How big should my fish tank pump be?

A good rule of thumb to follow is that a pump should have a flow rate of 5 GPH (gallons per hour) for every gallon of water in the aquarium. For example, if you have a 29-gallon aquarium you will need a pump with a flow rate of at least 145 GPH to effectively turnover the tank.

Is a bigger aquarium filter better?

Bigger filters do not equal better water parameters, nor does it mean you can over stock a tank. As long as the filter will move the entire volume of water in the tank it will be good enough.

Why is my filter killing my fish?

Water flow that’s too strong Some fish will hide behind a tank’s filter (and get stuck!) just because they want to get a break from the constant heavy water currents. Small fish can also find themselves getting sucked into the water filter’s intake if the filter is too strong.

Do filters clean fish tanks?

The short and definitive answer is yes! A filter basically cleans the water of debris, removes the toxic buildup of ammonia and nitrates, and aerates the water so your fish can breathe. Which, unless you want an aquarium full of dead fish (or one filled with plastic fish), is a very good thing, indeed.

How big filter do I need?

A good rule of thumb is to select a filter with a flow rate at least six times the volume of the tank—so for a 30-gallon tank you want a flow rate of about 200 gph (gallons per hour). Canister Filters: Canister filters also have an integral water pump.

What happens if my filter is too big for my fish tank?

As long as the filter will move the entire volume of water in the tank it will be good enough. You could put a filter rated 2x’s the size of the tank or 10x’s the size of the tank, it will still only grow enough bacteria to handle the current bio-load of the tank and no more.

Why do fish go behind the filter?

Water flow that’s too strong The water flow inside your tank can be too strong for some fish. Or it could feel that way if your aquarium is too small for the filter you’ve chosen. Some fish will hide behind a tank’s filter (and get stuck!) just because they want to get a break from the constant heavy water currents.

Where is the best place to put a filter in a fish tank?

An internal aquarium filter should be placed at the bottom of a tank to ensure proper filtration. This is the best position for an internal aquarium filter because it will have all the water going through it and therefore will have a better chance of cleaning the water.

Does a filter remove ammonia?

The short and definitive answer is yes! A filter basically cleans the water of debris, removes the toxic buildup of ammonia and nitrates, and aerates the water so your fish can breathe.

Do I need an air pump if I have a filter?

An air pump is NOT required for this purpose, as long as your tank maintains adequate water movement together with surface agitation. This is generally the case if external (e.g., box or cannister) filters are used. Second, air pumps can be used to force water through a filter (e.g., sponge or corner filter).

How strong should a fish tank filter be?

We generally recommend that on average, you turn over your aquarium volume four times per hour. This means that if you have a 30 gallon tank, you need a pump and filter with flow rates of around 120 gph.

Should I turn my fish tank filter off at night?

So you shouldn’t turn off the aquarium filter at night. An aquarium filter removes dirt, debris, and grime like uneaten food, dead plants and waste from the aquarium water. Besides that, your aquarium filter plays a huge role in helping bacteria to convert toxic chemicals into chemicals that are safe for the fish.