What Does a "Low Flow" Filter Mean, Exactly?

[Gemtrox42]

So I have a 30g aquarium with an Aqueon QuietFlow 20 HOB filter and 15 cardinals. I was looking to get 2 or 3 honey gourami, and noticed that both species do well in "low flow" setups. This would seem to me an easily defined thing, but google searches have been inconclusive. So, does anyone know what
"low flow" means exactly? Can you give an example of a low flow filter that works well for my setup? Any input is appreciated, but a source would be great as well. Thanks!

 

[Ichthys]

Low flow means not much current. Honeys are from small slow moving bodies of water and can’t cope with too much flow. A hob is ideal as the outflow falls in vertically(?), as opposed to a big canister which tends to pour back in horizontally to move the surface, creating quite a strong (fast) current along it.

 

[Gemtrox42]

Low flow means not much current. Honeys are from small slow moving bodies of water and can’t cope with too much flow. A hob is ideal as the outflow falls in vertically(?), as opposed to a big canister which tends to pour back in horizontally to move the surface, creating quite a strong (fast) current along it.

That's great to hear; I was thinking the opposite was true, but this makes much more sense. Just to be clear, would it be that ALL hob filters are low flow, or just mine?

 

[Ichthys]

I’ve no idea what your hob is like as I’ve never used one. It’s all hobs, it’s simply the vertical pouring back in that doesn’t create much of a horizontal current.
Another way would be to use any large enough filter with a slow flow rate.

 

[Ichthys]

It’s not that your hob has a low flow rate, it’s that it doesn’t cause much (horizontal) flow in the tank. It’s a calm slow ditch/pool rather than a fast flowing stream...

 

[PheonixKingZ]

So I have a 30g aquarium with an Aqueon QuietFlow 20 HOB filter and 15 cardinals. I was looking to get 2 or 3 honey gourami, and noticed that both species do well in "low flow" setups. This would seem to me an easily defined thing, but google searches have been inconclusive. So, does anyone know what
"low flow" means exactly? Can you give an example of a low flow filter that works well for my setup? Any input is appreciated, but a source would be great as well. Thanks!

What brand/model is your HOB?

 

[Gemtrox42]

What brand/model is your HOB?

It's in the first sentence? Lmao

 

[PheonixKingZ]

It's in the first sentence? Lmao

The Aqueon QuietFlow line has terrible flow and are overall bad filters. It should be OK for the stock you listed above.

 

[Gemtrox42]

The Aqueon QuietFlow line has terrible flow and are overall bad filters. It should be OK for the stock you listed above.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[Colin_T]

Hang on the back (HOB) style power filters are high flow filters.
Canister/ external power filters are high flow filters.

Air operated HOB style filters are low flow filters.
Air operated sponge filters are low flow filters.
Air operated undergravel filters are low flow filters.