Current tank setup is 20 gallons, 3 Ottos, a Weather Loach, 6 Tiger Barbs and 6 Zebra Danios. I have some Water Sprite floating and some Java Moss anchored on the bottom. I have not had any problems with my current filter, the Penguin 125, but it is starting to have flow problems. I've cleaned it out real good but there's not enough force to drive the biowheel when I have the filter cartridge in place which is not good. Anyways, I am going to get either an Emperor 280 or 400. The 280 should be fine, but it's only $5 more for the 400. Would that be way too much filter for a 20 gallon? Would it be better to go with the 280 and also keep the Penguin going so it circulates the water a bit better and just take the filter cartridge out and just have the biowheel going?
Too much filtration?
- Thread starter cadams
- Start date
Buy the 400! You can always turn it down. I figure overkill is always better but thats just me. To give you an idea I have an aquaclear 300 (good for 100 gallon tanks) on a 24 gallon. Works great. Everything is clean. Besides, if you get a bigger tank you can buy a small filter for the 20 and use your big one for the larger tank. It just makes more sense to me. Its flexable.
Yeah I firmly believe there is no such thing as overfiltration, unless you are running a filter for a 100 gal on a 10 gal or something. I am running a filter for a 60 gal on my 29 gal and I have absolutely no problems *knock on wood*
And you should always look ahead to the future because as anybody who keeps aquariums knows -- the big one is just around the corner
And you should always look ahead to the future because as anybody who keeps aquariums knows -- the big one is just around the corner
i always run two small filters each just big enough to do the job alone. that way i can totally clean one and it can repopulate with bacteria while the other does the job, and if one fails then i still have filtration.
55gal. aquaclear mini,whisper 20,and foam filter.
72 bowfront. fluval 304 and magnum 220.
55gal. aquaclear mini,whisper 20,and foam filter.
72 bowfront. fluval 304 and magnum 220.
to echo everyone else.....
I would go with the 400 and keep the Penquin at least until the 400 colonizes. personally i think it would be a good idea to just keep both on there indefinitely.
its not really possible to have too much filtration.
I have a Penguin Mini and a Penguin powerhead 550 in my 10 gallon. the additional current from the powerhead keeps the gravelbed bacteria really healthy. The penquin mini was just able to keep the tank clean before i got the powerhead, now my water stays crystal clear and the fish are all looking even better.
really any additional filtration or current you can add to the tank without disrupting the fish will help your biowheel bacteria and your gravelbed bacteria immensly.
I would go with the 400 and keep the Penquin at least until the 400 colonizes. personally i think it would be a good idea to just keep both on there indefinitely.
its not really possible to have too much filtration.
I have a Penguin Mini and a Penguin powerhead 550 in my 10 gallon. the additional current from the powerhead keeps the gravelbed bacteria really healthy. The penquin mini was just able to keep the tank clean before i got the powerhead, now my water stays crystal clear and the fish are all looking even better.
really any additional filtration or current you can add to the tank without disrupting the fish will help your biowheel bacteria and your gravelbed bacteria immensly.
