Over filtering a tank

You will hear many cichlid keepers say they over filter their tanks. This is done because cichlids are messy eaters and by having your tanks over filtered helps to maintain cleaner water. A common thing you may hear is ten times over filtered. All that means is if you have a 55 gallon tank your filter system should turn over 550 gallons per hour. I usually try to do 15 to 20 times because no filter actually performs to what's on the box. I also do 2 filters on every tank at least. This gives me the added security that if one filter fails I will have another filter that can handle the load.

You have many different choices when it comes to what kind of filter to choose from and everybody has their idea as to what's best. My best advice is what ever filter type you get make sure you always have a back up of some sort on the tank.

Very good advise, Mike!

What type of filter to use depends upon the size and desired layout
of one's tank.

I usually don't use a canister filter on anything tank less than 75 gallons.

On my 75 gallon tank, I use one canister filter (Rena XP3) and one
HOB (AC110)

This gives me a lot of filtration and water turnover capacity, but it also
gives me both biological and mechanical filtration possibilities.

Canister filters tend to do a better job of biological filtration and
HOB filters tend to do a better job of mechanical filtration.

I agree with that, Michael.
Cichlids from the riftlakes love the water movment over filtration gives. If u have the filter outlets pointed up towards the surface u will get a great surface movement and more air into the water. So there is really no downside to have a heavy flow in the tank.

Couldn't agree more with everything said!!! Great advice guy's

I agree with the overfiltration. However, by its very nature a sump system is a far better way of performing bio-filtration and does not need the same radical turnover to get the same benifet as a power or canister filter. Imo an undergravel jet system or well placed powerheads used in conjuntion with a sump and wet/dry allows you to custom tailer the needs of your tank and have more freedom to change things around if you need to.

I don't think you can over filter a tank.

Thanks for all the good advice. I would like to run more large canisters. My pocketbook won't let me right now.