chickensnitty Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I have had cichlid tanks in the past and gerenrally had success(and lots of fun) with them. The new tank I have bought is very similar to the aqua one style tanks.I have no experience with the overhead filters and was wondering if anyone else had and how well they have worked?My preservation with the filter is that the outlet is at the bottom of the tray so the water wi t be able to build up it iust runs out. Would this still allow the biological filtration to be effective? Do I need to get another filter?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggyboy Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I bought an overhead filter from Age of Aquariums. The pump it came with was crap so I ended up using the outlet of one of my canisters to sprinkle water into the overhead. To answer your question, I guess it depends on how much water is being sprayed into the filter. My overhead gets about 50% full so half my media is submerged, the other half above surface. I personally believe that as long as the water is being sprayed or tricked above surface level (ie. has air contact), it gets enough oxygen for the bacteria, so doesn't matter if your media is almost always submerged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 To my understanding the compartment has baffles inside to direct the water through the media. Also I believe the lids are usually sealed so that water passes from one end to the other under some pressure. If they work depends on the bio load and type/size of fish and the size/capacity of the filter. They arent the greatest filtration systems but they work. I had one on an aqua one tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggyboy Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 maxib: Wouldn't say they are the greatest, but would consider them up there with regards to bio filtration. The issue with canister filters is that intakes suck water from the bottom of the tank, a location with probably the least amount of oxygen in the tank. Bio filtration works best when a lot of oxygen is present, and that's precisely the point of having trickle or overhead filters. The water that passes through the media is rich with oxygen. Now I do not have concrete proof as I haven't done scientific testing, but, at least from material I've read, it makes sense that trickle/overhead media is richer in nitrifying bacteria than canisters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickensnitty Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 Thanks for the replies very helpful.So the bio filtration is ok with the mechanical I was just going to layer some mats under the spray bars and see how it goes.Btw I'm starting a 170L tank that will be pretty heavily stock so filter performance need to be high Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 The one I had was basically a powered head attached to a down pipe so the inlet was in the same place as my cannister, near the bottom. The cannister filter outlet if positioned properly can aerate the water quite well. My outlet is on the side wall of tank pointing diagonally down pushing water towards the inlet. I dont think an overhead trickle filter would work well on a four foot tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickensnitty Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 It's not a 4ft it's 2.8 x 2 x 1 roughly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggyboy Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 The one I had was basically a powered head attached to a down pipe so the inlet was in the same place as my cannister, near the bottom. The cannister filter outlet if positioned properly can aerate the water quite well. My outlet is on the side wall of tank pointing diagonally down pushing water towards the inlet. I dont think an overhead trickle filter would work well on a four foot tank.Yes but the water is sprayed to the media, which gets it in contact with air (ie. it touches the air before it hits the media).Your outlet example only aerates the water after it has left the canister. You'd want oxygen before it hits the media. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickensnitty Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 I'm with you ziggyboy.I'll get it set up and let you know how it goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 My confusion I was thinking about a different type of filter. A rectangular black box with a sealed lid. I guees your talking about a wet/dry filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggyboy Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 My confusion I was thinking about a different type of filter. A rectangular black box with a sealed lid. I guees your talking about a wet/dry filter.My confusion I was thinking about a different type of filter. A rectangular black box with a sealed lid. I guees your talking about a wet/dry filter.They're technically different things but the idea is the same. I reckon you've got the same overhead filter as I do. The filter you're talking about does sort of spray water, but even if it doesn't (because the pump is too strong), it disturbs water at the top of the filter. This causes good oxygen exchange. I take it the lid on top of the filter is not completely sealed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickensnitty Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 No the top is not sealed it will spray down about 5mm to a filter mat. Havent quite hot it all together yet but will be using a submersible filter with an adjustable flow so should be able to het it just how I want it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxib Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Yea i was thinking of something differnt. If I take the lid off the filter water will pour out over the side. What I was reffering to wasnt a trickle filter although it does sit on a housing at the top of the tank. Plus the inlet is at the side and water is directed from one side to the other not from the top down. Having said that I read about wet/dry trickle filters. They seem very good. You can evenget them for up to a six foot tank. Something similiar would be a wet dry sump which I have read are superior filtration systems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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