Canister filter too powerful for a 5.5gal?

J

JotaDe

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Apr 14, 2003
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I'm going to setup a 5.5 gal tank with a small fish or two in it as a side project to my 29 gallon reef tank.
I have an unused Eheim 2213 which I was hoping to use for the filter. I figured I could take off the spray bar (or cover some of the holes) to lessen the current. I'm well aware this filter is expected to filter a much much larger tank but I think the main problem would be the excess current.
I can purchase a power filter or biowheel but of course I was hoping to use some leftover equipment.

Any experience/thoughts/opinions on this setup?
 
for that setup It's my opinion that it's a no no, a canister generates waayyy too much current and they are for larger tanks unless you are running multiple tanks off of one, I would suggest getting one appropriate for your tank, mine is on a 55 and is rated for 100 Gal and dosnt produce that much current in the whole tank as a whole but put one on a 5.5 and I think you will have nothing but problems.
 
i'd say the cannister is going to produce much too strong a current for any fish in a 5 gallon tank.
 
Ya I agree with everyone else. I have this filter and I think it would be too much for anything under 15 gallons IMO. I currently have my 2213 on a 38 gallon which works fine.
 
If you don't mind the power bill that goes with overkill, I would say you would be fine. All you have to do is get a valve to adjust the current to suit the tank, but as I said before it is a wast of energy b/c no matter how much you reduce the flow the electricity bill will always be the same. But to answer the question , yes you can do it.
 
If you don't want to reduce it's flow as Asdavid suggested, you could try wrapping the whole sprayer bar in a sponge. Maybe this will reduce the current while keeping the high flow.

However, I'd rather get a smaller filter. In a tank that small (5.5) a large canister might significantly heat up the water.
 
I have 2213 for my 9x9 tank and its working fine. just face the shower pipe to the glass and face it little up.
as long as you do that you dont have to turn the valve, and dont have to worry about current.
most of my friends have 12inch cube tank and they use 2213. (in japan that is)

and also
if you cover the holes on spray bar, it will make the current stronger.
so what you need to do is widen the holes, or make more holes using heated screw drivers or ice picks.

theres alot of ways to weaken the currents. need help with canisters just PM me
:thm:
 
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You wouldn't be getting any real benefit from such filtration in a tank that small.

For one, there's simply no way the fish stock could even make enough of a mess to necessitate such a colossus of a filter.

For two, why waste the electricity? That would be like using a metal halide nightlight.

Finally, the small filters that are made for such tanks are cheap and easy to run. Check out the Hagen Stingray or some other small internal filter. They'll do a better job of filtration in such a small tank.
 
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