Recommend Me A Filter?

[bmonki]

I had a rather nasty nitrite spike yesterday which some very helpful members in here helped me work out its probably because my filter can't cope, so they recommended I got a much bigger one.

Currently I have a 170 litre 4 foot tank with a filter rated at 500 lph. We have a lot of neons and cories which I'm led to believe are low waste fish, however we also have two clown pleco. The other members suggested a 1500 lph filter.

I'm wondering if anyone knows of an internal that could cope with that kind of flow? I found a 1200 all pond solutions one on Ebay, would that be ok? The only other option seems to be an external, which depending on size I could probably fit underneath however I have a few reservations about external filters. Firstly are they noisy? I love the fact our internal is silent If submerged and really would rather avoid having any annoying humming noises. Secondly the pipes used on them - can they be hidden? Are they noticeable?. Thirdly some of our fish like the current provided by the spray bar of or internal, can the same be achieved with an external?. Lastly how reliable are they and how likely to break?

The most important factor is price, ill admit I have absolutely no idea about picking a filter, I searched google and literally had a mini panic attack at the amount of options. I need something cheap that can cope. Help!

 

[max1e]

hiya, i'm using a fluval 305 on my 170l tank. its quiet and copes well with my tank. i'm also using a 3000lph wave maker(submerged) for flow as i have plants too, but to be honest the flow is quite good on the filter itself.. i must admit i'm not sure about being able to connect a spray bar to it as it has rigged pipe's. anyways hope this helps good luck

just checked ebay and a spray bar would cost 10.00

 

[bmonki]

i was actually just looking at the fluval 406... but im not sure i could convince hubby i need to spend £130....

good to know yours is quiet though and copes well! thanks

 

[Aquascaper]

Most externals are quiet and any can be attached to a spraybar. Hiding the pipes can be done in a variety of ways, the only thing in tank will be the inlet (smaller than an internal filter anyway) and the spraybar so less clutter overall. I would recommend an external larger than the tank size (200l min in your case) as, once filled with media, the rating drops (unless it's an Eheim or similar).
As for price & reliability, you get what you pay for. A Google search with the filter size will give you a range of options, if you can't choose then list on here the most suitable options pricewise and we can give further advice

 

[alistairw]

Hi again!

As I have said, I have a Tetra EX600, which is good for upt to 120lt (my tank is 90). They do do a 1200 which i think should be OK.

This is a you tube vid of how to set one up: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgI5vXicWdc
I think the principle is basicaly the same for all.

This one is it running with a sprya bar which is included: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESnrIibI18s

Sorry to keep banging on about the Tetra, but its all I know about at the moment and i am really impressed!It is almost silent too, which I assume is the case in all externals.

If you want one today, have you got some decent LFS near your home?

 

[bmonki]

i have 3 LFS that i know of, a maidenhead aquatics, a pets at home and 'living waters'.

so far its looking either to be fluval 405/406 depending what price i can get, tetra ex 1200 (ookl although not sure this would be storng enough?, or an eheim one (they are calling me back with a price...

i wasnt really wanting to spend more than £100 but i suppose if one of those is massively better than the others and fits eerythig i need then i could possibly stretch to it and 'alter' the price when i tell the Mr...

maidenhead aquatics dont seem to stock any known brands from their website... anyone got experience of their filters?

 

[Aquascaper]

I can tell you now that the Eheim will be the most expensive (but the best IMO).....All Pond Solutions do some good entry level externals which I've heard good reports of.

They do a 2000lph model (rated for tanks upto 1000l) for £69.99 which would be fine.

 

[bmonki]

funny you should say that actually - i saw this one link earlier but was led to beliee from certain reviews that this brand dont live up to their flow rate?

 

[Aquascaper]

Which is why you get the 2000lph model which will provide you with plenty for your tank with the added benefit of huge amounts of space for filter media.

You can't have it both ways unfortunately, brilliant flow rate on an external rated for a tank your size will cost money therefore the other option is to get a cheaper, bigger one and accept that the flow rate won't be as quoted (only due to the masses of media it contains) but still plenty for your tank. A lot of the flow issues on these can be sorted by changing the spraybar, etc. anyway.

HTH

 

[bmonki]

it should be plenty the, thats good. do we know if these are quiet?

is the uv model worth the extra tenner? we do have quite a lot of algae atm but thats poss as our filter is poo

 

[bmonki]

well the eheim would be 165... thats a no then lol

 

[Aquascaper]

Told you the Eheim would be expensive

UV is a waste of time, certainly in freshwater, unless you have a separate UV system. The ones built into externals do not get the correct flow rate and are not selective at what they kill off, ie. they kill good things as well as bad. If algae is a problem then better maintenance, better filtration is the key.

As for noise, my friend has one on a marine nano in the living room and doesn't have any issues. If anything it's a faint hum that you soon learn to ignore as white noise.

 

[bmonki]

excellent, thanks - i think im gonna order it

 

[tribalbrit]

excellent, thanks - i think im gonna order it

I have two 405's and would recommend them, look on ebay there are a few second hand ones on there for 50 to 60 quid.
I actually got a new one a while ago for £80 just shop about there are bargains to be had.

 

[Aquascaper]

Maybe it's just me but with something as integral to the tank such as a filter I always buy brand new.