I'm curious as to what the most filtration (gph & methods of filtration) people are using, and also the least (using nothing but plants) and the sizes of tanks the method of filtration is being used on.

I have a 55 gallon tank that has 5 powerheads on a UGF that i estimate is filtering 850 gph (170/gph powerheads), and have an aqueon 75 HOB filter that is supposed to filter 400/gph. I would think some would say this is kind of extreme, but i have always thought bigger is better, i'm a damn american i guess.... I also built a DIY sponge filter that was powered by the biggest air pump i could buy at petsmart that used half the output (el cheapo top fin rated for something like a 150 gallon tank), and used it on this tank until recently i moved it to my girlfriends 20 gallon tank as a second method of filtration since i was way overfiltering anyway.

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75 Gallon Freshwater
29 Gallon Freshwater
20 Gallon Freshwater

I over filter also but not as much as you. I run a Plen Plax Cascade 1000 plus large HOB's on my 55g and my 60g. The least filtered tank is my 20g hex with just a HOb rated for 30 gallon tanks.

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

My 75g has 600gph of filtration. Not sure why you would want that much for a 55. As long as it works for you.

I have a marineland magnum 350 on a 25 gallon,and I have a three gallon filtered with plants.That is until my calico Chaos decides to bring me back my d*&% sponge filter part.

My question on the 55.WHY?

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

Good morning fish...

Your UGF should be enough for your tank if you're following a good tank cleaning routine which includes a minimum 25 to 30 percent water change every couple of weeks.

I do 50 percent every three weeks in my 55 Gs, have a lot of plants and run one power filter for a 50 G tank and have no problems maintaining good water conditions.

You should include some potted plants in the tank. Plants act as natural water filters and add to your fishes' diet.

I really think you can safely take out the HOB.

B

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Low Tech Water Building Keeper

I currently have a 55g tank with no mechanical filter at all. No circulation either.

Just the plants.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

You should update your sig.

yep

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Done.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Your probably right, and perhaps i will as it's another eyesore, as i have a 29g (empty) sitting around that i'm not using that has no filter, but was planning to do saltwater where an HOB isn't ideal i'm told. I really have noticed that the HOB doesn't pick up much gunk anyway, the initial filters that came with it lasted me like 3 months before they started to get really gross, but it never got clogged like on some of my other tanks where i've waited a bit long to change filters.

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75 Gallon Freshwater
29 Gallon Freshwater
20 Gallon Freshwater