Canister Filter

[Elariel]

I've just aquired a canister filter rated for a 100gal capasity. Is it possible to rig is so that its filtering a 55gal and a 30gal at the same time?

[jenn_zep]

i ran a 90g and a 1og off a canister filter.

[salvini55]

sounds interesting! however i would be worried that if one pipe were to clogg or whatever the other tank could overflow....?

[dan2x38]

The rating on filters is wishful thinking... It is based on water turn over per hour at maximum efficiency. Similar to a car getting so many litres/km. if everything was functioning perfectly in a perfect World. Once the filter media starts to get dirty it slows down flow rate. You cannot over filter. On almost all my tanks I have 2 filters and I change water every week on all of them. In my fishroom every 2 - 3 days. They have sponge filters as a 2nd. An Aqua Clear 30 or 50 are less then $50 new with all the media. To me it is never worth the risk to save a buck.

[zima]

Like Dan, I don't think one can have too much filtration. I run 2 cannister filters on both of my large tanks (75 and 55 gallons). They don't have to be giant cannisters, but large enough so that if one fails, the other is able to cover for it. Hence in your case, I would not bother going through the trouble of splitting the cannister's function into two, but rather get 2 filters for 2 tanks; there are quite a few inexpensive ones you can find in the classifieds. Your fish and plants will thank you for it!

[bitterman]

The sponge filters I have in 10 and 20 gallon fry tanks are rated for 125 gallon tanks..... I have an xp3 (rated to 175 gallons) on a big tank and I can assure it is no way it going to handle a tank that size.

Most filter manufactures rate filters without media for there flow rates also, so you will notice a decrease with media in them.

Bruce

[dan2x38]

Most filter manufactures rate filters without media for there flow rates also, so you will notice a decrease with media in them.

Wow Bruce didn't know that.

[Elariel]

Thanks for the good advice....in the end I decided to go against the idea simply becausethe two tanks need very different water parameters!

Its good to konw aoub that flow rating thing though...Thanks Bruce!!!

[bitterman]

For the flow rating all I can say is ask the manufacturer. you will find it will differ, but generally there is little to nothing in the filter for the flow ratings. It does vary on manufacturer and when I did my checking it was years ago so it might have changed since then, but I doubt it.

Also for a canister, it dependeds on how much head you are pushing how much flow you will get. Manufacturers will most likely use canister locations to get the higherst possible flow numbers.

An example of flow rating woudl be here:

FX5
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/971/product.web
Rated at "an impressive 925 gph, giving it enough power to filter aquariums up to 400 gallons."  but lower on the page is has "The Fluval Fx5 Canister Filter has an incredible flow rate of 607gph w/ filter media."

This is a vendor, but notice the media used was not mentioned and varios media will flow different. This is the hagen website http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=107&PROD_ID=01002180011001

So check carefully as most place post the highest numbers possible to sound better.

Bruce