Filter Help? Sorry It Sounds Daft

[Foz]

Hi all,

This is going to sound daft so I apologise for that. But I could do with some advice regarding my filters location as I'm getting conflicting recommendations.

I have a fluval U3 filter and its on the back wall of the tank towards to the left side. However, some have suggested it should be on the left side of the tank, not the back of the tank. Does this make sense?

So instead of facing toward you, they've suggested I have it face the width of the tank shooting from left to right so to speak.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[the_lock_man]

Hi Foz,
 
In terms of the filter's intake of water, so long as the intake tube is fairly low down in the tank, it doesn't matter whether the filter is mounted on the side or the rear (or for that matter, the front).
 
Its outlet can make a bit of difference. As well as returning the filtered water to the water column, the filter outlet also needs to create rippling at the surface. This is what allows oxygen to enter the water, so the fish can breathe, and to allow carbon dioxide to leave the water, so the fish can, ya know, er, breathe.
 
By mounting the filter on the rear wall of the aquarium, the water current from the outlet goes front to back, and then dissipates down and sideways from there. By mounting on the side, the water current would go across the tank, creating greater rippling across a greater proportion of the surface. So, yeah, it makes sense on that basis, although I'm not sure how much practical difference it would make to oxygenation of the water.

 

[Foz]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I've moved the filter to the side of tank and it just doesn't "look right" on the side, and I find that the tetras etc are not playing in the filter current anymore as it's now releasing the water across the tank rather than forward facing.

If it is indeed more ideal and better for the tank and the fish where it is then I'll begrudgingly leave it alone, however if it makes no difference as to where the filter is located then I'll move it back to where it originally was which was attached to the glass at the back of the tank rather than the side.

 

[Akasha72]

I had to google it to see if it was an internal or an external! Doh
 
So it's in internal (according to google anyway!) It doesn't matter whether you put it on the left or the right but I would have the water flow going down the length of the tank not the width. I'm basing this on my experience of internal filters and I always found more debris was collected and sucked into the filter when I pointed the outlet to the opposite side.
The Juwel internal filters are built into the rear right corner with the outlet nozzle pointing upwards so the surface is agitated (as the lock man said, this is important for oxygen to enter the tank) The flow is designed to circulate by hitting the left side and circulate back on itself back towards the filter. The Juwel internal filters are one of the best I've come across so far 
 
Hope that helps somewhat
 
Oh and no question is a stupid question. We're here to help and we never judge

 

[Foz]

Ok I shall leave it where it is. Cheers for the help it's much appreciated.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Unless the tank is square then it is best to have the current run the longest side as that will move more water and help avoid any dead spots where the water doesn't move at all. Hence on the side is better for that reason.