Filters, Heaters? Im Lost!

[Sarah5098]

I have a tank 80x40x30cm, i want to know any advise on what filter system to get, it has an old UGF, but ive heard these are well outdated now. I am wanting to keep some tropical fish but have no idea what to start with! I also still need a heater and plants!
Any advise on any of these things would be fab!
Bit Lost,
Sarah

 

[youngfisher]

IMO, Look on ebay for heaters.

 

[rabbut]

You have 96 liters of volume there, assuming no displacement from decorations and you are full to the rim This is as near as makes little difference 20 gallons.

This means you need a 100 Watt heater. I personally favour Visitherm for internal heaters, and Hydors if I'm using an external canister filter this said, Hagen Elite, Fluval Tronics and Tetratec heaters have all served me well in the past. I would avoid Superfish heaters like the plague though, their average life span with me was 1 month, after 5 replacements, I gave up and switched brands

For filters, you have two "main" options and a couple of side-lines. The main two are Internal and External (also called Canister) filters. HOB's would be one side-line option, but harder to get here in the UK, along with UGF and all manor of air driven filters UGF are the best for biological and mechanical filtration, but are high maintenance and can be hard to work with. Air driven filters may be the cheapest to run, and are good for biological filtering, but they are noisy and not great at mechanical work. If you are interested in any of the "side-line" options, let me know and I'll do yo are write-up on them in more detail

External canister filters are my filter of choice wherever possible these days, but they are more expensive than their internal counter parts. They are silent (the good brands like Eheim, Tetratec and Rena) and really low maintenance, needing attention at about six monthly intervals IME (Bar Fluvals that seem to need weekly attention when under the same load with the same pump ratings :shrug: )

Internals are cheap, but usually need weekly or fortnightly cleans. They are good for mechanical filtering, but biological, the most important filtration the filter does, can be a bit weak on many models due to a lack of filter media. Fluval's were my make of choice for internal filters when I used to run them

If you choose the filter type you prefur, we can then help you pick the make and model for you

HTH a bit
Rabbut

 

[Sarah5098]

Your advise has been ever so helpful! I think i will aim to go for an external and internal filter as i dont think i could afford another filter at short notice (looking at between 30-50 pounds external, is that about right?) so just incase one breaks down on me

Now its just saving up my pennys, its not until you really get into it that you realise fish keeping is an expensive start up. I already have the tank, gravel, rocks, test kits and stuff though so i will keep posted how i get on.

Thanks for all the help
Sarah

 

[rabbut]

An external for a 90l tank will set you back nearer £100. Manufacurers are a tad "optimistic" about what their filters will run.

I'd likely try get a pair of Fluval 2/3+'s (internals) while they are still available. They are proven bits of kit that have now been disscontinued. I'm not sure how the U series compairs for reliability, nobody can know, as they haven't been about for a long time. Hagen have had a habbit of breaking their good gear recently IMO, so stick to their old tried and tested models if you can...

HTH
Rabbut

 

[Amerce]

If money is a bit tight keep the UG going until you can afford a decent filter, you will only need one filter ... be it external or internal you won't need both.

Ebay or Aquarist classified are good for getting 2nd hand kit or you can put a Wanted ad on this site to see if anyone has an old filter that they no longer require.

If you don't want 2nd hand then do a web search and see if any of the shops will do a "price match", they normally will if the item is not on "sale".

 

[lordofthesea]

i find internal filters are the best as they are cheaper, easier to maintain and also in my opinion they work just as well as external filters. you don't need both.

yes fishkeeping can be expensive at the start but if you look on the net, you can find lots of cheap devices. also, in general it rarely goes wrong and lasts for years!

 

[Sarah5098]

Thanks for all the advise, this sight is fab and so much better than my LFS that couldnt explain cycling to me! (They told me to leave the tank for a week before adding fish) Im saving up now for an internal filter and will just try to hide it with plants

I am looking to buy a fluval no. 3 as these are really reasonable on ebay

My partner has also very kindly bought me an eheim 2012, if there are bad reviews please let me know as i still have the reciept.

Do i need the heater to begin cycling? or can i start cycling and add the heater later?

Thanks to everyone for all their help!
Sarah

 

[rabbut]

Your bacteria multiply fastest in a heated tank running at 30c. You can start the cycle without the heater, but progress may be slow

The Eheim internal filters apparently have a habbit of dumping a lot of rubbish into the tank when you remove them for cleaning. This said, I find this to be the case with any internal... They certainly work well and are as reliable as any other internal filter though TBH

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Sarah5098]

Ill give it a go then and see how it is cos with two internals im sure i cant go wrong, ill just switch!

Is it worth still running an air pump?

I will start my fishless cycle in a couple of days then and hopefully add my heater next week (when i get paid) lol.

Getting really excited now!

Thanks to everyone!
Sarah

 

[rabbut]

You can add an air pump if you like, but it will mainly be for asthetics rather than finction, if you aim the outlets to ripple the water surface

i find internal filters are the best as they are cheaper, easier to maintain and also in my opinion they work just as well as external filters. you don't need both.

Externals are better than internals IMO, as they are easier to clean, don't foul the tank when you remove them for cleaning, don't need cleaning anywhere near as often (every 6 months is average for mine) and remove clutter from the tank. I personally don't do internals any more. They do a reasonable job though, and are a better choice for someone on a budget however, internals do limit you on tank size. They do not perform well past 50 gallons, about 250 liters

All the best
Rabbut

 

[crazychris]

I swear by Visitherm heaters. They're very reliable and last years. I've never had problems with them.