How long should a filter/pump last?

[teamfargo]

I am looking at a few used tanks and, of course, everyone says things work perfect, etc.

I am wondering though what the life expectancy is on a fiter/pump. The one in question is a fluval.

This tank does not come with a hood/lighting.

I was wondering if a person can just make a wooden hood with the flourescent tubes/bulbs in the top wooden portion...does this work well? Do I still need to put a glass/plexiglass 'lid' over the tank to prevent water from reaching the lights?

A store bought light for this will run 150.00 or so.... I would really like a cheaper alternative if it would look good.

My hubby says just buy a custom stand, etc. but I know he will have sticker shock if he actually prices one!

 

[daisycat]

Not sure on filter life expectancy - we have a fluval on our 30g and it hasn't needed any bits changing in the 1.5yrs we have had it. Seems a pretty robust thing. There isn't much to go wrong really, worst case scenario would probably require a new impeller, which isn't too major I don't think.

Just wanted to caution about the wooden lid - make sure you use some kind of water proofed wood if such a thing exists. We used to have a lid on one tank that was weighed down with a piece of wood under it (no idea why) and water splashing onto the wood eventually made smelly stinky mould grow and we ended up completely changing the hood to get rid of the stench

 

[K-Holed]

Making your own hood is a fine idea. It often looks better than the cheaper store bought ones and is alot cheaper too! As the previous post commented, make sure that the hood is waterproofed prefably, with a suitable non toxic varnish/treatment.

As for the filter, I still have my fluval running 5 years after I purchased it and it's never faltered.

 

[teamfargo]

Thanks for the tip on the wood...I will admit, I thought of the water ruining the wood, but I never considered a smell (which is really a bigger issue!) from rotting wood.

Do the wooden hoods generally have vent holes or other small openings to let some of the humidity escape?

Perhaps I will try to get the hardware store cut me a plexi-glass top and I will just hinge it to keep most of the condensation inside the tank instead of on the wood.

 

[K-Holed]

most wooden hoods have holes at the back for the wires to get in from the lighting unit. best thing to do is pop down to your LFS and try and have a look at some there.

 

[smithrc]

we've just replaced the spindle and impellar in an Aquaclear 301 power head... thats 15 years old made in 1989.