New tank/fluval question

ent007

newbie
Sep 16, 2006
31
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55
BC, Canada
Hey all, great forum, this is my first post. I did a search but didn't find what I was looking for so here goes.

Just setting up a 58 gallon Geosystems freshwater tank. It came with a Fluval 404 and I have also added 2 airstones. The intake and output are on opposite corners of the tank, and the output is about 2 inches under water.

My question is what should I set the flow rate at? Full throttle seems to be too much current and in the manual there was a short blurb about not running it at under half way?

Suggestions would be appreciated!

Cheers,
Nick
 
Running full bore is easiest on the filter motor. Also the thing can get pretty noisy when you start to chock it off. From what I understand when you slow down the flow it causes the impeller to heat up also. I have a 50g aquarium with the same filter and I've never worried about too much current in there.
 
OK, it seemed like a strong one, that's good to know. Thanks! Also I read somewhere that slower flow can help bacteria in the filter clean the water more effectively? Is that at all accurate?

NB
 
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you could difuse the flow by pointing the outlet toward to side of the tank i use this method on the 6 outlets i have on my tank and it works a treat.

also welcome to the board
 
DiXoN said:
you could difuse the flow by pointing the outlet toward to side of the tank i use this method on the 6 outlets i have on my tank and it works a treat.

also welcome to the board

Good advice, thanks all! I'm going to difuse the flow as suggested, hopefully the opposite side of the tanks surface will stay clean enough.

Again thanks all, great forum!
 
ent007 said:
Good advice, thanks all! I'm going to difuse the flow as suggested, hopefully the opposite side of the tanks surface will stay clean enough.

Again thanks all, great forum!


your welcome thanks
dixon
 
Actually I have heard that water can flow too fast for good bacterial build up. I think that's why cannister filters and sumps have large media areas where water flow internally won't be as fast as whats comming out the hoses.
 
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