External Filters.....

[mattlee]

i have just bought a secondhand fluval roma 240, with it came all the fluval 305 external filter. i want to add another filter for peace of mind (back up) and just to get better filtered water. would you recommend a second fluval 305/405 or something different? i have about £80 to spend give or take and have noticed i can get a rena xp3 for this money... or similar....

 

[mattlee]

also the old biomax taken from the used filter, will it still be ok to use or do i need to replace? its been unused and out of water for about a month. i am changing the foam filters and adding polishing pads is it worth adding phosphate removers/ carbon etc etc in the filter or any other media or are they a waste of time and money? what should i put in the trays?

 

[jmkgreen]

Filters: http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...s-c-62_111.html

If the biomax is clearly in need of disposal do so, otherwise it could be reused. Obviously there will be no bacteria on it after a month away from the tank.

In terms of media typically you put into the filter what your tank requires. If you have a specific problem or requirement, you may add something into the filter to correct it. Otherwise, stick with the biological and mechanical filter media.

 

[arobinson1984]

You could go for another fluval although I have heard mixed reviews about the fluval externals, seem to remember somebody complaining about them on here before.

You could go for an eheim classic, either the 2215 or 2217 would be ideal. Eheims are workhorses and have a proven track record with reliability

Have a look at this website it is cheaper than charterhouse aquatics: Warehouse Aquatics

For £80 you could get any of the 3 classic models from there

Andy

 

[rabbut]

As with Andy here, Fluvals have questionable reliability at best. Eheim Classics are good filters, and about as ard to work as a Fluval that's been primed more than three or four times (after it's primer has broken...) The ProII range would be a better starting place for a new external filter owner, they are a tad easier to work and have been arround long enough to see about reliability

Rena's are also excellent filters IMO, though the seals are tricky to access to maintain...

Tetratec are my brand of choice

If you go budget Eheim, avoid the Ecco range like the plague, they aren't actually made be Eheim, they are made by their sister company and the build quility is lacking. I and many others have had issues with the Ecco range

All the best
Rabbut

 

[mattlee]

have just ordered an eheim 2215+ with media etc for £69 as i have heard good reviews about these filters. fingers crossed it will be fine.

 

[arobinson1984]

It will be fine,

Personally I would have gone for the 2217 model but the 2215 model will do a great job.

Andy

 

[Richard22b]

Yer should do fine.

 

[mattlee]

i have just found a new lfs i never knew was there and the owner said to use 1 filter (eheim) full of sponges/foams etc and the other (fluval) as a biological filter adding carbon, phosphate remover, ceramics etc. he said this would make things easier if treatments are needed as i could just shut the biological one down and add the treatment, also he said if i had too much ceramics and sponges then eventually my nitrates would go sky high...... is this true or just another lfs talking bull? he did seem like he knew what he was on about!!!!

 

[rabbut]

If it were me, I'd have all the bio media and mechanical in the Eheim and remove the Fluval. Less chance of a wet floor or the noise of a freight train in your living room then...

The owner is talking bull I'm afraid. One filter you never shut down in the biological one. If you leave an external biological filter off for too long you kill all your filter bacteria and then your stuffed. Chemical medias are a waste of time and money if you maintain your tank correctly also. You have to stop chemical filtration in any tank when you add treatment, as the chemical media will remove the medications. Finally, you are un-likely to have Nitrate issues with an external filter set-up as it would have to be really clogged with rubbish to create such an issue. At that point, virtually all flow would have been lost though, and high Ammonia/Nitrite in the tank would be more concerning...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[mattlee]

thought so as he also told me to wash 75% of my media in tap water every now and then to kill the bacteria and let it thrive again to prevent too much nitrate....... but whats the point in that? sounds like hard work to me and a waste of time cycling in the first place....

hmmm dont think ill be going there again! i think the words he used were " use your enemy (chlorine) to work on you side to prevent a nitrate problem"

surely the more bacteria you have the better or have i misunderstood the whole cycling thing?

 

[Geoff1991]

Never wash in tap water. Just a quick gentle rise in old tank water is fine.

 

[jmkgreen]

I bet he also tells customers to run new tanks for three days then add fish.

All filter literature clearly states not to rinse under tap water any biological media.

 

[mattlee]

he did say something about adding a handfull of ceramics into the new filter and in 3 days it will be ok to add the fish as the bacteria will have multiplied by 1000's...... i think i will give him a wide berth and stick to what i know

 

[mattlee]

thinking of adding a rena xp3 and selling the fluval 305, has anyone got any bad reviews on these or should i go with a tetratec 1200?

rabbut do you use a 1200?