External Filter Recommendations

[leeroy]

Hey all

im ploughing through my fishless cycle at the mo and i've been thinking bout getting an extra external filter for my RIO180 tank. Obviously im running the internal 1 at the mo but what do you guys recommend for an external filter??

Leeroy

 

[timmystood]

Hi Leeroy

It all depends on how much money you want to spend and what sort of quality you want.
You could remove the internal all together and spend a bit of money on an Ehiem or maybe keep the internal and get a Fluval 305 or similar to run alongside.
What are you stocking plans?

 

[leeroy]

AS for stocking list i think:

2 Angel fish (may sacrifice something else to have 4)
4 Bolivian rams (2 pairs)
3 dwarf gouramis ( 1 male 2 female)
10 cardinal tetra
6/8 cory's (species not decided)
1/2 pleco's (dependant on species)

money isn't really an object if it means good filtration.. probably would remove the internal filter

 

[arobinson1984]

I'd recommend a good eheim external filter. Either of the below would be fine. The classics are basic models but have proven reliability, many of which last for 20+ years but it doesn't haveany fancy extras liike self priming feature.

1. A classic 2217+
2. A proffesional 3 model 2075

Andy

 

[Marve99]

I'm know nothing (well very little), but loving my tetratec ex600 (very quiet and easy to set up and maintain)- although you would need something a little bigger Tetratec ex1200 would give you good turnover

Don't Angel fish like cardinal tetra for tea?

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with Andy, if you don't mind the investment, one of the Pro 2 or Pro 3 models would be a good bet for the best you could do. How strong to go with the flow would depend somewhat on how heavily planted and stocked.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[jonny_dw]

Personally I hate juwel internals and think their awful looking and take up ALOT of space. You'd be surprised how much bigger your tank looks when its out. Personally I would get a fluval 305 or 405, I love fluval filters

 

[arobinson1984]

A fluval 305/405 would do the job on the tank but from reviews I've read the fluval externals dont quite live up to the same high standards that the jewul internals have. On the externals there has been problems with the priming feature breaking after 3/4 uses and just other little niggly things, they dont tend to have the same build quality as some of the others.

If money is no object then an eheim is the way to go, they are renowned across europe for being one the best cannister filters available to buy today.

Agree with waterdrop, a good sized pro 2 or 3 would be great on the tank, even a classic 2217+ would be a fantastic cheaper option as you would get a filter with proven reliability, just without the fancy extras meaning you would have to suck water through yourself when priming the filter

I have a eheim pro 3 2075 on my rio 125 tank providing 10x turnover and water quality is always

Andy

 

[leeroy]

thanks for the replies all.... think i'll look into the eheim pro's.

im hoping the angels and cardinals will get along!!!

 

[rabbut]

For good filters, look at;

Eheim Classic 2217/ProII 2028 ranges. I'd avoid the Eheim 2075 for the minuite, as the electronics have either been bought it on Eheim have just moved into them. We may still find that the electronics of the ProIII series caurse reliability issues later for that reason...
Rena XP2
Tetratec EX1200
Aquaone 1200 (though they are no longer producing spares for any of their gear)

HTH
Rabbut

 

[arobinson1984]

The pro 3 2075 doesn't have electronics rabbut, there is an electronic version which is the 2075e

Mine is the 2075 without the electronics and is great

Andy

 

[jmkgreen]

The 2075 does not have electronics (except the pump, obviously). Do you mean the Pro 3e models with flow controls?

 

[rabbut]

Aye, those ones I always get caught by that one

 

[leeroy]

any1 know the best place to look for the eheim 2075? also whats the maintenance like with them??

Lee

 

[arobinson1984]

I got mine from here: Eheim 2075 this is presuming your in uk?

Ignore the line in the description that says "maintenance and flow rate indicator" it doesnt have this, it is the electronic models that have this (2075e) I have contacted chaterhouse to point this out but they still havent changed it on the website.

Once the filter is cycled and running I find it only needs cleaning out every 3-6 months, it can probably go even longer before flow is seriously reduced but I like to keep it fairly clean.

Andy