[TWA]

So, I see a lot of over filtration. Make no mistake, I'm a fan of over filtration, I see no problem with it, I do it myself on some tanks.

I also see arguments that planted tanks have high water quality, not arguing, plants use the nutrients blah blah etc.

My question is, why, If planted tanks produce such high quality water, is there over filtration? People have nice large canister filters on small tanks that have a lot of plants. Cannies are expensive, and it seems unneeded if, plants keep the water quality high.

I am NOT looking to argue, so don't take my questions as an argument and don't try and argue with me,

 

[Eldachleich]

I personally dont have a canister filter. But I do over filter.
A canister filter is in the future for me lol..
My reasoning would be.. Why not?
Might as well...

 

[TWA]

I personally dont have a canister filter. But I do over filter.
A canister filter is in the future for me lol..
My reasoning would be.. Why not?
Might as well...

The why not in my opinion is cost versus the need. If its not needed, why spend it?

 

[Eldachleich]

I suppose I'm just loose with money.
I don't really have anything holding me back mentally.
I'll spend it anyway..because of "Why not?"...

 

[BBradbury]

Filtration

So, I see a lot of over filtration. Make no mistake, I'm a fan of over filtration, I see no problem with it, I do it myself on some tanks.

I also see arguments that planted tanks have high water quality, not arguing, plants use the nutrients blah blah etc.

My question is, why, If planted tanks produce such high quality water, is there over filtration? People have nice large canister filters on small tanks that have a lot of plants. Cannies are expensive, and it seems unneeded if, plants keep the water quality high.

I am NOT looking to argue, so don't take my questions as an argument and don't try and argue with me,

Hello T...

Filtration is absolutely necessary, but if you follow an aggressive water change routine by changing out half the tank water weekly, you don't need to over filter your tank.

Filters only take in very toxic water and replace it with water that's a little less toxic. The dirty water has to be removed and replaced with pure, treated tap water.

If you flush a lot of clean water through the tank, then the filters are just filtering water that's already clean. I change half the water weekly and haven't tested the chemistry in years. The reason is if you change large volumes of water every week there's no time for pollutants to build up in the tank.

Pretty simple.

B

 

[somewhatshocked]

Many people overfilter - especially in planted tanks that are heavily fertilized - so there's less risk to expensive livestock like shrimp and fancy fish.

It's a bit of added insurance.

And some people - like myself - use filters that are more powerful or larger than necessary for the benefit of added flow.

 

[TWA]

Hello T...

Filtration is absolutely necessary, but if you follow an aggressive water change routine by changing out half the tank water weekly, you don't need to over filter your tank.

Filters only take in very toxic water and replace it with water that's a little less toxic. The dirty water has to be removed and replaced with pure, treated tap water.

If you flush a lot of clean water through the tank, then the filters are just filtering water that's already clean. I change half the water weekly and haven't tested the chemistry in years. The reason is if you change large volumes of water every week there's no time for pollutants to build up in the tank.

Pretty simple.

B

I'm.. Very very aware of why you filter, what they do and all that, that's not my question.

 

[TWA]

Many people overfilter - especially in planted tanks that are heavily fertilized - so there's less risk to expensive livestock like shrimp and fancy fish.

It's a bit of added insurance.

And some people - like myself - use filters that are more powerful or larger than necessary for the benefit of added flow.

Filters don't remove fertilizers do they? No way?

I like the added flow answer; that's what I'm looking for.

So far we've got, being loose with money (no problem there, If you got it, spend it)

A reason as to why filters are needed..

And added flow, which is a completely legitimate answer and what I feel I should be hearing. A reason on why we use a larger than needed filter even though we keep plants that will "keep our water high quality."

 

[@[email protected]]

added flow and, more importantly, controlled flow.
with my ehiems i can direct the flow wherever i want, and i can control the strength. that is vital to meeting plants' CO2 needs. it does not matter how much CO2 you are adding if you dont have the flow required to have it wash over the plants' foliage.
also, IME, the best method of adding CO2 into the water is with an inline diffuser. im yet to figure out how to get one of those onto an aquaclear.

 

[Aquatic Delight]

when i got back into this hobby, it over filtered my 29gal. which thought would help protect my fish from ammonia spikes as i didn't cycle my tank before adding fish.

now i that i have some idea of what i am doing i over filter for flow (offf), and also to help keep the sand looking clean. the extra flow moves the poop, and dead leaves into the small crevices and the back of the tank where you can't see it.

 

[roadmaster]

I think in the interest of helping distribute nutrient's,CO2 (if applicable), the higher flow rates help.
In high energy tank's with CO2 injection where growth is much faster, tank's can eventually become victim's of their own success.
Growth becomes dense much quicker, and to get consistent flow which helps distribute said nutrient's and CO2,, the extra flow helps along with much more frequent pruning,trimming.
In low energy tank's ( Non CO2,low light,low tech) the growth and uptake by plant's is considerably slower, so the increased flow is not too terribly important for even distribution of CO2 such as it is in CO2 enhanced aquariums .
This is my take on it.
I use increased flow to keep particulates in water column longer as opposed to letting them settle on substrate in non planted tank's.

 

[zoo minsi]

1 for flow and circulation in my tank
2 with the canister i can have an inline heater and co2 reactor (less hardware in the tank)
3 to pull larger debris out of the tank, i dont like seeing pieces of plants and such floating around in my tank. I want clear water, really helps after a water change.
4 with the added flow it helps disperse my ferts when i dose
all of these though are simply personal prefrence

 

[TexasCichlid]

I use a canister for aesthetic purposes. Less equipment in the tank, and the lily pipes are attractive. I also use a canister for flow purposes and good distribution of nutrients and CO2. Part of the tank not getting good circulation? Adjust the lily pipe. Problem solved. When I ran Emperors on larger tanks, my only choice was to get power heads if I was seeing dead spots. That's yet another piece of equipment with a big black cord hanging inside the tank. No bueno for a nice rimless, minimalist tank.

 

[s_s]

Mostly because it isn't questioned.

And I'll save you a lot of time and anguish here: it isn't questioned because it doesn't matter. This is a hobby forum and few people feel the need to make much fuss over a couple hundred dollars here or there, simply because it is enjoyable for them. And their enjoyment creates something of a positive feedback loop where those with the deepest pockets have the most fun.

This isn't just true here, it's true at all sorts of hobby forums. Maybe the worst is hifi audio.

Anyways, there's always more appropriate places for pure scientific discourse, if that's what you are looking for. Take whatever knowledge you can glean from here and add the appropriate sized grain of salt. Trial and error can be fun, let us know whatever you find out.

 

[dasob85]

i use canisters for less unsightly equipment in tank. run a inline heater and co2. costwise, my canister was cheaper than some of my other equipment ...

edit: it would be cool if there was an inline drop checker for the intake tube lol

 

[TWA]

Mostly because it isn't questioned.

And I'll save you a lot of time and anguish here: it isn't questioned because it doesn't matter. This is a hobby forum and few people feel the need to make much fuss over a couple hundred dollars here or there, simply because it is enjoyable for them. And their enjoyment creates something of a positive feedback loop where those with the deepest pockets have the most fun.

This isn't just true here, it's true at all sorts of hobby forums. Maybe the worst is hifi audio.

Anyways, there's always more appropriate places for pure scientific discourse, if that's what you are looking for. Take whatever knowledge you can glean from here and add the appropriate sized grain of salt. Trial and error can be fun, let us know whatever you find out.

I'm just wondering if there's a reason people do, which it seem the common theme is flow for dosing ferts co2 etc. and hide unsightly equipment. That's all I'm wondering.

 

[pejerrey]

Cristal clear water!

IME it helps me with algae as I don't like to do large water changes.
I tried pps pro and EI and a mix of both with "just enough" filtration and lots of co2 when I kept fish, there was always a battle with algae. Plants grew quicker though.

Then I got a smaller low light tank for shrimp and I quadrupled the filtration without ferts nor co2. No algae, slow growth but lush.

Because of the nano tank I decided to covert my main tank into the same thing, no algae, no ferts, but some co2 because is higher light.

The main tank with enough filtration, heavy dosing and gassin':

The nano with an planted HOB and an under gravel filter run by an eheim 2213 canister:

The main tank converted to shrimp and over filtration:

The over filtration:

 

[JasonG75]

The why not in my opinion is cost versus the need. If its not needed, why spend it?

I think most over filter so that they can "over Stock" their tanks.

With bigger tanks (mine is a 75) I like to have filtation on both sides of the tank so I have 2 Cascades 1000. ALSO with having 2 filters, I can completely breakdown and clean one and not lose all my BB because the other one will pick up that load.

 

[somewhatshocked]

Your filtration media can remove some ferts.

Let's say I have an Osmocote Plus mishap when trying to re-fert some inert substrate in a shrimp tank and it causes an ammonia spike. The right filter media can help with that to an extent.

Filters don't remove fertilizers do they? No way?

 

[HypnoticAquatic]

SWS +1 easy example for any fert that uses urea, i think most people get hung up on it called over filtration when its not its just more flow*notcurrent* creating less settling of debris to decay,more co2,o2(overlooked from time to time),ferts to the plants which help minimize algea due to the plants in better health overall. overstocking is a reason why its better to have more filtration 10-20x*but without a huge current!!* but not the main reason, imo its best not to overstock *depending on species* as u get much more natual behavior thus cappable of breeding much more succesfully.