Recommended Filters

[Thuggerz]

Hi, there so many bloody filters out there i don't know which one should get my ££££?

I have a 154l or 34g tank but i haven't decided what I'm going to stock it with. I want a filter that can process this amount of water or double that to make sure that water is safe. I have a budget of £100 but hopefully can get one for less. If anyone can recommend a internal or External make or anything thing to start me off?

Kind Regards, Richard

 

[AdAndrews]

Tetratec ex1200, have a look on ebay, can get them for around £85

I have one, and find it a good design, easy to use, sturdy, quiet and powerful, you would be better off with an external and seen as you have quite a reasonable budjet for one you may aswell put that hard-earned cash to good use.

 

[Thuggerz]

Hi, i will take a look and thanks for the reply.


Kind Regards, Thuggerz

 

[Thuggerz]

Hi, i found this but wont say where because someone will steal it. I can get hold of it for £78 or maybe a little less, how does that sound?


Details:

etratec EX1200 External Filter like new

comes with all new trays and ALL new media new floss filter

A new none return valve. and new PIPES

it does not come in its original box

 

[rabbut]

If it's second hand and older than a month or so old, it isn't worth it, as new they are not much more than that. Buying second hand you never know how gear has been treated, so it may suffer premature failures if it's been miss-treated. I'd be looking at new gear for that reason personally, but if you get second hand, expect to pay £40-£50 for it

Tetratec EX1200's, Rena XP2's and Eheim 2028's are all good filters that would do a good job on that tank if you go external. You'd be hard pressed getting the Eheim in your budget new however, and the Rena will be hard to find in budget, but possible.

if you go internal, a Fluval 4+ would be good if you can find one. They have been replaced with the U4 now, so may be tricky to fine. I've heard mixed reviews on the U4 though...

Internals are great on small tanks and/or light stockings. If you want a heavy stocking or mid-large tank, your better off with an external IMO

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Thuggerz]

If it's second hand and older than a month or so old, it isn't worth it, as new they are not much more than that. Buying second hand you never know how gear has been treated, so it may suffer premature failures if it's been miss-treated. I'd be looking at new gear for that reason personally, but if you get second hand, expect to pay £40-£50 for it

Tetratec EX1200's, Rena XP2's and Eheim 2028's are all good filters that would do a good job on that tank if you go external. You'd be hard pressed getting the Eheim in your budget new however, and the Rena will be hard to find in budget, but possible.

if you go internal, a Fluval 4+ would be good if you can find one. They have been replaced with the U4 now, so may be tricky to fine. I've heard mixed reviews on the U4 though...

Internals are great on small tanks and/or light stockings. If you want a heavy stocking or mid-large tank, your better off with an external IMO

All the best
Rabbut

Hi Rabbut, I dont have any clue when it come to externals. Do you think the Tetratec EX1200 would be alot more difficult to use and maintain than a Internal Fluval 4+?

Cheers

 

[rabbut]

Hi Thuggers,

I got your PM.

The Tetratec filter is easy enough to use. You plumb up all the pipes, which is literally a case of pushing them onto the fittings and tightening a nut, then you press a big black button (once usually, occasionally twice) then go make & drink a cup of tea while it fills itself up. At that point you plug it in and forget about it for 6 months or so... To clean it, you basically turn off, lift the quick release leaver and take the filter to somewhere like a sink to clean all the bits (in tank water of course) as per the instructions (takes all of 15mins). After that, you take it back, lower the quick-release leaver and give it time to fill itself up again. After a cup of tea, plug it in again and forget about it for another 6 months.

With an internal, you plug it in and leave it for a week or two, then strip, clean it all, re-assemble and plug it in again.

With externals, you let them run far longer between cleans (I meant 6 months literally). With internals there is less to clean each time, but you have to clean far more frequently.

The U4 actually looked really complicated for an internal filter when I took one out of the box the other day. I'm sure it's not really, but as I haven't used one personally, and it's all a bit alien to me, it does look trickier than most internals to work on.

I'd suggest the Tetratec EX1200 out of the two filters you are looking at, but if you have to get an internal, really do try track down a Fluval 4+. A few dealerships do still have them in stock

All the best
Rabbut

 

[onebto]

If your after a Fluval 4+ charter house sell them i think they are awaiting more stock ?

http/www.charterho...ter-p-1488.html

Regards onebto

 

[rabbut]

I may be wrong here, but I thought that Fluval did not make the 4+ any more, as it's be obsoleted by the U4... If that is the case and Charterhouse buys directly from the manufacturer (which I believe Charterhouse do), they wont be getting more stock of the 4+ if they don't have any left... Their stock-checking part is driven by the database behind their ordering system, and that "we are currently awaiting stock of this item" message will be automatically produced whenever the database says there is zero stock of it... There won't be a person doing that at the other end on a site like that...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[onebto]

I may be wrong here, but I thought that Fluval did not make the 4+ any more, as it's be obsoleted by the U4... If that is the case and Charterhouse buys directly from the manufacturer (which I believe Charterhouse do), they wont be getting more stock of the 4+ if they don't have any left... Their stock-checking part is driven by the database behind their ordering system, and that "we are currently awaiting stock of this item" message will be automatically produced whenever the database says there is zero stock of it... There won't be a person doing that at the other end on a site like that...

All the best
Rabbut

you may well be wright there still showing awaiting stock