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ok i have a question. can a canister be equal hight with the tank or mybe even slightly higher then the tank. reason i ask is i have a shelf behind my tank that would be perfect to hold a canister. i was also thinking by being equal hight the motor would do more work with less strain (GPH rateing improved)
any help would be great thanks.

Sin

PS: by level or slightly above the tank i mean the top of the can being the same hight or slightly above the water line of the waterline.

I don't see a problem, just have it a little bit lower than the water and you should be ok...

Canister filters were designed to sit on the floor...

Syphon action will be greatly reduced when placement is any higher.

In fact, the syphon action may not function at all if the can is placed at water level.

--garyroland.

It seems like the big problem there would be in even starting it up. Once the chamber is flooded, the only thing that can physically keep the water flowing is the canister's water pump; the gravitational forces involved should work equally on both intake and outflow, so that gravity neither hinders nor assists the pump as long as both the intake and outflow are submersed.

Siphon shouldn't be relevant at all, as far as I can see. Physically the canister is a closed loop of pipe with some filter media and a water pump. Siphoning only affects a system when the water level at each end is different; the two ends of a canister "pipe" are both the aquarium itself.

I'm planning on setting up my canister tomorrow, so maybe I should try it and see how it works out.

I think silverlight is right. It should be able to work IF it is airtight(it should be) and if you can start the syphon as gary mentioned. You could start it on the floor and lift it up to the shelf after, if that's possible.


Bring some towels just in case

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 21-Oct-2004 20:38

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Sin in Style

I asked the same question when I purchased my large Eheim. I was informed the further the canister either higher or lower the more work the pump must do to be at it most efficient. In other words the further the distance the less outlet power it has.

Mine is next to the 5ft tank and the top of the canister is level with the bottom of the tank.

Keith

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I have a Fuval canister and at one time, had the tank sitting on a sideboard. Had the Fuval sitting on the same shelf, behind it. Never had any problems, not even on start up. And the intake and return tubes were kind of up in the air, because I didn't want to cut them, knew I would be moving the tank soon. Have the same water flow now as then, and it is now on the floor.
Just thought I would give my experience.
Anna

thanks for all the input guys. course im still not sure of the sure answer heheh. Like one person said its designed to be on the floor, but like another says its a self contained pump so once started then level witht he water line would be the least work for the pump. at that point its just circlulateing the water. i guess the only true way to know is to try it and judge by the flow rate and sounds the filter is makeing.
i have my tank on a self made cabinet and i knew a canister would be in the future so i made absolutly sure there would be room for a canister inside the cabinet. just thought the motor would last long being equal hight of the tank.
again thanks for all the info.

Sin

Fluvals are difficult enough to prime even on the floor...

I can imagine they'd never prime on equal levels.

--garyroland.

once you prime the canister and its running, you should be able to place it on that shelf, but make sure its on the floor when your priming.

In this case i would buy a hang on, cannisters normally have a set range (height) to work within for optimum results and even if it does work at the same level as the tank i cant see this being optimal or particulary easy on the cannisters pump.

That being said, you can only try

-DL

Cake > Pie