simon_the_plant_nerd
Member
I don't think there's anything to disagree with really. I'm not giving advice or an opinion, just stating that any concerns as to the difficulty of cleaning my filter pipes is invalid as I do not clean them.I want to disagree with this statement.
In my experience, the hoses are the biggest flow restriction. Every millimeter reduction in internal cross section is felt in the flow. I tested and the conclusion is to use the biggest internal diameter (see ribbed Fluval hoses) and have them as short and as straight as possible.
Cleaning, depending on each of us, but please do this experiment: let them get dirty and measure flow before and after cleaning only the hoses. You will be amazed of the difference...
Good luck with your canister.
Some things that will affect pressure (and consequently flow rate) in a filtration system: choice of filter media type and quantity; filter position; maintenance (or lack of) quality and interval; pump and impellar type and condition; quality and condition of seals; head height; atmospheric pressure; water temperature and external air temperature; salinity of water; suspended solids in the water; source orifice size and shape; destination orifice size and shape; electrical supply voltage and frequency.
There are so many variables in a piping system that affect the overall flow rate. Frictional losses will contribute to flow reduction significantly in a piping system but lets be honest, in a canister filter there's substantially more friction within the canister itself than the pipework.
I won't be dismantling my pipework to clean it. The time/cost benefit is just not good value in my installation and use case.