African Cichlid Filtration

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paradigmcubed

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Mar 15, 2003
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Chapel Hill, NC
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I just wanted to check up with you guys on my filtration setup. I have a Eheim 2217, Penguin 330 and AC 500 on a 125 gallon tank, which is heavily stocked with African Cichlids. Would I be able to get away with taking the Penguin 330 or AC 500 or both of off the tank??

Thanks
 
I wouldn't take off either filters. Sounds like you could maybe use more filtration, particularly mechanical filtration, rather than less. But then I tend to be partial toward overfiltration...

;)

Jim
 
I'm curious why you think I need more, I thought I was way over filtering, but if I need more.... A Eheim 2217 is for 92-165 US gallons, AC 500 for up to 100 US gallons and a Penguin 330 up to 55 US gallons. I thought that was enough filtration. What exactly do you mean by mechanical filtration??

Thanks
 
Sorry... I didn't mean to be so cryptic. By mechanical filtration, I mean anything that removes particulate matter from the water column and traps it in some disposable or (preferably) rinseable/cleanable medium. With messy fish (like cichlids), a lot of mechanical filtration allows you to capture and export fish poop, uneaten food, other organic stuff BEFORE it is attacked and broken down by bacteria. This can greatly improve water quailty by keeping nitrates and other compounds at lower levels, meaning you'll be changing less water.

I suppose some might say I go overboard, but I don't believe you can overfilter a tank, esp. a cichlid tank. You have to be careful you don't go overboard and create too much current, but the more mechanical filtration you have, the cleaner your water and the healthier your fish -- provided you change/clean the filter media.

Does that make more sense?

Jim
 
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