filter that conserves space
- Thread starter LA213
- Start date
Howdy,yeah, your right....but i do have a question on those cansiters... their flow rate is based on zero feet or one foot... if the canister is at least 3 ft high going to the tank that would mean a loss on pressure. just a though. not fighting about it.
Flow rate is affected by many things: type and packing of media, hose length, type of out/inlet, ... I do not think it varies much with the position relative to the tank (other than resistance by increased hose length), as long as the canister is below the water level (as it should be). Reason: It's a closed system. The inlet is only about an inch above water level. That one inch is all the work your pump has to do, regardless of where it stands. The only reason why the manufacturers don't want you to position your canister 8ft below water level is the water pressure on the seals, which could make it leak.
Generally, manufacturers rate their pumps against zero resistance, and since they all do it, it's easy to compare filters relative to each other.
Extremely high flow rate, while great for mechanical filtration, is not necessarily a good thing for biofiltration. Bacteria have an optimum range of flow rate, above or below which their performance is deminished. Just something to keep in mind.
HarleyK
