How can one Ehiem filter be sufficient for a large tank?

[NJ Devils Fan]

Ok, on my tank, if I wanted to get canister filters, I would get 2 Rena Filstar XP-3s, or 2 Fluval 404s. How come I see people with 100g+ tanks and only have one Ehiem canister filter?

[Heady]

This is all IME and IMO.

I am getting an Eheim 2028 filter for my new 100 gallon tank, and this will be the only filter for that tank.

Unlike some people who shall remain nameless ;) , I am not a filter nut. I have never had more than one filter on any of my tanks. If I need more turnover, i.e. for African cichlids, I buy a filter with higher output, but still just one filter.

These things are sacrilege on these boards but have worked for me, with virtually no ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates in 7 years:

~only 1 filter per tank, until now none of them canisters
~monthly water changes at MOST (usually every 2 months)
~55 gallon tank filtered only with a 2-powerhead UGF

Caveats:
~I keep my tanks slightly understocked, because I don't want to lose half my fish if there's a power failure that lasts more than a few hours, and
~I have never owned fish as persnicketty as discus.

When I do a water change, I take out 50% of the water all by constantly vacuuming the gravel with a Python, add dechlorinator directly to the tank, then add new water. Since I have H/C water from one faucet, I adjust the temp just before reversing the flow.

I think the UGFs have an unnecessarily bad rap. Yes gunk gets deep in the gravel between water changes, but as long as the gravel is vacuumed thoroughly at each water change it is fine, IME.

Now don't get me wrong, if others want to have 2 or 3 or 16 :) filters on each tank, more power to them. I just don't want to clean out all those filters at every water change when they're really not necessary for my tanks, as shown by water quality tests.

[pinballqueen]

I'm another one of those people that has gone all over the place with this subject...

I used to keep nothing but a UGF running on my tanks...

Then I switched to HOB's. Had a 29 gallon tank that ran on a whisper2 for years. Then I got more involved in the hobby and saw all the other options I had...

My larger tanks have had anything from a UGF only to Whisper HOB's to my last setup, which was a Fluval 304, an Emperor 380 HOB, AND a UGF all at once. That was a bit of overkill on my part, but I had a grossly overstocked tank due to the nature of what I do, which is grow out specimens for the local LFS... I'm actually considering giving FBF filtration a go, just so I can say I've tried them all...

If I weren't the type of hobbyist I am and didn't keep the types and numbers of fish that I do, I could see where a single filter with enough turnover to handle the tank would be fine for most applications. Advanced hobbyists concerned with fine water polishing and special situations need the extra turnover that multiple filters provide. Most of us, however, are fine with a single filter. No harm in it.


Wow... I just looked at the brand and models of the filters I have had... none of those products is even available anymore... I haven't had a new piece of equipment in close to 5 years... I need to get to shopping, huh?

[NJ Devils Fan]

I guess so. ;)

BTW, how is the baby, I've been meaning to ask.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by pinballqueen
....Wow... I just looked at the brand and models of the filters I have had... none of those products is even available anymore... I haven't had a new piece of equipment in close to 5 years... I need to get to shopping, huh? SSSsshhh --- don't tell, but the Filstar XP-3 is incredible! Oh --- the options on this filter will have your head spinning! And, you don't have to pay those "import" prices! This thing is just incredible...

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Heady
This is all IME and IMO........
~only 1 filter per tank, until now none of them canisters
~monthly water changes at MOST (usually every 2 months)
~55 gallon tank filtered only with a 2-powerhead UGF

Caveats:
~I keep my tanks slightly understocked,........~I have never owned fish as persnicketty as discus.

....I think the UGFs have an unnecessarily bad rap. Yes gunk gets deep in the gravel between water changes, but as long as the gravel is vacuumed thoroughly at each water change it is fine, IME. .....Monthly water changes and understocked..?

I once knew someone that had a 30 gallon with only a UGF, average stocked, bi-weekly water changes and wondered why the water seemed cloudy, and unhealthy fish. I got him to get a slightly overpowered AquaClear and what a diff!!! I could not convince this person to do weekly water changes, but the filter cured the woes..... :)
Now, about "persnicketty" Discus????? I can't continue with that in the same thread with UGF's being mentioned!!
:rolleyes: :p

[Heady]

That's right, UNDERstocked. Not overstocked.

My water is NEVER cloudy. My tested levels for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, are nonexistent. The water has a VERY faint brownish tinge, but I have an awful lot of driftwood in there, so it is probably from tannins.

[125gJoe]

Driftwood is good stuff........;)