95 Gallon filter for 55 gallon tank?

it4lian · 03-22-2008, 05:25 AM

Well I'm thinking of setting up a 55 gallon in a few months, but it would be a bit overstocked, would a 95 gallon filter make up for some of it? It would be a canister filter aswell, a Rena XP2 I think. Planning on doing Lake Tang cichlids, mainly cyprinchromis and sand dwellers.

welchrock · 03-22-2008, 02:11 PM

For a few tanks I've had, I've always purchased larger filters with decent results. ie a 40G filter for a 20G tank, 100G filter for my current 46G tank.

I see no harm in going with your idea, but don't think that it'll allow you to have double the fish - I feel that the filter manufacturers are very likely to overstate the power of their units.

Buying an overly-capable filter can't hurt (unless your fish are blown out of the tank) but it will not have a dramatic effect on the cleanliness of your tank or the stocking maximum.

it4lian · 03-22-2008, 02:15 PM

Yeh I don't plan on majorly over stocking it, just about 4 more fish than should go in there. I still got a few months to think about it though before I have the room to put it in my house (stupid pool table).

jones57742 · 03-22-2008, 04:23 PM

it4lian:

I have limited experience with cannister and HOB filters.

IMHO, the actual flow of a cannister filter is approximately 50% to 75% of the published flow.

TR

COM · 04-03-2008, 12:40 PM

It's all about the rate of filtration, not the manufacturer's stated "size" for a filter. Take the gallons per hour (gph) and divided by the thank capacity. For example, I have 150 gph and 20 gallons. This makes 7.5 filtration cycles or "turns" per hour. I would recommend at least 4 to 5 turns per hour.

I agree with welchrock - you probably want to measure the actual flow rate of the filter and not just stick with the manufacturer's statement.

FishHead · 04-04-2008, 06:08 AM

i think having over filtration is fine. I am running 2 magnum HOTS and a topfin 60 on my 55. There is alot of water current, which my fish really enjoy. I have carbon in one of the magnums, and a large cleaner wheel in the other. my GF has a rena on her 55 and it is great. She has the XP2 and her tank is crystal clear.

welchrock · 04-04-2008, 06:35 AM

MY GOODNESS your tank must be pristine! Did you identify a need for this much filtration or is it just preference?

FishHead · 04-04-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welchrock

MY GOODNESS your tank must be pristine! Did you identify a need for this much filtration or is it just preference?

just preference. my goldfish have alot more filtration as well, but they are messier fish. they are poop demons

**JustOneMore20** · 04-04-2008, 09:52 AM

I would put an XP3 on a 55g and not an XP2. The extra filtration is worth it. If you go with an XP2, you should get a HOB to go along with it for more filtration.

emc7 · 04-04-2008, 10:00 AM

2 filters is always a good idea.

03-22-2008, 05:25 AM	#1
it4lian Soccer God =P Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 15 Posts: 106 User Feedback: (0)	95 Gallon filter for 55 gallon tank? Well I'm thinking of setting up a 55 gallon in a few months, but it would be a bit overstocked, would a 95 gallon filter make up for some of it? It would be a canister filter aswell, a Rena XP2 I think. Planning on doing Lake Tang cichlids, mainly cyprinchromis and sand dwellers. __________________ 12 Gallon Fake Plants 1 Male CT Betta 6 Zebra Danios

03-22-2008, 02:11 PM	#2
welchrock Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 65 User Feedback: (0)	For a few tanks I've had, I've always purchased larger filters with decent results. ie a 40G filter for a 20G tank, 100G filter for my current 46G tank. I see no harm in going with your idea, but don't think that it'll allow you to have double the fish - I feel that the filter manufacturers are very likely to overstate the power of their units. Buying an overly-capable filter can't hurt (unless your fish are blown out of the tank) but it will not have a dramatic effect on the cleanliness of your tank or the stocking maximum. __________________ 46G bowfront: 1 large snakeskin gourami, 1 blue gourami, 2 pearl gouramis, 4 yellow honey gouramis, 12 black neon tetras, 1 albino pleco. All gourami's are female as far as I know. Lighting: 78 Watts (1.7 wpg) T5HO Plants: Java Moss, Marsilea Minutia, Dwarf Sagittaria and a lot of fakes.

03-22-2008, 02:15 PM	#3
it4lian Soccer God =P Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 15 Posts: 106 User Feedback: (0)	Yeh I don't plan on majorly over stocking it, just about 4 more fish than should go in there. I still got a few months to think about it though before I have the room to put it in my house (stupid pool table). __________________ 12 Gallon Fake Plants 1 Male CT Betta 6 Zebra Danios

03-22-2008, 04:23 PM	#4
jones57742 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Age: 55 Posts: 492 User Feedback: (0)	it4lian: I have limited experience with cannister and HOB filters. IMHO, the actual flow of a cannister filter is approximately 50% to 75% of the published flow. TR __________________ Hook Em Horns ... Keep Austin Weird

04-04-2008, 06:08 AM	#6
FishHead What are you looking at? Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ Age: 27 Posts: 523 User Feedback: (0)	i think having over filtration is fine. I am running 2 magnum HOTS and a topfin 60 on my 55. There is alot of water current, which my fish really enjoy. I have carbon in one of the magnums, and a large cleaner wheel in the other. my GF has a rena on her 55 and it is great. She has the XP2 and her tank is crystal clear. __________________ 13 barbs (4x tigers, 2x greens, 3 odessas, 4 albino) 5 australian rainbowfish 4 buenos aires tetras 1 angelic pim catfish 1 pictus catfish 1 Spotted Hifin pleco 2 opaline gouramis 2 blue gouramis 5 panda cories 1 red tail shark 9 cherry barbs 2 Lionhead goldfish 1 black moor (saved from walmart) 7 peppered cories 3 swordtails 1 bristlenose pleco

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04-03-2008, 12:40 PM	#5
COM Rebel Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 216 User Feedback: (0)	It's all about the rate of filtration, not the manufacturer's stated "size" for a filter. Take the gallons per hour (gph) and divided by the thank capacity. For example, I have 150 gph and 20 gallons. This makes 7.5 filtration cycles or "turns" per hour. I would recommend at least 4 to 5 turns per hour. I agree with welchrock - you probably want to measure the actual flow rate of the filter and not just stick with the manufacturer's statement.

04-04-2008, 06:35 AM	#7
welchrock Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 65 User Feedback: (0)	MY GOODNESS your tank must be pristine! Did you identify a need for this much filtration or is it just preference? __________________ 46G bowfront: 1 large snakeskin gourami, 1 blue gourami, 2 pearl gouramis, 4 yellow honey gouramis, 12 black neon tetras, 1 albino pleco. All gourami's are female as far as I know. Lighting: 78 Watts (1.7 wpg) T5HO Plants: Java Moss, Marsilea Minutia, Dwarf Sagittaria and a lot of fakes.

04-04-2008, 09:52 AM	#9
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,372 User Feedback: (2)	I would put an XP3 on a 55g and not an XP2. The extra filtration is worth it. If you go with an XP2, you should get a HOB to go along with it for more filtration. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

04-04-2008, 10:00 AM	#10
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,589 User Feedback: (0)	2 filters is always a good idea.

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