Over Filter an Aquarium - is it possible?

[@technomagemiami]

I'll try to make this brief. I worked at a fish store as a teenager in the 70's and had tanks in the 60's before "all-glass" aquariums were a thing. I stopped keeping fish for a decade until the mid 80's and got back into it and they now had "outside" filters lol. I switched over to really big tanks and saltwater in the 90's for a couple of decades with overflows,huge pumps,sumps and all that. It's been another decade and I've come full circle back to my first love of freshwater planted community aquariums which I intend to set up in the next year or so. To that end I have been doing extensive/exhaustive research. I have watched hundreds of hours of videos on youtube and still have many hundreds more to see. I have watched all of the "big" channels and many smaller ones, from professionals to experienced hobbyists, to amateurs and everything in between. Some have helpful advice, some know what they're talking about......most give incorrect,misleading,inaccurate information (through ignorance or otherwise) . It concerns me that so many contradict one another on basic information when so many are new to the hobby and are trying to learn how to provide the best environment possible for their fish and simply want to enjoy keeping them healthy. Of all the channels I've watched yours is the only one I've subscribed to. Sure, there are others out there with good information but none better. Finally a question related to this video. What is your opinion of the old school corner box filters? I have seen several top breeders using them and they still swear by them so I was surprised to say the least.

[@TrafishAquatics]

That's great to hear and thank you! Box filters are a good way to have the effectiveness of an internal filtration system like you would with a sponge filter but allows you to be able to choose your own biological media or chemical media if you choose to use it. They are a good option for breeding fish same as sponge filters. Though they are only as effective as the media you put in it. That being said, realistically as long as you have enough bacteria colonized to handle your bio load and enough surface agetation for gas exchange your golden regardless of the filtration type you have.

[@HausFit]

T i cant tell you how much your videos have helped me in my 6 months into this hobby. As one of the smaller guys in this genre your vids are so informational and i am happy to be subscribed!!

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you! That means alot!

[@wandirajali6223]

A very good step by step and details presentation my friend 👍🏻

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed.

[@michaelanasakta2378]

Thanks, man. This was an informative presentation that I benefited from. I have not heard anyone else ever speak about the issue.

[@jorgeandrescortes8087]

Clear, simple and slow. Probably that way I can lean and make the least mistakes posible.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Your welcome

[@ridinggravity703]

very informative video, you answer a lot of questions many other main stream youtubers overlook

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you

[@TurnFullCircle]

Hi Just getting into simple sponge filters and moving away from canisters and power heads etc.. great info...and i can see the massive benefit of the low cost air pump/pumps. Wish i had gone this route in the first place. Funnily enough i actually like the noise ... bubbling and the low hum is soothing in my work office ...cheers

[@TrafishAquatics]

Same I enjoy it!

[@timrussell89]

Excellent video and explanation. I'm a firm believer that sponge filters are more than adequate for biological filtration. Anything more is simply for mechanical filtration in my tanks.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Exactly, which is why I don't understand why people put three and four FX4 or 6s on tanks, 1 is more than adequate, if your worried about not enough flow that's why they make wavemakers and powerheads.

[@timrussell89]

@@TrafishAquatics Likely they buy into the hype. It doesn't take long looking at fb aquarium groups to see people bragging about how they have multiple canisters and canisters are the best. Nothing wrong with canisters but in 98% of the tanks a 8 dollar sponge filter and a 15 dollar air pump is all that you will ever need. Excluding tanks that are extremely heavily stocked and its a maybe on that. Anything more than a sponge is just for water clarity imo and not water quality. When I set up a tank the first thing I buy is a sponge filter rated for the appropriate size and if I plan on stocking it relatively heavily I'll also get a hob of the appropriate size. I really like the aqueon hobs. Affordable and they do the job.

[@TrafishAquatics]

@@timrussell89 exactly, The only tank I'm considering putting an FX4 or an FX6 on is the 300 just because of its size

[@timrussell89]

@@TrafishAquatics yea which that is understandable. Thats a massive tank, not everyone has a tank that size or a need for that much filtration. Thanks for the videos!

[@TrafishAquatics]

@@timrussell89 thank you for following along!

[@markrobertson6928]

Good video mate very helpful 👍🏻

[@TrafishAquatics]

Your welcome

[@Magnabee97]

Lot of good information I needed to know. Thankyou.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Your welcome!

[@erikalane8198]

I just purchased a 20 gallon. Will a sponge filter be enough to filter the 20 gal tank? Tank will have a betta, some live plants and MAYBE Kuhli Loach. The tank is 24.2 inches long, the sponge filter is 2.95 in L x 2.95 in W x 6.24 in H and marketed for a 20 gal. Will I need more than one filter? Info I’m getting online seems to be conflicting. TIA Btw your videos have been so helpful!

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you! That filter should be enough, I had one similar size on a 20 gallon with about 30 guppies and it worked well!

[@langenandanimals]

Hey! New sub and fellow fishfam. I was just thinking about doing a video on this but I think you've covered it well!

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you also thank you for subscribing

[@Luis-gc6fe]

I only recommend canisters when we have a small High tech aquarium or a small/médium for 29 gallons or bigger

[@TrafishAquatics]

Makes sense

[@jonbennett4159]

Thank you 👍

[@TrafishAquatics]

Your welcome

[@FoolyLiving]

I appreciate your videos because, even though I'm learning every day for 6 months now, and have had my tank set up for 3 1/2 months, I still dont really understand some things. In a 75 gallon tank, how many live plants would you suggest? Also, I wanted to have a turtle tank initially, so I bought 2 internal waterfall filters. It works pretty much like a hang on the back filter. I put bags of filter media (round stones with holes in them in a net) and square coarse sponges inside the 2 filters to slow the flow. I have one tiny 10 gallon sponge filter sitting in the corner under the 2 filters. The water surface has a lot of movement that don't seem to negatively affect the fish I have. I have 2 other air bubblers in the tank. I want to add 2 more small sponge filters to seed for 2 other 10 gallon tanks that I want to set up for some itty bitty fish but the 2 sponges will be in there for probably around a month. Is having all the bubblers bad for the fish? I just have normal starter fish atm. This is a lot, sorry. Oh, and under the waterfall filters that are hanging inside, the waterfall is the same level as the water, so I make sure it isnt beating on them when the water flows. I also put a rock bridge cave under the waterfall, and my bloodfin tetras rest under there and in the corner under the filter and heater. Oh yeah, I need to know if a general heat of 78 is good for a community tank or if I should lower the heat a bit? The water in a spring is 72 year round and that comes from the earth. it feels like 78 might be too hot?

[@tkaiser2086]

You ought to to a update on your fish room. Curious how tank is looking with Co2. Also update on tanks.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Should be a brief update on Friday, been super busy with life lol

[@charlenemackason6395]

Thanks 👍🏽

[@TrafishAquatics]

Your welcome

[@jonb7582]

That's like saying using a fluval 407 in a 20 gallon tank is severely overpowering but it would have good current

[@TrafishAquatics]

A 407 in a 20 gallon would have way too much current, most likely you wouldn't have any low flow areas for your fish to rest and could cause stress deaths.

[@mariusvalentin7109]

Bottom crawlers 8 buc 35 fish whit average 4 cm lenght 20 gallon tank Filtration 1 sponge filter medium size External filter 400 gallon/h full of bio media ceramic rings bio balld and in front of it on the intake a pre-fillter whit 4 grade sponge filter. Is this good for my tank? Thanks

[@TrafishAquatics]

Yep sounds good

[@mariusvalentin7109]

Atman cf-1200 external filter and pre filter all pond solution ef-2

[@kaciehaataja5458]

What would you recommend for a 100 gallon tank. We currently have two small koi fish. Currently we have plans to try to get a loan and move into a permanent home with in a few years to build a pond. But for now we are using the aquarium as a current habitat. Would sponge filters work for that? Currently we have a submersible pump/filter and a wall hanger. It’s been a little cloudy lately and I want to make sure they have the best environment.

[@jton1]

i have two spongefilters on each side of my 20g long, should i get rid of one?

[@TrafishAquatics]

Nope it's probably fine just the way it is

[@enuffsaid7310]

Question? On a 55 gallon long the filter is on one side so doesn't that mean the other side of the tank may not be getting filtered as good? I have a 55-75 g filter with a 300 gph. I was thinking on the other side I might put a 10-20 g with 100 gph?

[@TrafishAquatics]

I run a couple of the 55 gallon tanks I have with only one hang on back filter on one side and those tanks are Crystal clear but if you want to add a second filter that's perfectly fine.

[@enuffsaid7310]

@@TrafishAquatics Thanks for the response. I'm turtle hobbyist and have multiple species, and I know each individuals species specific care like the back of my hand. But I just started to get into fish and obviously I'm at the novice stage. So I'm starting with the 55 gallon for the first year or two before I go larger or until I get the experience with water changes, proper testing of ph levels and ammonia levels ect ect....

[@aleksgames9696]

One thing that you mentioned toward the end is something I was wondering about recently for a specific reason and that is about my filter.. I have a hang on back filter and I feel like it can be kind of strong because I have some small fish and I sometimes see them in one spot and it looks like something is pulling them back and they are moving forward if you can let me know if that’s because the filter it would be helpful

[@TrafishAquatics]

It's possible that the flow of water could be pushing them around. Do they have an area where the flow isn't as strong to rest if they need to?

[@jimsvo4486]

Good video Trafish. Question. I have a 150G with two med size oscars and two blue Acaras. I run one AC110, one Whisper 60, and also an Emperor 400, with that one using only polishing pads. I am thinking of removing the Whisper 60 for a Fluval 407 canister since I feel I may need more sponge surface area. What say you? My other thought is to get some large pre filter sponges for each hang on the back filter to help increase the surface area. I do 30% water changes every 14 days and the Nitrate stays 20-40ppm so I am OK now, ,but when the oscars get full size do you think I may need the canister, or maybe I will need to up my water changes when they get large?

[@TrafishAquatics]

I don't think you need a canister for what you have, you can modify the filtration you have currently to perform better by switching all the media to sponge. The AC110 with a double sponge block would be enough biological filtration by itself for the fish you have.

[@jimsvo4486]

@@TrafishAquatics Thanks much. I took your advice and ordered some foam pads and also two very large intake pre filters. I have zero ammonia and nitrite now so adding these foam sponges should be plenty of bio filtration for a low stocked 150G even as the Oscars get to full size.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Yep that will work very well for you!

[@edwinchew1077]

Hi! Your older video is great but it doesn't say much about green water. I started my 6 gallon aquarium couple months back with 5 black mascow guppies and 3 females in it (plus all the babies they produced to date) and the water has been green (since from about the first 2 weeks). Been trying the following Reducing the hours of light Feeding less 10% water change twice a week Added more plants and bladder snails Any other tips you may have? Would love to hear them, thanks!!

[@TrafishAquatics]

Absolutley, To get rid of green water there's two easy methods you could do to do this, You could either completely black out the aquarium by putting a blanket or something similar over it for 7 to 10 days and not allowing any light in at all, this will kill any of the algae that's in the aquarium and allow a filter with fine filter floss to be able to remove it, if you have live plants though this could be detrimental to them as well so the following method may be your better choice. The other method is using a UV sterilizer which will alter the genetic code of the algae and not allow it to reproduce and then it can be removed in the same method. I have a video coming out in the next few weeks on this topic specifically sorry It wasn't posted sooner to help you. Any other questions feel free to ask here.

[@edwinchew1077]

@@TrafishAquatics thank you for the kind help! Will try the blackout way and see how it works! Continue to put out content! Been watching it since I found your channel a few days ago!

[@TrafishAquatics]

@@edwinchew1077 glad to hear, thank you, lots of content coming!

[@edwinchew1077]

@@TrafishAquatics I have another question... now that I have been blacking out the aquarium for almost 4 days, the green water has only cleared up a little. Is there a good timing to do a big or small water change or wait out a week? Cheers.

[@TrafishAquatics]

@@edwinchew1077 You can do a water change at any point that you would like because it's going to help reduce the amount of phytoplankton (this is what actually makes the water green) and the less phytoplankton there is the easier it is to get rid of the green water, so feel free to do water changes at any point. There's actually a video coming out in 45 minutes on green water!

[@tkaiser2086]

Great video. I was thinking of getting some canisters. After watching video I think I will stick with my sponges. It keeps it clear so why change it. Plus I was worried about canister leaking engender I’m not home.

[@TrafishAquatics]

I completely agree, in 90% of aquariums sponge filters are more than capable of handling the entire bio load, Plus like you said you never have to worry about leaks. Also if your power goes out for an extended period of time you won't lose your bacterial colony because they're already in the tank water.

[@yranidiot]

How do you know bacteria only grows to load?so if you have 3 different filters in aquarium with 1 fish there’s only a 50% load on one of the filters and the other 2 have none?

[@tristenwilliams8339]

(I’m sorry I’m new to the fish world) I have an aqueon quiet flow 75 (400GPH) on my 55g for my goldfish. I was wondering if I could add a sponge filter on the opposite side to produce more oxygen plus filter more? Or would an air stone be better? I’ve read that goldfish like more oxygen so I just want to be safe

[@TrafishAquatics]

If you're thinking about adding an air stone you might as well go with a sponge filter and get the added benefit of the extra biological filtration! Keep in mind the amount of oxygen that's added to an aquarium from the rising bubbles is extremely minuscule, The vast majority of the oxygen is introduced through gas exchange at the surface when the bubbles break the water's surface tension.

[@bradywalker877]

is it okay if i run a double sponge filter and a 150 pegging in my 20 long, i hope i’m not over filtrating

[@TrafishAquatics]

Should be fine The only thing you would need to worry about is your water current, If there's too much water flow and your fish can't catch a break they may get exhausted So just keep an eye on that

[@bradywalker877]

@@TrafishAquatics thanks man! my fish seem good i have 5 platys 4 corys and 6 neons

[@matthew33721]

@@bradywalker877 i hope you bought more Corys. 4 is a sad number for them

[@jp-us9rq]

I have a 36 gallon filtering 340 gallons a hr but it does have 3 plecos 5 angelfish and yoyo loach it is over stalked u think I should hook up another filter

[@TrafishAquatics]

Yea that's a bit overstocked, what kind of plecos? If your water isn't getting cloudy then your filter is keeping up with the bio load, if it gets cloudy I would add a filter

[@jp-us9rq]

@@TrafishAquatics bushey nose clown and a regular one hes a out 9 inches the Angel's are small yet quater size

[@jp-us9rq]

@@TrafishAquatics I have a canister that could double the amount of filtration

[@TrafishAquatics]

The common pleco is going to get way to big for that tank (18-24") so I would consider upgrading, the canister is good as an extra but you don't want to have too much flow in the tank as it could stress the fish out if they can't rest somewhere in low current. Normally for 5 angels you would want a 55 gal minimum. As long as you keep doing water changes and keep the nitrate under 40ppm you'll be good for a while though. But you'll need to upgrade at some point.

[@jp-us9rq]

@@TrafishAquatics I had around 3p fish in their from small to 6 inches for about 3 years sold them all but the plecos but I had both canisters up and running I dont think the angelfish will appreciate the flow but I do have another hob that is a 150 gallons per hr so that little over 500 all together and most flow is at the top

[@OOO-pc3nb]

What about under gravel filters?

[@TrafishAquatics]

Under gravel filter work well when set up properly

[@mrswiggles2012]

That red devil is awesome.

[@TrafishAquatics]

Thank you

[@WhiteCloudAffinity]

Hello! I love ur vid, i need big help: can i have a hob filter meant for tanks up to 55 gallons on a 15 gallon? 1, its an hob, 2 ill use a pre filter sponge guard, 3 its a 1 meter long tank, 4 ill set it to lowest, WITH those under consideration….what are you thoughts? Can i use a filter meant for 40-50 gallons on a 60 Liter tank/ 15.6 gallon.

[@TrafishAquatics]

What is the flow rate on the filter

[@WhiteCloudAffinity]

@@TrafishAquatics 250 US GPH (1000 L/Hour)

[@TrafishAquatics]

@@WhiteCloudAffinity thats a little much, ideally you want 10x volume in gallons max

[@WhiteCloudAffinity]

@@TrafishAquatics its a max of that, the mininum flow rate is like 50 gallons/hour, like is it safe if i always have it on mininum?

[@TrafishAquatics]

Yea its possible just make sure to leave a dead spot with no current for the fish to rest, otherwise they will tire themselves to death

[@nickyphillips7261]

Can i run a 55 gallon with two large sponge filters? i want to get rid of my canister after the seal failed and leaked everywhere.

[@TrafishAquatics]

I run 55 gallons with one but the stocking is relatively light so it all depends on your bio load

[@nickyphillips7261]

@@TrafishAquatics I have over 45 fish in my tank its heavily planted. I have mainly schools of small rummy nose and black neons also dwarf and honey gouramis and i have a rainbow shark and two bristle nose catfish. So i suppose it is quite heavily stocked but they dont produce a massive amount of detritus so im hoping the sponge filters will be enough. Do you think course or fine sponge filters? I want the water clear. Thanks for the replys

[@TrafishAquatics]

I wouldn't consider that heavily stocked, especially with the plants, 2 sponge filters would work quite well

[@nickyphillips7261]

@@TrafishAquatics Thanks for your replys il give it a go.

[@sko1beer]

Everyone who keeps bee shrimp just fainted

[@TrafishAquatics]

Probably lol

[@littlekittymissfits4904]

Great info.!! I’ve been doing way too much cleaning and now understand what I should be doing. Can you tell me how often should I remove my hang in filter container and thoroughly clean it out? I use a sponge and filter floss. I change the floss about every 2-3 days due to smell and how dirty it gets. (I need to reduce fish in this tank. There’s 3pretty big goldfish and a nice size pleco in my 50g TALL tank). Thanks 😊

[@TrafishAquatics]

The only maintenance that should be done to a filter is changing out or rinsing the media whether it be sponge, filter floss or cartridges. The filter itself should never be physically cleaned.

[@Mrgolfboy24]

Ok, so if 50% of the beneficial bacteria is in the tank, how is the filter actually cleaning the water biologically? Is it only agitating the surface, providing oxygen to keep the bacteria alive? Because if that is the case, you would only need a wavemaker to agitate the surface, and that combined with water changes would be enough..

[@TrafishAquatics]

Exactly, you can run an aquarium without a filter at all as long as you have some kind of surface agetation, however your stocking would have to be lower due to the lack of biological capability added my the filter medias surface area, which is why having the added surface area of the filter comes into play. The way the filter works biologicly is and wet surface in the aquarium will grow bacteria and the surface area of the filter media is very high, which allows for a more concentrated volume of bacteria. With the filter sucking all the poop up, the volume of bacteria is able to break the waste down faster than if it were just in the tank.

[@Mrgolfboy24]

@@TrafishAquatics Cool, now I have a better understanding of how it all works. I am planning a 140 gallon tank with some silver dollars in it. So in my case I will have a big tank with few fish in it ( Small bio load). So the question I ask myself is that maybe I don´t necesseraly need to follow the "4 times per hour turnover rate" recommended, as long as I know the surface agitation is good, and the filter has a decent bio capacity. What do you think? Thanks :)

[@TrafishAquatics]

I would consider just running spongefilters

[@marthanewsome6375]

Can you over filter your aquarium? The answer is no you can't, but the fish and plants might not like all the flow though. I over filter everything.

[@sidneywhite749]

I have a 75 gal with a dozen chiclids usinf a 704b and a 303b, too much?

[@TrafishAquatics]

Nope that's probably fine as long as they have somewhere to get out of the current to rest a bit