I'm starting a 15 gallon tall that will be about 30% planted, Fluval stratum capped with sand and will have pea puffers. So, I need v. good filtration with low flow and my tank cabinet has a 7 inch opening for the canister. Of all the options I can find that will fit (Eheim classic, Oase, Fluval), I think the Fluval 107 or 207 would be the best unit. I am considering the 207 (to get more media volume) but I think I would have to turn down the flow to about 50% and use a spiral outflow. Puffers like perfect water and I’d likely be pushing the waste limits of the tank and I’m not sure the 107 can handle it. I’m likely to do in-line heating on the output and pack the canister with as much media as I can, no mater which way I go. I’ve never used Fluvals and have never had to inhibit flow that way. It appears that they can handle up to 50% flow reduction using the lever at the hose disconnect. What are your thoughts? Go big and try to reduce the flow enough or go small, pimp the filter and cross fingers?
Aqua Dee
I just started a 52ish gallon with a 307. I quite like it so far. There is a good amount of room for media and the flow reduction is very straight forward.
I have added a bit of extra filter floss into canister media baskets for years and it always brings some extra water polishing at the expense of some flow so you could do that as well.
I have added a bit of extra filter floss into canister media baskets for years and it always brings some extra water polishing at the expense of some flow so you could do that as well.
I would go bigger and dial the flow back. You could also utilize a spray bar to spread flow out a bit. It is a lot harder to add space for filter media than fiddling with flow.
I would also strongly recommend oversizing your canister filter. In most situations, canister filters see a significant reduction in performance (a reduction of at least half of their advertised flow in my experience) when you factor in loss of head pressure, tubing length/diameter, sharp turns, and especially so with inline equipment such as heaters, CO2 diffusers/reactors, and UV sterilizers. Excess flow can easily be managed with a variety of methods such as a lily pipe. For example, I use an Oase Biomaster 600 on a 20 gallon tank with no problems with excess flow.
Jardli Lily spiral outflow pipes are said to slow the water flow significantly. More so than a regular lily or poppy. I just haven't used one, but I think the form factor would work well in a tall skinny tank.
Attachments
Thank you all for your great input! I purchased the Fluval 207 and I think the filter will work well. I don't see how the 107 could possibly have been sufficient. The picture attached is day 2 after initial set-up. I did the starting set-up using the stock filter attachments and will adjust from here as things settle in. The flow is reduced about 40% and will probably be a bit much for the occupants, but I still need to make more adjustments in the canister and try different in and out flow attachments.
I'm used to the old Eheim Pro canisters, but I think I'll like the Fluval.
I haven't ordered the in-line heater yet and need to study options. I've never done in-line.
Still working on plants and design too. The plants started as freebie pieces that came with some fish. I'm not sure what the plant is in the back right (Stem plant, fern like leaves, roots grow at stem junctions). I'll have to watch what grows up.
If anyone has other suggestions, I'm all ears
![Image]()
I'm used to the old Eheim Pro canisters, but I think I'll like the Fluval.
I haven't ordered the in-line heater yet and need to study options. I've never done in-line.
Still working on plants and design too. The plants started as freebie pieces that came with some fish. I'm not sure what the plant is in the back right (Stem plant, fern like leaves, roots grow at stem junctions). I'll have to watch what grows up.
If anyone has other suggestions, I'm all ears
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
