Size of AQ HOB Fuge?

[sgreth]

I've got a 16G bowfront that I'm re-cycling after a move. I've decided to stop using filtration media and try out a HOB fuge. I currently have an AQ 20, but I see 2 problems going forward with that for a HOB fuge:
1) The canister just isn't very big for LR, chaeto, and sand
2) The water intake tube doesn't even extend 1/3 of the way down the tank.
Does anyone have any reccomendations on the size of AQ I should upgrade to, i.e. the 40, 80, 110, etc...
Thanks!
~Rob

 

[chipmaker]

message deleted/erased as it double posted when all I tried to do was edit it.
sorry.

 

[chipmaker]

I have two AGA 16 gal BF setups and they both used to have the AC 110 modded hob filter for a fuge. It works great, and provides sufficient current to flow from the spillway on the unit and maintain sufficeint force to hit the front glass and travel downwards and push out on both sides to the left and right of the tank following the bowed glass.....I now only run one 16G BF with the hob AC110, as I drilled the other and run a 10 gal sump on it. If you file the corner radius of the tanks top trim at each ed of the back panel, so its square instead of rounded, you can gain upwards of 1/4" more useable space if you ever put a skimmer etc in the tank it gives a bit more wriggle room.....fileing this corner sqaure wil not detract from integrity of the tank in any way.

 

[sgreth]

Awesome! That sounds exactly like the confirmation I was looking for. How far down did the intake tube go down your tank?

 

[chipmaker]

The tubes for me where adequate, and I have about a 1" or so sand bed. Its enough suction with both tubes to be able to suck off detrious from the accumulation under the intake. However, the tank itself is kind of tall, and I found lots of solid matter floating by, and being pushed down by the AC110, but it would never push it down far enough to be picked up by the filter intake at the bottom. I fyou pulled off a section of inlet tube then you got an accumulation of junk that wold not get picked up. I added in a section of pickup tube with slots cut in it midway, and within abaout an inch of the top water level, now it pulls from all depths of the water column just fine. Just cut the slots a little at a time so you do not decrease suction on the end to the point its useless. Yu can use the 1" Undergravel filter tubes they sell in 36" long lengths in lfs and cut to size. Use hot boiling water and a section of the AC inlet tubes to hot form the undergravel uplift tube to fo9rm the sockt ends or reduce in size. The stuff works up just fine with hot water...Even beter is pick up a HAGEN AC surface skimmer and place it in the inlet tube ands skim your surface. They work fine if you keep your water level fairly consistent. YOu can make holes or slots in it and pickup water from mid water level as well as at the bottom...