Reducing output of an internal filter?

[kev_kb]

Hi all,

I've got a Fluval 2+ internal power filter for my 13 gallon tank. This houses a Betta and while he seems to be happy with the filter on its lowest setting I'd like to reduce the output slightly as there is an area he has swim a bit hard to get through .

Has anyone done anything like this? I know I could downgrade to the Fluval 1+ but I'm not sure if that uses a different motor. I was thinking maybe I could put a sponge on the outlet or something to reduce the flow a little? I've read about covering intakes for fry but never anything about the input.

 

[clutterydrawer]

I reckon the fluval 1 would be too small to keep your tank filtered adequately. sorry to state the obvious, but have you tried repositioning the filter? like if you put it next to the back wall, and turn the blue outflow bit so it points at the wall, so the glass sorta disperses the strength of the flow? i didn't explain that too well but you could experiment to see what gives the best results. or you could get a tall pice of wood/rock or lots of plants and position them a few inches in front of the outflow...

an idea i contemplated for my friend's tank was to somehow fix some stiff plastic round the filter so it curved right round it but left a 2-3" gap between it and the end of the blue bit, but i couldn't work out how to get it to stay there...

 

[daftarse]

is there any way of mounting a spay bar?

 

[rick999]

i had the same in my 4ft tank running under gravals with 2 power heads caused to much flow so i used some plastic conduit, adjusted it to fit the power head outlets sqashed the opposite end shut and make loads of holes in the rest of it so the water shoots out all over the place instead on into one massive flow.

 

[smithrc]

the difference with the fluval 2+ 3+ and 4+ is the filter media size (the sponge and the plastis housing.

they all have the same 'power head'

The fluval 1+ is different entierly i believe. But as cluttery said, it's too small for your tank.

get hold of the fluval spray bar and chop it down a lot (its 12" long with 12" of flexible tube aswell).

that should do the trick.

(either that or point the flow at the sife of the tank to deffuse the flow)

 

[Aquascaper]

I have done something similar with my Fluval 3+ in the puffer's tank as he can get swept away at times

All you need is a little piece of flexible hose and a spraybar