External Filter For Juwel Vision 180

[jameshunter63]

Hey, i was wondering if anyone owns or has any ideas for an external filter for the juwel 180 vision tank. i am about to take out the internal (once a suitable external has been found). was thinking of a fluval 305, £74 in the lfs.
Any ideas guys?
also wondering the best way to get the excess silicon left by the internal filter off the side of the tank
thanks for any help
james

 

[jmkgreen]

See elsewhere for opinions about Fluvals. In short, mass production + price point = some good, some bad points. Eheim are expensive but have good reputation, JBL also seem quite good (both are German engineering).

I've just added a JBL e1500 to my Eheim 2075 servicing a 4x2x2 tank myself. The Eheim is better, the JBL is cheaper. Swings and roundabouts.

Oh, and try a razor blade to remove silicon. Be careful!

 

[jameshunter63]

hmm, ok. trouble is im taking it off with fish in, and so the silicon bits may drop into the water, could they harm the fish? i was thinking of using a clean t shirt to seperate the fish from the silicon bits then syphoning up the bits. any other ideas??
also was looking at ehiem but the ones big enough would be alot too much for my budget.
thanks, james

 

[DarkEntity]

hmm, ok. trouble is im taking it off with fish in, and so the silicon bits may drop into the water, could they harm the fish? i was thinking of using a clean t shirt to seperate the fish from the silicon bits then syphoning up the bits. any other ideas??
also was looking at ehiem but the ones big enough would be alot too much for my budget.
thanks, james

Ehiem are the best filters on the market bar none. You pay for what you get.

removing the horrible internal is fiddly and can be a pain, lower the water level remove the box - i just cut the top areas of silicon and then bent it out and the bottom came off no problem - then use a razor blade to clean the rest off and have a net under it so anything that falls off will be caught

 

[jmkgreen]

If you don't mind having to suck on a pipe to get the siphoning action (the only reliable way anyway) then check out the grand daddy of them all, going cheap:

http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/filters_pumps/canister_filters/eheim/13352

A 2215 510l/h circulation for £60 delivered. For less then £80 you get almost 800l/h circulation. Depending on what stock you choose, one of those ought to pack a lot in for your budget.

I should add I bought both my Eheim and JBL filters on (separate) special offers from Zooplus without a hitch.

Beware of the Ecco Pro - newish and unproven, some rumours had it being outsourced to another firm. Also before you buy check the accessories to avoid disappointment.

 

[jameshunter63]

If you don't mind having to suck on a pipe to get the siphoning action (the only reliable way anyway) then check out the grand daddy of them all, going cheap:

http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/filters_pumps/canister_filters/eheim/13352

A 2215 510l/h circulation for £60 delivered. For less then £80 you get almost 800l/h circulation. Depending on what stock you choose, one of those ought to pack a lot in for your budget.

I should add I bought both my Eheim and JBL filters on (separate) special offers from Zooplus without a hitch.

Beware of the Ecco Pro - newish and unproven, some rumours had it being outsourced to another firm. Also before you buy check the accessories to avoid disappointment.

aw, wow. thank you so much.
that eheim looks like the gradad but if it does the job im more than happy. i would probaby go for the 2217 at that price though, more circulation, was looking for around 1000l per hour pump performance and this hits that. Hmm, now decisions!! argh the hard part now. writing a list tomorrow about pros and cons of each, dont a tad research and looked through the forum, may post it and see what people think and if iv made the right decision for my needs!!
thanks so much for your time guys
james

edit: is the eheim pro 2224 to small for the tank? only gets 500l p/h of flow.

 

[jmkgreen]

If I were you I'd get the 2224. Stick with it for a few months then buy a second as you very slowly add stock to the tank. I bought my Eheim around May/June last year and my JBL has now gone into full service - as I'm saving for my wedding that's what I've done.

The 2224 does feature things like taps that can be a real time saver, and better filter media included.

 

[Carlovel1]

The Tetratec EX range is pretty good too, though people frequently report leaking...

The Tetratec EX range is pretty good too, though people frequently report leaking...

 

[bramswell]

I've got a vision 180 and im fitting an external, i too was looking at the tetratec filters but after reading good reviews I have gone for the all ponds soloution 1400ef, 1400lph and includes uv light for £59.95 delivered and includes all media