Fluval 125 external filter

[.Craig.]

Hi all

Anyone got any thoughts on an external filter running on fluval Roma 125 (33gallon)? I have been looking at the fluval 207 & 307 but worried that 307 might make it like a washing machine.

 

[FishBearer9845]

I really don’t know if it helps but I run two Fluval 107s, one on each of my 70L and 60L. The ‘fast’ setting is very fast! So I appreciate what you mean by the washing machine!
They’re brilliant filters imo, easy to detach and clean and store an awful lot of media. I know that if I set up my fourth tank I have plenty to steal from both without crashing the cycles in either tank.

I also only clean the filters once a month/6 weeks too as needed whereas my hob filters that came with the tank needed some sort of cleaning weekly, even though they came with the tanks, just seemed like they couldn’t keep up with the tank.

Are they a bit excessive on my tanks? Probably, but I wouldn’t hesitate using them or any of the other *07 range on future tanks and I would also just look for tank only next time, knowing I’m going for a *07 filter anyway.

Edit: They’re amazingly quiet too!

I appreciate my answer isn’t directly what you asked but I hope it helps

Kind regards
Sarah

 

[StandbySetting]

Fluval external filters are generally quite poor IME except for the FX series. I'd aim for something around the 10x tank volume in terms of litres per hour. Once media and hoses are factored in it's likely to be half what the manufacturer states. I rate Oase filters personally, as well as eheim, but Eheim are a lot pricier.

 

[.Craig.]

Thanks for the reply’s. I will look into some others as a price comparison and Look at the reviews

 

[malfunction]

Thanks for the reply’s. I will look into some others as a price comparison and Look at the reviews

I’d say the fluval filters would be fine for your tank. I have a fluval 205 (that’s an earlier version of the 207) on my 3ft tank. It has sometimes had to handle heavy bioloads over the years and I’ve never had an issue with its performance (it’s about 10 years old now), but maintenance is always a chore because the aquastop valve is fiddly when trying to release it (they may have fixed this on the newer version). Flow will diminish when you add media, but this is the case with any filter. I think a 207 will be enough for your your tank.

 

[Byron]

Hi all

Anyone got any thoughts on an external filter running on fluval Roma 125 (33gallon)? I have been looking at the fluval 207 & 307 but worried that 307 might make it like a washing machine.

When thinking of filters, the first and over-riding issue is--what fish are or will be in this tank? I have among my fish room tanks a 33g that is 36 inches/90cm in length, and over the last 25 years it has run with a dual sponge filter, and (separately) an internal Aqueon Quiet Flow recommended for a 10g tank. It also has at another time a larger filter.

If the fish intended are quiet non-active, or small shoaling species, you do not want much water current. Live plants enter this too. If on the other hand you intend a tank with a colony of Hillstream Loaches, you want a filter that delivers a much stronger current. Water movement is the primary issue with the filter. Filtration is the secondary issue. This is why factors like water turnover are completely irrelevant. Provided obviously that the fish species are suited to the space, and are relatively identical in their requirements respecting flow, etc.

 

[.Craig.]

When thinking of filters, the first and over-riding issue is--what fish are or will be in this tank? I have among my fish room tanks a 33g that is 36 inches/90cm in length, and over the last 25 years it has run with a dual sponge filter, and (separately) an internal Aqueon Quiet Flow recommended for a 10g tank. It also has at another time a larger filter.

If the fish intended are quiet non-active, or small shoaling species, you do not want much water current. Live plants enter this too. If on the other hand you intend a tank with a colony of Hillstream Loaches, you want a filter that delivers a much stronger current. Water movement is the primary issue with the filter. Filtration is the secondary issue. This is why factors like water turnover are completely irrelevant. Provided obviously that the fish species are suited to the space, and are relatively identical in their requirements respecting flow, etc.

Thank you for the reply

it is a planted tank and the fish in it do not require large amounts of current.

going by what you have said I’d be better with the 207?

 

[Byron]

Thank you for the reply

it is a planted tank and the fish in it do not require large amounts of current.

going by what you have said I’d be better with the 207?

I'd like to know the fish species first, because if this is planted, I would consider any canister too much. Given the plants, but without knowing the fish but assuming they are not those from flowing rivers, the filter's sole job is moving the water slowly through media for mechanical filtration to keep the wter clear--clean is the job of the plants. Biological filtration will obviously occur, but it also does so in the substrate, and the filter is not needed for this aspect, and you don't want to be competing with the plants because they do it better. And chemical filtration should never be necessary.

 

[.Craig.]

I'd like to know the fish species first, because if this is planted, I would consider any canister too much. Given the plants, but without knowing the fish but assuming they are not those from flowing rivers, the filter's sole job is moving the water slowly through media for mechanical filtration to keep the wter clear--clean is the job of the plants. Biological filtration will obviously occur, but it also does so in the substrate, and the filter is not needed for this aspect, and you don't want to be competing with the plants because they do it better. And chemical filtration should never be necessary.

no problem

Cardinal tetra, gourami (honeys + dwarf), harlequin rasbora & cockatoo Apisto, corries (Tank is heavily stocked)

plants are mostly slow growing rhizome plants apart from Vallisneria nana & rotala orange juice.

 

[Byron]

For those fish, something as basic as a dual sponge filter connected to an air pump will work. Or, to avoid the air pump, a small internal filter which is basically a sponge with a motor works. I have this in my 33g, photo attached. I have the one recommended for a 10g tank in the 33g, and there is more than sufficient water movement. And it is easy to remove this and clean it at every water change, it really does pick up detritus and can get clogged.

 

[.Craig.]

For those fish, something as basic as a dual sponge filter connected to an air pump will work. Or, to avoid the air pump, a small internal filter which is basically a sponge with a motor works. I have this in my 33g, photo attached. I have the one recommended for a 10g tank in the 33g, and there is more than sufficient water movement. And it is easy to remove this and clean it at every water change, it really does pick up detritus and can get clogged.

I have an internal running at the moment (fluval u3) which have no issues it was just the fact of removing the “brick” looking thing in the aquarium. I have Covered them in the past with plants but I feel it takes up valuable room in the aquarium & don’t look the best hence why I was thinking an external route.

 

[.Craig.]

For those fish, something as basic as a dual sponge filter connected to an air pump will work. Or, to avoid the air pump, a small internal filter which is basically a sponge with a motor works. I have this in my 33g, photo attached. I have the one recommended for a 10g tank in the 33g, and there is more than sufficient water movement. And it is easy to remove this and clean it at every water change, it really does pick up detritus and can get clogged.

that’s the u3’s for a pic of what I mean. Excuse the stir was sorting the scape at the time.

 

[Byron]

It looks like there is one of the filters in each rear corner. I would remove one of them.

 

[.Craig.]

It looks like there is one of the filters in each rear corner. I would remove one of them.

Yep one is out during water change earlier. So 1 brick remains Lol. Any thoughts on the external filter side of it?

 

[Byron]

Yep one is out during water change earlier. So 1 brick remains Lol. Any thoughts on the external filter side of it?

I guess "brick" means the filter--the one in either the left or right rear corner is more than sufficient. I've had canister filters for years, but only on large tanks where they have a benefit.

Biological filtration will occur adequately without any filter provided the system is balanced. The only need for a filter in a planted tank is water movement, either to provide a current if fish need this, and/or to perform mechanical filtration by trapping microscopic particulates from the water to keep it clear.