Which External Filter For Juwel Rio 180

[Dana C]

Can anybody recommend a good external filter for my tank?
It is a 180 litre tank with the standard juwel filter in but everybody says this are no good on there own.
I have seen an Eheim Professional 2026 for £99 is this one any good?
I don't have alot of room on the floor around the tank so can you fit a filter in the Juwel stand?

Thanks for any replies

 

[KimA]

Hi Dani,

I've got the Eheim 2026 on my Juwel Vision 180 and it's brilliant - it's very very quiet, adjustable flow, and JUST fits into the cupboard underneath (which was a relief), and no longer needed the internal Juwel filter, so I took it out.

£99 is a very good deal for this - does it come with the media included? If not, I know that Charterhouse-Aquatics online were selling them for £115 including media.

Kim

 

[Dana C]

Thanks for your reply,

I am not sure if it came with the media I will have to go and have a look, if not I will go to the website you suggested.

 

[Dana C]

I have just read that the eheim professional 2026 is 14.8 inches high, my shelf is only 13 inches so I don't think it is going to fit. It's a shame this looked like a good filter.

Does anybody have an external filter in the normal juwel rio 180 stand that fits on the bottom shelf?

 

[KimA]

Ahhhh, see what you mean - just remembered (duh) that my Eheim is in one of the cupboards, but that I had to remove the shelf to fit it in - don't really miss the shelf though.

 

[BlueRam]

KimA

Was it easy to remove the Juwel internal filter? Does it leave marks or scratches on the glass when you removed it?

 

[Dana C]

I will see if I can remove the shelf, the problem is the stand is full of stuff at the moment where I got a load of free sponges for the juwel filter. I think they will last me years

If anybody knows of an external filter which isn't so tall please could you let me know.

 

[KimA]

KimA

Was it easy to remove the Juwel internal filter? Does it leave marks or scratches on the glass when you removed it?

Was fairly easy to remove (but believe it varies from tank to tank from what I've read on here of other's experiences). I used a large carving knife initially, and then a smaller sharp knife and very slowly/carefully cut through the silicon blobs that hold the box on (not a serrated knife as the sawing motion shreds the silicon into lots of little pieces which are a pain to catch/remove if the tank's still full of water). Unfortunately some of the silicon has remained (as I took the box out whilst still full of water/fish), but luckily my tank's in an alcove and the remaining bits left are hidden by plants/outtake pipe etc.

Have a search through the forum for other's comments on removing these.

Kim

 

[Bloo]

Can anybody recommend a good external filter for my tank?

I have a 2224, but have been recommending the 2026 as the newer model.

KimA

Was it easy to remove the Juwel internal filter? Does it leave marks or scratches on the glass when you removed it?

Without repeating myself:

I have removed my Juwel filter without any problem whatsoever - it took less than 5 minutes and I did not have to strip or empty the tank

Just remove approx 50% of the water.
Remove all inner filter sponges & heater (and keep in the 50% water that's been siphoned off; while you remove filter).
Make sure all electricity to your tank is off.
Get yourself a "snap-off-blade" Stanley knife.
The Juwel Filters have 4 blobs of 1" silicone on each side attached to the tank (back & left).
Start with the top front blobs and use the knife in a "sawing" motion to slice through the silicone. Then do the back top blobs.
Then the bottom front.
By this time you can almost just gently pull the filter forward, enough to reach the back 2 blobs (side and left).
Once filter is removed, you can use a (unused or fish dedicated) pot scouring pad to remove any remaining silicone.

Note: Take great care not to let the blade slice into the actual tank seal silicone !

Place all Juwel sponges in new external filter, plug and ply and bob's your uncle

Ps: you can still use your internal Juwel heater - just buy a Heater Guard.

whats wrong with jwel filters . mine works just fine . humph .

They are just fine and if it works well for you - don't panic

My reasons for removing it:

1 - It's very large and unsightly
2 - More importantly it must be one of the most annoying filters to clean and maintain. I found that on my Juwel Vision 180, I had to ensure the filter was checked on a weekly basis and rinse sludge, debris and mulm out or else it would grind to a halt (well not quite but the water flow was extremely poor and I always had particles in the water). I found it quite hard to stick the siphon down those bits at the back right down to the bottom to suck out the gunk. There's a lot of dead space where plant matter etc. just accumulates and rots even though my plants rarely "shed" any leaves etc.
3 - That silly lid design on top is just plain stupid. I've lost a Kuhli loach that got mangled in there (not a nice sight) and two bettas also made there way in there - and all the way down those shafts. The came out a complete mess by the time I discovered where they were. And yes, my water level was correct and yes, the little lid supposedly sat on top correctly.

Sorry, but I'm not a Juwel Filter fan and since I switched to my external Eheim, life's been bliss and the maintenance a dream

 

[KimA]

I will see if I can remove the shelf, the problem is the stand is full of stuff at the moment where I got a load of free sponges for the juwel filter. I think they will last me years

LOL - I've now taken over a bottom drawer in the kitchen as a "fish only" drawer as I had the same problem.

Once the Eheim was set up without needing the Juwel internal anymore, I sold the remaining filter sponges on Ebay!

 

[Bloo]

Oh forgot to say - also just got round to selling my old internal Juwel filter on eBay - for a whopping £27 (excluding postage)!! So all the more reason to get it out and replace with external

 

[Dana C]

I might just get the professional 2026 anyway. If I can't fit it in the stand I will just have to move some things about and stand it on the floor beside the tank, I'm sure my dad won't mind if I move his chair out of the way