Pump Basics

[the redrover]

Newbie I am afraid with a stupid question, but would be grateful for a quick answer until I get time to wade through and enjoy the forums.
Bought a tank etc and it came with a Hydro Evolution 200 pump. This sits in the bottom with a tube to the top of the tank. My question is "at what level should the outlet be" ie does the ejected water fall into the tank creating air disturbance or should the outlet be submerged. The manufactures leaflet doesnt mention this end other than a digram of the tube pointing upwards. The tank has min & max marks such that the tube could be in or out of the water within that range.
Thanks for any help.

 

[Schmill]

In the water = Quiet
Out the water = Splashy & airation of the water

If you are putting fish in the tank and don't intend to put in live plants (or just a few), and don't have an airpump I'd go for 'Out of water'
(Of course make sure that with the outlet above the waterline, that the water DOES fall back into the tank, otherwise you'll have a wet floor and an empty tank - lol )

 

[waterdrop]

I agree that splashy/noisy/waterfall is completely up to the aquarist based on what look and feel you like and whether the noise is nice or an irritant. Oxygenation of aquarium water takes place almost entirely via surface water movement. Bubbles are nearly purely decorative and provide no significant extra oxygenation other than the extent to which they cause surface water movement. A stream of pumped water just below the surface that is moving a broad swath of surface water is very effective and can be silent.

If your tank is a place where the water noise does not bother humans, a waterfall effect, bubbles included can be fine and often some species of fish will delight in it. In fact the force and direction of all sorts of water movement and waterfalls is really a judgement call on the part of the aquarist and paying close attention to how you think various fish are taking it is a good thing to do. With some filter spraybars and water pumps the fish can end up being blown around and you sometimes have they situation where they like swimming against it but its annoying in terms of trying to watch a peaceful aquarium! Size of tank can be a big factor in that too.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[the redrover]

I agree that splashy/noisy/waterfall is completely up to the aquarist based on what look and feel you like and whether the noise is nice or an irritant. Oxygenation of aquarium water takes place almost entirely via surface water movement. Bubbles are nearly purely decorative and provide no significant extra oxygenation other than the extent to which they cause surface water movement. A stream of pumped water just below the surface that is moving a broad swath of surface water is very effective and can be silent.

If your tank is a place where the water noise does not bother humans, a waterfall effect, bubbles included can be fine and often some species of fish will delight in it. In fact the force and direction of all sorts of water movement and waterfalls is really a judgement call on the part of the aquarist and paying close attention to how you think various fish are taking it is a good thing to do. With some filter spraybars and water pumps the fish can end up being blown around and you sometimes have they situation where they like swimming against it but its annoying in terms of trying to watch a peaceful aquarium! Size of tank can be a big factor in that too.

~~waterdrop~~

Many thanks for the speedy replies, understood.