Ehiem cannisters and

[Paul_MTS]

Went to my LFS enquiring about external filters and was going to buy a Fluval 104 but they don't stock them as they fell our with the rep!! they stock ehiem and I'm wondering if there as good, as the price is a tad more. I'm looking at either the Ecco 2232 or the Ecco 2234 or the Pro 2222 which I prefer the look of, looks more professional!!

so should i mail order a fluval or get a ehiem from me main man!!

Also my fish want list goes a litle like this-
a ruby shark
bristle nose plec
2 kribs
4 cory's

So i'm wondering if i can use a kind of small sharp shingle with them, I don't like the look of the tiny pebbles and he's convinched me I don't want sand so thats the other option really.

 

[rvm]

Yup, go with the eheim. Great filters. I have 2 Fluval 204's and they are very good, but most people will swear by eheims!!!
As for the substrate; I have a bristle nose in a tank with gravel similar to how youi described, so I think you'll be ok, but why were you talked out of sand? Sand looks fantastic, and I'm now planning on re doing my 55g with black sand!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

cool, i'l be in tomorrow and i think he's getting a booklet for me to look at so I'll go pinty pointy at the pro 2222!!

as for sileca sand, i really like the look of it but after talking to him and his experience it's good but you can't have it asdeep, it's a right ass to clean and looks alful when you haven't cleaned which is also what alot of people say about it on here of posts i'ved read.

aslong a the plants do aswell and the fish won't get injured on it, im happy to go with the small shingle kind of stuff.

 

[rvm]

Yeah, thats cool. My LFS talked me out of sand on my second tank. I wish they hadn't now that I have done one with sand!! If you have it deep, then you have to stir it every now and then (not sure how often) otherwise Anaerobic bacteria build up in it which produce gases that'll kill your fish (thats my understanding anyway!!). But IME it's not that hard to clean, and doesn't look bad when not cleaned. Depends on how often you do it though!!! My other 2 tanks have the fine gravel, and that works just as well, my eartheater is constantly sifting that all over the place!!!

 

[CFC]

Went to my LFS enquiring about external filters and was going to buy a Fluval 104 but they don't stock them as they fell our with the rep!! they stock ehiem and I'm wondering if there as good, as the price is a tad more. I'm looking at either the Ecco 2232 or the Ecco 2234 or the Pro 2222 which I prefer the look of, looks more professional!!

Thats like asking if a Porche 911 is as good as Ford Fiesta Eheims are superior to fluvals in every way possible. As with everything in this world you get what you pay for and Eheims are worth every bit of that little bit more, i wouldnt even consider a different brand of external filter.

 

[rvm]

they're not that bad, maybe like a Merc 55AMG or something, but not a ford fiesta!!!! Thats just harsh!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

well i guess thats one way to put it simple

 

[Tropjunky]

Ehiem are the best but get the ones with the wet/dry system they're more bioligicaly efficiant. and u can have a bigger load on the filter.

 

[Paul_MTS]

woooo those ones are serious kit, mines only a 25galon tank and the one I found had a 75gal recomendation so I'll have 3 times over the power i need which in my mind is a waste of money. Maybe for my next tank