Water Filter question

[Jeremy]

Hi Guys

At the moment I have a aqua tech filter ( I know not the best going ) the kind that hang's on the side of the aquarium. My question is I notice that where the water runs out that there is a small opening to the right of it where the water also comes out a bit? Almost like a secondary gap?? Is it normal? the filter is cleaned and the filter medium isn't blocking anything?

Thanks again for the help

[Cermet]

Is this a HOB (hang on the back) filter? If so, then is this small extra gap where the intake tube goes? (A picture is worth a thousand and one words ...)

[Jeremy]

I attached a pic, I circled it red. Its not my pic though but It shows what I mean

[mizzoutank]

That is the overflow outlet.

safety built in in case something happens causing an overflow in the back reservoir...rather it dump into the tank vs the floor. lol

It is a good visual reminder using hobs.
if you see water coming out of that, then your current filtration is too clogged/packed and needs to be rinsed out in old tank water.
a properly running hob shouldn't produce any water there.

[Jeremy]

I have it cleaned out and the filter's are not clogged. It still comes out there though a bit?

[mizzoutank]

a bit isn't a bad thing.
i'm not 100% familiar with that filter to know/see the real design of it.
I just know with my marineland HOB's. when clean they run w/o anything coming out of the overflow.

it could be the design, it could be whatever media you have isn't that "free flowing"

[Jeremy]

Thanks Mizzoutank. Its says in the intstructions:

IF THE MAJORITY OF WATER IN YOUR FILTER IS OBSERVED TO FLOW FROM THE AREA AROUND THE INTAKE TUBE,NOT THROUGH THE FILTER AND BIO-FIBER... CHANGE FILTER CARTRIDGE

So I assume a bit is okay because they way its worded it sounds like its only a problem if alot of the water is coming out of the other area. It has done this almost since I got it a coupe years ago.

[Jeremy]

I just gave the filter ( not the bio filter ) a rinse in cold water and it seemed to help a bit. Maybe I just need to pick up a new filter as this one is probably just clogged enough to prevent water from running through it freely.