External Filter

[kiriyama]

Hi there , I recently purchased an external filter , Tetratec ex700. I am more than happy with it as it was very easy to set up and it is very quiet.

My query involves the direction of the water flow, I have attached the spray bar and have it facing forward towards the front of the tank , it is about an inch under the water and angled upwards slightly. My tank is quite narrow 12" / 30cm, I notice the fish notice a new current but dont think this will harm them.....
Can I move the spray bar to make the current flow length ways in the tank ? What is the best way to set up and postion the spray bar ?
Also for future referance I am hoping to add some floating plants, I have heard of lily bars? Is there much invlolved in setting these up or do I need to buy various attachments if I had one?

 

[rabbut]

Personally, I run all my canisters without spray bars Just so long as there is plenty of surface movement in the tank, I'd argue that just about any outlet angling/positioning will be fine

All the best
Rabbut

 

[raptorrex]

Hi there , I recently purchased an external filter , Tetratec ex700. I am more than happy with it as it was very easy to set up and it is very quiet.

My query involves the direction of the water flow, I have attached the spray bar and have it facing forward towards the front of the tank , it is about an inch under the water and angled upwards slightly. My tank is quite narrow 12" / 30cm, I notice the fish notice a new current but dont think this will harm them.....
Can I move the spray bar to make the current flow length ways in the tank ? What is the best way to set up and postion the spray bar ?
Also for future referance I am hoping to add some floating plants, I have heard of lily bars? Is there much invlolved in setting these up or do I need to buy various attachments if I had one?

i have one filter with spray bar and one without. the one without, points at one of my heaters ( though during summer i point it up to the surface. to increase agitation) the one with i, like you, have under the water. but pointing down. the only reason i do this is, because i have several fish that like to swim in the flow. I'm sure someone will show me a graph of how differing angles give differing flows. but I'm with rabbut, i dont think it make a, significant, difference.

 

[waterdrop]

There's a lot of discussion among people with planted tanks about getting good water movement. I've always wondered to what extent people feel that circulation -patterns- play a role in better overall water movement, if any. You guys both have experience with different tanks and what I'm hearing you say is that you've not found the planning of patterns to be helpful, thus should I assume you feel its down to just -quantity- of movement? In other words, just swap in higher flow rate filters and/or add a powerhead here or there and even if you don't particularly -aim- anything, the very fact that you are moving the water more will acheive "better water movement," whatever that is.

I guess it also begs the question of whether I've got the "benefits" that the planted folks are seeking firmly in hand?
If I try to quickly think of them...
1) Higher overall movement / better circulation should result if fewer dead pockets where small amounts of ammonia could encourage algae (this is the big one.)
2) Higher movement helps keep debris from settling on the substrate, hopefully leading to it entering the filter. My understanding is that this is of greater importance in a heavily planted tank because one has more substrate with roots that one does not want to disturb with a gravel cleaner.
3) ah, there must be more...

Comments?/Observations?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[raptorrex]

There's a lot of discussion among people with planted tanks about getting good water movement. I've always wondered to what extent people feel that circulation -patterns- play a role in better overall water movement, if any. You guys both have experience with different tanks and what I'm hearing you say is that you've not found the planning of patterns to be helpful, thus should I assume you feel its down to just -quantity- of movement? In other words, just swap in higher flow rate filters and/or add a powerhead here or there and even if you don't particularly -aim- anything, the very fact that you are moving the water more will acheive "better water movement," whatever that is.

I guess it also begs the question of whether I've got the "benefits" that the planted folks are seeking firmly in hand?
If I try to quickly think of them...
1) Higher overall movement / better circulation should result if fewer dead pockets where small amounts of ammonia could encourage algae (this is the big one.)
2) Higher movement helps keep debris from settling on the substrate, hopefully leading to it entering the filter. My understanding is that this is of greater importance in a heavily planted tank because one has more substrate with roots that one does not want to disturb with a gravel cleaner.
3) ah, there must be more...

Comments?/Observations?

~~waterdrop~~

well for me. moving water, is the thing. you will be aware i follow the 5x minimum. lol, or try to. whilst i am sure, careful, direction of water flow, will result in good circulation. maintaining a specific flow pattern, especially in a planted tank, will be hard. plants move and grow, both of which alter the flow of the water.
with an increased flow, and no particular pattern. i feel even the eddies and dead spots, can be serviced. whilst these areas will remain.. pushing more water by them, causes more exchange. in essence, though still there, the water within them is changed out more often. again, though i have plants, my tank is not planted. it may indeed be more important in planted situations.

 

[waterdrop]

There's a lot of discussion among people with planted tanks about getting good water movement. I've always wondered to what extent people feel that circulation -patterns- play a role in better overall water movement, if any. You guys both have experience with different tanks and what I'm hearing you say is that you've not found the planning of patterns to be helpful, thus should I assume you feel its down to just -quantity- of movement? In other words, just swap in higher flow rate filters and/or add a powerhead here or there and even if you don't particularly -aim- anything, the very fact that you are moving the water more will acheive "better water movement," whatever that is.

I guess it also begs the question of whether I've got the "benefits" that the planted folks are seeking firmly in hand?
If I try to quickly think of them...
1) Higher overall movement / better circulation should result if fewer dead pockets where small amounts of ammonia could encourage algae (this is the big one.)
2) Higher movement helps keep debris from settling on the substrate, hopefully leading to it entering the filter. My understanding is that this is of greater importance in a heavily planted tank because one has more substrate with roots that one does not want to disturb with a gravel cleaner.
3) ah, there must be more...

Comments?/Observations?

~~waterdrop~~

well for me. moving water, is the thing. you will be aware i follow the 5x minimum. lol, or try to. whilst i am sure, careful, direction of water flow, will result in good circulation. maintaining a specific flow pattern, especially in a planted tank, will be hard. plants move and grow, both of which alter the flow of the water.
with an increased flow, and no particular pattern. i feel even the eddies and dead spots, can be serviced. whilst these areas will remain.. pushing more water by them, causes more exchange. in essence, though still there, the water within them is changed out more often. again, though i have plants, my tank is not planted. it may indeed be more important in planted situations.

Indeed boboboy, I have a vague recollection that it very likely was one of your posts that got me thinking clearly that I needed at least 5x a couple of years ago when I was choosing my Eheim. At the time the concept of a "planted tank" was a distant curiosity to me and I was even under the mistaken impression that people with planted tanks used -less- turnover, so it was a bit of a jolt later on to realize that many of them desired 10x and above! Over time, my own desire to increase water movement has grown and I've been thinking more and more about whether to add a Koralia nano or a model one and whether to modify the rear position of my spraybar to the side. One thing I have no doubt I should do is to replace or clean out my debris-splotched 1.5 yr old cannister hoses, its obvious they are slowing my flow rate. Anyway, I just know you and rabbut are pretty good for opinions/suggestions on this sort of thing which is why I persist. WD