Need An External Filter...someone Make A Descision For Me!

[jojouk]

180l tank.

Poop needs to be gone off of sand substrate = needs more flow.

Cant decide.

Arrrgggghhhhh!

 

[jojouk]

Ok, was desperate..i resorted to a diagram...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/376985-sandgoodpoobadso-should-i-get-an-external-filter/page__p__3155338__fromsearch__1#entry3155338

 

[minnnt]

I probably sound like a broken record, but i can't recommend the TetraTWC ex1200 enough...

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I probably sound like a broken record, but i can't recommend the TetraTWC ex1200 enough...

Sigh + infinity

maybe me ane minnnt should apply for a cut from tetratec lol

 

[njstockley]

I probably sound like a broken record, but i can't recommend the TetraTWC ex1200 enough...

Sigh + infinity

maybe me ane minnnt should apply for a cut from tetratec lol

its worth asking them because youve both convinced me from your other posts! mine's arriving tomorrow, so just wait and (hopefully) i'll be the next one to join the ex1200 fan club.

 

[minnnt]

We welcome you with open arms

 

[jojouk]

Do you think that the ex1200 would be powerful enough for my 180l?

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Do you think that the ex1200 would be powerful enough for my 180l?

more then enough. EX1200 900LPH with media 180L tank = 5 times turnover which is what the min recomended

 

[DrRob]

I still can't work out what's currently wrong with going for an APS. I know the flow rate isn't reckoned to be as high as expected. I'm definately considering one of their 1400l/h's for the 48 inch I'm setting up. Especially with the 15% off at the moment. I like the look of lots of the other filters but, for the price APS look hard to beat.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I still can't work out what's currently wrong with going for an APS. I know the flow rate isn't reckoned to be as high as expected. I'm definately considering one of their 1400l/h's for the 48 inch I'm setting up. Especially with the 15% off at the moment. I like the look of lots of the other filters but, for the price APS look hard to beat.

problem is the pipe work is cheap and cracks and breaks and they cannot achive x5 turnover in most tanks in the long run you just buy another filter so they become a waste of money for bigger tanks

 

[DrRob]

That would make sense. Mine is a smaller tank, so I can overpower it to compensate for the difference between true flow and quoted flow.

 

[jojouk]

I still can't work out what's currently wrong with going for an APS. I know the flow rate isn't reckoned to be as high as expected. I'm definately considering one of their 1400l/h's for the 48 inch I'm setting up. Especially with the 15% off at the moment. I like the look of lots of the other filters but, for the price APS look hard to beat.

Yeah, im thinking the 2000 lph model. This gives a 1200 ish lph with media in (or so someone has reported) so with my 180l tank this gives me 6.6 tank turnover per hour.

Even if the lph drops to 1000 it still gives me 5.5 per hour.

As for the cheap plastic inlet/outlet, I think im going to modify it anyway to give 2 spraybars, not one.

So can get the APS for £60, plus about £10 for new spraybars, or 90 ish for the TT EX1200.

Thats what im torn between now

 

[njstockley]

I still can't work out what's currently wrong with going for an APS. I know the flow rate isn't reckoned to be as high as expected. I'm definately considering one of their 1400l/h's for the 48 inch I'm setting up. Especially with the 15% off at the moment. I like the look of lots of the other filters but, for the price APS look hard to beat.

Yeah, im thinking the 2000 lph model. This gives a 1200 ish lph with media in (or so someone has reported) so with my 180l tank this gives me 6.6 tank turnover per hour.

Even if the lph drops to 1000 it still gives me 5.5 per hour.

As for the cheap plastic inlet/outlet, I think im going to modify it anyway to give 2 spraybars, not one.

So can get the APS for £60, plus about £10 for new spraybars, or 90 ish for the TT EX1200.

Thats what im torn between now

my ex1200 has just arrived and its a really sturdy piece of kit...cant fault the build quality. given it a couple of turns and its running at just over the 900lph quoted in the external filter tests so without human error i would say its almost bang on 900lph. this is off a second hand model thats 6 months old (asked seller for proof of purchase). its also very quiet. for £45 i couldnt be much happier with it!!

my new tank is 200 litres so a bit bigger than yours, and will be considering using APS as a secondary filter but very very happy so far with the TT.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I still can't work out what's currently wrong with going for an APS. I know the flow rate isn't reckoned to be as high as expected. I'm definately considering one of their 1400l/h's for the 48 inch I'm setting up. Especially with the 15% off at the moment. I like the look of lots of the other filters but, for the price APS look hard to beat.

Yeah, im thinking the 2000 lph model. This gives a 1200 ish lph with media in (or so someone has reported) so with my 180l tank this gives me 6.6 tank turnover per hour.

Even if the lph drops to 1000 it still gives me 5.5 per hour.

As for the cheap plastic inlet/outlet, I think im going to modify it anyway to give 2 spraybars, not one.

So can get the APS for £60, plus about £10 for new spraybars, or 90 ish for the TT EX1200.

Thats what im torn between now

APS 2000 is 900LPH with media ex1200 is 900PLH ex1200 is £85 just got my 4th

 

[jojouk]

According to the tests in the other post:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/370607-external-filter-tests/page__p__3098086__hl__coldcazzie__fromsearch__1#entry3098086

APS2000EF (rated at 2000lph without media)
Media to be confirmed (ceramics in bag and bioballs I think)
Height on nozzle from floor ~4.5 feet

With 1 piece of modular spraybar: Filled 3 imperial gallon bucket in 54 seconds --> 3.33 gallons per minute --> 200 gallons per hour --> 910 lph (so consistant with coldcazzie, awful drop off!)
Without any modular spraybar: Filled 3 imperial gallon bucket in 40 seconds --> 4.5 gallons per minute --> 270 gallons per hour --> 1228.5 lph (bit better, still not great)

So if I modify the spraybar, this may decrease it even more. Maybe the stock spraybars limit the flow too much?