External Filter Query - Advice Appreciated

[tobywoof]

Hi everyone.

I'm completely new to cichlid fish. I'm hoping to buy a new tank soon but have spent most of last week reading. The more I read, the more questions I have!! I know I should overstock my tank, which will require a lot of filtration. I was hoping to buy:

this tank
http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquarium-1/fish-tanks/cabinet-aquarium-fish-tanks/cabinet-fish-tank-aquarium-330-litres-120cm-four-colours.html

this filter
http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquarium-1/aquarium-filters/external-filters/aquarium-external-filter-2000-l-h-9w-uv.html

The filter is meant to be able to handle 1000 litres and the tank I want is 330 litres. Will this be ok? I know this is a really basic question but I am paranoid about making a mistake with my set up and killing the fish.

Thanks

Phill

 

[snazy]

I have exactly the same tank and exactly the same filter. The tank comes with a hood filter(800L/H) as well and I have both filters running on mine, 10 months so far with no problems.
The plastic tubes inside the hood filter clog very easily, but it's easy to clean. I like the external filter,so far very good and it hasn't reduced the flow at all for that period, quite powerful flow(I am not using the spray bar on the external) I don't think running only the external is enough though as the tank holds 330 litre of water plus the decorations and substrate. I also have a hydor koralia powerhead that blows into the middle of the tank as the tank is quite tall. With that trio, not even the pleco poop falls on the sand but I will eventually add another external and stop using the hood filter altogether. If you are going to keep cichlids, you are better off with two external filters and scrap the hood filter from the start as I don't think it is as efficient as an external. You should aim at well above 10X the ammount of tank water an hour for filtration for this type of fish. The APS one gives you 2000L/H, so another one of at least 1200 L/H would be better. The tank stand has opening for only one external at the back but the other side can be drilled for a second.

 

[raptorrex]

I have exactly the same tank and exactly the same filter. The tank comes with a hood filter(800L/H) as well and I have both filters running on mine, 10 months so far with no problems.
The plastic tubes inside the hood filter clog very easily, but it's easy to clean. I like the external filter,so far very good and it hasn't reduced the flow at all for that period, quite powerful flow(I am not using the spray bar on the external) I don't think running only the external is enough though as the tank holds 330 litre of water plus the decorations and substrate. I also have a hydor koralia powerhead that blows into the middle of the tank as the tank is quite tall. With that trio, not even the pleco poop falls on the sand but I will eventually add another external and stop using the hood filter altogether. If you are going to keep cichlids, you are better off with two external filters and scrap the hood filter from the start as I don't think it is as efficient as an external. You should aim at well above 10X the ammount of tank water an hour for filtration for this type of fish. The APS one gives you 2000L/H, so another one of at least 1200 L/H would be better. The tank stand has opening for only one external at the back but the other side can be drilled for a second.

only problem i can see here is the APS flows nothing like 2000lph, 1000lph might be closer to the truth or a bit less even.
now i am not saying the APS is any worse than others on the market.
but, even users comment on the low flow rate.

you can take a general rule of thumb, that the advertised or box claim can be divided in half, to get close to its real flow rate.

some makers quote a rate, just for the power head (APS)
some quote for the filter, but with no media or furniture. Fluval (except the FX5), being one.
some quote with full (recommended) media and furniture. Aquaone and Eheim.

Personally i like a "true flow" of 5x.
to this end i have 2x Eheim 2224's

I'd suggest an FX5 for the Op's tank.

 

[snazy]

The Fluval FX5 is 2300 L/H, does it have a better flow as only this one won't be enough in the long term.
I also read on this forum that the APS 2000L/H doesn't have a good flow but I am yet to see what they mean by it. Maybe they filled the baskets with too much filter media. I have no way of measuring the true flow of the APS but in my tank it really is shaking a lot of surface and I am afraid the fish won't be able to swim with another external.
I'll upload a short video shortly

 

[snazy]

Personally i like a "true flow" of 5x.
to this end i have 2x Eheim 2224's

Just curious, but why are 2 Eheim 2224 filters with advertised flow rate of 700L/H equaling 1400L/H max better than a 2000L/H filter?
How do you know yours are close to the advertised flow and the APS isn't?

Here's a video of mine: Also, there's not a peep out of the filter, super quiet.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY0BIcxn7rY

 

[tobywoof]

I have exactly the same tank and exactly the same filter. The tank comes with a hood filter(800L/H) as well and I have both filters running on mine, 10 months so far with no problems.
The plastic tubes inside the hood filter clog very easily, but it's easy to clean. I like the external filter,so far very good and it hasn't reduced the flow at all for that period, quite powerful flow(I am not using the spray bar on the external) I don't think running only the external is enough though as the tank holds 330 litre of water plus the decorations and substrate. I also have a hydor koralia powerhead that blows into the middle of the tank as the tank is quite tall. With that trio, not even the pleco poop falls on the sand but I will eventually add another external and stop using the hood filter altogether. If you are going to keep cichlids, you are better off with two external filters and scrap the hood filter from the start as I don't think it is as efficient as an external. You should aim at well above 10X the ammount of tank water an hour for filtration for this type of fish. The APS one gives you 2000L/H, so another one of at least 1200 L/H would be better. The tank stand has opening for only one external at the back but the other side can be drilled for a second.

What are the odds of choosing the same filter and tank as you? You were the same guy that gave me some advice on Friday too, small world!
Anyway, I'm looking into getting a 3D background made for the tank and the site says I need to know the internal measurements. The site says the tank is 1200 mm across and 745 mm high but could you let me know the internal measurements for the bank?

Thanks for the filter advice. Will go ahead with the purchase and add another filter further down the line as I build my stock up.

Phill

 

[snazy]

Probably many people get that combo because for the price of filter and tank that size it's quite cheap and so far it's working great for me. There's better quality looking ones but double the price and I love that the tank is so tall, the fish love it. I've only added a thin layer of filter floss to the media that comes with the filter and I washed my filter once in 10 months 1 month ago(was afraid of ammonia spikes in the beginning so let it establish itself first)

I'll try but not sure how to get internal measurements
I need a few instructions

 

[tobywoof]

Haha, I was hoping you'd be able to tell me how the measurement is done. The website is here: http/backgroundquote.co.uk

Obviously, they want the width and the height. They say "Please make sure to measure internal dimensions of your tank and leave 1cm of each side for sliding the background in."

The APS website says the dimensions are 1200 x 477 x 745 mm but these will be measured from the outside of the tank. The background folks want to know the measurements of the back of the tank from the inside.

Thanks

 

[snazy]

Haha, I was hoping you'd be able to tell me how the measurement is done. The website is here: http/backgroundquote.co.uk

Obviously, they want the width and the height. They say "Please make sure to measure internal dimensions of your tank and leave 1cm of each side for sliding the background in."

The APS website says the dimensions are 1200 x 477 x 745 mm but these will be measured from the outside of the tank. The background folks want to know the measurements of the back of the tank from the inside.

Thanks

That's gonna be hard to do now. I don't mind trying but I won't get it because between the tank being full of decorations and substrate and no easy access to the back I'll definately get it wrong. Why don't you try sending APS an e-mail. They should be able to provide this info I would imagine.
Also, the glass is 8mm tick so substracting 16mm from 1200 should give the approximate lengh inside. The height of the tank itself up to the water line from which the plastic covers start is 60cm but I can't be sure this is what you want.

 

[tobywoof]

Hi again,

No that's fine, I will email APS and ask them for a measurement. I've had a look at your tank on the youtube video, can't wait to have one.

Thanks for all your help

Phill

 

[snazy]

I recently bought a small Juwell 60 litre tank expecting better quality than my aqua one and two chinese tanks and I actually think the juwell tank is appalling. I hate the lid cover,very uncomfortable to take off and the filter, filter media and heater it comes with are a disgrace, the degrees are not even printed on the heater, took me 3 days to get the temperature right. I've got a smaller aqua one and is made and looks 10 times better than the juwell.

Speaking of which, the cable for the heater the APS comes with is very short.

 

[raptorrex]

Personally i like a "true flow" of 5x.
to this end i have 2x Eheim 2224's

Just curious, but why are 2 Eheim 2224 filters with advertised flow rate of 700L/H equaling 1400L/H max better than a 2000L/H filter?
How do you know yours are close to the advertised flow and the APS isn't?

Here's a video of mine: Also, there's not a peep out of the filter, super quiet.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY0BIcxn7rY

my fault that.
my tank is 180-200l.

because i have measured it, its simple enough to do.
the two Eheims give just over 1000lph.
i clean at about 600lph, though i guess that, not measure it. lol

if I'm brutally frank, Eheim are just a bit more honest than APS.
APS list only the powerhead flow rate.
Eheim give a rating with everything, including 1m of piping.

it doesn't take much deductive power, to realise the APS will flow a lot less once you add several litres of media and lengths of piping!

 

[tobywoof]

I recently bought a small Juwell 60 litre tank expecting better quality than my aqua one and two chinese tanks and I actually think the juwell tank is appalling. I hate the lid cover,very uncomfortable to take off and the filter, filter media and heater it comes with are a disgrace, the degrees are not even printed on the heater, took me 3 days to get the temperature right. I've got a smaller aqua one and is made and looks 10 times better than the juwell.

Speaking of which, the cable for the heater the APS comes with is very short.

Hi Snazy,

I ordered my background today, going to try and get delivery to land on the same day as the tank. Can you tell me roughly how many kg of substrate you used in your tank, if you recall? I read that a cichlid tank should have no more than 1 and a half inches but I have no idea what that equates to when buying sand. I've heard that pool filter sand is very good but can't find it anywhere online I can buy it in the UK. Don't suppose you know of anywhere?

Thanks

Phill

 

[snazy]

I bought my sand from the fish shop as I didn't want the super fine argos play sand to be floating around and I think it didn't cost a fortune or anything. As for pool sand(supposed to be bit bigger than play sand), I have no idea, somewhere they sell pool stuff? I am trying to remember how many 5kg bags of sand I bought but I think I bought 10 and I put 8 bags in the tank, had two spare to use for my small tanks. So roughly 40kg of sand in.

I put more sand at the back of the tank and the left side for plants, so the sand is not the same level all around but the left side you see on the picture is roughly 5cm and probably at least another 1cm invisible in the tank. You want yours no more than 1.5 inches which is 3.8cm, so maybe 25-30kg, a bit spare always comes handy

Here is a picture I just took for you to see:

 

[tobywoof]

Hi,

30kg it is then. Thanks for taking the time to upload a pic. I like your clown loaches. Would love to get one for my tank but I've read they don't go well with Mbuna. I should have the tank set up by the end of the month so I'll definitely upload a pic to show you then.

Thanks for the advice. I have no clue when it comes to measurements. I was looking at a 9kg bag of sand on the internet, thinking "Hmm, maybe this would be enough?" ...

Phill