Filtration placement

[monsterK]

Looking to pick people brains about filtration placement and powerheads too reduce setteled sediment on your sand/gravel

I have a rather large tank about 400 gallons and im trying to find the best way for large tanks too position outlets/inlets too provide the best flow.. I have 2 fluval fx6s and AC 110 HOB filter on it.. i was think of adding a powerhead down low too stir up sediment that sits on my sand but Looking for people who have had success with placements on large tanks, or people who have had great success with positioning of inlet and otleys and powerheads

 

[Ansorgii]

I experimented for a long time, it all depends on a vast array of things, like the shape of your tank, your decoration, the power of your output, the type, the velocity,.... etc. and what you want to see. So you cant really tell someone what to do.

What I settled on is to put the outlet and inlet rather close to each other with the waterflow that is pulled towards the outlet passing by the inlet. And going for a waterflow around the vertical axis or diagonally. Around the horizontals never worked for me.

With the fx I had my outlet close to the surface in a corner and the inlet usually below it to more to the middle of the glas or even in the opposing corner. Really depends on your decoration, your sand and how the water flows.

But I moved to selfmade inbuilt filters where the inlet is a vertical line at the backside and the outlet close the frontside of the aquarium. But they are powered by streaming pumps so the have a lot of flowthrough whith a mild outletvelocity.

Just try around and figure out what works for you, there is no univeral solution.

 

[duanes]

It also may depend on the type fish you keep, some like a lot of flow, some don't
A couple examples, many Geophagines, prefer strong current, most Heros species do not.
If you keep riverine species, you may want the powerhead(s) and filtration outlets to push along the length of the tank, like riverine flow..
And the velocity too, may be determined whether the fish are rheophilllic (current loving ) or not.
I keep riverine species that come from fairly rheophillic environments, so I try to mimic that laminar flow along the length of the tank as much as I can.

Above is the outflow from my filtration, flowing along the length of the tank, but powerheads are also added to push the water along even more. (below)

Below is the environment my fish are collected, and I know my tank does not come close to the velocity of current my fish experience in nature, but I give it a try


I don't end up with a lot of detritus build up with this system on the substrate, most of it ends up in the sump.

With the size of your tank, (depending on fish species of course) you may need a couple power heads, one pointed at the substrate on the end, another placed half way along the length of the tank,

 

[phreeflow]

Tried a bunch of positions and the power heads and pump outputs kept leaving depressions in the sand or blowing it all to one side. Settled on Ecotech MP20 pumps which have different modes and settings so you can dial the intensity and frequency of the flow to your liking. Has kept my sand nice and clean. For your tank, you’ll probably need an MP40

 

[Finster90]

It also may depend on the type fish you keep, some like a lot of flow, some don't
A couple examples, many Geophagines, prefer strong current, most Heros species do not.
If you keep riverine species, you may want the powerhead(s) and filtration outlets to push along the length of the tank, like riverine flow..
And the velocity too, may be determined whether the fish are rheophilllic (current loving ) or not.
I keep riverine species that come from fairly rheophillic environments, so I try to mimic that laminar flow along the length of the tank as much as I can.
View attachment 1535072
Above is the outflow from my filtration, flowing along the length of the tank, but powerheads are also added to push the water along even more. (below)
View attachment 1535073
Below is the environment my fish are collected, and I know my tank does not come close to the velocity of current my fish experience in nature, but I give it a try

View attachment 1535071
I don't end up with a lot of detritus build up with this system on the substrate, most of it ends up in the sump.
View attachment 1535074
With the size of your tank, (depending on fish species of course) you may need a couple power heads, one pointed at the substrate on the end, another placed half way along the length of the tank,

I'm going to be keeping bass and my florida gars in there.. that was my biggest issue was figuring out how too position everything too get waste too be pushed up into the water and not stay settled in one corner of the tank

 

[Dégatdeau]

In my experience, nothing removes detritus out of a system like a bit of tubing and a bucket. Siphon it right where it collects on the sand and it won't get broken down in the filter and create more nitrates down the line.

 

[jjohnwm]

Keeping the bottom clean of fine debris (i.e. small poops out of small fish) that tends to accumulate in dead spots takes a lot of trial and error experimentation with filter exhausts, wavemakers, etc. and can be affected by small changes in the location of rocks and other decors. It can be very effective if you are persistent and lucky enough to achieve the perfect configuration.

When it comes to larger fish, especially ones that are known to produce particularly luxurious turds, I'm with Dégatdeau ; I want those out of the tank completely, not broken up by current and then sucked into a filter to invisibly break down in my water. Some folks grab them out with nets, and that's better than nothing, but that still usually causes a lot of the stuff to break loose into the water. Give me a siphon and bucket, or a large enough turkey-baster-type gadget and a collection container right at the water's surface, and I will use it every time I see a new turd on the bottom....not tomorrow morning, or during the next tank cleaning, or tonight after supper...but right now, as soon as I spot it.