Recommended sizes of power filters.

I stopped by the local Petco tonight. They're expanding their aquatics
department and had display samples of many types of power filters with charts
of the stats and manufacturers recommendations for each type of filter. I
took some notes as this issue came up a couple of days ago.

Here's the data:

Manufacturer gallons per hour tank size (gallons)

Penguin
100 20
150 30
200 50
350 75

Whisper
90 10
105 20
145 30
210 40
330 60

Cascade
80 10
100 20
150 30
200 50
300 100

AquaClear
100 20
150 30
200 50
300 70
500 110


So, with the exception of the filters for ten gallon tanks, the general idea
is that turning over the tank volume 4 or 5 times an hour is the usual
recommendation.

This sounds about right to me. Would biological filtration be that much
better with a higher turnover? I suspect not. A higher turnover might make a
difference to mechanical filtration, but I doubt anyone has that much gunk to
filter out.

Conclusion: Anyone who recommends larger powerfilters than what the
manufacturer recommends is needlessly upselling. So in this case, the filter
makers are the good guys. Of course, they do have their little scam going.
They suggest changing out media every month. I know that water quality drops
with new media, even though there's fresh carbon. That's how they get you.
Kinda like inkjet printers.

-E

"Eric" wrote in message
. sbcglobal.net...


I stopped by the local Petco tonight. They're expanding their aquatics
department and had display samples of many types of power filters with
charts
of the stats and manufacturers recommendations for each type of filter. I
took some notes as this issue came up a couple of days ago.

Here's the data:

Manufacturer gallons per hour tank size (gallons)

Penguin
100 20
150 30
200 50
350 75

Whisper
90 10
105 20
145 30
210 40
330 60

Cascade
80 10
100 20
150 30
200 50
300 100

AquaClear
100 20
150 30
200 50
300 70
500 110


So, with the exception of the filters for ten gallon tanks, the general
idea
is that turning over the tank volume 4 or 5 times an hour is the usual
recommendation.

This sounds about right to me. Would biological filtration be that much
better with a higher turnover? I suspect not. A higher turnover might make
a
difference to mechanical filtration, but I doubt anyone has that much gunk
to
filter out.

Conclusion: Anyone who recommends larger powerfilters than what the
manufacturer recommends is needlessly upselling. So in this case, the
filter
makers are the good guys. Of course, they do have their little scam going.
They suggest changing out media every month. I know that water quality
drops
with new media, even though there's fresh carbon. That's how they get you.
Kinda like inkjet printers.

-E


My understanding is that biological filtration works better at the slower
rates of water flow. Note that water flow is not directly 'changes of tank
water' due to the different filter media area surface. Canister flow rates
are typically slower than powerfilters *and* they have more filter media, so
the biological activity is much much better. When comparing flow rates,
compare powerfilters against powerfilters or canisters against canisters.

The real use of tank-changes (the typical x4 to x5 rates you saw) are to
keep a uniform temperature and to aid in the mechanical pickup of detritus.

Generally, between filtering correctly and over-filtering, you should
over-filter, for no other reason than fish grow, eat more and multiply.
--
www.NetMax.tk

Eric wrote:
I stopped by the local Petco tonight. They're expanding their aquatics
department and had display samples of many types of power filters
with charts of the stats and manufacturers recommendations for each
type of filter. I took some notes as this issue came up a couple of
days ago.


Thanks Eric, that was helpful.

dwhite

On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 08:13:35 -0500, NetMax wrote
(in article ):

"Eric" wrote in message
. sbcglobal.net...

[My data on filter flow rates deleted]


My understanding is that biological filtration works better at the slower
rates of water flow. Note that water flow is not directly 'changes of tank
water' due to the different filter media area surface. Canister flow rates
are typically slower than powerfilters *and* they have more filter media, so
the biological activity is much much better. When comparing flow rates,
compare powerfilters against powerfilters or canisters against canisters.

I agree about not being able to compare powerfilters and canisters solely by
flow rate. That's why in the interests of saving time I just decided to leave
canisters out. I also agree that the quantity and type of filter media makes
a big difference. The Penguins and Aquaclears have a lot more going on with
them than the Cascades and Whispers media-wise.


The real use of tank-changes (the typical x4 to x5 rates you saw) are to
keep a uniform temperature and to aid in the mechanical pickup of detritus.

And I don't see how going for more than 5 tank changes per hour would aid in
mechanical pickup unless the tank is packed full of poop-machines like large
goldfish.

Generally, between filtering correctly and over-filtering, you should
over-filter, for no other reason than fish grow, eat more and multiply.

I agree, though I go more for combining different types of filters than using
one big filter.

-E

"Eric" wrote in message
. sbcglobal.net...
On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 08:13:35 -0500, NetMax wrote
(in article ):

"Eric" wrote in message
. sbcglobal.net...

[My data on filter flow rates deleted]


My understanding is that biological filtration works better at the slower
rates of water flow. Note that water flow is not directly 'changes of
tank
water' due to the different filter media area surface. Canister flow
rates
are typically slower than powerfilters *and* they have more filter media,
so
the biological activity is much much better. When comparing flow rates,
compare powerfilters against powerfilters or canisters against canisters.

I agree about not being able to compare powerfilters and canisters solely
by
flow rate. That's why in the interests of saving time I just decided to
leave
canisters out. I also agree that the quantity and type of filter media
makes
a big difference. The Penguins and Aquaclears have a lot more going on
with
them than the Cascades and Whispers media-wise.


The real use of tank-changes (the typical x4 to x5 rates you saw) are to
keep a uniform temperature and to aid in the mechanical pickup of
detritus.

And I don't see how going for more than 5 tank changes per hour would aid
in
mechanical pickup unless the tank is packed full of poop-machines like
large
goldfish.

Applications where there are a lot of rockwork, like mbuna tanks benefit
from higher flowrates to get between the stones. This is also where
canisters are better as you can better direct the flow, though powerfilters
generally have higher flow rates than canisters.

Generally, between filtering correctly and over-filtering, you should
over-filter, for no other reason than fish grow, eat more and multiply.

I agree, though I go more for combining different types of filters than
using
one big filter.

) Absolutely !!
--
www.NetMax.tk


-E