External Vs Internal Filters

[Geoff-]

Kitty what's the biological capacity of the aqua ones vs an external canister? Sorry to continue the hijack.. but I'm curious which filter would handle the bio loading better.

 

[KittyKat]

Well, my Eheim 3e beats most other filters hands down for bio capacity! While the Fluval 305 was about equivalent. I don't think it is a particularly good comparison given that the filters are so different. I also ended up modifying the AquaOne over the years in different ways to take more and less media. As I said, in terms of bio filtration, the AquaOne was great. The problems I had with it was its lack of willpower to do any serious mechanical filtration.

 

[festo]

Hi
i was asking about the trickle filter that comes with the aquaone850 and 920 tanks,
i have read on this forum that they are very good due to their design,
so who is right?

 

[the biffster]

internals and externals

i find that anything
that take waste away
from the tank is a good idea
as with internals the the waste
is sat in the filter in the tank

 

[festo]

internals and externals

i find that anything
that take waste away
from the tank is a good idea
as with internals the the waste
is sat in the filter in the tank

So are you saying its a good filter?
or not a good filter?

 

[the biffster]

externals the better option

 

[KittyKat]

i was asking about the trickle filter that comes with the aquaone850 and 920 tanks,
i have read on this forum that they are very good due to their design,
so who is right?

That is the filter I was on about. They're good at bio filtration; they're crap at removing plant leaves and fish crap.

 

[festo]

Ok thanks,
so what external would be ok to add extra filtration
to the aqua one 850,while also running the filter that
comes with the tank,and would i have problems fitting it
due to the existing trickle filter and hood?

 

[the biffster]

Ok thanks,
so what external would be ok to add extra filtration
to the aqua one 850,while also running the filter that
comes with the tank,and would i have problems fitting it
due to the existing trickle filter and hood?

not sure is there not
another two holes were the return
is for the trickle filter is

 

[festo]

Ok thanks,
so what external would be ok to add extra filtration
to the aqua one 850,while also running the filter that
comes with the tank,and would i have problems fitting it
due to the existing trickle filter and hood?

not sure is there not
another two holes were the return
is for the trickle filter is

Have not got the 850 yet,but its a great looking tank
thats why i am looking for info and opinions.
thanks

 

[KittyKat]

I don't think it is possible to have both filters running. The outlet from an external would go exactly where the pump for the trickle filter is.

Also, if you can, it really is worth getting the 980 model over the 850!

 

[MikeO]

internals and externals

i find that anything
that take waste away
from the tank is a good idea
as with internals the the waste
is sat in the filter in the tank

Im not sure that the logic behind that is quite right?

OK, the external filer is not "in" the tank, but the tank water is still going through it - the external filter canister is essentially just an "extension" of the tank, allbeit one where the fish cant swim. Interesting

I personally run an internal and an external. Purely for the reason I wanted extra flow but wasnt keen on a powerhead with horror stories of fish getting mullered but the size tank didn't justify TWO FX5's and you can never have too much filtration!

 

[the biffster]

external = out of tank
internal= inside tank

internal restricted to the size
of the filter with it been inside
the tank

external out side the tank you
can go as large as you like and
two fx5s are OK there is no such
thing as over filtering

 

[MikeO]

external = out of tank
internal= inside tank

internal restricted to the size
of the filter with it been inside
the tank

external out side the tank you
can go as large as you like and
two fx5s are OK there is no such
thing as over filtering

I didnt say you could over filter.... I said the exact opposite. I said that the size of the tank didnt justify me getting two FX5's (i.e the cost vs benefit). I just think the logic of waste sitting in the tank depending on if the canister is internal or external is flawed.

 

[waterdrop]

(I'm probably coming in late and missing the point going back and forth here ..but) waste separation is separation, doesn't really matter whether the container is in or out of the volume of the tank as far as the separation goes (but it does for volume, which I'll get to).. Among other things, I guess, separation accomplishes a lowering of the amount of debris in all its various stages of breakdown in the areas where the fish are, and concentrates it is a separate place where the bacteria are on the media. One thing I remember kind of "missing" about filters was that the very fact that mechanical trapping collects this debris means that the box is constantly producing a higher concentration of the ammonia and nitrite that the bacteria need, in other words its not just the fact that the flow is bringing new waste in from the tank (ammonia coming off the gills etc.,) its also the stuff that's been sitting there separated for a period of time. Kind of a simple thought but somehow I spent a period of time sort of missing that concept.

Of course, where inside tank vs. outside tank does make an obvious difference is in the overall water volume of the system available to fish (again, a rather obvious and simple observation but one that people can kind of "miss.") When the filter is within the tank volume (internal, undergravel), it subtracts from the available "fish-use" volume, whereas when its outside (hood trays, HOB, external cannister, sump) it then *adds* to the overall system volume. The fish literally are given both a larger volume to swim in and a there is a larger volume of water from a chemistry stand-point. This is another slight benefit that's different from the larger media volume of external cannisters that we usually discuss in this sort of conversation. Does that make sense?

~~waterdrop~~