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10 July 2026

Canister Filter Sizing Worksheet for Planted Aquariums

By Published Updated

Short answer: use the aquarium’s working water volume, identify the source of the turnover reference, and keep the result separate from a filter’s measured performance. A calculator can show arithmetic; it cannot certify an installed filter.

Use one named reference, not a universal rule

Tropica recommends pump capacity equivalent to changing the aquarium volume three to five times per hour and illustrates the range with a 150-litre aquarium. Source: Tropica: Water circulation.

Use this range only when you deliberately choose Tropica’s framework. If a filter maker publishes a different sizing method or a performance curve for the exact model, keep that evidence separate rather than blending the two.

Run the calculation

Under the cited three-to-five-times reference, 100 litres multiplied by three to five gives a calculated range of 300 to 500 litres per hour. Source: Tropica: Water circulation.

  1. Record the working water volume you intend to use.
  2. Write down the chosen source and multiplier.
  3. Multiply volume by the lower and upper reference.
  4. Label the answer “calculated reference”, not “actual flow”.

What the result does not prove

The cited Tropica page states pump capacity in litres per hour; it does not provide a test result for a different manufacturer’s filter in your installed layout. Source: Tropica: Water circulation.

Before buying, compare the calculated reference with the exact model documentation. Record any unknown rather than replacing it with an estimate. Intake protection, outlet placement, maintenance access and livestock suitability are separate decisions that need their own evidence.

Worked decision record

  • Working volume: ______ L
  • Reference used: ______
  • Multiplier range: ______
  • Calculated reference: ______ L/h
  • Exact model document checked: yes / no
  • Installed performance verified: yes / no / not tested

The useful outcome is a transparent shortlist boundary. If exact model evidence is missing, leave the product decision open.

Interpret three common outcomes

The working volume is unknown

Stop the calculation. A precise multiplier cannot repair an uncertain input. Record how the volume will be established and return only when the number is defensible.

The calculation is clear but the model data are vague

Keep the calculated range as a planning note and mark the product comparison incomplete. Do not convert a catalogue headline into a measured result.

The model documentation is available

Compare like with like: note what the maker measured, under which conditions, and whether those conditions resemble the planned installation. Record differences instead of hiding them in a single “recommended flow” number.

Final review questions

  • Can another reviewer reproduce the arithmetic?
  • Is the turnover source named beside the calculation?
  • Are calculated capacity, maker data and installed performance labelled separately?
  • Are unknown compatibility questions still visible?
Shop the guide

Build a water-quality starter setup

Combine suitable filtration with monitoring and maintenance tools; equipment supports, but does not replace, a correct cycling process.

Explore Easy Aquarium Maintenance Shop Filtration & Water Care Compare this starter kit

This is a curated shopping path, not a one-size-fits-all bundle. Confirm dimensions, compatibility, livestock needs and electrical requirements before ordering.

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