Running dual filters

rednekbish

rednekbish

The Redneck Fish Keeper
Aug 27, 2004
23
0
0
I recently setup a 20g Long on my desk here at the office, I'm running a 20-30g rated power filter (non bio wheel) and an undergravel filter. Someone in the office who I doubt knows what he's talking about says that running both filters cancel each other out. Is this true? I had read a couple of times that running both can be benefical. I don't really need to run both but I had them both on hand so I used them. Just wanted to make sure it a good thing and not a bad one.

Rednek
 
Cancel each other out???

LOL

Jeeze, where do people get some of the gibberish they speak of?

It is a very good idea to use at least 2 filters on the tank. And even more so with two different kinds of filters.

If one filter breaks down for some reason, or doesn't restart after a brief power outage and you are away, then your fish will be much safer.

Plus certain types of filters are better at different kinds of filtering.

So just nod your head at him and ignore it.
 
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Rednek,

Could you do me a favor?

Next time you run into the guy, would you act interested and ask him why the two filters cancel each other out?

Then post here telling us what the explaination was?

Please, please, please?
 
Haha I, too, would be interested to hear his explanation for two filters cancelling each other out...Maybe it's the same principle as having two lights in a room makes it darker...er...
 
Reasonong will often times reveal the source of the myth and therefore I am interested in his reasoning as well. The only thing that I know of that might fall under this category would be feeding a RFUG with the output of a large bio-filter, and even then it doesn't totally cancel out the second filter. UGF's are bio-only, with mechanicle by accident sort of (substrate catches dirt), the HOB is primarily mechanicle, and with the bio-wheel adds redundancy to the set-up, all good things IMO. An overfiltered tank is a stable safe tank and much easier to maintain. To say that more than one filter is an absolute necessity may not be totally accurate, but it is definately a good effective idea that I would reccomend. Like RTR, you'll not find one of my tanks with a stand alone filter. Keep doing what you are doing and you and your fish will be happier.
dave
 
When I asked him leaving work today he responded...

"While the under gravel filter is pulling uneaten food and debris into the gravel the power filter does not have a chance to pull the debris into the carbon cartridge and break it down, therefore the two filters are fighting one another to get the job done. Under gravel filters are out dated and to the point of being useless in today’s aquariums."

Now correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the UGF supposed to pull things into the gravel where the bacteria can break it down?

He also informed me that he has kept up a tank since he was 10 years old and had some experience in the matter. I should have thought to ask his fish longevity statistics.
 
While there are those who would agree with him about UGF being "outdated," his lack of knowledge became evident when he talks about debris breaking down in the "carbon cartridge."
 
"While the under gravel filter is pulling uneaten food and debris into the gravel the power filter does not have a chance to pull the debris into the carbon cartridge and break it down, therefore the two filters are fighting one another to get the job done. Under gravel filters are out dated and to the point of being useless in today’s aquariums."
Click to expand...

Well, for one, carbon cartridges don't break anything down. They adsorb dissolved chemicals though. In addition, by "fighting each other to get the job done" they are simply doing less work. Therefore, they each work more efficiently. I personally don't like UGFs, but if you throughly vacuum the gravel all the time they aren't that bad. don't worry about removing the bacteria by vacuuming. You won't.

Thw two filters aren't fighting each other. They're just...both filtering the water. not saying "I WANT THAT CHUNK OF UNEATEN FISH FOOD!" "NO! LET ME HAVE IT!!" etc.

HTH
 
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