DIY water baffle for HOB filters

[mangotarot]

My tank's HOB (Hang on Back) filter flow is too powerful on the second to lowest setting, and keeps kicking up my aqua soil/sand substrate, making my tank murky. At the lowest setting, the HOB filter doesn't have enough flow.

I've used a 3D printed baffle on previous tanks, but I haven't been able to find one that actually works well for me (I've bought several over the years and it's never exactly whats needed.)

Anyone have any good DIY baffles?

 

[Andy Sager]

What size tank do you have? What size filter do you have? What kind(s) of fish do you have? If you can post a pic of your tank all the better.

 

[mangotarot]

What size tank do you have? What size filter do you have? What kind(s) of fish do you have? If you can post a pic of your tank all the better.

This tank is a 10 gallon planted tank, with a Tetra Whisper IQ filter for 10 gallon tanks. In the filter I have Bio Max ceramic filter media, activated charcoal, ammonia reducing filter media, and replaceable calcium (crushed shells) to help up the water hardness. I've been using this filter with this tank for months without any issues until this time. I did, however, change the position of the filter from hanging against the left side, to hanging directly center on the back.

I have nine neon tetras (the squad), and one guppy who hitched a ride with the 5 ghost shrimp.

I *just* rearranged the tank yesterday and did a 50% water change. It's a well established tank with good water parameters (even before the water change). Normally I just have to top off. My water is usually clear, so this murkyness is concerning me quite a bit.

There's a lot of "dust" on the plants, which were previously not so nasty looking. If there's something else wrong with my tank, I'd love to know!

 

[Andy Sager]

This tank is a 10 gallon planted tank, with a Tetra Whisper IQ filter for 10 gallon tanks. In the filter I have Bio Max ceramic filter media, activated charcoal, ammonia reducing filter media, and replaceable calcium (crushed shells) to help up the water hardness. I've been using this filter with this tank for months without any issues until this time. I did, however, change the position of the filter from hanging against the left side, to hanging directly center on the back.

I have nine neon tetras (the squad), and one guppy who hitched a ride with the 5 ghost shrimp.

I *just* rearranged the tank yesterday and did a 50% water change. It's a well established tank with good water parameters (even before the water change). Normally I just have to top off. My water is usually clear, so this murkyness is concerning me quite a bit.

There's a lot of "dust" on the plants, which were previously not so nasty looking. If there's something else wrong with my tank, I'd love to know!

It sounds like if you have/ had that much "dust" on your plants that you didn't have the water flow high enough. What I would do is keep the flow rate on the second level and place a decoration in the flow to divert the water to the sides instead of straight towards the bottom. If that doesn't work, another option is to place a section of filter padding under the flow so that the water goes through that before entering the tank. Just make sure the pad is inside the tank so it doesn't disperse water outside the tank. OR....
or place the filter back on the side and you may need to increase the flow to prevent the plants from getting covered in "dust". With proper filtration, your plant leaves should be clean.
Hope this helps.

 

[mangotarot]

It sounds like if you have/ had that much "dust" on your plants that you didn't have the water flow high enough. What I would do is keep the flow rate on the second level and place a decoration in the flow to divert the water to the sides instead of straight towards the bottom. If that doesn't work, another option is to place a section of filter padding under the flow so that the water goes through that before entering the tank. Just make sure the pad is inside the tank so it doesn't disperse water outside the tank. OR....
or place the filter back on the side and you may need to increase the flow to prevent the plants from getting covered in "dust". With proper filtration, your plant leaves should be clean.
Hope this helps.

Thanks so much Andy! I'll give your suggestions a shot and hopefully I'll see good results!