is there such thing as too much filtration?

[camshaft]

i have a 55 US gallon (340 liters) with this filter on the right side

they are only like $40 so i thought about buying another and putting on the left side of the tank.

is there any negatives to this? seems like an easy way to help out with tank maintenance.

 

[masterfishes]

i dont think it should matter....just as long as the current isnt too powerfull and the fish r able to swim normaly

 

[willtang3000]

doesnt matter the only problem is you'll get crystal clear water
I have a fluval 404 which is for 300L and I use it on a 37L tank lol

 

[OohFeeshy]

There is, but IMO its only too much when everythings getting blown about.

 

[Sky042]

the problem you eventually run into is too much current for the tank and the fish start hiding.

I recently had that in my 54G eventually I had to remove my Spray bar and use a standard nozzle since it prevented the huge current that was being developed.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

It depends on what type of fish you have- delta tailed or long tailed fancy guppys, their tail rips to shreds when the filter current is too strong for them- male bettas also don't like strong currents; the same is true for the majority of high finned/extended tailed/finned fish out there.
Some fish though realy thrive in a powerful current, danios in particular i have noticed do for example

 

[Purplesmurf]

Only problem is too much surface agitation (bad for heavily planted tank), or the filter intake being too powerful and sucking unwary passer-byers either into the filter or on to the intake rod.

 

[camshaft]

well the filters im refering to make very little current (that i can notice.) the water returning into the tank falls only 1" so the splash is negligible. as far as the intake water coming in from the submersed filter, i have watched my neons swim up to it and eat flakes that were trapped on it, then swim away with no problems.

my point in installing a second filter were to expand the amount of fish hat i can safely house without pushing it too much. i.e. i currently have a shoal of 6 neons and i would really like to have a dozen.

 

[Sky042]

Give us a list of the current inhabitants of the tank.
Also more filtration doesn't always equal more fish capacity.

 

[Sky042]

Also may I reccomend this instead of the Tetra filter
http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...id1=2885;pcid2=

 

[SirMinion]

We double or triple filter all our larger tanks.
A spray bar or carefully placed rock will ruduce current, but the plecs in our community tank love in fast water, they evolved for it!

 

[Sky042]

We double or triple filter all our larger tanks.
A spray bar or carefully placed rock will ruduce current, but the plecs in our community tank love in fast water, they evolved for it!

Actually in the case of my 54 corner bow the spray bar was causing MORE current to be developed than the regular nozzle alone.

 

[camshaft]

thanks sky i may well get one of the emperors. how do i know it will fit my specific tank?

my inhabitants are:
6 neons
2 balas
1 emerald cory
1 chocolate albino pleco

i plan to add 1 more bala, 2 more corys, and 6 more neons. and of course i am moving the balas and plec to a bigger tank when the need arises. i know a lot of people say that but neither space or cost is an issue to me.

would one of the emperors outflow 2 of my current filters?

 

[Purplesmurf]

The emperor is just a biowheel, right? That's mostly downward current and easily avoided by the fish.

I would get three or four more cories. They really do enjoy being in large groups. In the wild thousands shoal together at a time.

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

For marineland biowheel filters, if the water level is about even with the output of the filter then the current in the tank is nice and even and not too powerful.

Other than the current, there is no such thing as too much filtration. While you may not be able to 'overstock' your tank (which is not wise as it reduces free swimming space), it will keep your tank extra clean, clear, keep your fish nice and healthy, and significantly reduce the chances of a parasitic/fungal/bacterial sickness outbreak.