ArtesiaWells
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2012
- Messages
- 1,392
Those of you familiar with Hagen's line of coveted AquaClear HOB filters will know of the "flow control valve" that sits atop the intake stem when you put the filter together, and which is supposed to control the flow output of returning water...in practice, I have found, on my 110 model at least, that this doesn't actually control anything. If I keep the flow control at the "minimum" flow (going towards the "-" indicator), the flow is reduced maybe just a tad bit...but nothing that would make one say "Wow! Look at that! Much different!"
At any rate, because my fancy goldfish tend to be blown around my 60 gallon from anything resembling a current, I have been trying to reduce whatever turbulence I can including lowering the output of the bubble bars via the Top Fin pump's control wheel to keeping the AquaClear's return flow valve at minimum output -- the other HOB I run on this setup, an Aqueon QuietFlow 55, doesn't have a flow control feature -- but my question is this: Is it okay to leave the AquaClear 110's flow control on its minimum output? Will this affect filtration, ultimately, in any way? I have read, and have gotten into discussions with enthusiasts, about some theory that when the flow of these HOBs is reduced, the filtration is actually maximized because the water is flowing through the box slower, thus allowing more fine debris to be pulled up...is this true?
Further -- I don't really see a flow difference, as I have said, between maximum and minimum output on this HOB when moving its valve around, but being that I wanted to reduce turbulence and agitation in the tank I decided to bring the control down to minimum in the slight chance it is making a difference with pushing the fish around too much; is this okay to run the filter on the low return position?
At any rate, because my fancy goldfish tend to be blown around my 60 gallon from anything resembling a current, I have been trying to reduce whatever turbulence I can including lowering the output of the bubble bars via the Top Fin pump's control wheel to keeping the AquaClear's return flow valve at minimum output -- the other HOB I run on this setup, an Aqueon QuietFlow 55, doesn't have a flow control feature -- but my question is this: Is it okay to leave the AquaClear 110's flow control on its minimum output? Will this affect filtration, ultimately, in any way? I have read, and have gotten into discussions with enthusiasts, about some theory that when the flow of these HOBs is reduced, the filtration is actually maximized because the water is flowing through the box slower, thus allowing more fine debris to be pulled up...is this true?
Further -- I don't really see a flow difference, as I have said, between maximum and minimum output on this HOB when moving its valve around, but being that I wanted to reduce turbulence and agitation in the tank I decided to bring the control down to minimum in the slight chance it is making a difference with pushing the fish around too much; is this okay to run the filter on the low return position?