I am cycling my new tank and have decised to go with two filters instead of one. The tank is 40 gal. I have a whisper water-fall type filter that is supposed to do 30-40 gals, and a whisper cannister type filter that does 30-40 gal. Is this okay? too much filter/moving water, or is this going to help keep the water cleaner? I wanted to be able to alternate cleaning the filters out so as not too get rid of all of the "good" bacteria.
filter power!...?
- Thread starter m.a.ramsay
- Start date
mr:
Several items but please note that I have limited experience with cannister and HOB filtration.
The published rating for HOB's and cannisters is based upon new filter media and the filter being at the same elevation as the water surface in the tank but the actual rate which is experienced is typically 1/2 to 2/3 of the published rate.
Your Whisper HOB is rated for 160 GPH.
This may be your cannister filter and it is rated for 160 GPH.
Hence the total rated flow of both filters is 320 GPH which yields a probable maximum flow 205 GPH which yields only a 5X turnover rate instead of the recommended 10X.
TR
Several items but please note that I have limited experience with cannister and HOB filtration.
The typical recommended rate of tank turnover for HOB and cannisters is 10 times per hour.
The published rating for HOB's and cannisters is based upon new filter media and the filter being at the same elevation as the water surface in the tank but the actual rate which is experienced is typically 1/2 to 2/3 of the published rate.
Your Whisper HOB is rated for 160 GPH.
This may be your cannister filter and it is rated for 160 GPH.
Hence the total rated flow of both filters is 320 GPH which yields a probable maximum flow 205 GPH which yields only a 5X turnover rate instead of the recommended 10X.
No per the previous discussion.
Yes but the system is still lacking, by a factor of two, the typically recommended turnover rate.
"getting rid of the good bacteria" is independent of a two filter system. The filtration media should be rinsed in water change water which should preclude the death of the bacteria due to cleaning the filter media.
TR
mostlycichlids
Cichlid Specialist
The water turnover is just a part of the equasion IMO. Media to water contact and the amount of filter media for bacteria to grow on is also important. With a canister filter there is more room for media and water is in constant contact with that media. That being said the water turnover rate is less important. With the filters you have a 5x water turnover with adequate media would be fine on the tank in question.