External Filter

[rdp50734]

You shouldnt be changing the media at all in a filter be it external or internal. It is whats housing your benificial bacteria. Just give it a squeeze in some tank water is all thats needed.

If you use tapwater then you will kill all the good bugs.

Sorry but this is just not true. When the media (wool) gets too soiled it needs changing, its not like a sponge where you just squeeze the debris out! When the media starts to break apart it needs changing! One sponge should be changed at a time the next a week or two later! This gives the beneficial bacteria chance to seed into the new media before you change the next piece.

This is true regardless of the filter type!

 

[Aqua Tom]

You shouldnt be changing the media at all in a filter be it external or internal. It is whats housing your benificial bacteria. Just give it a squeeze in some tank water is all thats needed.

If you use tapwater then you will kill all the good bugs.

Sorry but this is just not true. When the media (wool) gets too soiled it needs changing, its not like a sponge where you just squeeze the debris out! When the media starts to break apart it needs changing! One sponge should be changed at a time the next a week or two later! This gives the beneficial bacteria chance to seed into the new media before you change the next piece.

This is true regardless of the filter type!

Sorry maybe I misread, I thought we where talking about all media, not just wool.


My bad

 

[InsaneHOH]

EHEIM 2217+ Classic series
They are absolute workhorses rarely let you down, build quality is second to none
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/eheim-2217-classic-external-canister-filter.asp
Bargain...you wont regret this, I have 3.
Complete with taps which is an extra bonus and look at the saving
ATB
C

Hey ya after reading and posting in this thread, and doing as much research as i can online. i have decided to buy a external filter.
after much thought about what make, my prefs seem to be leading me to the
EHEIM 350 FILTER 2073 PRO 3

mainly as my bearest LFS stock them aswell., and not fluval or tetratec

And after looking around online. http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/ seems to be the cheapest place at the moment, even more than ebay,
Have never heard or used before. can anyone recommend them as a good reliable company to buy from

many thanx
Ben

 

[InsaneHOH]

Actually just found http/www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Eheim_Pro_3_2073.html even cheaper, anyone used these guys before?

 

[Biulu]

That is a very good price! I always think that with hardware you cannot go wrong when it comes to the seller, as you are always backed up by the brand name's guarantee. And Eheim is a very good brand, so I would go for it!

 

[marcandnic]

Hi all,

Sorry to jump in on the thread, but I have a rio 180 and the inbuilt filter is a nightmare!

It has come away from the glass and keeps trapping smaller fish (zebra danios, tetra's etc). I have just purchased a Eheim Classic 2213 and 2215.

I was just wondering how am I best changing over the internal to the two externals?

 

[Biulu]

Hi all,

Sorry to jump in on the thread, but I have a rio 180 and the inbuilt filter is a nightmare!

It has come away from the glass and keeps trapping smaller fish (zebra danios, tetra's etc). I have just purchased a Eheim Classic 2213 and 2215.

I was just wondering how am I best changing over the internal to the two externals?

Run them alongside each other for a week or 2, then remove the internal filter.

 

[OldMan47]

If you really want to change from one filter to another, I have had nothing but trouble trying to do it by merely running filters side by side. If you think about it, your new filter is trying to establish a fishless cycle, the old filter being what controls your chemistry. You have not given it a start with the right bacteria and have not supplied it with any significant quantities of chemical pollutants.
Instead I will either move media from one filter to another or will clean an old filter in a tank filtered by the new filter to spike it with the right bacteria. By doing either one, the new filter gets a leg up in developing a robust bacterial colony that can actually begin to deal with your biological load.

 

[marcandnic]

Right, so ill set up my new smaller external. Then i will rinse my old filter media in my tank and run the smaller external and old internal filter side by side.

Ill run these side by side for a month. Then i will repeat the process for the larger external.

After another month i will throw the internal away. Hopefully that will be safe

 

[OldMan47]

That looks to me like it might work Marc. I wish oyu all the best with your project. Please continue to use the old filter while the new one becomes established.

 

[freerunner416]

Hey Matey,

i have a Tetratec ex1200 which has been a cracking filter for the last three years. I would definately move to the external. i much prefer it to the internal that i had before.

Another good thing was that i have just sprung a leak and phoned tetratec who are know sending out a completely new filter, which was really good of them. was never asked about how long i had had the filter or if it was still guarranteed or anything... just said we will have a new one out to you ASAP.

Goodluck with it.