External Filters

[xweeqtx]

I'm planning on changing from the Jewel Rio internal filter to an external because, well, it's crap I've currently got the Rio's internet filter AND a Fluval 4+ running in it at the moment. What would be the best filter for this size of tank?

And on the actual change over, I assume I'm better running all three(internal x 2 and external) for a few weeks at least?

 

[gaz gun man]

How big is the tank?

Ehiem seem to have good reputation on here, I have a FLuval 205 and *touchwood* its been fine, so I would'nt discount them all together.

Regarding the switch over, you can do it that way, or take all of the old filter out of your internals and put it in the new cannister and just have that running.

HTH

 

[tenohfive]

Fluvals have a so-so reputation but alot of people still use them so as Gaz said, worth thinking about. If you can stretch to an Eheim though they've got a great reputation, and *touch wood* I've never had problems with my pair.

 

[rabbut]

Just to throw another couple of brands into the mix. Tetratec I have ear-marked for potential Eheim rivals for the quality filter spot later on, and Rena are nice bits of kit, though seal maintenance is harder on the Rena's...

 

[tenohfive]

Sorry, forgot to add before:

Two ways to change over:

1. Tranfer media from old to new filters
2. Run both together for a month

Personally I always do the second option just because I've always found it more convenient and because I've never had any problems with that method.

As for what size to buy, very simply put buy the biggest you can afford. Minimum suggested output should be 4 times the tank size per hour, so you're talking 720 lph turnover.

 

[xweeqtx]

I think it would be easier to just run the filters together, yeah. I did seed the internal filter with my own media but then just ended up sticking the full filter in as well. The internal in the Rio is HUGE, but it doesn't do the job it's supposed to.

So I'm looking for a 720lph + turnover from Tetratec, Eheim or Fluval(maybes). I saw one today, an AquaOne model - take it they're crap?

 

[rabbut]

AquaOne filters get consistently good write-up's, but I've never tried one myself

 

[treefella83]

a couple of months ago i took the filter out of my juwel trigon 190 the filter does its job very well but i found that maintanence of the filter resulted in the tank turning into pea soup for several hours.
im a long serving fan of fluvals so i went for the 205 external and ran it along side the juwel internal for a month then ripping it out and kicking it out of the back door .
i purchased a fluval u3 to run aswell just to keep on top of things and i am very happy with the results
internal filters often offer great water turn over which looks good on paper but externals of any brand offer more media volume which i believe is better.
if i had more money i would use trickle filters but i dont .
good luck

 

[always4lora]

i've got a fluval 305 extenal and i'm quite happy with it , did have an ehiem but it kept playing up , the only downside with the fluval i have is the piping is a bit crap and not easy to bend .

 

[arobinson1984]

Hi cara,

I've just done the same, I removed my internal jewul filter the other day after running my external filter alongside it for 4 weeks and I've then put 1 of the jewul sponges into my external.

It all depends on what sort of performance you want.

I have the rio 125 tank and decided to go with the eheim 2075 pro 3 external filter. I'm impressed, extremely quiet with 1250 ltr per hour turnover.

The only downside is the price at around £170 but in my opinion it was well worth it to remove the jewul internal, the tank looks so much better now with a bit more room. I managed to fit another 7/8 litres of water in once the intenral housing had been removed.

Andy

 

[Ian H]

my tank is running 2 aquaone CF1000's and i can't rate them highly enough. Fantastic filters that havnt caused me any problems