Canister Filter questions

Hi everyone

I have a couple of questions, 1 about compatibility and the other for a recommendation.

1. I currently only have a 55 litre (2 foot) tank that i want to do a total re-do on. Fresh hardscape, couple of reused plants, fresh substrate etc. Filtration is currently a Seachem Tidal 55, which is total overkill, but works very well. I want to switch to a canister filter, purely for aesthetic reasons, and i have a Dophin C1000 currently gathering dust (leftover from a failed project). Is there any safe way of slowing down the flow? It would turn over the tank almost 30 times an hour, which will be a bit of a maelstrom. I'm wanting to use lily pipes for intake and output of the filter, so spraybars are out of the question. I know the filter has valves on the intake/output pipes, i just wonder if it would damage the filter to slow it down this way long term.

2. I'm hoping to set up a 30 litre, 45p dimension tank that i have lying around for my betta. I have a small, rather crappy HOB filter that i could use, but again i'd rather use a canister filter and lily pipes. Does anyone know of a canister filter that would be appropriate and not blow the betta out of the tank?

Thanks

 

Dophin makes a small 400 size canister, rated at 400l/h for 650 bucks.
If you pack it full of media it should slow down the l/h flow rate and will be perfect for a 45p

 

Thanks! The 45p will hopefully be the dirted tank that i mentioned in another thread

I haven't come across a Dophin 400, would it be the CF300? Do you have any experience with it?

 

Seems something like an Eheim 2211/Classic 150 would be about perfect, but finding them in SA seems like a real struggle

 

On a 30 litre tank I would seriously consider a good HOB filter instead of a canister filter.
Canister filters are used more where high filtration requirements are needed.
The smallest Cascade canister filter is the Cascade 500, which has a flow rate of 115 gallons per hour.
The Cascade 100 HOB filter is rated at 100 gallons per hour.
Add a pre-intake sponge, change out the filter media, and even dial down the flow rate, and you can expect a flow rate of about 50 gallons per hour.
That would be about perfect on a Betta tank, which doesn't like a high flow rate.

 

Thanks Pezulu. After some digging around i am leaning towards an HOB for the Betta tank. Any experience on slowing down a canister filter?

 

I use only Cascade filters on all my tanks, so have no experience on other brands or makes.

On the Cascade canisters you simply "turn the tap" to restrict water flow, which in turn reduces the flow rate.
Both the inlet and outlet connectors have a valve on them that you can use to slow the flow rate.

 

The Cascade filters are pretty much identical to the Dophin canisters, as far as i know. Have you turned any of your filters down, and have there been any long term effects?

 

I have turned them down at times, but generally keep them running at the full flow rate.
What you will notice when turning down the flow rate is that the canister will make noises, which I suspect is due to cavitation in the canister due to the water flow rate changing.
Once the flow rate stabilises, the noise goes away.

The primary differences between the Cascade and Dophin filters is that the motors on the Dophin filters are slightly weaker than those of the Cascade, and therefore have lower flow rates.
Penn Plax Cascade is an American firm, while the Dophins are a Chinese brand.
Both filters are produced in China, probably in the same factory. The Cascade is produced "under licence" by Dophin.
Some parts are interchangeable.
If you like a blue filter, go for Cascade. If you prefer a dark grey filter, go with Dophin.

 

Great, thank you

 

My bad, its the CF300

 

Dude, you are a wealth of knowledge here. NEVER LEAVE US!

 

HAHHA Agree with you 100%!!

I must say that with that size tanks, the HOB would also be my choice
Effective whilst not having to restrict flow

 

I am using the CF300 on a 30 Liter tank in which their are molies been bred and it works perfectly. I just filled the spaces inside the filter with ceramic rings. It they weren't so expensive (the filter) I would use them on all my 30 liters as they are small and keep the water crystal clean. Its a good filter, but I feel its over priced for what it is.

 

I am pretty sure the dophin will not be an overkill because the canisters is usually rated for empty use and without uplift (media and length of pipes will change the rate considerably)

Also since you have the canister already you can just test it to see if the flow is too strong. I have a tetra 700 on a 40L tank and the outflow is pointed just right to create flow all over.

When using the valves to control the flow I would suggest using the intake but be careful not to run the canister dry by allowing too little water in. Also media and pre filter can help slow down flow

 

And like Wise I have a Tetra 800 on a 50 Litre and it also works perfectly. Just the right flow. But again I put all my own filter media. Mostly I take the rating of any canister and divide by 2 and this for me would the real output, after media and pipes etc...

 

Great, thanks David

Out of curiousity, why not use the output valve?

 

https://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/slow-down-output-filter-11870.html#/topics/11870

I hope im allowed to post external links.

Basically i think it could decrease the lifespan because the pump is straining.

I could be wrong.