Rule of thumb

[bascomb]

Rule of thumb? ?

I always love that term. Who's rule and who's thumb?  When we talk about the size of an aquarium or tank for a turtle there if the ''rule of thumb'' which is 10 gallons per inch of turtle. That is acceptable and makes some since. The other thing that is not a ''rule of thumb'' is the size of the filter for said tank. I have heard that you should double the size of the filter for a turtle. My question is, double it from what? If the answer is fish that leaves the question what fish and how many. That is not correct. Most turtles poos a lot more than twice the amount of a fish the same size,a lot more. Turtle folks have to think in terms of gph. Turtles have to have at least 5 times the volume of water that is in the aquarium. When buying a filter, think in terms of gph and not ''twice'' the size of a fish tank. It is not nearly large enough in most cases. b
 

[bascomb]

Three times what My point is just that. There must be a standard and for me is 5 or more times the volume of water in the tank. Many folks do the two times  and that is not enough. It has been my experience that the pet stores don't have a clue and guess about how many times larger a filter should be using the ''fish'' thing. They are just guessing.

[bascomb]

OK -- How many gph does the 60 gallon filter have How many gph does the 300 gallon have It is the amount of water that is getting filtered that is important. b.

[bascomb]

Really depends on the filter, power filters ones that hang on rim do for 60 gallon do 330 gph, large canister filters do 260gph. Going by your saying power filters would be better, but your wrong, the large canister filter is far more effective at keeping water clean, and requires far less cleanings

For 400 or less Fluval FX5 Canister Filter does 925gph and let me tell on my 200-150gallon preformed pond that baby keeps it crystal clear, not a spec of anything

20 gallon I use Power filter(Whisper whatever) for 60 galllons water is always clear.

Thats why you cant say one thing really goes into buying a filter.

When people say go double there saying thats minum at best would work.
Say like school- 70 is still passing but it sure as heck is not an A.

[bascomb]

''When people say go double there saying thats minum at best would work''-- Please see my point; go double what q. In you 100 gallon senario you will need 5 or MORE. An FX5 will do great at 900 gph. 300 gph may work if everything is just so and it doesn't get overloaded.

[MsTurtle]

I fully agree with the 5 or more rule! I always recommend that you aim for at least a 4:1 ratio. You want a filter capable of filtering 4 times the present volume of water in your habit For instance 60 gallons of water, you would aim for a filter that at a minimum is capable of filtering 240gph. I love my Turtles, but they are dirty! I also agree that the it is hard to go wrong with the Fluval FX5! I am using it in a 55 gallon and the water is absolutely crystal clear.

Ms Turtle

[MsTurtle]

http://www.turtlesale.com/home/index.php?page=filters-refills-page-3