Have Never Bought A Filter!

[xamy_valox]

Hi there,
Tomorrow I am upgrading my tank from a 70 litre to a 125. The tank is coming with a filter, however it is my brothers tank and he has always complained about how much cleaner my tank looks to his. I don't know if this is due to the fact he does less frequent water changes than I do, or down to maybe his filter not being great.
I am gonna see how it goes, but IF it does turn out to be a filter problem I will have to buy a new one. Both the tanks I have owned have come with their own filters (Fluval Edge and Juwel 700) so I have never had to actually shop around for a filter. I'm gonna be going for the standard internal filter as I have nowhere to put an external and wouldn't know where to start with it, can anyone recommend a good brand, or specific filter thats gonna keep my water clean, not kick up my sand and not break the bank?
Ive seen some of the Fluval U Series filters, but not sure as they seem to have a deep water pump attached to them and I don't want it to push my sand around. I also don't want something thats gonna take up the majority of the room as Ive got with my current Juwel tank.
Thanks!
Amy xx

 

[rifty]

u series are great and dont produce a fast current that moves your sand at all i use play sand and its fine!

 

[jacko32]

if you want a more slim lined filter than the fluval U series you can go for the older fluval plus series

 

[soybean]

With the U series you choose whether to have it coming out the top, bottom, or a vertical spray bar - it doesn't do all three at once.

But the older Plus range is much better, I still use them over a U3 I have.

As for one to avoid, avoid the Stingray models.

 

[xamy_valox]

Is the U Filter quite big then? I think I'd need the U3 as that accommodates 90 litre unto 150 litre tanks. I am quite taken with it as the media replacements are relatively cheap online and I can get the actual filter £28, but just don't want it to be huge and take up way too much space.
I also have a really dumb question to ask, but when Ive been looking at pics of peoples tanks, people put their heater sideways, or on an angle, is there any reason for this?! I've always just had mine upright!! Again with my latest tank I can't see my heater as its in the huge black box that contains the filter!

With the U series you choose whether to have it coming out the top, bottom, or a vertical spray bar - it doesn't do all three at once.

But the older Plus range is much better, I still use them over a U3 I have.

As for one to avoid, avoid the Stingray models.

Which setting is it best to be on? The top? I thought you may be able to have it coming out the top and the spray bar.
Can you still get all the media for the older series?

 

[soybean]

Tilting the heater allows for better heat distribution. But I have the juwel system as well, as long as there is enough water movement around it, it's fine upright.

The thing with the branded U media is the polypad comes stitched to a layer of carbon sponge which you just slot in. These are expensive and useless. You don't need carbon all the time and the amount of floss on them is tiny.

There's also two regular sponges, and a centre container of ceramics, neither of which need replacing and can just be rinsed.

My gripe with the U series is just how much wasted space is in them. All the media is housed in plastic cartridges making the whole thing needlessly bulky considering how little of the inside contains media. I've also seen demonstrations around the net of how people have found a lot of water bypasses the media altogether.

Whereas the Plus range is one basket that comes apart for access, you put sponge either side and poly in the middle, the water is drawn in through it and out the top.

There's no need to use branded media in the plus - any sponge and floss bought in bulk unbranded can be cut to size. That goes for most filters really.

 

[Mowbz]

Is the U Filter quite big then? I think I'd need the U3 as that accommodates 90 litre unto 150 litre tanks. I am quite taken with it as the media replacements are relatively cheap online and I can get the actual filter £28, but just don't want it to be huge and take up way too much space.
I also have a really dumb question to ask, but when Ive been looking at pics of peoples tanks, people put their heater sideways, or on an angle, is there any reason for this?! I've always just had mine upright!! Again with my latest tank I can't see my heater as its in the huge black box that contains the filter!

U Series filters are pretty good.

Good points;

Price (Dependant on where you buy, check eBay first)
Fairly reliable (See below)
Switchable "exit pattern" (Top, middle sray bar and bottom)
Easy to get in and out of the tank (Tilt and remove base that stays in the tank)
Easy to change media (Trays that you can wedge wahat you want in, and a small box, that you can fill with ceramic, etc)
Comes with removable carbon layers.

Bad Points;

Impellor issues on all models (Sometimes wont start after unplugging, no-one has found out why but if you leave it 10 mins and turn back on, it will randomly fire up until the next time you turn it off, and it will likely do the same)
They supply a stingy amount of media from new (You'll need to almost double whats in it before you even put it in the tank)
Considering their size, other makes hold more media.(A large part of the bottom/front of these filters is taken up by the impellor system and front spray bars leaving not a great amount for media)

Hope this helps!?

Ben

EDIT: Spelling

 

[xamy_valox]

Ive been looking on the net and can't seem to find anywhere that stocks the Plus range? Out of the 2 I am probably more likely to go with that one as the U series does seem needlessly bulky and gaffing having to buy branded media is a bit of a nuisance.
Does anyone know where I can find the Plus Range? And if its being discontinued will I still be able to get parts etc?
Putting Fluval aside, are there any other filters with a similar lay out to that of the juwel filters with a cage containing all the media that i can just pull in an out?
What about the interpret range? Any good? Anyone had any experiences?

 

[soybean]

You might find the plus one on eBay. I doubt you'd ever need parts, they're very reliable. The one I'm running now is 6 years old and still silent.

 

[minnnt]

APS 1400 external? Would be great on a 125 litre tank and are pretty cheap to say they're brand new. They will also give you a fai amount of space back inside the tank over a massive bulky internal filter such as the u series from fluval and the pf range from interpet.

 

[xamy_valox]

Ive checked eBay, but can only find second hand ones and I'd rather have one from new =\

 

[minnnt]

Doubt you would get a Fluval+filter brand new. But most will be perfectly fine still. Very reliable filters but not very aesthetically pleasing (which internal is?!) The U series is extremely bulky, but the spray bar feature is great!!

I would still go external though.

TetraTEC ex700
Fluval 205
APS 1400

All great filters.

 

[xamy_valox]

I know absolutely nothing about external filters, and as I'm still living at home, my tank is in the living room. Its been hard enough trying to convince my mom to go from a fluvial edge to a 125 litre, there is no way she's allowing an external filter in her living room, theres just no space!
Still none the wiser on what to do =\ Gonna have to pop round some LFSs me thinks and see what looks ok and will still do the job if I can't get a Fluval Plus.

 

[minnnt]

Why don't you want to buy second hand Amy? I should imagine if you buy one from someone with 100% feedback then it should be sound. I have bought a few second hand filters from ebay and they have been excellent.

Has the 125 got a cabinet?

Externals are very quiet these days.

 

[Morphious]

Hi Amy. I bought a fluval +3 off eBay and it is great. Just needed a real good clean. All comes apart too making it that much easier to others I have used. You can also control the flow on the +3. As for the looks inside the tank, I have some plants in front of it so you can hardly see the filter. Media is really cheap too.

Steve