Question About Tetra Tec Ex 1200 External Filter

[Leila2]

I got one of these second hand. I am not sure what the filter media is that is in the little bags. I especially wanted to know if it is carbon. Also - there is more than one black sponge in the filter and I am not sure how to tell if they are both carbon or not. Are there any black sponges in this that are NOT carbon filters? At the moment I am just using everything that came with the filter in my newest tank (208litre) because I am not sure what to leave out.

 

[sjolliff]

The ones in the bags are carbon, you dont really need them unless your trying to remove any meds etc

all the sponges are just sponges, you will have some black bio-balls, ceramic rings and a filter floss pad

 

[Leila2]

The ones in the bags are carbon, you dont really need them unless your trying to remove any meds etc

all the sponges are just sponges, you will have some black bio-balls, ceramic rings and a filter floss pad

Thanks for that info. I also have these kind of sponges though
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/TETRATEC-CF600-700-1...id=p3286.c0.m14
which are supposed to be a carbon filter. I think I should probably remove these also but am not certain.

 

[sjolliff]

There not sponges just carbon in bags. you only need them for removing meds,colouring or odours

 

[Leila2]

I'd like to ask something else - the filter is extremely heavy while filled with water. I had to open it to take out the carbon bags and now have back ache from shifting it just out of the cupboard. There was no chance to pick it up and move it to the kitchen. Any cleaning will have to take place on the floor by the tank because of the weight of this thing. It seems a bad design from that point of view. Is there a solution to this such as a way to drain the water from the filter back into the tank before removing it? Is this a problem with all other external filters of similar capacity?

 

[Geoff1991]

I cant imagine it being that heavy the ex1200 is only about 10 litres of water isnt it? If its too much for you, syphon some water out first.

 

[Leila2]

I cant imagine it being that heavy the ex1200 is only about 10 litres of water isnt it? If its too much for you, syphon some water out first.

It feels like about 40kg or so!

 

[sjolliff]

Its not that much a litre of water is 1KG in weight, it holds around 10L of water, so with water and the filter i would say around 15KG ish

You could siphon some water out into the bucket, or like i do take the baskets out place in a bucket, then move where ever

 

[Leila2]

Its not that much a litre of water is 1KG in weight, it holds around 10L of water, so with water and the filter i would say around 15KG ish

You could siphon some water out into the bucket, or like i do take the baskets out place in a bucket, then move where ever

Good idea about putting the stuff in a bucket, although I found it still makes a puddle on the floor/in the cupboard.
Surely you need some kind of electric siphon if the container you are siphoning out of does not have deep enough water to aggitate the syphon up and down inside it (submerged) to get the flow going? I hate syphons! I only use one for some substrate vacuuming.