Question: How To Tell if My Flow Is Okay?

[Gimpdiggity]

Hi everyone.

I've got a 10 gallon tank with a juvenile in it. He's probably about 5" long right now. I'll eventually be getting a 20L (or larger) but for now the 10 is what I have.

It's got a LARGE sponge filter in it with an air pump. This seems to be working well for biological filtration, but it doesn't seem to do much for actually cleaning the water.

I've been doing a lot of cleaning and water changes, and would like to do a few less.

So, I added a Whisper HOB filter. It's for 5-10 gallon tanks. It seemed like it had WAAAAY too much flow, so I ended up taking the "canister" portion of an internal filter that came with my aquarium setup and used it as a "catch" for the water.

Basically, the HOB filter has a piece of foam hooked to it's output waterfall, and then that causes the water to fall into the canister from the internal filter. Inside that canister, I have more foam to dissipate the movement even more. I then drilled holes in the back and side of that canister so that the water that DOES move out of the canister moves out and runs into the back and side of the aquarium.

Tonight I put some of the bloodworms he eats directly below the canister, and they didn't move at all. The water on the surface doesn't seem to be bothered at all, and things float in one spot just fine. None of the worms when he's eating get pushed around at all. He also doesn't seem to be spending any more time in his hides than he used to.

Is it safe to assume that the flow is probably at a rate that shouldn't stress him too much?

Thanks.
Jeff

 

[Gimpdiggity]

Here are some pictures of how it's set up.

Here is from underwater:

Here is from above the water:

I guess what's got me confused is that it seems that no matter what, if I want to have a filter it's impossible to completely eliminate the flow of the water...but it seems that's what everyone says I should be doing, is trying to completely eliminate the flow.

I may end up just looking into getting a canister filter, but I'm having trouble finding them for smaller aquariums that are actually adjustable flow machines.

 

[AxolotlChris]

Flow can be an issue. But then some Axolotls actually like the current and some sit in it.

You seem to have eliminated it as much as possible so I wouldn't bother worrying anymore.

Even a light flow of water on the surface is okay, and beneficial.

 

[Gimpdiggity]

He actually has been sitting in the spot where the flow would come out, what little of it there might be.

He seems pretty normal...looks the same and is acting the same. He ate just fine last night after adding the filter.

I'll keep my eye on him, but I'm guessing he's doing okay.

I'd like to get a filter with adjustable flow so I don't have as much "stuff" hanging down into the tank. I think the canister just looks unsightly. I'll try to find a small filter that has adjustable flow. I read that some Betta filters have this feature...

 

[cabbysarus]

you could just cover the canister in plants or such make it more aesthetically pleasing