External, Undergravel Or Both?

[Padfoot]

Hi,

I am getting a Juwel Rio 180 aquarium, 2nd hand, and just wondering about filtration.

It comes with the Juwel internal, but i am wondering whether to add more filtration.

Would it be better to go for an external, an undergravel, or both, in addition to the internal?

 

[teaker1s]

from my experience undergravel are crap, they clog and are very uneffective with either air stone or power head.
buy and external filter and don't bother with undergravel as plants don't like them either.

I've got a fluval 203 which has been ultra reliable for years and now a fluval 405 for my bigger tank (05 series) which is an improvement on the 04 some places still stock and easy to maintain and everywhere sells fluval spares if you ever have a problem

 

[Padfoot]

If i went for an external, what media would go in it?

 

[teaker1s]

depends on what you want to do for instance I run-

biomax -Inert ceramic rings that promote powerful bacteria growth. Each ring is very porous, with holes that are perfectly sized to host beneficial bacteria. The large surface areas allow huge colonies of beneficial bacteria to grow. Ideal media for biological removal of both ammonia and nitrate concentrations.

Peat Granules
A highly effective, natural method to soften water and achieve proper pH values for many tropical fish. Can be used to creat ideal breeding requirements of many softer water, lower pH loving, tropical fish. Promotes luxurious live plant growth.
More Info

here is a media page hereclick

 

[Marcos]

You can't have too much filtration but the Juwel filter would be sufficient for your average setup. For a nice tank that size (I want a Rio 180!!) an Eheim 2212 would be easily lost in a corner behind some decor.