I have a 20g long, getting ready to set it up and transfer the boys from the 10g. I am wondering what your thoughts are on filter location...

1. One filter, placed in the middle (obviously at least 200gph turnover.) I thought of placing it on the side, but I don't think it'll get all the junk....
OR
2. Two filters, one on each side, both totalling at least 200gph turnover.

Seems to me the tank is quite long (else I'm just not used to the size.)

I currently have a penguin on the 10g, and to be honest I am less then 100% happy with it. I used to have an aquaclear on it and I miss it. I'm going to go w/the aquaclears again on the 20g, just not sure how many to buy.

I have a 20 gal long tank which I just love, something about the length of the tank looks so nice when the fish swims back and forth, any how I have an Emperior 280 running on it and I have it positioned so the intake tube is lined up with the center of the tank. So the filter it self is not quite centered as the intake tube is on the left hand side of the filter.

It does a very good job, I have the basket down touching the bottom of the tank!

My 20s have single 280s or 300s on them - centered. But they are mostly 20highs, not longs. There is definately something to be said for having filters at each end of the tank - it lifts and moves water well from either end....

You can literally do whatever you wish - it should work out well. If you have particularly small or weak fish, you may wish to have two smaller filters at each end. If you have monsters, a single monster filter is great, too.

I always love Daryl's replies. How lucky the forum is to have a Daryl.

My little girl has her own goldfish tank with a tiny, baby Pearlscale and a tiny, baby blue Oranda. But I take care of it. The tank is a 32+ gallon Oceanic Cube with a single, Aquaclear 110. Because the tank is not oblong, there is no room for even two much smaller [good] filters. So I have resorted to buying an extra 110 in case the current 110 ever crashes, since there is no "in tank" back-up... Anyway, another dilemma with a single powerful filter in our particular application is that I have had to cover the intake with a sponge to keep it from grabbing [and killing!] the chubby little fancies as they "waddle" by. We lost a golf-ball sized Ryukin that way and my little girl was devastated. So now we have compromised mechanical filtration and more frequent vaccuming... but plenty of gph flow! I think it would be less of an issue with two smaller filters with less oomph... but the tank's dimensions just won't accomodate 'em. A 20 long, would. Good choice.