Wondering why so many find it necessary to run with two or more filters on their tanks. I've been running a single FX4 for over three years. It's running on a 72 gallon bow front. The water has always been perfectly clear and parameters right on. I do weekly water changes and clean the filter every 5 weeks. I keep spare parts in case of a break down. Such as a new pump and motor, impeller and o rings.
I've heard that aiming for a filter that does 8x - 10x the tank's water volume is ideal for good filtration. I achieve ~7.5x in my tanks which each have a sump + canister.
It's not necessarily about tank capacity. I have filters "designated" as 55-70 gal tank filters, on my 33gal tank. I still have two running. After you've been around long enough, you'll discover that filters do fail now and then - and when you only have one running, and it craps out for whatever reason, you'll wish you had a second on the tank so you don't have to try to track down a new filter in a panic. Every tank I run (except my betta tanks) always has two filters on it.
It's not necessarily about tank capacity. I have filters "designated" as 55-70 gal tank filters, on my 33gal tank. I still have two running. After you've been around long enough, you'll discover that filters do fail now and then - and when you only have one running, and it craps out for whatever reason, you'll wish you had a second on the tank so you don't have to try to track down a new filter in a panic. Every tank I run (except my betta tanks) always has two filters on it.
Exactly. There are plenty of opportunities for your solo filter to **** out when you're not right there to fix it. And even if you were - there's always the chance that simply replacing some parts won't fix it. Filters don't last forever, sometimes they can't be saved. I'm not willing to risk it, so I run two.
I recently picked up a second fx6 for 50% off on a black friday deal and boy am I glad I did.. When I had to break my filter apart the other day after setting it back up the purge valve started leaking and would not stop. Thankfully I had the backup filter I could swap out the hardware with and get everything quickly back up and running. Then order the new part and install back on the old filter. Makes Like MUCH easier. I am however contemplating putting a second running filter on my 46G Bow Tank such as a Seachem Tidal just for the purpose of skimming the surface scum off the top of the water.
The other perk to running two filters is when it comes to cleaning them. Eventually you have to clean out a filter when it gets too bogged down with gunk. If you have two running and fully cycled, you can do a thorough cleaning of one while the other is left alone, and then a few weeks/months later clean the other, and so on - without worrying about damaging the cycle.
Agree with all. And, those are great points made by S-K.
One thing I can point to with multiple filtration is - water movement. Sometimes, one discharge source from a single filtration source, will sometimes not supply the kind of water movement you want/need in the aquarium. Another thing to consider is - the 'humble' sump.
Wha.....?
That is, I can honestly think of NOTHING BETTER to slurp up the sludge that will inevitably build up on the surface water of an aquarium, than an overflow-fed sump filtration system, (I guess that's why there are so many products/recommendations for surface skimming type intake systems for tank filtration. :roll:
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So, how 'bout a 'tiny' 33G long 300GPH, single overflow sump system for a Marineland 220G tank? Yes.... but it was 'Buffed Up' with a recirculating (internal UGJ- to - external pump) Mag-Drive 24 driven, pre-filtered intake system, for A LOT of internal water movement.
Oooooo..... tight! 8)
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