Fluval Hagen filters - Has anyone used them before?

[MattW]

So my 60L cube tank currently runs a DIY filter. I was getting mulm buildup quite regularly on the substrate at the back of the tank, mainly from the driftwood. My filter has done a decent job sorting it out. Recently however I'm cleaning the sponge almost every couple of days, and if left for too long, the outflow is almost minimal. I think a solution would be something that gets water movement at both the substrate level and the midwater level. After looking, the only thing I can find is the Fluval Hagen U3 & U4. A bit on the pricier side for me, but I think it could be a good investment in this tank. (External filters won't fit this tank)

What sort of experience have other members had with these filters? Good with small fish? Neocaridina shrimp? snails?

TIA

 

[Colin_T]

Internal power filters like the Fluval U3 have small sponges and need cleaning regularly. Sime other brands of Internal power filter have bigger sponges but normally you need an external canister or HOB (hang on back) type of filter if you want more filter media. An AquaClear 30 is a type of HOB filter that can have a fair bit of filter media.

 

[MattW]

Thanks for the reply Colin I'll have another look for alternatives. Sadly a HOB or external filter won't work with this tank. I need to keep the glass lid on as it reduces evaporation and noise (tank in bedroom)

 

[GaryE]

You get caught with this. I have a few tanks where I use an underpowered canister to supplement the regular filtration, as it will remove debris. Sponges or box filters won't, and internal filters clog in a couple of days.

I'm reconciled to the fact that whatever I think I am in life, I'm fundamentally part of an aquarium filter system too. Where mulm builds up enough to be seen, a siphon house goes in for a water change. Otherwise, you spend more time cleaning the internal filter than you would changing water.

 

[Colin_T]

Thanks for the reply Colin I'll have another look for alternatives. Sadly a HOB or external filter won't work with this tank. I need to keep the glass lid on as it reduces evaporation and noise (tank in bedroom)

Undergravel filter and gravel clean it every time you do a water change. If you don't like the noise from an air pump, put a small powerhead on the outlet of the undergravel filter. It will be quiet, the entire substrate will be the filter media, and you can have a full coverglass.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I will never use and internal filter that isn't a sponge or foam. They take up space that can be used for fish, plants etc. They are also harder to clean than hang ons.

I have run 20 tanks or more for years until recently. I have had 13 planted tanks. I had as many as 13 heavily planted. All have lids and I had 28 Aquaclears running. Many tanks had two filters. I have never had o top up my tanks, weekly maint. was all they needed. I have never had an evaporation problem. Not have I had issues with fish jumping from tanks save fro twice.

One case it hap0ened because I had put a H.O.T. Magnum on the front of a tank to polish the water. This mead the front lid sit open bt a few inches. The tank was behind my desk and I had a yoyo loach jump out. Fortunately, this happened while I was at my desk and I heard it, The fish landed next ti me and was back in he tank in under 30 seconds.

The second time was when a newly purchased SAE managed to jump out of the tank at the filter return where it took a miracle for it to do. O doubt this was the sort of thing easily repeated as the leap had to be so precise that it took a lot of luck. A;; of my tanks have flass tops with back strips. I have kept many 100s of fish over the years and only those two leaps happened. If I added up all the different fish over the years I think the odds were greater than the tank being hit by lighting than the frequency of the leaps.

My tanks with the clearest water and minimal nitrate are the one using Hamburg Matten filters. Those tanks have only small openings for the air lines and heater chords. Nothing can get out through those openings. The Mattens are excellent for managing organic waste.

Have a read here: https://www.swisstropicals.com/library/aquarium-biofiltration/

 

[seangee]

What kind of filter do you have and what sponge?
If the filter is doing a good job and the only issue is that you have to clean the sponge regulalry because of reduced flow it may be that the sponge structure is compromised. I found this with cheap sponge - you can clean it in very hot water or put it in the washing machine but that's only a temporary fix. Once the structure is damaged the sponge compresses under pressure and needs replacing.

 

[seangee]

I had one of these in my 20G long. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquael-Pat-MINI-INTERNAL-FILTER/dp/B071HNCKMJ/
Quiet and effective with a decent flow. Sponge is good too - you could add a double inlet from an air filter if you think that's not enough media.

 

[MattW]

Once the structure is damaged the sponge compresses under pressure and needs replacing.

I did once find that the sponge had compressed. I thought it was down to it being completely full of mulm. I got a pack of 8 sponges of amazon, so I will try another sponge.

As for the filter, I made it myself. Basically a powerhead with a 20cm tube down to an inflow that the sponge covers.

 

[seangee]

As for the filter, I made it myself. Basically a powerhead with a 20cm tube down to an inflow that the sponge covers.

That's pretty much what the Aquael I linked to is

 

[seangee]

As for the filter, I made it myself. Basically a powerhead with a 20cm tube down to an inflow that the sponge covers.

Do you have a recommendation for the powerhead? Just realised I will have to do something similar. Needs to be small, quiet and reliable with the ability to attach a tube to intake and outlet ends.

 

[MattW]

I used the powerhead off this NICREW filter. It's small and quiet. Only issue is it wont connect to anything "standard". I sanded down the impeller cap and tube so they could be superglued together. I bet the powerheads from Aquael work just the same, if not better. Plus, they probably are better for attaching to.

 

[seangee]

Yeah - probably the way I'll go

 

[seangee]

Ridiculously overpriced for what it is but received one of these today. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BMG16GN8
Tried a new sponge like they sell on amazon over the inlet and even that collapsed on itself. I also got the Aquael pat mini but have to do a bit of plumbing to attach it to the in-hood drip filter. In the meantime the sponge that came in the box with it is doing a great job without reducing flow.

 

[MattW]

That looks like a good filter. And a similar idea to what my DIY filter looks like. I wonder how much time difference there is between a coarse sponge collapsing on itself compared to a finer sponge. Perhaps I should've switched to a coarse sponge..

Also I may or may not have purchased a Fluval U3

I voided the warranty within the first day . I used a Dremel to saw the blades of the impeller in half. I'm 95% sure a crunching noise was caused by the blades rubbing against the plastic housing. It's been much quieter today, so things are looking good. I also removed those crappy carbon/polyfilter pads. Gone for full sponge (both coarse and fine), and the small media compartment has some older media along with the new included media. I'm really liking the spray bar on this filter. Probably gonna be cleaned once a month. Rather than every few days with my old filter.