Need less flow from your filter?

Well currently im using an Aquaclear 30-45gallon rated filter HOB for water movement (along with my powerheads), and a small refugium (i have live rock rubble in there). I was very annoyed because the current it put out was so heavy and fast that it disturbed the water wayy too much and was way loud on my 20 gallon high. So i took the impeller out, cut the edges down quite a bit and it is quite as can be, along with force of the water being pushed into the tank is far less. This worked great and i thought in case anyone hadnt thought of it, it works well for me and maybe you 2.

 

This is done quite often when reefers convert AC hang on filters into refugiums. I have the old AC 500, I think they call it the 110 now and did something similar. I was concerned about the balance of the impeller and magnet if I cut some of the blade length off so I shaved or sanded the height of the impeller down on a sanding wheel. This accomplished the same thing and did not affect the balance. The AC500 is now the hang on refugium for my 16G bowfront reef system, lots of room in the body for macros, GFO and carbon.

 

do you feel as though this hang on refugium really makes a difference in your tank? Im wondering if there is a way i can convert my filter to contain more volume so I could do something like this in my tank. Or maybe ill just sell the filter on craigslist and use the money to buy an AC70 or 500.

 

The larger AC filters provide a lot of room for a refugium. The rectangular shape and plastic composition make them very easy to modify or glue baffles and such in them. The 500 or 110, same thing, is huge inside but may not fit on the back of some smaller tanks due to its size.
Nano-reef has a ton of articles on AC fuges.

 

why wouldnt they fit ontop of a smaller tank? is it the weight of the filter hanging on the back of the tank? i doubt the filter is 24" inches long (the length of my 20 gallon high)

 

I don't know the exact dimensions but I had to trim the sides slightly to get it to fit on the back of my 16G bowfront, it takes up the entire back glass. They are also tall so may not fit on a 10 gallon heightwise. On a 20 it would probably work.