.

 

[gunman]

I have been offered a 405, now, have to decide if it would be better on the community tank and move my 305 to this tank? a 305 should be more than enough for 160l surely? I have added extra media to the 305 as well, probably as much media as a 405 would have as standard anyways, but a lesser flow rate.