Ideal inlet/outlet locations?

[Maaso]

I have a canister/sump type of filter.

I've always kind of modeled my setups off of what I've seen at the local stores and aquariums. And after getting a back stage peek at the setup, I realized they are set up more for convenience than optimism.

The set up I've always done is having the inlet and outlet plumbed towards the back of the tank a few inches under the water line, with the nozzles faced towards the outer edges of the tank.

But now I'm wondering if the is a better way to do this? Could one put a "T" in the lines and have a dual inlet/outlet for larger tanks? Are the nozzles best placed just under the water line, or should they be lower? Would it be best to have them inline with the fish's swimming level - meaning should I place the nozzles lower for bottom dwellers and higher for top swimmers?

 

[johnnycoolxx]

It probably depends what kind of output you have. If you have a spraybar, that's easy enough. Just put it near the water line so it agitates the surface and makes oxygen in the water. Then you have your inlet on the other side of the tank.

If you have a FX5 and a dual nozzle output, I would put it 3-4" below the water line and point one end up so it makes waves on the water surface. Then point the other end towards the inlet filter to act like a kind of powerhead and get more water movement. For both kinds of filters, I put the inlet by where my fish like to hang out the most to catch the most turds.

 

[Maaso]

If you have a FX5 and a dual nozzle output

No, it's a Rena XP4 single in/out.

My plan was to replace the flex hose with PCV hard line, and splice a "T" into each so I can run an inlet and outlet to both sides of the tank.

I was mainly curious about locations though, because the stock I'm planning will consist of both top/middle swimmers and bottom swimmers. So I wanted a layout the would scavenge the most waste for both levels.