Is My Filter Enough?

[mark1980]

I am setting up my first aquarium and have a 48"x17"x15". I have today bought a fluval 4+ filter. Will this be enough to aeriate and provide oxygen for my aquarium or should I add other means like an airstone for example. Any feedback is gratefully appreciated. thanks, mark

 

[doresy]

That filter will be fine in all departments mount the filter just below the water surface so it causes ripples. This is where oxygen dissolves into the water so by making ripples you are increasing the water surface by as much as double.
Some people feel the need to add an airstone/pump but this has little or no effect on oxygen transfer apart from doing the same thing (causing ripples). They look nice though (if you go for that look)

 

[mark1980]

many thanks.

 

[england]

what fish are you planning to keep....because if your going with cichlids/plecs you may need more filteration

 

[chishnfips]

I used that filter on my tank which is roughly the same dimension as yours Its fine, you also dont need an airstone as it has a wee valve at the top of the out let pipe, if you turn it out slighlty it sucks in air and blasts out bubbles into the tank, so you need to have the valve just above water line to be able to suck in the air. very handy if you ask me, I have had it for two years with no probs.

Only thing is as nelly mentioned if you want heavy stocking add another filter, I eventually added a fluval 1 as well as my nitrates were a bit high. But now I have an external filter cause ultimately they are better. But fluval 4 is an excellent internal choice IMO.

chish

 

[rdd1952]

The flow rate is right on the number for your tank size, about 52 gallons and 260 gph. It should be fine for a normally stocked tank with no heavy waste producers. It really doesn't allow any room for overstocking.

 

[vinylman]

I can vouch for the Four+, too. I had one in my 4ft for nearly three years without a hint of trouble until I swapped it for an external earlier this year. As with all filters, don't throw the sponges away until they're almost falling apart and when you do, don't put two new ones in together, do the second one around a month after the first. I'd put a fine foam insert in the centre, rather than carbon.