Mounting external filter with Fluval Hood.

[ukco2guy]

Hi,

I`m looking at mounting an external filter to a Fluval Duo Deep 1200 which is in the middle of a room (so visible on all sides), the tank comes with a hood but the rear holes in the Hood are just too small for the filter pipes to enter the tank (16/22mm tubing). Has anyone any experience mounting these on this type of hood? Would it be better to mount them on the side of the tank as opposed to the rear by cutting a couple of holes into the hood so that the pipes can be mounted, it seems that with spray bar position at the back it looks like the flow would be restricted if i have to provide any additional bends. Any guidance as to mounting, flow, co2 distribution etc would be appreciated. Also as i only have an Ehiem 2224 in this 49gl tank would it be advised to get some powerheads in there as i cannot afford a larger filter (recently purchase of pressurised co2 etc has taken my budget out for now), if so any ideas on positioning?

Cheers,

 

[ceg4048]

Hi,
Any chance of getting some photos of the hood? It's really hard to assess without a clear image of what we're dealing with. I've never even heard of a Dual Deep tank until this very moment. Fluval marketing department must be working late nights...

In general it's always better to enter from the side, which, as you surmised allows for an unrestricted run from the filter and to preserve your flow rate as much as possible. The problem is when you open the hood. Is the hood flap clear of the hole? If not you'll have to cut a slot instead of a hole. This is no big deal as it's just plastic, right? I had to cut slots on the sides of my hood as well. If you're a handy DIYer with the right tools then it's easy. If you're a butcher like me it won't be pretty. My second choice would be to enlarge the hole in the back. That will be visually neater but will increase frictional losses if you choose to use a spraybar as you mentioned.

I'd always choose to align the output of whatever supplementary pumps are installed with the spraybar outputs. Here are a couple of threads discussing this:

http://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=3827

http://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=8849

http://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1167

Cheers,

 

[ukco2guy]

Good evening (or afternoon in Miami)! Sure, i have attached some pictures below of the hood, the tank is made by Hagen and was in quite a few shops up until a couple of years ago, full name is Hagen Fluval Duo Deep 1200. I guess new models, new ranges etc. Sure i`ll cut some grooves as getting it off when performing maintenance could be a challenge, i have a Dremmel so will hopefully get a nice smooth cut 🙂 If i get time i`ll see about creating a Journal on it all... I asked as i wasn`t sure if cutting a hood and exposing the tank would cause issues with temps or evaporation.

Flow wise i don`t think my current filter is going to really cut it, i have just realised that i have a Fluval 205 in the garage un-used so wondering about using the pair at one end with the fluval aimed longside the tank (on one side) and then the Eheim spray bar in the center facing fowards, i figure that i`d get a decent swirl around the tank coming back to the inlet hose. Reading your article above has helped give me an idea on positioning, i guess i`ll try the `flake` experiment and see where it ends up.

Pics:
http://img228.imageshack.us/i/img3427q.jpg/
http://img708.imageshack.us/i/img3426y.jpg/

Cheers,

 

[ceg4048]

Hi,

i have a Dremmel so will hopefully get a nice smooth cut 🙂 If i get time i`ll see about creating a Journal on it all... I asked as i wasn`t sure if cutting a hood and exposing the tank would cause issues with temps or evaporation.

OK, good the nicer you can make it look the less you will be ridiculed by the Gucci Fraternity, who frown on anything not made of Waterford crystal or Ostrich pelt.

There are no issues with temperature or evaporation, so no worries there.

I suggest that you plumb the output of the 400 on one end, the 205 on the other, each into a spraybar mounted on the aft wall pointing forward. Then mount the powerhead on the weak side i.e. the end with the 205. Orient it's output forward to augment to 205 output. The CO2 diffuser can then be mounted anywhere down low on the back wall.

Cheers,

 

[ukco2guy]

Hi,

Gucci Fraternity? In my case the wife and believe me i better do a good job on it 🙂 I have some neoprene edging that i use on computer cases so it should take the sharp edge off it preventing any damage to hoses etc.

Ok great, i`ll get that sorted out over the weekend, i`ll take some of the filter pads out of the fluval 4+ (that`s currently installed) and stick that into the 205 to speed things up a little.

Thanks for all the help so far. It`s been really good to get concrete advise!

Cheers,