Complete Novice Question Re Filters

[leysland]

I've recently acquired tank 36x15x12 to keep freshwater tropical fish and I'm looking for advice on best sort of filters. Under gravel, external or internal or even mixture of both?

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons or litres is that.

 

[leysland]

I've recently acquired tank 36x15x12 to keep freshwater tropical fish and I'm looking for advice on best sort of filters. Under gravel, external or internal or even mixture of both?

About 160 litres

 

[Ddraig Goch]

That tank is 106L or 23gal UK (28gal US).

I use internal filters, they are quiet and work very well. You could use it with an undergravel filter if you like but it is not necessary. I've never used an external filter but I'm told they are excellent, maybe someone else can advise you on them.

I always over filter my tanks just to be safe; if I have a 3ft tank I tend to put in two internal filters suitable for 2ft tanks, (or 1 internal filter suitable for a 3ft and an UG filter), hence I have enough filtration for a 4ft.

If you add more info on your tank and the fish you intend to get then you may get more advice.

 

[WILDER]

Wouldn't bother with undergravel filters aload of crap, get blocked to much, internal filter the eheim aquaballs are good.

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/listsecti...&retp=8&rets=15

 

[nino]

Get what fits your budget. They all work well, in my opinion. With undergravel you have to have more substrate in order to cover it and especially if you want to grow live plants on top of the UG filter. I also found that they were noisier (with the bubbles) so don't recommend it for a bedroom. I like filters that hang over the back because then there is just one small pipe that goes into the tank. Internal filters are ok but I don't like the space they take up.

Remember, when you figure out what filter you want to use, you will want to cycle your tank before getting fish. There are pinned topics about this on the top of this forum.

 

[chrisquinn12]

Wouldn't bother with undergravel filters aload of crap, get blocked to much, internal filter the eheim aquaballs are good.

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/listsecti...&retp=8&rets=15

Just wondering why you say undergravel filters are aload of crap and get blocked too much?

I'm not saying they are the best. But there is nothing wrong with them either... I have one tank running undergravel and it hasn't been blocked before?

The gravel will definiatly not go through the slits, and shouldn't get sucked up by the impeller anyway?

 

[dthoffsett]

I currently have both a HOB (hang-on-back), and a cannister filter. I've also used undergravel in the past. They all have their pros and cons. In my opinion if you want something quiet, able to hold different kinds of media, and very efficient, I'd go with a cannister. They're a little more expensive, but well worth it. For a little less money, you could go with a HOB, they're great too, a lot of them are much quieter than earlier models (I'm sure some of you suffered through the vibrating waterfall in earlier years ) most models now also offer a biowheel, which I think is indespensable. I've never had much luck w/UGF, it always seem to clog and the fish tended to uncover it. Plus you can't use sand with it, and I personally will never go back to gravel again. So, as someone earlier suggested, see what is in your price range, research, research, research, and if you can afford it, get something rated for higher than the gallons you have (a filter rated for 50gal instead of 30), it will keep you water much cleaner, and if you decide to upgrade and get rid of your old tank, you won't have to buy a new filter. Hope I helped.