Running Two External Filters On One Tank

[lgarvey]

Hi,

I currently have an tetratec ex1200 running on my 300L tank. The inlet pipe goes to one side of the tank and the outlet goes to the other. The outlet is connected to the spray bar which currently is stuck vertically in the water along the back right corner of the tank.

I have another ex1200 coming in a day or two and want to figure out the best way to set them up.

I wasz thikning of doing exactly the same but having the inlet and outlet for each filter be on the same side of the tank. So i'd have: -
<pre>

in / out in / out
====================

tetra tec 1 tetra tec 2

</pre>
I'm also considering doing away with the spray bar, though the outlet may then disturb the sand substrate.

I assume there's nothing wrong with having the inlet and outlet pipes close together??

L

 

[fifefish]

why do you want to have 2 filters instead of one?

 

[minxfishy]

I would be inclined to have the in & out of one on one end and the other in/out the opposite end. Yep that made sense to me, hope it did to you

 

[smegforbrains]

Is your tank drilled? Or do the hoses sit over the edge?

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

why do you want to have 2 filters instead of one?

better filtration and also a backup incase one fails.

 

[lgarvey]

No it's not drilled. The filters site over the edge. The ex1200 is not cutting it as I have a fairly overstocked mbuna tank. the water has cleared up somewhat after cleaning the filter, but I'd like to see it even cleaner! *grins*

So you say cross the stream ... i'll get a bit algebraic: f1 = filter 1, f2 = filter2 - f1-in / f1-out & f2-in & f2-out


left side of tank
f1-in f2-out


right side of tank
f2-out f1-in


or is it good enough to put them both on each side, which would be far easier? =)

L

 

[minxfishy]

Thats what I meant, one on each side

 

[smegforbrains]

Just watch out you don't end up with a whirlpool in the middle of the tank

 

[minxfishy]

Just angel the outflows so that doesnt happen

 

[lgarvey]

> Just watch out you don't end up with a whirlpool in the middle of the tank laugh.gif

hahaha that would be funny!

I'm sure the fish wouldn't mind either -- they'd probably enjoy it.

As long as the tank is clean! =)

OK, I'll go for that arrangement, which will take a bit more doing but is not too difficult.

Thanks!

L

 

[8inary]

i must admit, i have 3 large external cans on my tank, filtering around 8000ltrs/hour.

I have one, located on one side, and one located on the other, their respective in and out on the same side, the other can is just on the right side which is more hidden than the left.

I dont believe you can over filter a tank, and think its a good idea to have more than one in most cases. It also helps with any issues you may get with one filter.

 

[england]

Thats what I meant, one on each side

yep agreed with that

my god i find myself agreeing with da minx

 

[chr15_8]

i have 2 on my tank.

i have the in and out on the same side with the outlet facing towards the middle of the tank.

so im basicly filtering each side of the tank and the water clashes in the middle

 

[lgarvey]

I read your mbuna journal chr15_8. Very interesting! I'll have two tetratecs 1200s running on a 290L tank, which means it will turn the tank over about 8.5 times an hour. I wish I could have had 10+ times. Nearly invested in a fluval fx5 which combined with the existing ex1200 would have done about 4700 l/h or filtered the tank 16 times p/h. Looking at the measurements the damn thing wouldn't fit in the cabinet though. =(

I also have a 90L which is going to be heavily planted. It has an aqua one (terrible filter) CF-1200. So it should keep it super clean. The only problem is, it creates a lot of current for such a small tank and occasionally I find an x-ray tetra stuck to the inlet pipe. If it keeps happening I'll ditch 1200 l/h filter and get something smaller.

minxfishy -- who is that big NAKED man?

L

 

[drobbyb]

Currently I have 3 external filters on my 72 gallon. 2 HOB's and 1 canister. 300gph + 280 gph + 350gph = 930 gph total. 930 / 72 = 12.92 turnover rate per hour.