Discussion about Over Filtration

[SunnyHouTX]

Who knows...

[ptran]

This over-filtration concept might be a propaganda from the filter manufacturers?
Making a believer out of hobbiests so they can sell more and make more money?

[ptran]

Don't be humble folks. Need your vote!!!

[Brandon O'Brian]

Brandon, your wallet might disagree with that lol.

It can, but it's worth it! LOL!

[SunnyHouTX]

I'm for EFFICIENT filtration. Throw $$$ at your filtration issues by buying multiple canisters/sumps/HOBs .... or think about setting up an efficient filtration system that provides crystal clear water and keeps your parameters in check??? Choice is clear for me: efficient filtration. A sump with micron socks and enough Pond Matrix to house all the beneficial bacteria you'll ever need is where my current filtration preference is as at.

[ptran]

Brandon, your wallet might disagree with that lol.

[Brandon O'Brian]

I'm with over-filtering. It causes more good things than bad.

[mnemenoi]

Yeah, that thread breaks all the rules. I like to think of Quoc like the Tesla of the Houston Aquarium Community, Breakin rules just to show that can be broken....certainly would not recommend such a set up though. I tend to agree with Austin though, unless you have low flow fish, there is no such thing as overfiltering. Even with a pair of 2262's, I would go all bio in one and mechanical in the other (or even use a FX5/6 for higher flow) so you never tear apart but one filter ever.

[ptran]

Thanks for the link. And I agree with you about peace of mind.

Yep, rules are meant to be broken. lol.
100+ breeding colony of trophs in a 30 gallon tank. Even though that's is unheard of, but Ek proved my point: match filtration with your stocking.

[Austy16414]

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?44143-30g-Tropheus-Chibongbong&highlight=tropheus+chibongbong

Make sure you have some free time before starting lol 53 pages long... but it does go to show some of the crazy things that can work when you're not afraid to break a few "rules"

[ptran]

Peace of mind is never overrated, in my opinion. There are always some outliers that make the majority of us say, "How the hell??" Check out the tropheus chibongbong thread (if you haven't already)

Can you post the link?

[ptran]

Yes, I was told he does w/c just like most of us: 50% weekly water change.

[Austy16414]

Sidenote: I've never seen Ron's setup. Does he do religious, monster water changes? That would make up for the lack of filtration

[Austy16414]

Peace of mind is never overrated, in my opinion. There are always some outliers that make the majority of us say, "How the hell??" Check out the tropheus chibongbong thread (if you haven't already)

I think you match your filtration to your stock, as you stated. Over-filtration is just a safeguard to me, plus, if you ever run across the option to increase your stocking load, you've already got the filters in place to handle it

[ptran]

We keep hearing the popular saying "There is no such thing as over-filtration" olicy:. Is that a true statement? I'm an OVER-FILTRATION guy myself, but I want to hear your opinion on this topic once and for all.

IMHO, a good filtration system is a system where there is a balance of good bacteria colonies (demand) and the amount of waste/food (supply) produced by the aquarium. Basically it is a supply and demand curves, and these curves always have to cross somewhere, or there will be dead fish.

At any time this balance is upset, the system will try to correct itself. If there is not enough food, bac colonies will be starving and will die off or reduce their size to balance with the food supply. On the contrary, if there is not enough bac to consume the food, the water quality will be shizty for a while, and bac colony will doublicate to the size that they need to consume the food.

The filter manufacturers got to factor this into their design. Filters are rated for maximum aquarium size. There is different size of filters for different size of aquariums. They have to account for maximum waste an aquarium can produce given a reasonable stocking. Reasonable stocking is the key word.

Therefore, I think you really need over-filtration when you over-crowding your tank. If your stocking is reasonable and not overly crowded, over-filtration equal over-spending and probably a waste of money. For example, I visited RonR moba "factory" in Houston. His tank size is 180G housing about 10 adult moba size from 8"-12". His filtration system includes 2 Eheim 2217, 2 wavemakers and couple of air pumps. Most of us know Ron's moba breed like rabbits. His moba are obviously very happy I guess. Most of us would put 2 Eheim 2262 plus a sump and couple of AC110 on it right?

So, my question for you: is over-filtration over-rated? Please share your experience. Thanks.