Hydor Prime 20 External Filter

[cookie_db]

I've been offered one of these filters but was wondering what people thought of them. I'd be running it in a 45cm (H) x 120cm (W) x 40cm (D) tank along side my fluval 4 plus. I don't think it comes with a manual, does anyone know if there's one online? I haven't been able to locate one yet. Also what media would be best to put in this if I was to get it? Not sure what's in it at the moment.

Thanx
Dani

 

[Graeme Edwards]

I have one of these.
Its "OK", nothing special, but you get what you pay for. The flow rate seems slow, but that could be down to what i have as media. I bought one of the Ehime filter media kits and used that. I have lots of bio media in my filters. The one thing that is a real pain in the proverb is getting the lid off. There isn't any handles or anything to grip to get it of, and with the vacume and wet hands its a real pain.

I give it 5 out of 10, no no 6, hope this helps.

Regards,
Graeme.

 

[cookie_db]

Thanx for the reply I'm probably going to get it as I've been offered it for nothing and I can always get another one day if the need be. The media for external filters still confuses me, never really looked at it as I wasn't planning on getting an external for another 6 months or so. Was going to start looking at it all in a couple of months so any recommendations on what I should be using would be appreciated. Or what media is what as well

Thanx
Dani

 

[Graeme Edwards]

With the Prime 20, the water enters the top of the cannister and then travels down and round the media bucket within. When it gets to the bottom it passes through a grill and starts flowing UP through your media. So the very bottom should be a mechanical media ( heavy gage sponge or ceramic hoops) then go for a finer grade sponge then either finer still or go for filter wool. After that, at the very top of the filter, the last stage of filtration you should have your biological filtration. This would be a super high porous gravel like media, like SERA syporax of Ehime bio balls etc. The Idea is to have the filterd water as clean as possible passing through the bio media so that the bacteria have 100% suface area to colonise, thus having a healthy water colum.
External filters offer the best filtration for any tank IMO.

Is this helping?

R,
Graeme.

 

[sharpshark]

I have a PDF manual for this, PM me with an email address if you want a copy.
Hope this helps

 

[cookie_db]

Graeme that's cleared things up alot for me. Thanx. Now I know what I'm looking for to put in it I can start seeing who does what and for the best price

Sharpshark I've sent you a PM. Thanx

Dani

 

[raptorrex]

i have a 30 on my system, i cant fault the filtration, but the ancillary bits are crap! though cheap to get when they do break. given the right price, i would get another, but i feel the £80 for mine is ott. i must say again i cant fault the filtration!

 

[cookie_db]

Cool. As long as it's gona do a good job I think I can handle struggling with the maintenance for now. Thanx sharpshark, PDF file received. Now just got to let my mate know I want it. Shame he dismantled his tank before I set mine up, could've saved myself the long cycling process.

Thanx guys
Dani

 

[raptorrex]

Cool. As long as it's gona do a good job I think I can handle struggling with the maintenance for now. Thanx sharpshark, PDF file received. Now just got to let my mate know I want it. Shame he dismantled his tank before I set mine up, could've saved myself the long cycling process.

Thanx guys
Dani

cool, keep us posted on how your cycle goes.