10 gallon filter advice needed.

It would probably work, but to be safe I'd find a spare intake cap and see if you can put it on the output. If you can't then the flow is more than it looks and you should avoid putting it onto the 10gal. If you can, keep it on the output to help prevent it from blowing sand around and baring roots over time, or use a rock to do so.

IMO it maybe too much for a 10gal. Your flow maybe low because of the length of the hoses. If you cut/shorten the hoses I am sure the flow rate would increase.

I wouldn't restrict the flow with a ball valve. You can put a "tee" on the end of the outflow tube, provided you can find one to fit. Put the middle leg of the tee on the outflow and let it divert the stream two directions. That will mitigate the current somewhat.

Mark

Other options would be to make a spraybar with lots of holes in different directions, or to have the outflow connect to an UGF and have the water return up through the substrate.

I can't comment on this make of filter since I do not know it, but I would be concerned over the filtration/current in a planted 10g and especially with this species Mikrogeophagus altispinosus.

M. altispinosus (Bolivian Ram) occurs in very slow-moving waters, namely the quiet streams in the Rio Guapore and Rio Mamore basins, and obviously in flooded forest during the 6-month wet season. It does not appreciate water currents, and in a 10g it may have no respite from those produced by this filter. I would not go above a sponge filter.

I am assuming by "specimen tank" you only intend one ram. I personally would not have this fish in anything under 20g, or at least a 24-inch 15g. Males attain 3.5 inches, females less. I have had this species for many years; my current solitary male is approaching six years (which is pretty good for a fish with an average 4-year lifespan) and he seems happy in the quiet recesses of my 5-foot tank. While it may work fine, I cannot envisage my male in my 10g.

Byron.

as Byron pointed out a 10 g is to small for a bolivian ram.

I keep several and they do like larger footprints a 15 is min but a 20 long if better(same footprint as a 29 btw)