Would A 20 Gall Fluval Filter And An Airstone Be Adequate For A 29 Gallon Aquarium?

So, as the title suggests I have a 29 gallon aquarium but currently only 20 gallon filter and one airstone. Would this be fine? I have multiple 20 gall filters (all fluval u2 as it seems like whenever I buy anything to do with an aquarium for some reason I get another one) so I could rig up two filters in the tank but its just a bit loud and I will need more plug sockets. The tank will be nowhere near overstocked and the bioload will not be huge as I am moving my fish from my 20 gall into this one so I thought I might be able to get away with a 20 gallon filter on full blast?

 

Am I right in thinking the flow rate is roughly 105gph? That's only 3.6x the volume of the tank turnover per hour. For a 29 gallon you want around 232-290gph. You could use 2 or 3 of those filters but one alone isn't enough.

 

Am I right in thinking the flow rate is roughly 105gph? That's only 3.6x the volume of the tank turnover per hour. For a 29 gallon you want around 232-290gph. You could use 2 or 3 of those filters but one alone isn't enough.

Ok thanks for the information, I am a bit concerned as I do keep small fish, that current may be a bit much and stress them out. Could I make up for the weaker filtration by doing often water changes and if so, how often would I need to do water changes?

 

If you are concerned by current there are a few options

1)set up the u2 so the flow is coming out the middle bit with the small holes and point it at a wall of the tank or at a tall piece of driftwood or rock.

2) use one or 2 of the filters along with a large sponge filter

3) you can make a diy baffle for them I think but I've never tried so don't ask me

4) give them lots of cover. Simply adding lots of decorations and plants will create areas with low flow.

What kind of fish are you getting? Even small fish can cope with a suprising amount of flow. Unless you are getting a long finned betta or frogs or something I wouldnt worry about flow too much.

 

If you are concerned by current there are a few options

1)set up the u2 so the flow is coming out the middle bit with the small holes and point it at a wall of the tank or at a tall piece of driftwood or rock.

2) use one or 2 of the filters along with a large sponge filter

3) you can make a diy baffle for them I think but I've never tried so don't ask me

4) give them lots of cover. Simply adding lots of decorations and plants will create areas with low flow.

What kind of fish are you getting? Even small fish can cope with a suprising amount of flow. Unless you are getting a long finned betta or frogs or something I wouldnt worry about flow too much.

I already have most the fish as I am transferring them into the bigger tank, zebra danios, neon tetras, I'd like to add a flying fox and maybe an assassin snail to deal with a snail problem I've been fighting for a while and I suspect they will be transferred into the new tank.

 

Zebra danios like high flow. Mine are always in the high current areas (and my filters are a lot more powerful than 400l/h). I'm sure neons would handle it fine too. To be honest I would just do 3 of the fluval u2s and only worry about it if you see the fish struggling.

 

Zebra danios like high flow. Mine are always in the high current areas (and my filters are a lot more powerful than 400l/h). I'm sure neons would handle it fine too. To be honest I would just do 3 of the fluval u2s and only worry about it if you see the fish struggling.

Thanks for your help