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What gives??? I have a Fluval 405 that is supposed to pump 340 GPH I just let it run for 30 seconds and it only produced 1.25 gallons!!! That means the total rate is only 150 GPH. What is wrong???
The filter is only 18\" below the water line. I have a 1/4 chiller located right beside the canister filter, but I wouldn\’t even begin to imagine that it would reduce the flow that much!!
What can I do, other than buy a different canister, filter to get the correct circulation???
I also have a Coralife Super Skimmer running and it is rated for a 120 gallon tank, but who knows now.
Should I contact the manufacturer or is this consistent with other reports??
Sean
Ohh, and by the way I have a 49 gallon tall, so I should be in the neighborhood of at least 250 GPH
Post edited by: Sean, at: 2008/04/21 22:00
Dear Sean:
If your canister filter is putting out 150 gallons per hour, that’s probably about right under the circumstances, sir. Connecting it to the chiller will inevitably attenuate the water flow considerably. Not only is the right angle connection to the chiller a factor, but the water must then circulate through many coils inside the chiller in order to cool it down, and going through all those coils results in a lot of friction and extra water resistance. Your canister filter wasn’t designed for such a purpose and it’s probably doing a respectable job of it, all things considered.
As it is now, the canister filter is turning over the entire volume of your 49-gallon aquarium about three times every hour. That’s pretty marginal — acceptable, but barely. I much prefer to see a seahorse tank being turned over at least five times every hour, so you could certainly stand to step up the water circulation a bit more.
Probably the easiest and most economical way to accomplish the desired result would be to purchase an additional canister filter and install it so that it’s returning water at the opposite end of the aquarium from your Fluval 405. This can be a considerably smaller, hence less expensive, canister filter since it will be connected directly to your aquarium and won’t face the same problem with additional water resistance you are experiencing with the original canister filter right now. Adding another canister filter with an output of 150-200 gallons per hour would put the combined turnover rate of the aquarium at 6-7 times an hour, which should be more than adequate. And it can be an inexpensive canister filter since it’s primary job would simply be to provide better water movement and cross circulation for your seahorse tank.
Best of luck obtaining the desired water flow and adjusting your circulation just the way you want it, Sean!
Respectfully,
Pete Giwojna
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