Can Two Canister Filters Be Used in One Fish Tank?

Everyone knows that canister filters are the most efficient fish tank filters around today. It is true that they will cost a lot initially but if you can afford to install one, they will save you a whole lot in terms of time spent maintaining them and of course money. But for those who already have a canister filter in their aquarium, the next question that always comes to mind is should they now install two filters and will this be beneficial to the overall filtration of the fish tank water?

Honestly, no two fish enthusiasts will ever agree on whether it is a good idea or not to have two canister filters in one tank. This topic has been discussed numerous times since the invention of the canister filter. Rather than taking a side, I will instead talk about what happens when you have two canister filters in one aquarium and it will be up to you to decide which you choose.

Why Have Two Canister Filters In the First Place?

The obvious reason for most supporters of two filters is backup. That is to say that you will have a spare filter running in case one of them needs repair, thus ensuring that the water in your fish tank remains filtered. This reason becomes even more critical for those who live a distance from the nearest aquarium store and cannot get hold of spare parts fast enough.

The other reason for having an additional filter is how big the tank is. Supporters to multiple filters argue that if the fish tank is too large, filtration done by one canister filter will not sufficiently purify the entire tank as there will be blind spots where the water will not be drawn into the filter. Having two filters with their inlets positioned at opposite ends of the tank will ensure that there are no blind spots.

What’s The Downside Of Using Two Canister Filters

The main issue about having multiple filters is water movement. The movement of water in the aquarium affects the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The faster the rate at which water moves, the faster the exchange will be thus reducing the amount of CO2 in the tank. But isn’t this supposed to be good? Well, not if you also have aquatic plant life. Plants take in CO2 and expel O2. By doing so, plants actually help maintain a healthy balance of CO2/O2 levels in the water. Having insufficient carbon dioxide levels will stunt the plants growth and cause them to lose their lustre.

Too much filtering will also remove the important nutrients that plants need, along with other waste matter. it is actually true that in a tank with plants, it is the plants that provide a netter and more efficient biological filtration than the beneficial bacteria. Finally, too much water movement actually has an adverse effect on the fish as well, especially fish that are more used to very little water movement. The faster water movement that an additional filter makes will cause them unnecessary stress and might even prevent them from breeding properly.

So these are the pros and cons of having more than one canister filter in a single aquarium. If after this you do decide to have two filters, please ensure that you reduce the suction rate which can be controlled in most canister filters to limit the amount of water movement.

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