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I have a RENA Xp3 in a 55 long. I am curantly using the jet and was wandering if I should'nt put it on the same side as the intake tube. How do you set up you're external filter?

You could have the output and input on the same side of the tank, but I prefer to keep them on opposite ends. That way there is more flow and less opportunity for stagnant areas to develop. If you have other current producing equipment it isn't as big a deal if you want the output and intake on the same side.

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When they are on the same side the water coming out that is already filtered will be pulled directly back into the filter. You will filter less water and all areas of the tank outside a circle around the intake and output will not have any water movement. One reason hob filters use a lot more water movement than a cannister. They have to create enough movement to get the rest of the water in the tank moving from a flow in one area. Where if you put the intake and output most of the tank length away from each other the water has to travel from 1 end to the other. That moves the water throughout the whole tank and the intake sucks in more water that has not been through the filter instead of sucking back in the the same water that just came out. If you add lots of other equipment to improve water movement like powerheads you can negate some of that but it still works better to have the tubes at opposite ends instead of right next to each other.

I have mine at opposite ends of a 5ft tank to give a full water flow also the inlet and the outlet are close to a heater this also helps to keep the temperature even throught the tank.

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Keith

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Sounds like I have it right, opposite ends of the tank they go. Thanks for the response.