Canister Filters: How inlet and outlet position affects flow in your aquarium

Hang on back filters and air driver filters are done, let's now talk about canister filters and how various arrangements of their inlets and outlets affect your aquarium
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[@willparsons32]

I think we - the KZbin Aquarium watching audience, need to band together and applaud you for your efforts and the amount of time (countless hours!) you devote to the teaching of the aquarium hobby... Seriously though! Professor Bentley Pasco.

[@vassetz]

Very useful video, Bentley! Thank you for taking the time and effort to inform people on how to proceed!

[@nathanhoveyaquatics]

Really enjoying the series 👍👍

[@leo2o915]

Agree love it

[@sixth4038]

Thank you for this info! I almost set my inlet and outlet the worst possible way which is opposite each other!

[@nickeverett358]

Sir, Can you do a recommendation video on setup using two canister filters? I think that setup is pretty common. Thanks in Advance!!

[@aquatichighs]

I have come so far in this hobby it’s unbelievable and I owe a lot of that to you!

[@BentleyPascoe]

Happy to help!

[@ivanalovemore1686]

Thank you for this video. I am going to be getting Fancy Oranda Goldfish, and they need good filtration, but are not fans of high water flow. I have an FX4 with split outlet. I will split my intake and outflow pipes (not put them on the same side) to give them a little resting room in the middle. Love your videos!!!

[@Dennis52947]

All good information that I hadn't thought about, but didn't t cover my setup. I have a 30 gal. acrylic aquarium. I don't know if you are familiar with this tank, it has a hole in the back left corner for a heater and a slot centered in the back for a HOB. I used the left corner for the intake and the for right part of the slot (about 10 inches from the right side) for the outlet. The outlet is pointed at a sight angle to the front and this causes good aeration and a good current for right to left. This mainly a tetra and cory tank. It has been set up for over 2 years with no problems. Hope to see you at the Clash.

[@yeders]

Wow, you're awesome. Long videos but well worth the watch and details! Glad you came up on my feed! I'm going to need to find an example of a weir and how best to do my outlets. And, do you have a video about outlet options? Eg I have a 8x2.5x2.5 tank with 2x 3000lph pumps, but their outlets are both 1 inch. If I attach a spray bar with small holes then that does a better job with flow pressure. Keen to get poop off the sand.

[@yeders]

Given your UGF video, I'm fairly disappointed now.

[@yeders]

Please ignore my questions re weir and outlets spraybar etc, you covered it later in the video 👍🏼👍🏼

[@gdubb0409]

I'd be curious to see your thoughts in regards to systems that are running dual cannister filters

[@BentleyPascoe]

I mean, it's pretty simple. You're either combining opposite flow patterns or your increasing the amount of flow in a singular flow pattern. I don't think it's something that necessarily warrants an entire video. I think when you just analyze what a single pattern is and then figure out how you want to add the secondary canister. It's just that version of the flow pattern with the previous canisters flow pattern combined

[@RafaelSwit]

Loving this series! Thank you, Bentley!

[@simonbailey6492]

Love your video's Bently. Thank you for making my tank a better place for my fish, a better environment for for plants and a healthier environment all round. Blessings

[@nagendramurthy7054]

Thanks for the most informative video. LIKED and SUBSCRIBED.

[@cannibus78]

Always entertaining and informative!!!

[@sschario60]

Loved this. Thanks Bentley. My 75 gal mbuna tank is set up with two Eheim canister filters. Both intakes are on the left pane of glass - one in the rear corner; the other in the front corner. Both filters' outlets combine via a "Y" connector to feed a single spray bar above the inlets. I also incorporate a wave maker. At the moment, the wave maker is mounted, also on the left side glass, angled upward and to the right. This placement I picked up from Cichlid Bros. Prior, I'd mounted the wave maker on the right side glass, aimed slightly downward. Both versions generate the best flow this tank has ever seen. My gut tells me the right-side wave maker option outperforms the other by boosting the right-to-left flow back to the intakes.

[@debhalld9794]

Great explanations!

[@danfox1458]

I modded my split out let, it came with two duck bill nozzles that push and clip on but you can move them and they stay where they are, i cut the shoulder off one of them, and put a 90 elbow on making sure is was a tight fit and used a spray bar in place of the duck bill that's at a slight angle, so now got good flow top mid and bottom all around the tank

[@HappyOne2017]

Thanks Bentley ❤

[@nabokovfan87]

Maybe this is a follow-up to these series of videos. In terms of common aquascaping styles, what filter flow path works best with each of them? Triangle scape, Island scape, jungle scape, forest style, iwagumi, bonsai, canyon style, and what I would call "dramatic" where you have a mix of everything with a big hard rock somewhere as a statement piece.

[@nabokovfan87]

Second to this would be tank shape.... Bowfront, cylinder, rectangle, cube, nano, lowboy, and tall iterations of each of these.

[@XxSwagGamersxX]

Hey Bentley at any given moment if you were to test your tank what range of nitrates and potassium would you aim for / test. Also thank you for always responding to my silly comments. You are the best

[@BentleyPascoe]

I personally try to run a little lean, so 10-20ppm nitrates. Don't actively test potassium, I just monitor and dose regularly enough I almost never need to.

[@pittamonsugarin2690]

Thank you very much. This helps me a lot.

[@leo2o915]

This series is amazing

[@leo2o915]

You should do a co2 schedule or the right way to dose something in that realm :)

[@2023BeTheChange]

Thanks for your demos. Subscribed

[@irecruitfish7410]

Excellent video!

[@cdecker84]

What placement would you recommend for a 29 gallon? Is it better to put the spray bar along the back longways and intake on one side, or intake on one side and spray bar on opposite side?

[@sheehyct]

I made a spray bar for my fluval 207 (20g tank) since i got a good deal on it/might want a bigger tank in the future. I removed the nozzle sprayer and attached elbows to 1/2 pex piping that sprays from the right outlet side to the intake, connected to another tank length piece that sprays from the front of the tank to the back. Id love to get your thoughts on it if you were willing!

[@nathanhoveyaquatics]

After you get through all the styles of filtration can/will you please do a video on using 2 or more of the filters on 1 tank? I run a hob and canister on a tank and then a hob and sponge on others. Really struggling with the hob/canister on my cichlid tank. I also have wave makers in with them.. Thanks for any help.

[@cannibus78]

All my tanks have 2 filters...hob and canister or canister and sponge...I put my fx6 input on the left side output on the right side aiming one output along the back wall the other towards the front The aquaclear 110 is on the left side so it's input is next to the fx6 input I have a sicci WaveMaker on the right side aimed towards the left and up for surface agitation and push everything towards the outputs

[@nathanhoveyaquatics]

@@cannibus78 awesome. Thanks for the input 👍👍

[@SG-Cichlids]

You never mentioned what the problem your having is or where you have everything placed. It would be easier to offer you some suggestions if we knew. Anyhow put the hob on the left or right side. Then put the intake and output both on the opposite corner with the output pointing on an angle to the center of the front panel of your tank. So it will be on an angle towards the middle of your front panel literally. It will be on an angle slightly down. Then make sure you have the water level high enough that when the water leaves the hob is not cascading into the tank. It will flow across the top of the water. It will do this when the water level touches the exit ramp of the hob. Don't worry about aeration. The water flowing across the top of the tank from the hob will keep it aerated. If you have wave makers in my opinion sell them. They're not needed. Save the money on electricity and use the flow from your filters to keep your tank clean like they're meant to do. Thanks to KZbin people have their filters and wave makers pointed at the surface of their tanks. It's completely unnecessary.

[@jetzknight6697]

Sir how do I position 2 canister filter inlet and outlet? Please reply 🙏 ❤

[@WHlSKYx]

I put my stock outflow on the back left corner and have it shoot across the opposite side glass. My intake is on the same side as inflow next to eachother. The dead zone seems to be front left of the glass. I also have the outflow kinda low flow. I set it to ripple a little bit, but moves the water with only some flow for the nano fish. Does this seem okay? Or should i switch to a spray bar? I do have low flow fish, Rasboras and honey gouramis

[@kaloyantattoo]

hi,it's very good video,but what about positioning of two canister filters in 2m long aquarium

[@BentleyPascoe]

You would just combine the effects of each directional set. So you could try and create something that's more river-like or both the outputs are on the left and both the inlets are on the right. Or you could put one inlet and outlet on each side to get more even flow. It's all up to what you want for your aquarium.

[@nisseneichorn9056]

Hey bentley what about duel canisters in a longer tank like a 125

[@BentleyPascoe]

Well, if you're splitting them, it's basically just doing a double up of each thing so you can create that kind of vortex effect from each side of the tank.

[@nisseneichorn9056]

I have never set up a tank of that length before I was thinking both intakes in the back corner the one output there and the second one about half way down the length to keep the flow going so it reaches the far wall I was not sure if it's better to split them and have 2 separate flows or trying the make them flow together in a longer pattern

[@yeders]

Hey, back again, so i have a 8x2.5x2.5 with a weir. I run two x 3000lph pumps with 1 inch fittings. I wasn't quite sure if the spray bar at the end facing down the tank was recommended, or if its good to have the spray bar pointing out from the weir side across the tank. Right now, they pump out from the back corner (right side) and the weir is on the left side (no spray bar, but would do diy). The two pump outlets are pointed in semi different directions, but i do have a deadspot underneath the outlets on the ground (its 75cm away). I was running three x 3000lph but my discus were getting blown away. Ha ha. Rainbows liked it though.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Don't see anything wrong with that set up

[@yeders]

@@BentleyPascoe yeah. I might add a small spray bar to the short side of the tank. One question, with a weir, what is the implication of having the outlets on the same side as the weir? Either pointing across the top or downwards?

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@yeders I would position across

[@paulstephens7696]

Hi Bentley. Love your content. Is there any way to ask you a question but send a picture so you can see what I would be referring to, please?

[@BentleyPascoe]

Email: [e-mail]

[@SG-Cichlids]

You want to put the intake in the corner of your tank where it's the least amount of flow. Doesn't matter where the output is. The reason being is. The intake only sucks in as much water as what's flowing in the output tube but the output tube moves far more water than what's flowing through the tube. Why? The water coming out of the tube is pushing all the water in front of it plus the fast moving water creates a vacuum around the outlet. As water comes out the output at a high velocity it draws in water around it and takes it with it. This is why you want the intake in the dead zone. When the intake is in the moving water you have to get lucky when crap goes by. If it doesn't get close enough it just keeps flowing around the tank until by chance it gets sucked up or it falls out of suspension and sticks in the substrate, plants, whatever. If you put the intake in the dead zone, one it helps draw some movement into that zone, and two all the crap is dropping out of suspension around it, and three the fish like to hangout in the dead zone especially at night and they blow the crap into the intake with their tails. Another good thing about the dead zone for those who vacuum their tank. Which you should. Is a ton of waste drops into the substrate in the dead zone. If you have the water flow right. I can get in my takes I estimate 70% of the weeks waste dropped into the substrate in the dead zone and Saturday's when I vacuum I remove 70% of the weeks waste from the tank. Which mean your filters are taking up 70% less waste. Which means your filters can run at maximum efficiency much longer. Remember your filters no matter which type only runs at maximum efficiency biologically and mechanically when you have a good bio film built up but hasn't reduced flow yet. If you keep your filters to clean or let them go to long they don't run at max efficiency. Not to mention the balance of bacteria in your filter. You have nitrifying bacteria and bacteria that break down solid waste both are beneficial. The balance that needs to be kept is due to nitrifying bacteria reproduce much slower than the other bacteria. So if you clean to often you'll have less nitrifying and more waste bacteria. If you let it go to long you'll have more nitrifying and less waste bacteria. You would think that would be good but if it weren't for the waste bacteria your filters would clog in weeks not months. The way I have a one of my tanks setup the only thing that ever clogs is the floss because of how much media I have. More specifically sponge. I have enough and water spread out across enough of it that the waste bacteria can keep up. Coupled with how I have flow setup so I can vacuum 70% of the waste out weekly it works terrific. My tanks never turn green, they never grow Algae, and I only need to clean the bio film haze off the glass every two months. The back panels of my tanks literally have never been cleaned. I have a 75 gallon with about 25 adult African Cichlids in my kitchen that hasn't had any of the glass cleaned since August of 2021 and is pristine. Looks like it's brand new.

[@Mockthenerd]

Do you still think the spray bar on same side of inlet is a good idea? I'd like healthy flow but not over the top. I noticed when I had a normal outlet a lot of my fish just seemed unhappy on one side of the tank.

[@SuperBuckley]

Hi Bentley have you any advice on flow in a corner aquarium? Thanks for your help.

[@BentleyPascoe]

If you can try to have the outward flow as center as possible. Because when it hits the corner or if you have like a bow front, The water will disperse in multiple directions and help generate flow in more areas.

[@SuperBuckley]

@BentleyPascoe wow thanks Bentley the exact opposite to what I was going to do. Thanks a million. I'm getting the hypermax 4500 which has 2 outlets so I'll put one on each side facing towards the middle of the bow front. Thanks a million for your advice sir.

[@reneesnugent3358]

Should I add a skimmer ? Worried about the fry. The tank is 37 gallon high.

[@BentleyPascoe]

If you're concerned about fry, I wouldn't add a skimmer

[@adhirpatel4138]

Hi. Using canister filter& planning to add one more (hang on back filter) on the opposite side, so as to ensure both sides are cleaned properly. Pls advise. Take is 40gallons. Cainster flow is 1500/L & hang on filter flow is 1200/l

[@BentleyPascoe]

Should be fine, it will just combine the flow and give good circulation in the tank

[@reneesnugent3358]

I recently purchased the Hydro Prime 10 for a 37-gallon tank for angelfish. How should I set up, or should I return and get a different filter? I'm trying to breed angelfish.

[@BentleyPascoe]

You might actually have too much filtration. Potentially. Angels tend to do better in more gentle, flowing water when it comes to trying to breed them. Most commonly people will use sponge filtration in a slightly smaller tank, but given the size of tank you're using, you might look at using a more simple hang on back. Something like an aqua clear 50

[@carlosjperez3658]

What about aquariums with dual outlets and inputs ?

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@carlosjperez3658 you just combine the effects. So if you have two outputs that function like a canister and they're both on the same side you just have extra flow on one side. If you have one on each side then you have this kind of cross flow going on.

[@chandahermanson7404]

I need your advise?? I’ve been reading many reviews lately that Aqueon has the media placement instructions backwards for the quiet flow canister filters? Could you please help me figure out which way is right? Thanks

[@BentleyPascoe]

For the quiet floor canister, the pump head is in the top lid. So the water flow is going to move from the bottom to the top and then return to your tank. So you'll want to put your sponge media in the bottom trays followed by any other media. Basically what you want is your mechanical filtration to be at the very bottom and you want to order that. If you're using multiple types of sponge starting with the most course and ending with the finest sponge. Then go into any other media that's there for biological filtration and not mechanical filtration. Hope that helps!

[@chandahermanson7404]

So….what I’ve been reading is correct? That Aqueon’s media placement instructions are indeed assbackwards……That’s crazy?!?!!! You would think they would edit them? But one of the main reasons why I was questioning it was having the sponge filter up top(backwards) it was completely covered in the most debris and detritus. While the others sections were pretty much spotless?? So I’m glad I asked you for help and for thanks for your quick response!! One last thing where would carbon placement be in which section?

[@LeroyL113]

Great video ❤ Would love some input. Im setting up a nee tank 190Gallon. 200x60x60CM I got a hypermax 4500. Huge filter it has two inlates and two outlets. I only keep ranchu goldfish so I want a nice flow but not to hard. How would you set up this filter or just 2 filters on one tank?

[@BentleyPascoe]

Both inlets toward the center of the tank, then each outlet on the far end (one right, one left) this should give reasonable flow in the tank

[@LeroyL113]

@@BentleyPascoe thanks. Is it also a god ideaa to do 1 spraybar and a normal nozzle on them. Or 2 spraybars 2 nozzels

[@TheSunIsMyDestroyer]

hi bentley where do i place my diffuser if i only have an internal filter and not a canister? right now i have my diffuser directly under my internal filter (which has super strong flow), is there a better position for it?

[@BentleyPascoe]

Depending on the output of the internal filter, I would try to place it either directly opposite of where the flow is pointed toward so that when it the flow deflects off the glass, it's going to push the CO2 with it or I would put it as close to the output as possible so that as water is being pushed across the tank, it's also pushing CO2 with it. For a higher flow rate, internal canister across the tank is okay. If it's not a lot of flow, I would try to put it as close to the outlet as possible.

[@TheSunIsMyDestroyer]

@@BentleyPascoe thank you, i'll put it on the other side, yeah there is a adequate flow i think because i have it on the back right corner of the tank and it hits the glass to the left back corner and i can still see my plants swaying on the front left corner and all the way to the front right corner of the tank

[@TheSunIsMyDestroyer]

@@BentleyPascoe lmao my tank looks like a sponge bob bubble party now

[@ricardosaldana3164]

Do you have videos about using wave makers ?

[@BentleyPascoe]

I don't, sorry.

[@Funsun39]

The angle would be good for angelfish.

[@LeonC75]

What if you have 3 fx6 on one tank? How does that work?

[@BentleyPascoe]

You're basically just doing what a singular one does in three different locations or all in the same location. It depends on how you place them. Take the information from one and apply it to multiple

[@cynthiareinhardt4032]

So what be would be the best for a bowfront? I have a 55 gal and am trying to decide if I should use a spray bar. I have a rather odd assortment of fish😅 discus, tetras, and 2 vampire shrimp..

[@BentleyPascoe]

Sprays bars are great for dispersing flow across a wider area. I like them for tanks like bow fronts

[@cynthiareinhardt4032]

@@BentleyPascoe thank you, that's helpful😁

[@HazzaBeeUk]

Any information about a corner tank?

[@BentleyPascoe]

Really, the only change is the deflection of the water because you're not going off of a completely flat surface. If you're headed toward the bow portion of the corner tank. Other than that, the same concepts will apply

[@asengeorgiev5039]

Hi. I have been watfching lots of your videos. I have a rader hard question for me, mey be not so much for you. I have 2 canisters, with smae flow, same models. MY aquarium is 120x45x55cm. How should i set up my 2 canisters? Where to put inlet and outlet of both canisters, so i get teh maximum effect. The tank will be hard with plants on the back and very little plants in the front. Looking forward for your comments!

[@BentleyPascoe]

Personally I would do something like this: input and output from canister one on the right side, input toward the back. Input of canister two toward the front on the left, output toward the back on the left. Outputs should be up higher, inlets down low. This creates a somewhat circular flow, but allows some dispersion by the planting and any hard scape.

[@asengeorgiev5039]

@@BentleyPascoe Thank you very much for your fast answer. I was also thinking on the following tow ideas of putting both inlet and outlet. What i mean is - input and output of canister one of the back left side, second canister input and output on the front right side! Or both input and outputs of both canisters on the left side (back and front side), so both flows go to the opposite side (right) and return back to the two inlets (left) What is your opinion? I will also inject CO2 trough a difuser from the output pipes.

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@asengeorgiev5039 that is a good alternative as well

[@JacintaSimmons-ib1zr]

I have 2 canister filters and have discus what would be the best way to set them up as I want water circulation but calm for discus?

[@BentleyPascoe]

Likely back to front flow, or find spray bar attachments to disperse flow

[@4417t]

Would two FX6 cannister filter outtakes pointed upward provide enough gas exchange and oxygen for a 125 gallon African cichlid tank stocked with about 35 fish?

[@BentleyPascoe]

I would think so

[@4417t]

@BentleyPascoe Thanks for the response Bentley. I am starting up a 125 gal tank and still in the set up stage. I will be adding a crossflow wavemaker and was wondering what if it happens to fail when I'm not home, not due to a power outage (which I will have B11 battery back ups for) but if the motor itself fails and the power stays on. The only thing that would be providing surface agitation at that point would be the cannister filters, and there will be two. So I'm thinking that is enough redundancy for a safe set up...

[@chrisweston3029]

Hey Bentley I’m keeping a 4ft rainbow tank running a Eheim pro 4 with spray bar on the same side as the intake. I feel the flow is great, plants are moving nice. But my question is how high do you think I should have the filter set? At the moment I’ve got it running full flow, and I feel like the rainbows like it but just wondered your thoughts on this. I have a mix of sizes from 5-6cm to 7-8cm fish mainly boasmani, red rainbow, blue lake kabutu. But I’ve always wondered if it’s to much flow for them? Any info would be much appreciated

[@BentleyPascoe]

With a spray bar you're going to diffuse some of that flow so you could probably push it all the way to the max. If you really want to, the rainbows will be able to handle it

[@chrisweston3029]

@@BentleyPascoethank you. P.s your knowledge on rainbow fish is fascinating. Keep up the great work 👍

[@erinmiles4671]

What placement do you recommend for a 20 long? Thank you!

[@BentleyPascoe]

I prefer inlet on one end, outlet on the other for a 20L personally

[@erinmiles4671]

Ok. Thank you so much!

[@dmzsniper]

Don't have a big tank but how about for a 36 bow? Right now I have the intake and heater on left and the output on the right but with it pointed at the front bow so it hits the glass from right to left towards the intake. Do you think I should move it? Thanks

[@BentleyPascoe]

Nope, I think you're good

[@dmzsniper]

@@BentleyPascoe Great, thank you for the response and great info.

[@Funsun39]

Make it a bird😅