Filter Advice And Another Point

[Johnny287]

Well, I have rehomed the messy gibbi, he's gone to a better place. I'll miss him though Any recommendations as to something fairly similar but obviously much smaller and less messy?

I am currently bidding on a nice Fluval 305 external filter on Ebay, and I've already done two big water changes since I posted this article. In fairness, the fish in there already seem a bit more lively. I've also stuck a few small grassy plants in there too. The gibbi was surprisingly easy to catch, I was expecting him to freak out when I was trying to net him, but he moved really slowly, then literally swam right into the net!

 

[james_fish]

Well, I have rehomed the messy gibbi, he's gone to a better place. I'll miss him though Any recommendations as to something fairly similar but obviously much smaller and less messy?

There are hundreds of potential replacements for you Gibby. In a tank that size you don't want anything that can grow over 7" long. Check out Planet Catifsh (L-Number Section) and see if there are any that take your fancy. Some Pleco's cost quite a bit, but they are beautiful. I have an L202 (Peckoltia lineola) here he is, quite an old picture though:

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Where are you located?

 

[Johnny287]

Aw he's lovely James. Something like that would be perfect! I'll have a look at that site, cheers for that. I'm in Preston currently, but may be on the move in the next few months. What you thinking?

 

[james_fish]

Aw he's lovely James. Something like that would be perfect! I'll have a look at that site, cheers for that. I'm in Preston currently, but may be on the move in the next few months. What you thinking?

Your in Preston? Great! Have you ever been to Pier Aquatics in Wigan? They have a fabulous selection of L-numbers (that's where mine is from) They are one the best shops here up north. If you have access to travel I recommend you pop down one day and have a look around

James.

 

[Johnny287]

Aw he's lovely James. Something like that would be perfect! I'll have a look at that site, cheers for that. I'm in Preston currently, but may be on the move in the next few months. What you thinking?

Your in Preston? Great! Have you ever been to Pier Aquatics in Wigan? They have a fabulous selection of L-numbers (that's where mine is from) They are one the best shops here up north. If you have access to travel I recommend you pop down one day and have a look around

James.

Ah brilliant! I will certainly pop down then in the near future. There really are hundreds on that site aren't there! I'll aim to get one that fully grown is no more than around 7" then. Thanks a lot for that, I'll be off to Wigan soon then!

 

[james_fish]

Aw he's lovely James. Something like that would be perfect! I'll have a look at that site, cheers for that. I'm in Preston currently, but may be on the move in the next few months. What you thinking?

Your in Preston? Great! Have you ever been to Pier Aquatics in Wigan? They have a fabulous selection of L-numbers (that's where mine is from) They are one the best shops here up north. If you have access to travel I recommend you pop down one day and have a look around

James.

Ah brilliant! I will certainly pop down then in the near future. There really are hundreds on that site aren't there! I'll aim to get one that fully grown is no more than around 7" then. Thanks a lot for that, I'll be off to Wigan soon then!

Might be worth you making a couple of trips.
1st trip to have a look around and note down some species you like, go home to research them to see if they are suitable for your tank. And then make the trip back to hopefully buy the one you like

Be warned though, as you might accidently like one that's worth quite a lot Mine was £18 when I got him.
Obviously they have different species ranging from different prices.

James.

 

[Johnny287]

Yeah I actually did that in the past, I saw gold nugget plec I think it was called, and even a small one was about £30, which to me is a lot to spend on a small fish. I shall have a trek down there soon, and have a scope round. Very sensible I think to look round, then come back and do some research. It's not far to Wigan to be fair so no biggy.

 

[james_fish]

Yeah I actually did that in the past, I saw gold nugget plec I think it was called, and even a small one was about £30, which to me is a lot to spend on a small fish. I shall have a trek down there soon, and have a scope round. Very sensible I think to look round, then come back and do some research. It's not far to Wigan to be fair so no biggy.

It's really worth a trip mate, some of the stuff they get in there is unreal! Every so often you'll find things in there you wouldn't find anywhere else in the country. The guy who owns it breed's freshwater Stingrays aswell. First guy to do it in captive in the UK apparently! It safe to say he knows his stuff, and he's an okay bloke too.

My personal favourite thing I saw in there had to be a fully grown Fire Eel, beast of a creature as long as my arm. They have all types of fish covered though

Here is their site: Pier Aquatics, Wigan.. Sites a little dated but gives a good idea of their stock etc.

James.

 

[Johnny287]

Yeah I actually did that in the past, I saw gold nugget plec I think it was called, and even a small one was about £30, which to me is a lot to spend on a small fish. I shall have a trek down there soon, and have a scope round. Very sensible I think to look round, then come back and do some research. It's not far to Wigan to be fair so no biggy.

It's really worth a trip mate, some of the stuff they get in there is unreal! Every so often you'll find things in there you wouldn't find anywhere else in the country. The guy who owns it breed's freshwater Stingrays aswell. First guy to do it in captive in the UK apparently! It safe to say he knows his stuff, and he's an okay bloke too.

My personal favourite thing I saw in there had to be a fully grown Fire Eel, beast of a creature as long as my arm. They have all types of fish covered though

Here is their site: Pier Aquatics, Wigan.. Sites a little dated but gives a good idea of their stock etc.

James.

Erm, wow..... What a range of unusual and interesting fish! Well I'm slightly gutted I haven't found out about this place before! Considering I have a fully stocked tank I feel like I should've found this place sooner! Well I'll be heading down there soon. I've even considered the prospect of getting a second tank when I move house next.

 

[Johnny287]

Quite fancying the L262. Only small, but looks lovely. Wonder how much he'd be.......

 

[Johnny287]

Hi guys. Right, new filter has arrived (and both fish have now been rehomed too). So, can anyone please give me some advice on this Fluval 305 filter? It says the filter comes with media in the trays they recommend, but as I've bought this second hand, the trays are empty. Any suggestions on which trays should carry what media? I've read through the manual, but it just states "choose the setup which is right for your aquarium", but I don't know what that is!

As a reminder, I have a 200 litre tank, which has live plants, currently running a Fluval U4 internal filter, and now only have an angel, plus lots of small fish in there!

 

[fluttermoth]

The order doesn't matter too much, but in general it's best to go from coarse at the bottom to fine at the top. that way your biomedia lasts longer before it gets clogged, and the fine stuff which needs rinsing more often is where it's easier to get at

 

[Johnny287]

The order doesn't matter too much, but in general it's best to go from coarse at the bottom to fine at the top. that way your biomedia lasts longer before it gets clogged, and the fine stuff which needs rinsing more often is where it's easier to get at

Ah great, cheers. Although just looking now, the flow of water actually goes from bottom tray to top (after it's gone through the foam), so I think biomedia on top then in that case? Man, this is a tad more involved than my current filter!

 

[fluttermoth]

In most externals the flow goes from the bottom to the top!

I should have phrased it more clearly; the coarsest media (sponge with large holes/bioballs/ceramic noodles) goes first in line, then your finer sponges or polyfilter (floss/wool) near the end of the process

They are a bit more complicated, at first, than your 'normal' internal filters, but you soon get used to it, and the benifits to your tank are well worth it.

Oh, and do remember, the order doesn't matter that much

 

[KittyKat]

The prefilters first (they're the ones which go down the side of the baskets), then all three baskets full of bio media of your choice, top-most basket has a layer of fine filter wool/floss on top of the biomedia (polishing filter).. is how I used to have mine set up. Then, I replaced the polishing wool on a regular basis and cleaned the pre-filter too. The bio-media needed very rare cleaning, in this setup.