Aquarium filter question - total newbie

[Nenanena]

I feel like I am being very dumb here but how far up should the water go? Can it submerge the whole thing including a bit of the actual cable? My lifelong danger sensors around water and electricity not mixing are going off like mad and filter instructions are not the best.

What filter do you have?
We have one where the heating element is on one side and the filter in the other side of the "cartridge" unit which sits pretty much 90% underwater - including the cables. The water filters up over the surface of the water.

It’s one that came with a Pets at Home kids’ aquarium. It’s a simple one, just sits in the tank but unsure about the safety of it - here’s a picture.

But all filters are plugged into the mains, and so are all heaters... it looks fine.

What do the instructions say?

Have you asked staff at the shop?

The instructions do not say anywhere that the water will submerge all of the unit plus some of the cable but if I follow the instructions about where the filter should be positioned and then about how far from the top of the tank the water is allowed to be, then it would be submerging all of it plus part of the cable. No clear pictures on the leaflet showing exactly where the water would come up to in relation to the filter. The cautious part of me wanted to double check that what I think is implied (that water will cover the cable) IS actually the case. I have no knowledge or prior experience of fish tank filters!

The pic is the filter currently… the next stage according to the instructions is to fill the rest of the tank up, ‘up to 10mm from the top’. Before I do it, just wanted to check with others who know how these things work.

Haven’t gone back to shop as yet.

Provided it is an aquarium filter it is designed to be fully submerged including the cable.

Thank you

That one can be submerged but you still need surface movement, so just below the surface is fine.

What size tank is it? The "kids tanks" at Pets at Home are often all way too small for fish. Is this the 19L one? The smaller the tank, the harder it is to maintain good water quality. (Would you rather be exposed to poisonous gas (in a fish's case, ammonia from their waste) in a wardrobe or an arena? That's the difference)

19 litres, or 4 US gallons, is actually too small for 99% of fish you find in pet shops. It would work for a shrimp tank, at a push a tank for a single male Betta (although they also prefer larger and a heater).

TBH if you still have the receipt I would return this tank and find a tank at least 60 litres or larger, you will then have much more choices for fish. I recommend a heater too as tropical gives you lots more options and isn't harder than an unheated tank (which is just room temperature, not "cold water").

You will need to research the nitrogen cycle too as what Pets at Home advises is wrong. They just want your cash and really don't care that much if fish die during the cycling process, as you'll go back and buy more.

I had the same beginner worries and found it helped to add hardy plants like anubias petite to my setup. They don’t need much light or maintenance, and they attach easily to driftwood or rocks, so no need to plant them in the substrate. Mine helped keep the water cleaner too, which made cycling less stressful.