sheamurai

Hi
I just bought my first canister filter today (ehiem 2215, with an inline heater too!) and I am all over the map about where to put the spray bar.
Along the top? then the food will sink.
vertically? what about dead spots?
along the bottom? stir up the substrate and what about my bottom feeders?

OY

so far all I can think of is to try it on say a 45 degree angle, up high...bit of surface movement, won't sink the food, less obstructive to the fish unless they want to play in it...

Where did you all place yours?

dking271

I usually place them about 3 inches from the top angling the spray toward the lower 1/3 front glass. How big is the tank and what type of fish? If you are worried about dead spots you can add some type of powerhead, but i would only do that if you are keeping fish that require a strong current.

sheamurai

its a 77g tank, with community fish. The only species I have (I think) that likes current are my 2 Hillstream Loaches.

Indian_villager

I put mine at the top angled slightly upward for great surface agitation. I added a ball valve on the intake side to slow water flow during feeding.

dking271

Hillstream loaches definately do better in strong currents, but I wouldn't add a powerhead just to keep them. You can always add a bubblewand if you think you have dead spots. There are also optional distribution and intake options that you can add to your 2215. I would try to place it somewhere in the middle of the tank. On my larger tanks, I will often run two cans. I usually do maintenance on one can per month, alternating between the two.

prairielilly

I've got the 2213 running on a 20g with the spray bar vertical, and IMO there aren't any dead spots. The spray bar horizontal was nearly as wide as my tank though - there wouldn't have been any such thing as fish eating food floating at the surface at all...

You may find this thread informative: Eheim canister: am I doing this right?

sheamurai

yes, I found that thread thank you! And you're right, the instructions are rather vague. There was a bit of head-scratching and muttering as I was setting it up...

thanks all!

capekate

I also angle the spray bar towards the surface, so that I see water movement there. Downward, I end up seeing fish get pushed along in its wake, so found aiming it upward works for me. Just be careful when you are doing a water change.. lol... when the water was lowered, with the canopy open.. well, needless to say I was wondering what was hitting me in the side, it was the stream of water from the spray bar! GRR...it gets me every time. hehe.. Now Ive learned to turn it downward as the water level gets lower so I dont end up with a shower when I dont want one.