Where To Place Filter Intake?

[julielynn47]

In my 55 the intake is about a quarter of the way from one end of the tank.  I am wondering if it would be okay to put the intake on one end of the tank. Instead of out  along the back of the tank.
 
I have always just thought that in the middle or toward the middle would be best. But in the 75 gallon I am setting up I would really like to have it on the end.  I am in the process of making a 3-D background for the tank.  I have seen a lot of people dig holes out and place the intakes behind the background. But I am thinking I would rather have better access to the intake if I thought it needed cleaning and such.  I am thinking I just want it in the corner of the tank on one side. Kinda of out of sight but not hidden and hard to get too .
 
Do any of you see an issue with this placement?   It is a pretty nice canister filter that I am sure will circulate water nicely no matter where the intake is. But I kind of just wanted some input on it.
 
Thanks!
 
edited to add.... I am new to canister filters.  The spray bar has me wondering what to do with it as well.  I like to fill my tank up the to black rim so the water line cannot be seen.  But the spray bar hangs down into the tank about 4 inches.   Why, if the water it sprays out is supposed to break the surface of the water, does it hang down so far into the tank?  Is it just for circulation of the water and not surface breaking?   I must admit I am a bit confused by that 
 
I plan on having air stones of some sort anyway. I just like the bubbles. So that would introduce air into the water.  

 

[gmc1]

Not sure why you have spray bar so low.you can just put it at water level further up so you get rippling effect on water surface.could you put a pic up?
As long as water is getting pushed from one end to the other I don't see a problem.

 

[julielynn47]

 
When the upper part rests on the tank rim, the shorter part that has the bar attached to it, hangs down into the tank about 3 inches.  Which puts the spray bar at least 2 inches below the black rim of the tank.
 
I am thinking maybe I could set something under the part that rests on the tank and in turn raise the spray bar.   I am sorry if I sound silly, but I have never had a canister filter before. I have only had the hang on back kind.
 
It also came with a spray...thingee...I don't know what it is called. It is just a little spout that is supposed to shoot water across the surface, but it too will be about 2 inches below the rim of the tank

 

[Byron]

With a rectangular tank, as yours likely is, the best filtration will occur when the filter intake (water going from the tank into the filter) can be at one end and the filter return (water entering the tank from the filter) at the other end, i.e., farthest ends apart.  This provides a natural stream flow, which is also good for fish.  When you set this up, keep in mind that the fish will naturally face into the current, so which end you put the intake/return will determine which way the fish face most often.  Sometimes this is worth knowing.
 
The return should be near or at the surface.  You want some surface disturbance, more or less depending upon fish load and plants.  A spray bar can be placed along the end wall and the holes directed into that end wall; the angle will create more or less disturbance on the surface.  If you intend fish that prefer a bit more current, such as barbs or loaches, you can forget the spray bar and use the spigot with a much stronger direct flow, aimed into the end wall to reduce it a bit, or across the tank, of slightly down the tank.  Remember again that this flow will determine how your fish line up.
 
I am not a fan of airstones, unless there is an oxygen shortage, but that is up to you.  However, it is possible to have too much water disturbance, depending upon the fish and plant load.
 
Edit: Just saw you post with the photo...this is fine; what you can do here is rotate the spray bar so the line of holes are aimed into that end wall but at an upward angle, so water at the surface will "bubble" in a sense.
 
Byron.

 

[gmc1]

If it's hanging down and you can't move it to water level just move the main tube with the holes slightly pointing up the way towards surface.

 

[julielynn47]

I have just always been afraid the fish won't have enough air in the water without the bubbles. I know that sounds a bit silly, but as a kid every tank had air bubbles and we were told that is how the fish got oxygen in the water.   I know a lot has changed since then, LOL, but that just shows how programmed a child's brain can be, because I still think this way.

 

[gmc1]

Something like this

 

[julielynn47]

Okay, instead of the water jets spraying down or straight just point them up and let the surface be broken that way?

ahhh, I see!  That makes sense

 

[gmc1]

Yip

 

[julielynn47]

I only have one place to put the canister filter and the hoses are not long enough to reach from one end to the other. I have to place it at one end. The hoses will reach about 3/4 of the way to other end. I would love to be able to set it inside the stand but  it is too big.  So the spray bar would probably be better then the spigot because the spigot would not be on the end of the tank

 

[gmc1]

I use me along the back wall at one end so my pipes fit.I attached nozzle too onto spray bar for some direction.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I have just always been afraid the fish won't have enough air in the water without the bubbles. I know that sounds a bit silly, but as a kid every tank had air bubbles and we were told that is how the fish got oxygen in the water.   I know a lot has changed since then, LOL, but that just shows how programmed a child's brain can be, because I still think this way.

 
The bubbles themselves won't contribute much. What does happen is that they disturb the surface of the water allowing gas exchange and anything that moves the water surface is good -- bubbles, spray bar, teaspoon in the hands of a very patient stirrer . Bubbles have an aesthetic quality though and if I wasn't worried by micro-bubbles affecting my tank-seals I would use them a lot more.

 

[gmc1]

That's mine.back wall that meets the side.nozzle and wave maker to push water.

 

[Byron]

I only have one place to put the canister filter and the hoses are not long enough to reach from one end to the other. I have to place it at one end. The hoses will reach about 3/4 of the way to other end. I would love to be able to set it inside the stand but  it is too big.  So the spray bar would probably be better then the spigot because the spigot would not be on the end of the tank

 
I was wondering about this...the easy solution here is to buy a length of tubing for the filter intake (this is wider tubing) or the return (narrower), whichever is at the farthest end from the canister.  Eheim have tubing you can cut to any length in most dealers.  When I bought my Eheims, I bought 7 feet of one, and 3 of the other, can't remember which, but the canister is at one end (the shortest length of tubing).

 

[julielynn47]

That is a good idea on the tubing. The one I have is a Penn Plax Cascade 1000.  Surely they make extra tubing for it.  Actually, if I could find a piece to just connect two pieces of tube, I could cut one of the ones I have and just connect that piece to the other piece and make it longer.  I don't  need hardly any at all for the intake because it is right by the  canister.  I will look into that