bio media - does slower flow rate give better filtering

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mystic.bertie

mystic.bertie

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 27, 2008
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i was just wondering about whether water quality was better when flowing thru a canister filter slower, as you may know the stock tubing on canister filters, nozzles, spray bars, filter media all slow the flow rate down ie a 1000 lph filter may actually only return 600lph to the tank.

so in terms od bio filtration is the water better quality when filtered at 600lph or would water filtered at 100lph be better quality.

im just trying to understand when using bio media if flow rates make any difference to the water quality.

hope you understand:nilly:
 
they do, the water quality going in a 100 gallons an hour would get more contact time. thats why eheims are so greatfor bio filtration they have really slow flowrates
 
hmmmmmm interesting, so am i mad modifying my tubes to larger ones on my 2 fluval canisters to increase the flow rate

heres my post from serveral weeks back " i have modifed the output and return tubing on my fluval 304, when i checked it as standard i got about 600lph, quoted is 1000lph, after my modifications i am now getting 820lph"

so really i was not achieving anything as i have 2 powerheads for extra flow in the tank, so should i allow my canister filters to have a slow rate in return for better quality water ?
 
On one hand... you are correct... if the water speeds through a filter too fast the bacteria will not get a chance to 'eat' the ammonia/nitrite...

But on the other hand, I don't think modifying a 1000 lph filter into actually functioning at 820 lph will push it past any threashhold. But at the same time if you ae using powerheads to suppliment current, there may no be benefit in making the canister flow faster either...
 
nc_nutcase;2470677; said:
On one hand... you are correct... if the water speeds through a filter too fast the bacteria will not get a chance to 'eat' the ammonia/nitrite...

But on the other hand, I don't think modifying a 1000 lph filter into actually functioning at 820 lph will push it past any threashhold. But at the same time if you ae using powerheads to suppliment current, there may no be benefit in making the canister flow faster either...
Click to expand...
:iagree:
 
nc_nutcase;2470677; said:
On one hand... you are correct... if the water speeds through a filter too fast the bacteria will not get a chance to 'eat' the ammonia/nitrite...

But on the other hand, I don't think modifying a 1000 lph filter into actually functioning at 820 lph will push it past any threashhold. But at the same time if you ae using powerheads to suppliment current, there may no be benefit in making the canister flow faster either...
Click to expand...

hi i think you misunderstood me the filter is rated by fluval at 1000lph, it did not achieve this when i tested it i was getting 600lph, i modifed the tubes to larger ones and i got the actual flow rate up to 820lph FROM the 600lph.

im just wondering if it was worth changing from the stadard tubing to get the extra 220lph flow or was i benefitting with better water when i was getting 600lph ?

or is the 220lph difference not going to make much difference to the bio filtering ?
 
I would think that it would not matter. I say this because if you have a pump that cirrculates your tank volume say 10 times and hour then the water will pass thru the bio-media 10 times in a hour. If you doubled the GPH of your pump the bio-media would have 50% less time with that water but it will also see the water 50% more. Basically if you speed up your turn over rate the water will pass thru the media more often but go thru quicker. So It will balance out.
 
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