Peoples thoughts on filters

I`m just looking for peoples thoughts on the filter they use, on my 350 litre tank I have 2 external filters, not sure of the make All Pond Solutions as far as I remember and both about 70/80 Euro. Now while they do a very good job and I am happy with them I find myself thinking that the trickle filter I made myself for the other tank I have and cost all of about 50 Euro (pump included) is, in my opinion, a much easier filter to clean and maintain and also keeps the tank as clean.In the 6/7 months I`ve had the trickle filter running I`ve never had an issue with the pipes needing cleaning, taking the sponge from the top and cleaning this is simple.My water changes are done from the sump and the heater can also be kept in here.Along with the fact that the sump holds an extra 25/30 litres of water to go through the tank, am I missing something because I`m very close to getting rid of the two externals and replacing them with a trickle in the 350 litre
Just looking for your opinion please

which tank is the sump on? correct me if i'm wrong but the main purpose of the sump is for filtration which sorta defeats the purpose of having a different filter present
also having 2 externals on a 350L is a bit of a unnecessary extra on the electricity when you could get 1 decent size external to do the job more energy efficient?

just my opinion

I don't know much about trickle filters or All Pond Solution Externals, never heard of that make but just to add My thoughts on some Filters I've had in the past or still have running now...

Tetratec - I'll never use these again.
had a ex1200 & an ex2400, both disaters, loud and useless, both leaked

Fluval - I have 3 405's & 2 105's, never had an issue with any of them...
some People don't like them but I do.

Fluval FX5 - different story, amazing filtration but a nightmare on maintenace, needing a long thin screw driver (not included) to get to the impeller is one example...

Eheim - the best I think, top marks all round but a little more expensive than other filters...
have to check the flow sometimes to make sure it's running, it's actually that quiet, top marks

JBL - have one, e1500, never used it yet
I think JBL in general is of a high standard...

that's about all I can add to this one
hope it's of some sort of use to someone...

more replies please, interesting topic ???


Des

evening folks,
ive also had problems with the tetratecs same problems as des mentioned,
had an old fluval 405 that did a very good job. i ran it alongside and eheim 2026 which ive had for about seven years and touch wood never caused me any hassle.
im now running the eheim alongside an fx5 which i think is the best filter ive ever used,
unlike des i dont think the filter maintaince is that bad. i especially like the option of being able to clean out gunk from the bottom of the filter through the tap,

one thing i have noticed with the fx5 is the suction power when the full intake cover is on,is very poor. this occurred even after cleaning the filter out,
what i ended up doing is removing half of the intake cover and covering the remainig half of it in a netting. since doing that ive noticed more gunk being taken in by the filter.
granted i may have to clean the filter out a bit more
hope this helps


stan

Davey-c
The sump as I call it is what the trickle filter is sitting in and where the water that flows through the filter is collected and then pumped back into the tank,the second external filter I now have on the 350l was on the 125l and I moved it to the 350l rather than it being left in the shed as it was running for a long time and I didnt want to lose the bacteria in it, my plan will be to use this on another tank in the future

I`m not saying I`m right or wrong on this, just wondering what others think, I often see posts on the forum with people asking what is the prefered/best filter in other peoples opinion and in my opinion I`m starting to think maybe these expensive external filters could be replaced with something much easier and cheaper!!!

By the way, this is all fresh water tanks I`m talking about, as I`ve never had any experiance with salt water set ups.

Lets hope we get a few more opinions, maybe even someone that might just agree with me........maybe

Thanks for the replys

Chris

thats cool, was just asking so i could get a better picture of your setup i have an interest in trickle filter myself and would like to try 1 sometime.

i have just uset the jbl e900 and the eheim classic 2213 and found both of them prity good filters

Davey-c

When I did the trickle filter I put up some pics if your interested..

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...97-new-filter#131407

It just seems to me when we start with a small tank we have an internal filter and we all want to progress to a bigger tank with external filter, yet when you speak to people with big big tanks they mostly make their own filters

I think it seems more flavour of the month .I have tetratec 700 never leaked when I bought it was told there great and was other filters in same price range I ignored.Seems what ever the best deal retailers gets of suppliers they push that brand as the best filter.Seems to get harder to get tetratec filters pads and filter than say jbl and ehiem at moment.but if tetratec dropped there price to retailer I reckon they be full of them.But on the flip side I've never read of an ehiem filter issue but if they were crap I'd reckon shops wouldn't admit it if they had 100 in stock.

Have the tetratec 700 my self but i do not use the filter pads. Onces they were used up i just used Activated carbon Like D&D and filter floss that you get lots for about €5 at your LFS, just cut to your required size.

I have 3 external filters
tetratec 700 which so far found to be fine.
SunSun 1000 which was cheap out and bought on the bay and working also fine. Its very much like the Tetratec i think even made in the same factory.
And 2 FX5 which are good but i got both mine second hand & the pumps in them are very loud. I would need to replace them before i will start to use them again. But ya they are the best filters i have used to date.

I've been running an FX5 on a 550 litre tank for around two years and find it good and haven't has a problem with it. Going to be buying another one soon as well.

I have no experience with trickle filters but I do think that external filters are overrated, expensive and requires allot of maintenance.

I have fallen in love with the old classic powerhead&large sponge combo, they are just so easy to maintain and cheap to buy. No problem with leaks or clogged pipes and large areas for bacteria to grow on. Saying that I do not have any really large tanks.

The only problem I see with the powerhead/sponge filters are the visual impact in a tank (which I don’t really mind that much) and the fact that it’s really, really hard to find good large sponges in Ireland. So far I have not found one shop that sell sponges cut to size behind the counter!!!

Tetratec EX700: leaked once
Eheim Ecco: Ggood so far apart from being very delicate, plastic bits seems to come off every now and then during maintenance but so far It does not seem to have any effect.
If I would buy another external it would be an Eheim classic.

Just had a look at you build thread b.t.w. and it's looks very well!

Melander

Thanks Melander, and everyone who left a comment, seems I`m in the minority when it comes to externals, still as I say I`ve nothing against them, maybe it`s just the DIYer in me or maybe I`m a cheapskate .Anyway my mind is made up and I can feel a new build coming on for the 350L.

Keep the comments coming

Regards

Chris

The only thing I find with those type sump/filters is that its based on overflow water.
So it doesnt really take anything suspended in the water unless its at the top level.
What size pump do you have on it ?

There's pro's and con's with all filter system as I see it.

Very close to being my favourite, but I no longer use, is deep-bed undergravel filtration (either normal flow or reverse flow). Using a good air-pump or power-head makes little difference.
But....it ain't without it's maintenance problems, and a major problem in a system failure.

In fact, the present marine tanks I have are the first time ever that I have not used undergravel filtration for marines.

Over-head trickle filtration is probably the best in my opinion......it takes little maintenance, there is little in the way of a major overhaul if the system fails..........but it is awkward to instal on many (=most) tanks.
Even better if you manage to have a region of good humidity and grow Cryptocorynes or orchids within the media.

External filters are really internal power filters with a bigger container. There is some ease of maintenance versus internal powerfilters (especially if you have fish that like the taste of your hands ).
The increased media surface area is a benefit with externals, but that is also a bigger problem if the system fails.
Also, more chance of emptying your tank on the new carpet.

I have some fluval "0" series externals.....and find them fine especially as one shop sells them at very good prices.

JBL externals are very good, got a few of them, but their spray-bar is a tad flimsy.

Air-driven sponge filters are very good gadgets. Great for breeding fish, and great for a new tank.
Superb for micro-predators to hunt food on.
They are also something that I would recommend adding as a second filter in tanks being 'filter heavy'.

Additional filtration such as deep-bed anaerobic chambers can be great and can be a disaster waiting to happen.

ian

Hi Ian

Have you ever used a fluidised sand filter on a Freshwater tank?

What would you recommend as media (apart from the usual silica)?

Sintered Glass ? NP? Seachem Products? Bio-balls?

Cheers

Abe

I've experimented with most things in most tanks.
Even protein skimmers in freshwater (very useful in freshwater, but they need to be better than a marine skimmer).

I did some work some years ago on corn-flour filtration......some promising results, but too awkward to take forward. Maybe worth a re-visit of that research when I retire.

When it comes to media, I don't have one particular favourite that I swear by. My filtration media ranges from simple filter-wool to PolyFilter pads with peat, ceramic rings and MicroMec and sponge in different filters in different tanks.
Each has its own advantages and disadvantages....eg filter-wool is great for rapidly building up a bacterial colony, but soon becomes clogged.

What I didn't mention above, is that where I want super-flow in the tank (say multiple 3000 l/h highly aerated filter flows in one tank) then I'd only trust an internal power-filter.....there is no way that multiple externals capable of delivering that power and pressure ready to empty a tank in seconds.

ian