GallonsOfFun
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
- Messages
- 309
In your experience, how accurate is AqAdvisor's filtration capacity percentage? I know AqAdvisor is conservative, what's the lowest percentage you think would be sufficient?
Honestly, just don't use that. I'm not really sure how they calculate it but here's a better metric: Just use a filter that moves 5-10 times the volume of your tank in gallons per hour. If you're going for messy fish (like puffers), lean towards 10 times. (So for a 55, 550 gallons per hour)
Honestly, just don't use that. I'm not really sure how they calculate it but here's a better metric: Just use a filter that moves 5-10 times the volume of your tank in gallons per hour. If you're going for messy fish (like puffers), lean towards 10 times. (So for a 55, 550 gallons per hour)
Do I still need to have 10x with a canister filter? I was going to get a Fluval 306 (303 gph) for my 55 gallon figure 8 puffer tank (maybe 5 puffers max eventually as a high end estimate). Would that work?
Even the Fluval 406 only has 383 gph and thats $200. It just seems a little excessive that it wouldn't be adequate?
You don't need 10x the tank volume in flow per hour. Instead, that's actually the uppermost limit of what you should shoot for in a freshwater tank. Going above that you should pick your stock out of fish that can tolerate high flow.
I personally prefer the higher flow rate, but as far as keeping the water safe and ammonia free I wouldn't go below 3x the tank volume per hour.
Keep in mind that the GPH that the manufacturer lists is higher than what you're likely to see. They run their tests with no filter media and very little tubing (in the case of canisters).
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So how do I figure out how many fish I can put in the tank with a fluval 306? They are figure 8 puffers and it's 55g as a reminder.