I need some help. This might be easy but I can't figure this out.

I have the impression that HOBs lower end optimal flow to be 10 times tank volume per hour (we're talking Oscars' tanks of course), while Wet/Dry sumps and Canister to be around half that, say 4 to 6 times tank volume per hour.

My tank is at floor level so first let me know if there is any problem in setting a Canister that is adjacent to the tank, both at floor level.

How do I find out the optimal set up combination(s) if I use both HOB and Canister filtration?

I have the following Canister filters available locally:

Magnum 350 BIO Pro System (350GPH)

Boyu EFU-35 (290GPH)

Fluval 405 (340GPH, but some say 220GPH)

If I combine one of these Canister filter with only one AquaClear110, I would likely free some space to grow tall and dense background plants in the tank. But I wonder if this will downgrade my actual filtration or not.

Power consumption is an issue I'm considering, since I'm trying to be energy efficient as long as I don't downgrade my tanks.

Actual filtration consumption is around 60W (nominal), Three AquaClear110 (42W), one AquaClear50 powerhead (12W), and the JBL AquaCristal UV-C 5W (6W?).

The Boyu EFU-35 goes at 36W but that includes a 5W UV-C, meaning I could free 18W from the UV sterilization (AquaClear50 powerhead and the JBL AquaCristal UV-C 5W) plus 28W if I remove two of the three AquaClear110.

Total consumption with this arrangement would be around 50W.

However, the GPH of the BOYU EFU-35 is 290GPH, at best optimal for 70Gal tank if the 4 times tank volume per gallon is considered, if 6 times, then we go down to a 50gal tank... so one AquaClear110 would cover a 50gal tank volume... I get lost here.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

to be sure that you have enough flow when combining a canister and an hob there are 2 ways to look at it.

the first is solely based on water flow. from what i have read and observed myself i found that a conbined flow of 7.5-8 times tank volume is usually sufficent to filter an oscar tank.

the second is what i have come to in my filtration setups. what i have begun to do is plan for one type of fitration. for instance the sump on my 220. i have built the sump to be more than adequate for bio filtering on my tank, 1100 gallons per hour(220 x 5 times volume). now i still use 2 ac 110s on this tank but instead of calculating for bio fitration i use them solely for mechnical fitration. the bio being taken care of with the sump. the same holds true on my 180. i use a fluval fx5 for my bio needs but run some ac110s for mechanical.


basically what i beleve works the best is a 2 step approach to filtration. one for bio and one for mechanical.

as for the tank being on the ground i have run my fluval 405 to a tank at ground level for about 9 months and had no adverse effects. to this day i still use it on my 65 along with an ac70

and for power consumption i dont really pay much heed to it. the way i see it is it costs what it costs. the price of having pets.

You will have no problem with your canister and tank at ground level and this will probably make it more efficient as water isn't pumped higher than necessary. most people have a higher tank purely for viewing. the higher the pump has to send the water the harder the pump has to work. most canisters work on a syphon for the input to the filter so some careful adjustment of the hose's may be needed. I too have used the 2 filter system as necro mentions, one for mechanical and other bio. I like this idea as you can clean the mechanical filter (keeping max flow) as much as needed without loss to the bio.