filter problem?

[ejack3377]

have a 72g bow tank that is overstocked I have a Cascade 700 Canister Filter by Penn Plax on it now and the water is cloudy do you think that a Cascade 1200 Canister Filter by Penn Plax would fix my problem?

in the tank
5 silver dollars
2 firemouths
4 Severum
2 Blue Acara
1 cory
1 common pleco
1 blood parrot
1 sun cat
1 kissing Gourami

Tanks been up for one year filter been on since the then

water change once a week and clean filter once a month

 

[Roan Art]

I think the answer to your problem was listed in your first comment: I have a 72g bow tank that is overstocked .

Your real answer is to get at LEAST another tank. The dollars need 50 gallons just for themselves. Looking at the pl*co and depending on HIS size, he's gonna need between 50 and 100 gallons. As for the rest of the list -- I know nada of cichlids but my instincts tell me you need a tank just for them and their water parameter preferences.

Whew! Hope you have big pocketbook.

Roan

 

[daveedka]

I know nada of cichlids but my instincts tell me you need a tank just for them and their water parameter preferences.

There is enough cichlid listed for a couple of 125+ tanks.

Cloudiness is not usually/ always a sign of water parrameter problems. in your case it is most likely a sign of not enough mechanical filtration, or more likely not a fine enough filter media. Whatever you use you need to concentrate on both water flow and finer media if you want to "polish the water". Either way your days are limited in that small of a tank with that many huge fish. Remember that filters only collect waste, they do not remove it. removal is the job of the fish keeper, and you will be needing to remove pounds of poop every day. For the time bieng, anything that will increase circulation and increase both mechanical and biological filtration will help.
Dave