External Filter

[Flute]

Hi guys,

I need to get a new external filter for my 207 ltr (54 US gallons) and I was wondering if anyone could recommend me one or two please? Bare in mind that I am a poor student and so cannot afford something really fancy I'd just like something that is going to be reliable for a long while. At the moment I've got an Eheim Ecco that came with the tank which I hate- the hinges have snapped and so I'm finding it very difficult to use and to clean the sponges, etc.

Cheers for any suggestions

 

[james_fish]

Fluval 205 could be a possibility, but i'd get a 305 so you can increase stocking levels. Your probably looking around £20 extra for the 305. Normally retail at £70+ as opposed to the 205 at £55+

James.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi guys,

I need to get a new external filter for my 207 ltr (54 US gallons) and I was wondering if anyone could recommend me one or two please? Bare in mind that I am a poor student and so cannot afford something really fancy I'd just like something that is going to be reliable for a long while. At the moment I've got an Eheim Ecco that came with the tank which I hate- the hinges have snapped and so I'm finding it very difficult to use and to clean the sponges, etc.

Cheers for any suggestions

i would suggest a minimum of a Eheim 2028. better still, that and a 2024/26. you dont say which Ecco you have. but even the 2030 will come up short on your tank.

outwardly the fluval 305, is up to the tank. unfortunately the "claimed" flow, is less than half what is stated on the box. ( a problem sufferd by all, but a couple, of makers).

 

[kgthomas]

Hi for around the same sort of money as the 305 is the Eheim Professional 2224 which is on www.zooplus.co.uk for about £86 but they have free delivery to UK mainland on orders over £19 and at the minute they have 10% off if it is your first order with them as I have just ordered one myself this morning. These filters do go up to a 250 litre tank so should be fine for your tank. I hope that I have not broken any forum rules about giving the web address of that I bought the filter from just know that I have spent the last couple of weeks looking at prices of various external filters and this seems like a good deal. Also from what I have read on this forum the Eheim 2222 and 2224 seem to be a reliable filter and dont suffer too much from clogging, at least I hope this is true.

Hope this helps and good luck with the new filter, you could also consider getting replacement clips for your ECCO and either struggling on with it or selling it to help fund the cost of a new filter.

Cheers Keith

 

[Flute]

Thanks for the replies

james_fish, I'm linking the Fluval 305, I found one on ebay for £69.99 I was ideally looking for something "over filter" my tank so I could get away with getting a few more fish in the future

raptorrex, as I bought the tank second hand and the filter came with it, I'm not sure which Ecco it is To be honest, I really would rather avoid getting another, just as the design on it is so awkward. It's a shame about the flow being so low- Is the Fluval 305 not worth then?

Or there's this one?. My dad has a smaller model of it on his 180 ltr, which seems to be doing a good job, just wondering if this would be any good for mine?

kgthomas, Thanks for the suggestion think I'm going to try and look for something that will "over filter" my tank a bit more though. I'm also a bit wary of Eheims now (probably only because the one I have upstairs is second hand) which I'm sure is unfair, but for now I'd like to try another brand

Thanks!

 

[raptorrex]

Thanks for the replies

raptorrex, as I bought the tank second hand and the filter came with it, I'm not sure which Ecco it is To be honest, I really would rather avoid getting another, just as the design on it is so awkward. It's a shame about the flow being so low- Is the Fluval 305 not worth then?

Or there's this one?. My dad has a smaller model of it on his 180 ltr, which seems to be doing a good job, just wondering if this would be any good for mine?

Thanks!

i would say "not up to it" for the 305, too little flow. though the one you linked, may well be up to the task. i dont know the brand, so cant say more than that.

i can confirm a 2222 or 2224 (60-125l is the biggest for them.) are nowhere near up to a 50 ukg tank never mind yours. i have a 2224 and a hydor prime 30 on my 50 gallon tank. that's just about right for it.

 

[Too Fast]

The fluval 405 should be more than adequate and is generally only about £20 more than the 305.

 

[raptorrex]

The fluval 405 should be more than adequate and is generally only about £20 more than the 305.

at less than 600lph, its a bit low on flow. and the 2224 is a better Bio filter, in the same range.

 

[Flute]

I confess that I'm absolutely hopeless with knowing anything about hardware ^^' I think I'm going to go with the Aquarium External Filter 2000 L/H that I linked earlier- it works well on my dads tank so I think I'll give the next one up a go The Fluval 305 looks nice but I don't want to spend all that money only to have a filter that doesn't preform as well as it says it will.

Thanks for all your help guys I really appreciate it.

 

[raptorrex]

I confess that I'm absolutely hopeless with knowing anything about hardware ^^' I think I'm going to go with the Aquarium External Filter 2000 L/H that I linked earlier- it works well on my dads tank so I think I'll give the next one up a go The Fluval 305 looks nice but I don't want to spend all that money only to have a filter that doesn't preform as well as it says it will.

Thanks for all your help guys I really appreciate it.

it may be a good choice. but remember it will flow, at best, 900-1000lph. so no flow regulation is needed. lets face it, most rivers flow at, far, higher rates.

you will have to let us know how the filter gets on. as i say not many, here, have them.

 

[OldMan47]

I have now noted 2 or 3 people talking about over filtering to increase fish loading. Don't even consider doing that. A filter that is large enough for a tank in terms of helping some with the mechanical filtration will have several times the biological capacity that is needed for a tank. If you overstock with fish you do not end up with any problems controlling ammonia so your fish will still be fine from that perspective, with a standard sized filter. What you will see if you are overstocked is a rapid build of nitrates and the need for far more frequent water changes. You will also see your water quality deteriorate rapidly if you experience a power loss. No giant filter will do anything to help with either of these results. Filters need to be big enough for the fish load you have and need to move enough water to allow some effective mechanical filtration. After that, you are wasting money buying bigger filters. If you are a plant person, as I believe Raptorrex is, added flow helps slightly with algae control but flow is not the filter's job, it is the pump's job. If I want more flow in a tank, I use a simple power head to provide it. A power head can make a tank look like a rapid flowing river but does nothing to filter the water.