Filters

[goose22]

i have a interpet fishpod 120,with pf3 filter, had a juwell lido 120 before that, the filter was fantastic, no problems with water quality/infections or loosing fish too often
since having the fishpod, ive noticed how noisy it is, also at the moment i have problems since last Friday ive lost a 3" clown loach, 4" silvershark and the 6" one too, also neon, cherry barbs, silver tip tetras,
Ive had water checked nigh nitrate, my local fish shop maidenhead aquatics (blooms garden centre worcester) said it was a bacterial infection, they said do 40% water change remove carbon then add anti internal bacteria treatment, aquarium salt and mela fix, added the second bacteria treatment today, they checked water yesterday water is now perfect. got to wait 7 days then normal water change.
my question is are extrenal power filters better? and how offten do you change the media in them, as im considering replacing my internal with one of these.

 

[Aquascaper]

External filters are far superior IMO with increased capacity for media, ability to have different types of media in the same filter and the de-cluttering effect of everything being outside the tank (which also means no disruption to the tank when changing/cleaning media).

Frequency of media changes depends on what you are using. Mechanical filtration is no different to an internal, sponges/ceramics are replaced when falling apart. Biological filtration changes will depend on what you're using, carbon will last the same as in an internal (if used) whereas things like nitrazorb, etc. will need changed according to the manufacturers recommendations.

 

[elmo666]

Just as aquscaper, thumbs up to externals, plus you don't have to disrupt the tank to clean them. Turn-over tends to be superior as well. Please use aquarium salt with caution, your clown loach really won't tolerate it too well.

 

[raptorrex]

i have a interpet fishpod 120,with pf3 filter, had a juwell lido 120 before that, the filter was fantastic, no problems with water quality/infections or loosing fish too often
since having the fishpod, ive noticed how noisy it is, also at the moment i have problems since last Friday ive lost a 3" clown loach, 4" silvershark and the 6" one too, also neon, cherry barbs, silver tip tetras,
Ive had water checked nigh nitrate, my local fish shop maidenhead aquatics (blooms garden centre worcester) said it was a bacterial infection, they said do 40% water change remove carbon then add anti internal bacteria treatment, aquarium salt and mela fix, added the second bacteria treatment today, they checked water yesterday water is now perfect. got to wait 7 days then normal water change.
my question is are extrenal power filters better? and how offten do you change the media in them, as im considering replacing my internal with one of these.

ouch that's bed.
whats our stocking before the deaths, please?

an external will help, but only slowly.
even if you add your mature media (if any).
the filter will take time to build up its full colony.
so i suggest daily 40% water changes, till you see 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and some nitrates.
then go back to your weekly schedule.

sponge media needs changed when its falling to bits.
as for the nitrate sponge, junk it, and add some useful extra bio sponge instead.

ceramic media, both mechanical and bio, never really needs changing.
think you will find if vanishes (my money is on little green men)long before it would be necessary.

personally i like Externals because they give full and directional filtration.
you can ensure that ALL the water goes through a mechanical medium, before it get to the bio media.
something only one "mainstream" internal can do.
that's ignoring the massive media area, and the far superior flow the offer.
the trade-off is cost.

as for until you get the filter?
50% per day.