Fluval 205

[MermaidMel]

How is yours set up? One side has 4 pads in it and then there's 3 trays the other side - does anybody use carbon anymore?! What would be good in there, some polywool and biorings?

 

[MHunt]

How is yours set up? One side has 4 pads in it and then there's 3 trays the other side - does anybody use carbon anymore?! What would be good in there, some polywool and biorings?

I have the four course pads first as they come in the filter, then I have from teh bottom, bio rings, bio rings, polywool. Does the trick for me, tank clean and healthy. (apart from the overgrown plants, time for some pruning methinks!)

 

[MermaidMel]

How is yours set up? One side has 4 pads in it and then there's 3 trays the other side - does anybody use carbon anymore?! What would be good in there, some polywool and biorings?

I have the four course pads first as they come in the filter, then I have from teh bottom, bio rings, bio rings, polywool. Does the trick for me, tank clean and healthy. (apart from the overgrown plants, time for some pruning methinks!)

Exactly what I was planning to do mate, thanks for that

 

[rabbut]

If the tanks kicks out any reasonable amount of waste, I'd skip the floss, it makes for a rather high-maintenance filter if it clogs up fast due to the poor surface area in the baskets...

 

[MermaidMel]

If the tanks kicks out any reasonable amount of waste, I'd skip the floss, it makes for a rather high-maintenance filter if it clogs up fast due to the poor surface area in the baskets...

So you think 3 baskets full of ceramic rings then Rabbut (King of External Filters)?

 

[rabbut]

That's how I'd do it if I were to ever run a Fluval 04 or 05 series on one of my tanks again. This said, all my tanks are "overstocked" with very messy fish. Try the floss and see how it goes. If you need to open the filter any more often than monthly, you would likely be better off scrapping the floss and adding more bio-ceramics If it works in your set-up, then great

 

[treefella83]

i run 2x 205 on my tank with ceramic pre filter in the bottom tray then 2 trays of bio max works for me

 

[MHunt]

I've cleaned the filter on mine three times in 6 months, that's using filter floss, it clogged quickly to begin with, but that was with the dust out of the sand and soil settling when I set the tank up. Otherwise it's been absolutely fine.

 

[rabbut]

Cleaning once every two months is high-maintenance for an external... Mine get attention every 6 months in a high-waste tank and running floss (Tetratec EX1200). Still, love them or loath them, a properly set-up Fluval can do a good job of biological or mechanical filtering

 

[MHunt]

Cleaning once every two months is high-maintenance for an external... Mine get attention every 6 months in a high-waste tank and running floss (Tetratec EX1200). Still, love them or loath them, a properly set-up Fluval can do a good job of biological or mechanical filtering

TBH being used to internals as I am, I'm probably opening it up more than I need to. It's only got to a stage once where the flow was too slow to be acceptable, other than that it's fine, and probably me being to meticulous. I haven't got really messy fish either, probably my cory's and bn's produce the most waste, but the waters always clear and without too many floaters.

 

[MermaidMel]

I like the Fluval. Never had one before but it's so easy to set up and use. I like the ribbed hosing. But I'm not keen on the bulky elbows, the locking in mechanism is good but it makes it too chunky. Also not sure why they don't have a spray bar or facility to have one?

 

[rabbut]

You can get spray bars for Fluvals Mel, they are just rather expensive "optional extras". (£12-99 plus postage I think to get the branded version. I just used a bit of PVC pipe with holes drilled in from the local hardware shop)

If you don't need to take the hoses off and clean them regularly, and hence don't need to prime it from scratch regularly (a novelty I wasn't given, due to the ribbed hoses collecting junk in them ) it will stay easy enough to work. When the priming handle breaks though (not as or if, but when) they become somewhat more troublesome to prime. I like how Fluval advertise the priming pump as a "natural motion" primer on their website, just says what the marketing department of that firm think of their customers... When it breaks, you'll fall into the trap of pumping away with the priming handle in a tight and confined space, in a very un-comfortable position under the cabinet for half an hour at a time to get the thing to fill, only for it to air-lock when you turn it on, and then you have to start again...

"Oh, start it full of water." I hear a Fluval fan cry. Erm, if the hoses are empty due to a clean, it will air-lock again IME using that method...

I don't consider anyone an experienced Fluval user unless they habitually ignore the priming handle and skip to sucking the outlet to prime the filter, and just kick the thing when the impeller jams, and syphon a full bucket of water through the filter every time it air-locks... Seriously, they are royal PITA's to prime and start after a few months of use, compared to pretty much any of their competitors. When you find the nack to it though, they aren't overly difficult, but in comparison to the Tetratec's you've used before, they are really aquard bits of kit.

All the best
Rabbut

 

[MermaidMel]

You can get spray bars for Fluvals Mel, they are just rather expensive "optional extras". (£12-99 plus postage I think to get the branded version. I just used a bit of PVC pipe with holes drilled in from the local hardware shop)

If you don't need to take the hoses off and clean them regularly, and hence don't need to prime it from scratch regularly (a novelty I wasn't given, due to the ribbed hoses collecting junk in them ) it will stay easy enough to work. When the priming handle breaks though (not as or if, but when) they become somewhat more troublesome to prime. I like how Fluval advertise the priming pump as a "natural motion" primer on their website, just says what the marketing department of that firm think of their customers... When it breaks, you'll fall into the trap of pumping away with the priming handle in a tight and confined space, in a very un-comfortable position under the cabinet for half an hour at a time to get the thing to fill, only for it to air-lock when you turn it on, and then you have to start again...

"Oh, start it full of water." I hear a Fluval fan cry. Erm, if the hoses are empty due to a clean, it will air-lock again IME using that method...

I don't consider anyone an experienced Fluval user unless they habitually ignore the priming handle and skip to sucking the outlet to prime the filter, and just kick the thing when the impeller jams, and syphon a full bucket of water through the filter every time it air-locks... Seriously, they are royal PITA's to prime and start after a few months of use, compared to pretty much any of their competitors. When you find the nack to it though, they aren't overly difficult, but in comparison to the Tetratec's you've used before, they are really aquard bits of kit.

All the best
Rabbut

LMAO!! Tell it like it is Rabbut, not a Fluval fan I see?

I've bought some standard 12-16mm kits (intake/spray bar) this morning with more angled elbows so they sit better