[docdubz]

Hey all. My build is completely done except for one minor problem with my water feature. I designed it with the idea that it would be fed by one of those standard hang on the back filters, this way it could draw water up from below the false bottom, filter it and return it to the water feature.

The design works insofar as the water 'returning' from the filter to the tank goes exactly where I wanted it to go however the filter I bought doesnt seem to have the strength to suck the water up from the bottom of the cage.

I was planning on just going to the pet store and picking up the next model size up, but before I go buy another wrong one does anyone happen to know what the gallons per hour rating would have to be for it to be able to suck water from the bottom of a 20 high?

 

[eyeviper]

Depends on the quality of the pump, the hang on the backs have to work a lot harder when the intake is not completely submerged. In order to get that type of draw I would think at least 100 GPH would be needed for decent flow.

 

[JPccusa]

It is my experience that those hang on filters just suck water that reaches the intake pipe. You probably had to add an extension to that pipe, correct?

My suggestion would be a modification to your design. Try creating a pond at the end of the original intake pipe. That could be hidden. How to get water to that pond? You will need a pump on the bottom of your tank pumping water up (the pond btw, could be a plastic cup or deli container). Make sure the pump can move the same or higher volume than the filter.

Another option would be to hook up a pump straight to the intake pipe.

 

[parkanz2]

I might look at using a canister filter instead of a hang on back. Those hang on backs aren't meant to pull water up a head height really. There's a small turtle canister filter that zoo med makes, it might be exoterra actually, can't remember, that might move the volume of water you're hoping for. I also remember it being fairly inexpensive.

 

[docdubz]

It is my experience that those hang on filters just suck water that reaches the intake pipe. You probably had to add an extension to that pipe, correct?

Yup, the filter itself came with an intake pipe that was approx 12" long so I figured if I added a 6" extension it should be able to still draw water (at a slower pace of course)

I tried thinking of all sorts of ways that I could make a pond type reservoir, but I probably should have thought about that at the beginning stages of my build, because now to do something like that I would probably have to dismantle the whole thing.

Hopefully I can find a canister filter that has the power to draw the water up, while at the same time not providing too much flow for the water feature. If not, my trickle wall is going to turn into a tsunami.

Thanks for the help guys

 

[JPccusa]

A canister filter will definitely be able to draw the water up, specially if you prime it... Unfortunately, you may end up with something like this:

These are considered "low flow" canisters - "The Fluval G3 is rated for aquariums up to 80 gallons (300 liters) with a flowrate of 185 gph and the fluval G6 is rated for 160 gallons (600 liters) with a maximum flowrate of 264 gph."

 

[docdubz]

I found Tom Rapid Mini Canister Filter C-80 on bigalspets.com for $24. It says its rated at 80 gph.. hopefully thats enough and maybe I can partially block the intake with a piece of plastic to lower the flow if it turns out to be too much

 

[docdubz]

A canister filter will definitely be able to draw the water up, specially if you prime it... Unfortunately, you may end up with something like this:

These are considered "low flow" canisters - "The Fluval G3 is rated for aquariums up to 80 gallons (300 liters) with a flowrate of 185 gph and the fluval G6 is rated for 160 gallons (600 liters) with a maximum flowrate of 264 gph."

LOL yea that would probably fill the cage up faster than it can drain through the soil

 

[Shinosuke]

LOL yea that would probably fill the cage up faster than it can drain through the soil

Is your water feature dumping onto your soil?

 

[docdubz]

No, the filter output pours into a 'junction' where a good portion of the water simply gets returned to the water below the false bottom, the remainder flows through a small opening that feeds a river that runs through the background and feeds 2 trickle walls that dump onto gravel.

 

[JPccusa]

A picture is worth 1000 words.

 

[tomh1972]

check out the "head rating" on each pump. GPH isn't necessarily relevant b/c it does not indicate pressure, which is what you need to pump to a certain height. Most pumps will indicate the height to which they can pump (head). Good luck.