Tetratec Ex1200 Overkill?

[jenjen_82]

Im looking at buying a external filter and ive found a second hand tetratec ex1200. Would this be too much for a 64 litre planted tank please?

 

[ATK!!!]

I would say yes! I'm going to use it on a 180 litre tank... If you go by what the box says, then its recommended for 200-500l tanks, it'd probably be best for tanks over 150l tbh. What sort of things were you going to keep in it out of interest?

 

[guppi]

You can always turn it down.

 

[Jay1983]

Im looking at buying a external filter and ive found a second hand tetratec ex1200. Would this be too much for a 64 litre planted tank please?

yeah will be way to powerful. Try a tetratec ex600 a much better option.

I have a 110l with the ex1200 and its brilliant but the flow is turned down... just get the cheaper ex600 as it will be fine

Jay

 

[jenjen_82]

I have neons, harlequins, otos and guppies so all small fish. Got told to go for the ex700 and then saw this ex1200 cheap so was worth asking lol. I currently have a interpet pf2 and cleaned it the other day and its so noisy!!

this is my tank

 

[DBT85]

You can just turn it down a bit. Actual flow rate on the ex1200 is about 900lph at full tilt so your tank would get cleaned 14 times an hour at full tilt. Run it at half speed and you have just 7 times filtration an hour.

My father in law had my unused Fluval 305 (I bought the ex1200) that came with my 240l tank to use for his 60l tank and it's working perfectly turned down to about 40-50%.

Remember that you can never have too much filtration, it's just flow speed that might be an issue. At full speed in a 60l tank a big filter like that will create a whirlpool like you get in your tea when you stir it!

Yeah it's overkill and if the 700 is cheaper then get that. But with the 1200 you can always get a bigger tank later on and not have to get anew filter . That's the best reason to get

 

[jenjen_82]

Nooo no bigger tank lol dont think my floor could cope. The ex1200 is £50 second hand which i thought was a bargain?

 

[DBT85]

Nooo no bigger tank lol dont think my floor could cope. The ex1200 is £50 second hand which i thought was a bargain?

It is but you don't know anything about its history (or do you?). A new ex700 is £73 posted from Charterhouse and comes with a guarantee for 3 years.

Have the seals been slathered with vaseline regularly to keep them supple? has it ever leaked? is the impeller about to die?

For the sake of an extra £23 personally I'd just get the new 700. That ex1200 could be fine however. This is the only real issue with second hand items that are of this kind of nature.

 

[jenjen_82]

Think i prob will stick with the 700 knowing my luck will be like a whirlpool for my poor little fishies and will break and flood my house lol

 

[FarmboyUK]

I have an EX1200 in a 100litre tank at full flow and it's all good (at least it will be when my new hose adaptor gets here. Tetratek have THE best customer service!)

 

[stu40]

Bearing in mind that planted tanks usually aim for around x10 circulation.
according to the external filters flow thread here
the EX1200 came out around 864LPH, Ex700=492LPH, both having been used for awhile, and my EX600 (on a 60L tank) was 432LPH (brand new though, so will drop a bit)

 

[Xraymark]

Is it okay to turn the flow down on the ex 1200 for prolonged periods I.e at the outflow pipe. Can this damage the pump?

 

[DBT85]

Is it okay to turn the flow down on the ex 1200 for prolonged periods I.e at the outflow pipe. Can this damage the pump?

It'l be fine at around 50%.

 

[Proxo]

Using a ex700 on a 90L planted that's doing perfect if that helps, 900lph powerhead in there too mind.

 

[FarmboyUK]

Nooo no bigger tank lol dont think my floor could cope. The ex1200 is £50 second hand which i thought was a bargain?

It is but you don't know anything about its history (or do you?). A new ex700 is £73 posted from Charterhouse and comes with a guarantee for 3 years.

Have the seals been slathered with vaseline regularly to keep them supple? has it ever leaked? is the impeller about to die?

For the sake of an extra £23 personally I'd just get the new 700. That ex1200 could be fine however. This is the only real issue with second hand items that are of this kind of nature.

Whilst I do agree that a fresh guarentee is good. I have just purchased an ex1200 second hand. It arrived leaking however I contacted Tetratec and I now have a new head and a new hose adapter on the way free of charge. No questions asked, the filter could be 4 years old for all they know. Their customer service is amazing and I wouldn't be put off by second hand tetratec products.