Juwel Filter

[Fintastic!]

It says in the instructions to replace the cotton things weekly, carbon monthly, green sponge every two months, rough blue sponge every 3 months, cirax balls every 12 months, 9 months for one of the fine blue sponges and 12 months for the other. Crikey! Does anyone with a rio follow this 'regime' or is it pure marketing??

 

[robertsskippyj]

Hi,

I have a Juwel Rio 180 and until I cut it out about 3 weeks ago and went with an external filter I ran the juwel filter.

I replaced the Cotten filter floss in the top every week as this seemed to get dirty that quick and could only get it clean with tap water so put new in instead.
Everything else can be cleanned in the old Tank water you have just removed, by carfully swilling it around to get any gunk out.

The only other thing I replaced was the seals in the light unit as many here will suggest this is pretty necessary to make sure the water stays away from the bulb ends etc.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

short answer pure marketing, the filter wool needs changing as your stocking demands, would think weekly maybe 2 weeks. you can wash the floss in the running tap once before they fall apart if you like. All the other media should last years and years and should be washed only in tank water when your doing a water change

 

[micko]

I hate the juwel filters. Worse than useless IMO. Rip it out and get an external.

 

[Fintastic!]

Thanks for that guys! Not a chance Micko, beyond broke at this stage. Are they really that bad? Why? Oh dear....

 

[Sahira]

I was gonna ask the same question because have got a jewel rio 125, I've got 2 other filters in the tank aswell.

..So as for the jewel sponges, apart from the poly pads (top white ones for weekly change) we dont need to replace any of the others? Just have to rise them in tank water?

 

[Fintastic!]

And what to do with the cirax balls? Do they get a rinse too? Pardon my ignorance. I recieved a small tank a friend didn't want anymore in July with fish in it so I didn't have to set it up myself. Now that I've expanded I don't have a clue.

 

[micko]

Just wash them in old tank water.
Never used poly pads/filter wool unless it was for removing tannis or something. Just see it as added cost.
I don't like the juwel filters, they're not powerful, that big ugly box takes up a lot of room and once you go for an external filter you'll never look back.

 

[Fintastic!]

Ok, that makes sense Micko. Sadly I'll have to make do for now.

 

[Primous]

Juwel internal filter isn't worth the the plastic it's made from. Rip it out and replace it with whatever you see fit.

 

[dwarfgourami]

It's only the carbon sponges that actually need replacing: I got rid of mine and had an extra blue sponge instead. Haven't replaced any of the other sponges in 7 years, though I do rinse the filter pad out every week and replace it when it falls to bits ever few months. I'm actually very happy with my Rio 240 filter, but then I am heavily planted and not heavily overstocked (yet).

 

[Fintastic!]

Thanks guys. I removed the carbon sponge. Which is the filter pad?

 

[doresy]

I wont repeat the advice already given about not having to replace the media......

However I think it's unfair to slag off the Juwel Filter system in the way some members do.......

It does work and well in my opinion. Back in the day when I first got into keeping Tanganyikan Cichlids I used an old Juwel 125 ltr with the appropriate box internal filter. As with all fish keeping the water needs to be excellent but none more so than with Tang's.

Following a small, weekly 15% water change and a good filter media maintenance program I never lost a fish in 2 years. Water perimeters were always both constant and perfect.

It was a perfect starter until funds allowed for a larger tank and obviously an external filter.

Yes the box is unsightly and balky (but aren't all internals) but you now can get a 'rocky effect'cover to disguise it. My only comment is that being a surface skimmer filter I used to turn it off when feeding to stop a lot of the floating food being sucked in. Just have to be sure to turn it on again!

Good luck with your set up and I hope your find my comments more useful than some.......

 

[ian]

I will also echo what Dorsey is saying...the Juwel filter does what it's meant to do. I ran one for a year on my old tank. My water was perfect throughout that time. The reason i removed mine was for aesthetic reasons and thats it. IMO it's the best internal filter on the market.

 

[Fintastic!]

Thanks guys, that's put my mind at rest though all of your advice is welcome and appreciated!