Discus-Pro Sponge filters

[Alien Anna]

Hi, has anyone an opinion on the following Discus-Pro filter as a stand-alone filter in a tetra tank? I'd like to replace my annoying Juwel column biofilter with something a little more simple and cheap.

 

[ste2k3]

why do you want to replace your juwel filter? the juwel filter is more powerful. the discus pro would need much more mantanence seeing it dosn't have a pre-filter.

 

[Alien Anna]

why do you want to replace your juwel filter? the juwel filter is more powerful. the discus pro would need much more mantanence seeing it dosn't have a pre-filter.

What's a pre-filter?

My reason for replacing my Juwel filter is that its totally useless for my tank and is responsible for the death of several fish (either through getting caught in it or by getting trapped behind it or underneath it when I was working on the tank).

Also:
1. It takes up far too much space in a heavily stocked, heavily planted tank (it's 18"x5"x5").
2. It involves 6 layers of sponges which cost a fortune to replace (between £1.50 and £6 each, depending on the type).
3. The integral heater is crap ('scuse language but it has to be said) and needs replacing every couple of years (when it goes, it goes hot rather than off).
4. It is a pathetic oxygenator (a little trickle pours out of the spout, hardly disturbing the water surface at all).
5. The impeller of the powerhead needs regular replacement. It is non-standard and expensive (like everything else Juwel makes)
6. I've just found out they're notorious for hiking the nitrates in your tank (mine are currently at 30ppm).
7. Snails nest in it.
8. I've lost several fish getting trapped in it, behind it and underneath it when I'm doing work in the tank.
9. It's a total pain to work on since it is so big and heavy and has to be taken out of the tank with a great deal of water spilling everywhere (its at the back of a corner tank which is a major pain reaching over the tank to get at it). The various cables to the powerhead and heater, plus the light cables make this process even more difficult as you have no where to put them while you manoeveur the filter out of the tank.
10. It isn't tall enough for my tank (which is 20" deep) so either I have to balance it on some rocks (which I do now) or I have to have the top of the water 4" below the rim of tank (2" below the black plastic lip of the tank), which doesn't look so good.
11. It's a very poor mechanical filter.

The Discus-Pro website says it doesn't need any maintenance except running some matured tank water over it with a siphon once a week, to remove debris, and also stated that they'd had one running for 2 years in a tank without ever once having to remove it. I figured what's good enough for discus is good enough for tetras and gouramis.

My other alternative is an Eheim Ecco, but that's really out of my budget and the pipes wouldn't fit very well through the miniscule gap in the Juwel hood.

 

[ste2k3]

I see what you mean about the pump and heater. when you say sou only get a trickle, you will get less than that with an air powered filter. also, you would have to buy a heater. I had all the same problems with my juwel filter. what i did was to put a larger pump in (not a juwel ) and change the media. you can get some cheap bio media like alfagrog forn ponds and fill the bottom compartments of the filter with that.

A pre filter is a filter that mechanicaly removes crap before it enters a bio filter. i.e. in the discus pro, all the crap will get sucked in and clog the whole filter. with a juwel the theory is that if you change the pre filter often, the sponges below shouldent eed cleaning very often.

instead of the white filters on top, you can use filter floss/wool.

I would definatly recamend the eheim ecco, I run one on one of my tanks and they are great.

 

[cichlidmaster]

Hi AA,

As you know all my tanks are operated with air powered filters. I use a combination of box/sponge filters.

I disagree that you will get less water movement with an airpowered filter.

It's true I use a regenerative blower and not a standard air pump, but there are many new air pumps on the market that can provide enough "push" to power a sponge filter.

I use hydro-sponge filters. They come in many sizes for many size tanks. Don't know if they are available in the UK, but the one you are asking about sounds similar.

I say go for it!! If the ones I use can filter not only 20 gallon tanks, but my 120 gallon tanks, they can't be all bad!!

I will also add that I am currently changing over to straight sponge filters and doing away with the box filters....simply because of the time involved in cleaning them.


CM

 

[Alien Anna]

CM,
thanks for getting back to me on this. I'm attracted to the idea not only because of the problems with my Juwel but also because I've got an air-powered filter already in my 12 gal, which is working outstandingly well (for a fraction of the cost of a Fluval 2) and I've had no end of trouble with the Fluval canisters in my 30 gal tank. As you know, we are very limited for choice of filters in UK and fish stuff tends to be extremely expensive (often double what you pay).

What sort of wattage per gallon ratio should I be looking for the air-pumps? I often see high powered ones going on Ebay UK, usually at really low prices because everyone wants the Fluvals and Eheims. One I bought recently, a Hi-tech 1500 is so powerful I've had to put an escape valve on it (as well as a small sponge filter and an air-stone) to reduce the pressure or my poor fish (in the 5 gal hospital tank) have to start surfing! My current sponge filter is running off a Rena 600 which is more than enough (the Hi-tech tends to lift the filter off the bottom and it starts swimming around the tank! ).

My other questions is what about the filter getting eaten? Is that a common problem?

 

[cichlidmaster]

AA,

I have only had one fish ever that has dined on the sponge. My Distochodus sexfasciatus. Could never figure out why!!

As far as pumps go, Rena's are excellant pumps and should be more than able to handle the 20" depth of your 30 gallon.

As far as cleaning the sponge filter......simply/squeeze it out in a bucket of tank water every few months and clean the lift tubes and other plastic parts as well.

CM

 

[Alien Anna]

Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions. Choice of filter is rather like choice of clothes or cars - very much an individual thing. Still, its nice to know why you make the choices you do and it helps me get things clear in my mind.

I've decided, particularly after losing my valuable, rare loaches due to the filter I already had, that I'm going to give the sponge filter idea a whirl. I'm keeping the old filter just in case and of course I'll be running the two in parallel for a week or so.

I've ordered two Discus-Pro filters online. I'll let you know how it goes. Sometimes you just have to try these things for yourself! If it works out I think its a great alternative, particularly for those of us on a limited budget.

 

[david27]

Anna just check out the web site for the filter, looks ideal for smaller tanks.
Please post to lets us know how you find them as I'm going need a filter for a fry tank and it looks ideal for small fish.

Cheers

David