Are My Filters Overkill?

I have a 29 gallon, and I currently have 2 AquaClear 50s, so am currently turning the tank over more than 14 times an hour (that is without the decorations, probably more like 16-17 times). I am trying to decide if this is overkill and if I should just pull one off and use as a spare. I have a buddy that is setting up a tank, so my extra seasoned matrix would not go to waste.

The main reason I am thinking about taking it out is that my tank is view-able from both sides, so the extra filter and stuff just doesn't look as nice. I was also wondering if you can have too much flow, I don't like running them at partial flow because they get a lot noisier.

Currently have moderate plants, danios, guppies, nerites, and shrimp.

 

Long as it's not affecting the fish. I don't see an issue. I have a Marina S20 on my 10 gallon (Cycles about 9 times an hour). I would keep the Second one as a spare.

 

You can never overkill with filter.
But keep it in the tank and run it one day a week or just keep the media in the tank.
This will help you in case you plan on starting another tank or a quarantine tank. Also you can give it your friend when they are starting anew, and help seeding their tanks filter.
I have lots of sponge (extra media) in my tank. It helps me when setting up my QT whenever I plan to buy a new fish.
Also if one filter breaka the second one will be there for you all ready. So you are lucky in all ways!

 

That's what I run on my 29. I'm even contemplating upgrading one to a 70.

It's not too much filtration, but if you don't like how it looks you should be fine to take it off.

I don't know anything about them, but I think sponge filters can be easily hidden. Maybe swap for one of those instead of removing one? Then you're still getting roughly the same level of filtration.

 

Thanks, for all the input. I do like the sponge idea, since my son was wanting bubbles in the tank. Any thoughts on the quietest air pump? Any preferences on sponge filters?

I got a really good clearance deal on both of my AC, so I only have about the cost of one in both of mine, so def a good spare.

If I decide to move forward, I will hide my extra media somewhere in the tank. would it be ok to put the media under gravel to hide it? If not I will just stack a rock on it.

 

Yes ots okay. It should be under water that's it.
Sorry I don't know much about different brands of air pump but tetra whisper is one that I have seen many people recommend for quietness. I just hang mine with a thread, which is tied to another horizontal thread on my window grill.. It makes much less noise this way.
As for sponge filters go with spong that has bigger pores instead of micro pores.

 

If I decide to move forward, I will hide my extra media somewhere in the tank. would it be ok to put the media under gravel to hide it? If not I will just stack a rock on it.

This brings up an issue I'm always curious about. Isn't the beneficial bacteria aerobic, and so burying it would kill it? I know it lives on plants, top of gravel, decorations, etc, but those places have water flow. Wouldn't putting the media under something defeat the purpose? I was not able to seed a mesh bag of media just out I the tank, I eventually had to put it right under the filter outflow of the cycled tank to get this to happen. This would be good to know for the future.

 

A. Rozhin is correct. Just keeping the sponge under gravel will not work unless there is high flow like in a long river type setup.
I have a bio-sponge filter with an extra sponge floating at top of it. And another one that has airstone and sponge in a diy bottle filter. (right side of tank, not easily visible).

 

I have 2 AC70's on a 36 ... plus a Cascade 1000 canister.

I run the AC's at low flow ... I don't notice any noise but the slower the water transverses the biomedia - the more effective the biomedia is at eliminating ammonia and nitrite. With overfiltration - you have this option with the AC's.