How much do you overfilter?

[RossW]

I have a 90g, mostly Malawi tank, which is currently serviced by 2 Fluval 404's which are each rated for a 100 gallons.  Thus I am at least double over filtering.  I am considering an Eheim 2028 which is rated to 158 gallons to replace the 404s.

How much if any are you guys overfiltering?  Is it directly related to your over population?

Thanx,
Ross

[beowulf]

On the 65g I had a fluval 404 and the smallest of the emperor biowhell filters.  I just got my hands on a eheim 2028 and will be using that and a 404 on my 110g community and moving my rena xp2 from the 110g to the 65g with the 404.

[darkdep]

Filtering is weird.  The rating on the filter is only a (VERY) rough guesstimate as technically, to calculate such a thing, you'd need to know the bioload...

Africans generate more bioload than, say, a school of neon tetras.  So, a "100 gallon" full of Neons and a "100 gallon" full of Africans requires very different filtration.  So, technically, the phrase "overfiltration" is wrong...you're filtering at the level required for the fish you keep.

Example:  I run Magnum 350's on my 75's...and found I was running into random illnesses which I attributed to water quality.  I threw on an additional AC50 to each tank and the problems vanished.  Yet, a 350 is rated for a tank up to 100 gallons.

[woodendude]

I currently run an Ehiem 2213 and a Rena xp3 on a 100gal. and an Ehiem 2026 Pro 2 and a Rena xp3 on my 129 gal.  not sure of Ehiem's outputs but the Renas are 175 gph.

[bitterman]

I really over filter my tanks. My 195 has my DIY trickle filter (about 1000 GPH turn over in the sump), it should be good for alot more then it is being used for and I also have an XP3 on the tank (355GPH if memeory serves me corectly).

On my new tank I have over 1 cubic foot of Bio Blocks and a bunch of floss. The turnover in the tank will be over 1000 GPH.

Too much turnove and breeding can be a problem as eggs don't get firtilized by the male.

Bruce.

[freshwater]

usually 3 - 4 times the ratings 

[artw]

10x the tank an hour is a rough guideline I used when I had m.c's

[gmann]

On my 135g I run an FX5, Aquaclear110 and an Emperror 400 which is for arguement sake close to the 10x an hour rate. Since adding the 110 several months ago, I dont have to touch the FX5 as often. 

[sniggir]

on my 160g I had a  ehiem 2028, 2026... emp 400, and a AC 110......and now on my 75g corner I have 2 AC 110, and a ehiem ecco, and soon a fluval 405.

[RoxyDog]

2 fluval 404's on a 77g.

[hamstercaster]

Two Eheim 2213 on my 75

[Jeff1192]

An eheim 2026 and Aquaclear 110 on my 90 gallon.

Jeff

[mseguin]

Fluval 404 on the 58, Eheim 2217 and Fluval 204 on the 90 (Community)