proper flow rate for biological filtration

F

fwiffo

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Dec 5, 2007
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i am wondering if having a fast flo rate is better for biological filtration versus a slower rate.

like rena has canisters that have flow rate sof 250-350 gph, while comaprabale eheim models packed full of substrat and foams have rates around 110-225 gph.

is flow rate really important for biological filtration?

the whole point of all this is i recently built myself a little canister filter that has a strong 125 gph pump on it. im wondering if the water is flowing too fast through the media.

i hope someone can perhaps enlighten me, cause i really am not sure.

also, since we're kind on the same subject, i read in ines scheurmann's book on keeping an aqaurium that having smooth bio media is better than comparable ones with rough edges, like lava rock.

is that true too? or is it just one person's theory?

thanks!
 
flow rates aren't going to matter when it comes to biological filtration efficiency...


as for the texture of the biomedia, that sounds to me like one person's theory. the texture might affect flow rate given the amount of turbulence created, but it's not about the texture, it's about the available surface area on said media.
 
For biological media, surface area is your friend. The more surface area your biological media has, the more nitrifying bacteria grow on it, which means more biological filtration, which means the more ammonia your fish tank can handle. In short, get biological media that is rough, preferably a sponge.
 
sponges are pretty primitive when it comes to bio-media, in stark comparison to the surface areas offered by manufactured bio-media.
 
DAVIDFBT said:
For biological media, surface area is your friend. The more surface area your biological media has, the more nitrifying bacteria grow on it, which means more biological filtration, which means the more ammonia your fish tank can handle. In short, get biological media that is rough, preferably a sponge.
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fish cant handle ammonia.... having more bacteria wont allow your fish to be able to handle ammonia...... need to get some of your details right....

one thing i think your looking at is it could be actual flow rate vs max flow rate.... or your just looking at filters for smaller tanks.
 
I think ehiem filter measure their flow rate when they are full of media where as others do it when they are empty. Ehiems are the best ones out there, expensive but suppose to be the best.

As for media its a balance, to much surface area and it clogs to quickly, to little and its not an efficient biological filter.
 
The flow rate really won't affect how much biologocal filtration you have. While surface area of the media is nice, having more surface area will not give you more bacteria.
 
RB is 100% correct. In a cycled tank, the media surface will provide you enough room to have all the bacteria that your tank needs to process waste effectively. Your bacteria will adjust based on the needed amount. It does not stockpile itself. That is why so many different bio-medias can be used.
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
fish cant handle ammonia.... having more bacteria wont allow your fish to be able to handle ammonia...... need to get some of your details right....

one thing i think your looking at is it could be actual flow rate vs max flow rate.... or your just looking at filters for smaller tanks.
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i think he meant fish tank Mgamer.
 
But more surface area means more available space for bacteria, if needed. The bacteria just won't magically appear just because you have the room. Now, if some of you out there are professors of math, AND specialize in fractals....There's no calculated limit to texture, REALLY.....who'll build a better filter? Atom's are very roomy!
 
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