Where would I set my filters intake position ona 40 gallon breeder tank w/ sand?

I have sand on my tank with a pengiun 350 and I was thinking if I had it on the low setting it would suck up the sand especially when the fancys dig it up looking for food and might cause damage to the filter. So would the middle setting work? Or would it affect the water circulation as there is more feces at the bottom then in the middle/higher towards the top of tank. Also how would I set up my bendible/flexible bubble wall tube. Ive heard to try to avoid air bubbles from getting into the filter so would I create a "barrior" bringing the tube a few inches from the intake tube? but then wouldnt the water inside the "barrior" from the bubble wall actually create a barrior and the feces and other things stat within the bubble wall and unable to get the the filter intake as the bubbles are going up and not letting anything past it/go behing the bubbles where the filter intake tube is. Its placed in the middle of the tank btw. With a low being close to the bottom and high setting being the middle of tank going up and down. Thanks.

 

You really do not have to worry about getting sand in your filter.

Sand, even pool sand, is relatively heavy comparatively speaking. Just set the tube so it's a couple of inches above the bottom, and it will be fine. Don't restrict the intake, you want as much water flowing through your filter as you can manage. As long as it's not splashing or blowing the fish around the tank, it's fine.

I'm not sure I understand the concern about the bubble wall unless it's putting air into the intake and some how disrupting the flow. I can't see that as being a valid concern. Set it up the way you want it. If, for some reason, there is a problem, then either move the bubbler, or get a shorter one, that doesn't take up as much of the back wall.

 

Or if I turn it on a couple hours of the day and turn it off at night?

Ok so Its better for it to be closer to the ground since it picks up more debris right?

 

Or if I turn it on a couple hours of the day and turn it off at night?

Ok so Its better for it to be closer to the ground since it picks up more debris right?

DO NOT SHUT YOUR FILTER OFF for anything other than routine maintenance. You will kill the beneficial bacteria that reside there.

You seem to be having some confusion about how water filtration works. Yes, a filter intake will pick up debris that is circulating in the water column, but it isn't a substrate vacuum. That is your job. Once a week, while you are doing your water change.

In fact, in my high maintenance tank, I have found that the volume of my water change is determined by how long it takes to vacuum the bottom of the tank, plus the few gallons to stick my arm in up to my shoulder without making a mess.

No doubt you will have a similar learning experience, but until then, I'd suggest reviewing some of the stickies on equipment basics, to better understand the functioning of your equipment.

 

I meant turning the bubble wall air pump off at night. But my main concern was instead of having the tube directly below the filter intake tube id move the tube 5 inches away from it so no air bubble would get in and possibly damage the filter. But by doing that would it affect it from briging water/debris from the front side of the tank or anything past the bubble tube? because the bubbler created like a "wall" you could say and will it affect it from actually picking up debris? Sorry for not making it clear before.

 

I wouldn't worry. Set the bubble wall up where you want it and leave it be.