Aps 1400 Ef Owners Question

[DJH584]

In our tank we have an Eheim 2210 internal filter. It's a great filter and I don't have any problems with it EXCEPT, so far I have had to release two danios and one rasbora from the back of it.

I am not certain what has been happening in the tank - possibly a bit of bullying - but I am getting a bit concerned.
The Eheim filter mounts to the tank by means of four rubber suckers and its plastic baseplate has a number of recesses on it which means the like of the rasbora and danios can get in behind the filter and get trapped in them. Once they are there, they are not easy to see - believe me they aren't. It's only by doing a head count that I know one is missing and the filter is the first place that I go to in order to check if one is trapped there.

To prevent this, I have been looking around at external filters and the one I think that would suit the tank is the APS 1000EF.
The internal length of the tank is 69 cms. The height from the substrate to the top of the tank is about 38.0 cms and the internal depth is 34.0 cms.

What I am considering is putting the spray bar along the back length and the inlet pipe in the back right hand corner.
What I have not been able to find are the dimensions of the relevant pipework i.e their length.
If this pipework is too long for the tank, would I be able to cut it down in order to make it fit?
Or would cutting the pipework to length render it unuseable?

APS have a discount code to use this bank holiday weekend - this information posted courtesy of another TFF member - so this filter would only cost about £42.50 with free postage.

I am sorely tempted to buy it, but I do need to know what I can do with the pipework in order to make it work efficiently.

Your replies - positive or negative - would be greatly appreciated.

David

 

[ian]

i would personally get one of these

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/397983-jbl-e700/

I have owned a 1000ef and you really get what you pay for. Its a poor build, and flow dramatically reduced after a few weeks.

 

[DJH584]

Thanks for the input Ian - I saw your video the other day and also thank you for your comment on the APS filter.

I notice that you have the intake and output spray bar at the same end of the tank. Did you have to cut down the spray bar in order to make it fit your tank? Or does the spray bar come in sections that you put together to fit the depth of your tank?

David

 

[star4]

The aps spray bars and intake pipes come in sections so you can have them as long or as short as you wish. I have done away with all my filters now and swapped them all over to the aps ones, cannot fault them at all, replacement parts are a fraction of the cost. Flow rate slowing had only been an issue on one of the 7 aps filters I ran, I contacted aps and they sent a replacement head, problem solved.

 

[DJH584]

Okay. Irrespective of whether I go with the Crystal Profi - looks like a great filter - or the APS 1000 EF, given the dimensions of our tank i.e. 69cms long x 34cms deep x 38 cms high, what is going to be the best way of placing the spray bar and inlet pipe?

Ian

Thanks for your reply and having reviewed both your videos I can understand why you chose the Profi.
However for me money is a bit tight, so I look at £42.50 against £59.99 and yes I understand that you get what you pay for.
But in this case, needs must where the devil drives and the fish come first as regards getting trapped behind the Eheim.
Price wise and health wise, I think that the APS will better for me. I take on board what you have said about the flow rate depreciating - that will have to be something that I will keep my eye on.

Star4

Can the sections be cut and still be fitted to one another? Or do you have to make do with the best fit possible?
Also what array do you use i.e spray bar one end of the tank or the same end as the intake pipe etc.

David

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

I have the APS EF 3000+ its a brilliant filter imo for the cost i run it on my marine tank, i dont even use the spray bar tbh but the sections wouldnt need to be cut even for a small tank the bar comes in like 4 parts for mine so on a smaller model im sure it would be similar and you could jus use 1 piece of it you really can cram them with media aswell!

 

[DJH584]

I have the APS EF 3000+ its a brilliant filter imo for the cost i run it on my marine tank, i dont even use the spray bar tbh but the sections wouldnt need to be cut even for a small tank the bar comes in like 4 parts for mine so on a smaller model im sure it would be similar and you could jus use 1 piece of it you really can cram them with media aswell!

FishAreFriendsNotFood10

Thanks for that. But what orientation do you use? I.E. where are your intake and out take pipes?

If you look at Ian's video, you will see that he has the intake pipe in the back right hand corner and the spray bar across the right hand width shooting water across the length of his tank.

Being absolutely new to the concept of externals, I really do need to know what the best set up is.

Regards

David





/

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

I have the APS EF 3000+ its a brilliant filter imo for the cost i run it on my marine tank, i dont even use the spray bar tbh but the sections wouldnt need to be cut even for a small tank the bar comes in like 4 parts for mine so on a smaller model im sure it would be similar and you could jus use 1 piece of it you really can cram them with media aswell!

FishAreFriendsNotFood10

Thanks for that. But what orientation do you use? I.E. where are your intake and out take pipes?

If you look at Ian's video, you will see that he has the intake pipe in the back right hand corner and the spray bar across the right hand width shooting water across the length of his tank.

Being absolutely new to the concept of externals, I really do need to know what the best set up is.

Regards

David





/

i have my intake on the right hand side of my tank with my outtake in the left corner pointing diagnolly across my tank (obviously as mine is marine i need to create good directional flow). i do like ians idea of it all being on 1 side of the tank though as it looks better aesthetically and i bet it makes good flow for the plants as its not just pushing against the front glass. The plastic pipes are abit "cheap" with the EF range though and the hoses are tough to flex lol thats my only Con to the filter.

 

[star4]

I run 2 filters on each of my tanks so I have intake and outlet on both sides. The 1000ef spray bar comes in two sections (if memory serves me right, I set one up for a friend) you can get more sections if you require.

 

[DJH584]

My thanks to all for your input to this. Looks like I'll be going for the EF provided I can juggle the finances (yes I know Ian that the Profi would no doubt be better).

........and the hoses are tough to flex......

Methinks, having read elsewhere that a dosing in some warm to hot water should cure that problem.

My thanks again to all of you.

David

 

[minnnt]

Don't get the 1000, it is rubbish. The flow is awful.

I found the filter itself quite decent, the build is ok if nothing special.

Get the 1400 at least and remove the spraybar completely. Just run it with the elbow

There is a discount code for the bank holiday period that gets you 15% off. Its JUBILEE12

Good luck.

 

[DJH584]

Having found Harry - our danio - stuffed down the back of the Eheim TWICE today and released him, I have bitten the bullet and ordered (using the discount code - thanks for reminding me AND the recommendation minnt)the APS 1400EF for one penny less than £51.00 with free UPS next day delivery. Hopefully it will be here on Thursday and I can get the thing installed the same day.
I am getting a little cheesed off having to check the back of the Eheim filter every half hour to see if he is got down there again

Again, my thanks to you all for your input on the subject, I'll let you know how we - Harry and myself - get on. It'll either be a success or I will end up visiting the doctor for a valium prescription due to Harry trying to disappear up the intake pipe

My regards to you all

David

 

[minnnt]

Nice one!

Could you just dangle the eheim away from the glass for the time being?

 

[DJH584]

Nice one!

Could you just dangle the eheim away from the glass for the time being?

Love to be able to but the wight of the filter when the sponge is soaked makes it drop to the bottom of the tank like a stone!!!

I've got nothing to be able to suspend it with - NICE idea though.

David

 

[minnnt]

Could you rest it on a rock or some wood?