Do canister filters work in half-filled tanks?

[JEAE21]

I just ordered some canisters and I am wanting a RENA filstar XP1 now but on austin's turtle page it said this..

"The XP3 has more than one out-flow arrangement option. In one, the XP3’s output tube runs vertically down the inside tank wall & has little holes (a spray bar). In partially filled tanks this can be a problem"


How is it gonna cause problems in a half-filled tanks?
Would the XP1 still have a flow rate of 250gp/h even if it is below a tank stand?
Also, would any minnows get sucked up?

 

[DasArab]

As long as you can start and maintain the flow on the filter it should be ok. Yes the xp1 will still work they are designed to be used under tanks. If the strainer is on the bottom of the uplift tube, no the minnows will not get sucked up.

 

[JEAE21]

thanks, what's a strainer though? those cover things that go on the intake tube?

do you think it would work in a tank that is only filled up to 11" out of 16"?

 

[pacuman91]

i have an xp3 and its does affect the flow rate because the pump has suck the water up father than if the tank is filled all the way up i had this prob the other week and my fish started to croak so i checked the filter and barely any water was coming out of the spray bar so i filled the tank up and it started to work perfectly

 

[JD_MAN]

I have an xp1 hooked up to a 120 gallon turtle tank that is filled with 6" of water and it works. It's not working at 100%, but it works.

 

[JEAE21]

JD-Man, does it clean good? what about 10-1/2"?

hey what if I put the filter above water level using a stand or something?

and the water comes out of a spray bar?? like the zoomed 501 filters?

 

[JD_MAN]

It clean okay. The turtles are so dirty, that I don't know if it matters or not. Right now my filter is on a box, below the water level. I have been meaning to mess around with it and just haven't had the time.

I attached some hose to extend both the intake and the out flow of the filter. I used a section of an AC50 to the intake hose to try and stop all of the big junk from getting into the filter.

I'll be watching this to see if you are able to get better results, so I can improve mine as well.

 

[Wolf3101]

You don't have to use the spray bar on the outlet. The efficiancy of the canister is affected by the water level bacause in a fully filled aquarium the weight of the water helps to push the water up the tube. the lower the water level is the lower the flow rate on the canister will be.

You CAN'T run a canister above the level of the aquarium. They need to be located below the tank and the hoses should be as short as possible, One thing that you CAN do to increase the capacity of the canister along with the flow rate is to use a small powerhead inside the tank to force feed the canister pump.

Attach the power head output to the pick up tube hose of the cannister. (basicly run the powerhead upside down.) This will over come the added head pressure on the canister pump for partially filled tanks. It also works to boost canister flow rates and preformance in regular aquariums as well.

 

[JEAE21]

It clean okay. The turtles are so dirty, that I don't know if it matters or not. Right now my filter is on a box, below the water level. I have been meaning to mess around with it and just haven't had the time.

I attached some hose to extend both the intake and the out flow of the filter. I used a section of an AC50 to the intake hose to try and stop all of the big junk from getting into the filter.

I'll be watching this to see if you are able to get better results, so I can improve mine as well.

hey wolf, what would the canister work like if it was at level with the water?
is there a difference between a tank that is only 11" high in a 11" tank, and water that is 11" high in a 16" tank?
how weak would it be in a 3/4 filled tank?

what kind of filter do you reccomend for turtle tanks like mine?


and does biological media need ALOT of oxygen to work? especially when I have fish in it?
Should I get a whisper air pump?

and sorry i don't get what you mean with the powerhead..don't have any experience with them.
are you saying to point the powerhead to the intake tube?

hey can someone show me a picture of the XP1's spray bar, intake hose, inside of canister, etc.?

 

[wataugachicken]

the difference in tank height vs. water level (an 11 inch deep tank vs. your tank only partially filled) is that with a filled tank, the water level is only a few inches from where the intake bends and the siphon takes over, which makes the siphon stronger. in your tank, the siphon has to exert extra force to draw the water up an extra 5 inches above the water line, so it goes more slowly.