External Filters

[death]

hi im looking to change to an external filter for my rio 240 but i dont know much about them i know they are fairly expensive though i guess its worth it right? what one would members recommend me buying if they do recommend that is or should i stay with the 2 internal filters i have though tbh they are a pain as always needing cleaned practically every week so if members can give me pros n cons to the filters and a recommended external that would be great cheers joe

 

[mlawson]

Probably the best thing about external filters is that they provide less clutter in the tank.
They have a much larger surface area for maximum bacteria growth and have very large
turnover rates.

 

[death]

ok thanks for the reply are they easy to clean/maintain than an internal? and i have heard of some ppls fish ending up inside an external also which type of filter if recommended that i go for external should i go for?

 

[The-Wolf]

depends on your budget
if you have the cash then go for an Eheim or a Tetratec
if not look at the other externals on the market.

what ever you do, steer clear of fluvals!

 

[death]

thanks for the advice wolf ill look into the Eheim or tetratec

 

[mlawson]

depends on your budget
if you have the cash then go for an Eheim or a Tetratec
if not look at the other externals on the market.

what ever you do, steer clear of fluvals!

Whats wrong with Fluvals?

 

[TigerIssey]

I have had a Fluval 205 for 6-7 months and it has been excellent. I clean it every 5 weeks or so and have not had a problem at all.

 

[gsta13]

depends on your budget
if you have the cash then go for an Eheim or a Tetratec
if not look at the other externals on the market.

what ever you do, steer clear of fluvals!

Whats wrong with Fluvals?

yea whats wrong with em? lol i got one....

 

[andywg]

Fluvals are known on this forum to fail after 2 years of service and start dumping tank water all over your carpet. It has happened to me twice, CFC and many others. On top of this they are an absolute nightmare to get the syphon going following a service after a few months in use.

I would never waste my money on a fluval again.

 

[gsta13]

Fluvals are known on this forum to fail after 2 years of service and start dumping tank water all over your carpet. It has happened to me twice, CFC and many others. On top of this they are an absolute nightmare to get the syphon going following a service after a few months in use.

I would never waste my money on a fluval again.

Aye it does take for ever to get my fluval going after a clean up, but mine was given to me with the tank, what would you dugeest for a Rio 240? that wouldnt burn a hole in my already empty pocket?
Cheers
Greg

 

[sarahmom22]

We have a fluval...it's fine so far.

 

[Darkstar]

Agreed fluval suck big time. I'd go eheim or tetratec everytime.

 

[LisaLQ]

I've had both Fluval and Tetratec, you'll hear a lot of folks slagging off fluvals, usually when they've just spent way over the odds on an Eheim for the name

My FX5 has been the best filter I've bought, as have my other Fluval externals, never had a problem with them. My Tetratec came a close second, but I didnt have that as long. If you're after a cheap filter that works, the Tetratec is a good option. Eheims from what I've heard (never had one myself - vastly overpriced and not as much power for your money) dont come with any media, not even foam blocks, and when you compare them to Fluval efficiency wise, they suck. Or rather, they dont. LOL.

I've heard a few horror stories about Fluvals, but just as many about other brands, including Eheims - so dont be fooled into thinking high price and famous name = good filter.

 

[xingumike]

I'll jump on the Tetratec bandwagon, i run an ex1200 and its brilliant, never misses a beat, comparable quality to eheim imho and not premium name price

 

[andywg]

I've heard a few horror stories about Fluvals, but just as many about other brands, including Eheims - so dont be fooled into thinking high price and famous name = good filter.

I have seen nowhere near as many horror stories about Eheim as Fluval. It's not the price, it's the build quality. How many 20 year old Fluvals do you see? I run a 20 year old Eheim with no issues at all. Both of my Fluvals died after 2 years. CFC's Fluval crashed and burned at about the same age.

On that basis let's say we give Fluvals externals a 5 year life expectancy, you will have to buy 4 in the time of one eheim. Something tells me that the Fluvals will work out more expensive long term there.

If you head over to a forum for Keepers of Monster Fish ( ]v[ ) they ran a thread on how long people had had their oldest filters going and almost every single filter over 5 years was an Eheim, with a number getting into double figures. That is what you are paying for with Eheim.

I have used both Fluvals and Eheims and can safely say that the latter is the better. You will find most people who bash Eheims have never had one and cry about how much they cost (which is strange, I have never paid more than £40 for one second hand).