Water circulation aquarium: a handy guide

Do you have “dead spots” in your tank?

Time to take another look at the water circulation in your aquarium and evaluate it. Maybe the aquarium flow rate is too low? Maybe the flow direction is just not right?

In this article, I’ll explain what a good flow in aquarium is and how you can tell if your aquarium water flow is too much or too little.

Water circulation aquarium: What is the best flow direction?

The best flow direction unfortunately doesn’t exist because every aquarium is different: the strength of the filter, plants used, fish, CO2 usage, and more.

I can give you a good starting point that you can tweak later on.

• First of all, make sure the flow sources don’t face each other because they’ll cancel each other out. So don’t place your filter outlet directly opposite a circulation pump.
• Secondly, I recommend placing the filter inlet and outlet next to each other. This creates a “circular” flow in your aquarium.

Richard from AquaEssentials illustrated this beautifully in the photo below:

See what I mean? The flow moves from right to left, bounces off the glass on the other side, and returns to the filter outlet.

Alternative for good flow in aquarium: the spray bar

Do you have a spray bar instead of a regular filter outlet? You know, one of those plastic or glass tubes with small holes?

Well, I recommend placing it on the back, pointing toward the front glass. This way, the water bounces off the front, flows downward, and then back to the filter inlet, which is also placed on the back.

The extra benefit is more flow at the base of your plants. This helps CO2 and nutrients reach the lower leaves, improving their growth.

How can you tell if your aquarium water flow is not good enough?

You’ll notice “dead spots,” which you can read more about in this article. Another clue is if waste, rotting material, or other debris tend to accumulate in certain spots. Adding a circulation pump or improving the flow can help.

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Handy tip: All your plants should sway a little in the flow—that’s a sign that your aquarium flow rate is about right!

At which point is the aquarium water flow too strong?

If your plants are getting uprooted or your fish can barely rest 😉 In that case, you can reduce the aquarium filter flow rate by simply slowing down the pump. If you’re not sure how to do that, it’s best to contact the manufacturer!

What about you?

How’s the water circulation in your aquarium?

Feel free to let me know in the comments below!

[kkstarratings]