GPH Flow meters

[doug z]

Anyone use these?

Pros/cons?

I was thinking of getting them for my Eheim 2217's to use as indicators when a cleaning would be in order...

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[Drumachine09]

I don't see any potential cons.


The pros would be realizing when your cannister needs a cleaning, without having to turn it off, open it up, check, and then close it back up, and re-prime it.

[travie]

Hmm... If the main thing the item does, is indicate when you should do maintenance, like cleaning debris out of filter, on your equipment, I wouldn't waste the money on it. If you already plan on doing regular maintenance on your equipment.

[doug z]

The only con I was considering was wether it would adversely affect output flow..

I'm getting 2 filters in part to increase flow..

Don't want to shoot myself in the foot..

[travie]

It didn't look like it would take away from flow at all.

[doug z]

I wouldn't think so..

Just wanted some affirmation from anyone who actually uses one..

[Fishguy2727]

No need for it. Hard to say how accurate they are, especially a couple years down the road. Maintenance should be done whether it is 'needed' or not. Waiting for the flow to drop is asking for trouble.

[doug z]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking..

Not the accuracy part (I don't see how they could give a false reading)

The plan would be for regular maintenence..

But I thought it might help indicate a problem (clogged suction) or something..

[Fishguy2727]

Any meter needs to be calibrated and will lose accuracy over time. Cheaper stuff like this is even worse.

[xoolooxunny]

my buddy has one for his 75g. its a couple years old, and still seems to work fine.

[Dsoto87]

Lol, I just answered one of your other posts. Is this really needed?

The only real reason I see any use of these is when you need a specific amount of flow ie: Fluidized bed filters and uv sterilizers

[cocoa_pleco]

to be honest i see no point in it, usually you can easily visually tell if a canister is clogged

canisters usually wont randomly loose flow unless a chunk of java moss or something is clogging it, and thats noticable

[doug z]

Well, I plan to hide the bars and suctions pretty good with plants..

[john gill]

:4:

I have to say they look prity good for the price but I must agree it seems a bit overkill. It would probably make more sence for a profesionaly maintaied system as a fail safe.

I am not familiar with the output configuration of your filter system but I use Fluval and drilled a small hole right at the end of the output tube and threaded a piece of yarn through the hole with a knot in the end. The yarn acts as a tell tail and moves with the flow of the output and gives a fairly good idea as to the flow. When I do water changes I leave the filter runing and the out put tube ends up above water and I can see the amout of water comming out.

I do like gadgets though I saved the pointer just in case a need comes up.

gill

[Halelorf]

I used one of those on one of my canister filters. Was kind of a pain as you have to have it level or the accuracy will be off. I took it off and gave it away, you don't need it.

[doug z]

Yup.. I'm decided, then..

Thanks for all the input!!!!