Buying A New External Filter, Help Me Decide!

[loz_the_guru]

Ive been looking at getting an external filter for a while now, and still cant make up my mind!

At the moment im leaning towards an eheim but only because I prefer the look of them! Anyone help sway me towards one or the other?

Ive heard both are pretty good but the eheim is perhaps marginally quieter and has a better build quality.


Does it make a difference whether its second hand or new (other than the years warranty). Anyone point me towards a good deal?


Finally, ive seen and have been recommended several 'fake' tanks via ebay - they seem to be carbon copies of more well known brands. heres an example of a tertratec:

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/AQUARIUM-EXTERNAL-FI...1QQcmdZViewItem

anyone have any experience or an opinion on these?






Thanks in advance!

 

[alnes]

Ive been looking at getting an external filter for a while now, and still cant make up my mind!

At the moment im leaning towards an eheim but only because I prefer the look of them! Anyone help sway me towards one or the other?

Ive heard both are pretty good but the eheim is perhaps marginally quieter and has a better build quality.


Does it make a difference whether its second hand or new (other than the years warranty). Anyone point me towards a good deal?


Finally, ive seen and have been recommended several 'fake' tanks via ebay - they seem to be carbon copies of more well known brands. heres an example of a tertratec:

[URL="http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/AQUARIUM-EXTERNAL-FI...1QQcmdZViewItem"]http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/AQUARIUM-EXTERNAL-FI...1QQcmdZViewItem[/URL]

anyone have any experience or an opinion on these?






Thanks in advance!

Hi, i ran 6 aqua pro 4 1200ltr fantastic little filter same build quality as ehiem same design fraction of the price, i recently bought a tetratec ex1200 not impressed at all the only good thing was the self start? The only thing i would say is try and buy a filter with a brand name it makes sense, my daughter bought 2 un named 1200ltr filters they are dreadful so loud poor performance, she now wants to replace them so waste of money.If your budget is tight go for secondhand branded filter there are some bargains to be had, hope this helps.

 

[loz_the_guru]

Thanks, I thought the fakes might be inferior so will steer clear.

Ive been offered a second hand Eheim 2026 for 35 quid + postage, but it has no media - are these easy to set up as I assume no manuals included. How much is filter media likely to cost?

 

[Nick16]

good price for the eheim, im soo jealous of u buddy!!!!

 

[guppy_man]

Eheim all the way, great filters.

I bought an Eheim 2224 inc media for £65, so your getting a good deal if its in full working order.

 

[Nick16]

Eheim all the way, great filters.

I bought an Eheim 2224 inc media for £65, so your getting a good deal if its in full working order.

brand new? if so where?

 

[rabbut]

You never know how second had gear has been treated, so I prefur to buy new. Some people realy abuse their gear, and obviously abuse make for a shorter working life.

My favorite filters ATM are the Tetratecs. I find them to have better build quality than any other of the four brands I've ran, and dead quiet. They haven't been on the market long enough to say what their reliability is like long-term, but they work great if you follow the manuals. Aqua pro's interestingly enough I have read many bad reviews on, complaints about noise, reliability and media by-pass have all been covered by one review or another.

Eheim are good so long as you avoid the c?!#y Eccos and Thermo modles Pro 2's are probibly the best range they have if you can get them.

I have used Rena XP2's, Fluval 404's, Eheim Ecco something or other (smallest they do) and the Tetratec EX1200's. All apart from the last have realy anying points on them. The Ecco was the worst, I got rid of it long before it's warrenty ran out, very closely followed the the Fluval. Royal pain in the neck to do anything with, and very high maintanance. The Rena was good, but the seal rings can be very temperamental... Yet to find a major fault with the TT's, other than the inlet pipe that needs PTFE tape to stop the seal that allows you to adjust length from sucking in air during a waterchange. Quick easy fix and cheap. Couple of inches of PTFE or electrical tape soon sorts it

All the best
Rabbut

 

[flash22]

media for the 2026 is around 30 inc the foams great little filter i have been running 2 of these on my rio 180's and have just bought the 2028 for my rio 300

very easy to set up,maintenance is easy, just remember to keep the seals lubed up. All the manuals are on eheims site

 

[kiriyama]

Hi mate like Rabbut says you dont know how the pre owned equipment has been treated.
I am vey new to this and recently purchased a Tetratec EX700 , very easy to install and prime and very very quiet (my internal was driving me up the wall), check out www.zooplus.co.uk they have eheim and tetratec along with sponges etc , also have some good deals on eheim pro... give it a look you might be surprised.......

 

[Az-Hudson]

I would only buy new, becuase like has been said you just don't know how it's been treated. Plus you can get new filters fluval 304/405 or the EX1200 which are both great filters for less than £80 online with media.