heres my thought on filters. you have the suction tube, then you have the return with the water coming back in flowing downwards, doesn't this kind of defeat the purpose. the water is pushing down and away the particles that the filter is supposed to be picking up!
just gonna vent a lil
- Thread starter zpetrichko
- Start date
It sounds like you are speakign of a "Hang On Back" or "Power Filter"...
If you monitor the return flow, the bulk of the current is pushed across the surface fo the tank, down the front glass, across the substrate from front to back, hits the back wall and pushes waste/debris up toward the intake...
With a strong enough HOB in a small enuogh tank, this creates a rolling current that works very well for mechanical (as well as bio & chem) filtration. Though in larger tanks the HOB is rarely strong enough for the current to have enough force to carry it all that way. We also usually have some decor breaking up the flow...
If you monitor the return flow, the bulk of the current is pushed across the surface fo the tank, down the front glass, across the substrate from front to back, hits the back wall and pushes waste/debris up toward the intake...
With a strong enough HOB in a small enuogh tank, this creates a rolling current that works very well for mechanical (as well as bio & chem) filtration. Though in larger tanks the HOB is rarely strong enough for the current to have enough force to carry it all that way. We also usually have some decor breaking up the flow...
I personally have the intake of the filter on the complete oposite side of the return. Helps push waste and debris over to the intake.
I use a lot of intake extensions and cut off the strainers on all except the last one. My AC110's have three tubes each. Usually if I watch the agitation from my ac110 on my 90 tall the flow actually hits the front of the tank and travels down and actually pushes debris towards the lowered intakes. Similar to what NC_Nutcase said.
As far as canisters its as easy as locating the intake and outlet at opposite sides. Or at least have the out let pointed in the opposite direction. Im sure you knew this though..
As far as canisters its as easy as locating the intake and outlet at opposite sides. Or at least have the out let pointed in the opposite direction. Im sure you knew this though..
well with hob filters wouldn't it just make sense to have the return kinda offset from the intake? yes this is a stupid thread but i didn't think so move my decor in order to clear the way.
　zpetrichko;3638144; said:
I don't think it's a "dumb thread" at all. I wouldn't have responded to it if I thought it was...
　
In the case where the flow goes across the top of the tank, down the front glass, back across the substrate and pushes the waste/debris up toward the intake... Then you want the intake right below the return. If the intake was offset the waste may settle before drifting over to the intake...
　
If they designed an HOB with an offset intake, it would take up a wider section of the back of the tank…
PS - To acheive this with the current typical design you could add a 90* elbow to the intake tube followed by an extention.
ok well cleared out the decor in front of the filters and either it cleaned up everything or it all settled because the tank is looking clear.