Aqua One

[danon]

Good evening everyone. I have just managed to talk my wife into letting me have a tropical fish tank and would like some advice on a tank i have seen. A Aqua One 215litres. Looks good but not so sure about the filtration system in the hood, a trickle top filter.Would like some advice before spending all that money, PLEASE.

 

[doresy]

Hi, I am the TFF's AquaOne fan.

I absalutely love 'em. I have the 850 (155.ltr) and the 380 (34.ltr) The 850 has been going for over 2 years with great results. Perfect water stats and crystal clear.

The trickle filter system is fantastic but I prefer my tweaks rather than AquaOne's media sugestions.

This is what I do..........

firstly you do not need to use the top trays that contain carbon with a thin white cotton pad stuck to it. (keep them for a time when you need to remove old medications or colouring from bogwood)

In my 2 chambers I have (starting from the bottom) a thin coarse foam media. On top of that a layer of ceramic noodles. On top of that a thick layer of coarse foam media. Finally, on top of that a layer of fine white cotton media. The white media pads I get off Ebay which are a fraction of the price of AquaOne's.

The long spray bar needs setting in position just right to prevent vibration. Trial and error.

Final tip. The water return shoot is a tad noisy (gurgling) A first I was a bit alarmed but you can stop this by inserting a piece of coarse media in the top of the tube. However I like the sound now so I just insert the media 'plug' when visiors stay over.

Over all I think for looks (tank and cabinet) they are hard to beat. Quality of construction, cabinet 10/10. Tank/hood 8/10. Filtration (with tweaks) 11/10

I hope my (bias) views and tips have been helpful to you. ............BUY IT

 

[danon]

Hi, I am the TFF's AquaOne fan.

I absalutely love 'em. I have the 850 (155.ltr) and the 380 (34.ltr) The 850 has been going for over 2 years with great results. Perfect water stats and crystal clear.

The trickle filter system is fantastic but I prefer my tweaks rather than AquaOne's media sugestions.

This is what I do..........

firstly you do not need to use the top trays that contain carbon with a thin white cotton pad stuck to it. (keep them for a time when you need to remove old medications or colouring from bogwood)

In my 2 chambers I have (starting from the bottom) a thin coarse foam media. On top of that a layer of ceramic noodles. On top of that a thick layer of coarse foam media. Finally, on top of that a layer of fine white cotton media. The white media pads I get off Ebay which are a fraction of the price of AquaOne's.

The long spray bar needs setting in position just right to prevent vibration. Trial and error.

Final tip. The water return shoot is a tad noisy (gurgling) A first I was a bit alarmed but you can stop this by inserting a piece of coarse media in the top of the tube. However I like the sound now so I just insert the media 'plug' when visiors stay over.

Over all I think for looks (tank and cabinet) they are hard to beat. Quality of construction, cabinet 10/10. Tank/hood 8/10. Filtration (with tweaks) 11/10

I hope my (bias) views and tips h

Thank you for the advice, you have just helped me make up my mind. Will be getting it next weekend. As you say, it was the only tank with a well built stand and not cheap looking like most!!!!!! Will be back in a few weeks asking for more help, no doubt.

 

[doresy]

Hi, I am the TFF's AquaOne fan.

I absalutely love 'em. I have the 850 (155.ltr) and the 380 (34.ltr) The 850 has been going for over 2 years with great results. Perfect water stats and crystal clear.

The trickle filter system is fantastic but I prefer my tweaks rather than AquaOne's media sugestions.

This is what I do..........

firstly you do not need to use the top trays that contain carbon with a thin white cotton pad stuck to it. (keep them for a time when you need to remove old medications or colouring from bogwood)

In my 2 chambers I have (starting from the bottom) a thin coarse foam media. On top of that a layer of ceramic noodles. On top of that a thick layer of coarse foam media. Finally, on top of that a layer of fine white cotton media. The white media pads I get off Ebay which are a fraction of the price of AquaOne's.

The long spray bar needs setting in position just right to prevent vibration. Trial and error.

Final tip. The water return shoot is a tad noisy (gurgling) A first I was a bit alarmed but you can stop this by inserting a piece of coarse media in the top of the tube. However I like the sound now so I just insert the media 'plug' when visiors stay over.

Over all I think for looks (tank and cabinet) they are hard to beat. Quality of construction, cabinet 10/10. Tank/hood 8/10. Filtration (with tweaks) 11/10

I hope my (bias) views and tips h

Thank you for the advice, you have just helped me make up my mind. Will be getting it next weekend. As you say, it was the only tank with a well built stand and not cheap looking like most!!!!!! Will be back in a few weeks asking for more help, no doubt.

Not everyone here shares my love of AquaOne's (but they have never had one).
My tank I maxed out in stock level, I tend to be a bit too generous at feeding time yet with just a 7-10 day, 30% water change my stats are ALWAYS zero-zero and 40 (Southern Water Board supply me 40ppm nitrate free of charge )
Anyway, come find me for any guidance on AquaOne Filtration

 

[danon]

Give me 3-4 weeks and i will definitely come looking.

Why do others not agree with you on the Aqua One?

 

[rabbut]

Because of the filter........

The shop at which I work has stopped stocking the Aqua One tanks with in the lid trickel filters, due to the ammount returned after leaking.... Well maintained or modifyed filters should work OK, but if they block, its water water everywhere, out the filter on the floor Not good

The display tank at work is a customer return, after it leaked...We don't use the trickle filter, instead we run an internal, but an exturnal would be better. Stands are very good, unless dismantled to move, in which case they weaken consideralbly...

Don't let this put you off. The stands are good so long as you don't dismantle them after assembly, lighting is fantastic and the tank is good. I'd advise you to budget for a replacement filter though. Their exturnals are excelent, and any brand of internal should work given correct size.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[doresy]

Give me 3-4 weeks and i will definitely come looking.

Why do others not agree with you on the Aqua One?

Expence of AquaOne's replacement filter media cartridges (which I have overcome)
Questionable build quality of tanks
It can be a bit tricky to do a major clean of the power head (but as you only do this every 6 months or so then it's not the end of the world.)
Just personal taste (suits mine!)

 

[doresy]

I just want to say that I actually completely blocked my return shoot before trying my afore mentioned method of quietening the gurgling to make sure it was safe. The filter chambers are designed to allow water to flow back into the tank in the event of a blockage so I find it hard to understand how water could leak on to the floor as suggested.

Of course water could leak if the canopy was broken or cracked in any way but so will any broken filter that takes water out of the tank then returns it.

My, unusually brilliant, LFS has been selling the complete range for years without problems. (I know them personally and would have been advised of any problems before purchasing). Also, having the warehouse with a technology department just 10 miles from my house, popping in for a chat was easy.

Not all set-ups suit everyone I, for instance, think Juwel tanks are plain boring, fixed internal filters are c**p and the stands make 1960's MFI cocktail cabinets look almost desirable.........but they are offered and bought all over the country.

 

[turnnidge]

I have just brought an Aqua1 SF1000 external filter for my tank!

I dont know if it is me being silly or if its normal, I'm just a little bit worried that the pipe will come away from the parts or the corner turning hoop things with the joiners might come apart. Are these ok or do they need extra help to keep it together?

 

[Scotty001]

danon if you like the look of the aqua one your looking at and it looks the same but bigger than the aqua one 850 (inc the cabinet), but not too sure about the filter and prefer an external. have a hunt around for Aqua Vital,

i have the Aquavital 830 and everything is EXACTLY the same as the aquaone 850 apart from came with an external filter and not built into the hood !!! it even has the same cabinet, my local lfs stocks a few more of them in larger sizes too.