Length from intake to substrate

[Slippery]

What is the minimum length that the intake pipe from it's lowest point away from your substrate.
Because of the Big tanks that many would have on this forum don't members find they come up very short of the substrate.
They always seem to be atleast 4-5 inches short.
Surely this is not getting the maximum as it's sucking of the debris is deminished being so far up.
I would think no more than 2b inches.

Perhaps i am wrong

What's your views on this matter

 

[Gator]

Filters aren't meant to suck up debris off the bottom of the tank thats what gravel vacs are for. Having the intake 2 inches or 5 inches off the bottom of the tank isn't going to change how well the filter works.

 

[zennzzo]

Powerheads can be used to "sweep" the bottom up into the water column, so it can make it to the intake...Still, this is not a replacement for Vacuuming the gravel/bottom.

 

[Slippery]

Maybe so but surely if it is within 2 inches it has to be much more effective. Gravel cleans are cleaning into the substrate but if the intake is close to the substrate it will cause a vacuum which will be much more effective taking in mre waste and will cut down in the waste entering into the gravel

 

[tcarswell]

2 inches for me even if I gotta lengthen the intake. This keeps the intake and exhaust from the filter as far away as possible. IMO better circulation. I also space the intake and exhaust on canisters on either side of the tank for best success. But for HOB's with gravel 2" is best IMO. If you got sand and an AC110 I would raise it up as far as needed