Filters

[Bex]

I am going to be upgrading my tank to an 80 gallon (uk) soon and wanted to know which filter is best. Some say internal some external.

What do you guys think is best? If anyone could explain the pros and cons of both I would really appreciate it!

 

[jarmado]

i use both internal and external filters..
but i find that externals require less maintenance..

 

[Bloo]

For that size tank (96 US gallons) - without a shadow of a doubt external (or even sump). The majority of internal filters (except perhaps the very large bulky unsightly Juwel ones) just do not have the media capacity to deal with waste properly - they are just too small . Even if have you two internals. Externals make a huge difference.

 

[Bex]

Yeah, that's what my LFS said. Are they more expensive?

 

[jarmado]

Yeah, that's what my LFS said. Are they more expensive?

yup.

 

[Bloo]

You generally get what you pay for. So yes, they are quite a bit more expensive and with a wild guess would say you'd pay around £130 for a brand new Eheim to fit that size tank.

 

[Bex]

Well, it will be worth it to keep my fish happy and healthy! No ppoint in buying a big tank and then ruining it with a rubbish filter!

 

[Teelie]

You could do the cheaper hang on the back (HOB) filter than a cannister. So long as you don't plan on having any big waste producers, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[caino]

i dont want to steal this thread or anything but as its going its a bit pointless making a new one, is it worth getting an external filter for 26 gal?

 

[Teelie]

All my filters save one is an external HOB or cannister. The HOB's work great. The internal is in a 10 gallon with a HOB and it does take more time to clean it up but it also provides more flexibility.

Personally I prefer external (and cannister above all so far) but if your current internal is working fine, there's no need for an external unless you just want something less obvious or somewhat easier to maintain.

 

[Qays]

big tank > External (50g plus)
Small tank > Internal (50g less)

 

[jarmado]

big tank > External (50g plus)
Small tank > Internal (50g less)

is that your own opinion or it came from somewhere?

 

[Teelie]

That'd be an opinion, and a broad one at that. Almost any tank can go with an external filter as the size of the filter has no limitations, but the larger aquariums (100+) need larger filters that grow larger than the equivalent filters for smaller tanks.

Also, depending on your choice of fish, some aquariums do better with an external or internal filter. Aggressive fish are better with external filters no matter the size of the tank. Some fish are also quite messy so you'd want a larger filter externally on say a 30 gallon for plecos or puffers than an internal one.

 

[SamUK]

well ive never had the cash spare for an external and so i jus use internals.


only cost me £20 too and its run my heavily stocked 80 gallon community tank without any issues at all since last december.


its one of these...

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1


jus bought another 2 to run on my 180G tank.

 

[jarmado]

well ive never had the cash spare for an external and so i jus use internals.


only cost me £20 too and its run my heavily stocked 80 gallon community tank without any issues at all since last december.


its one of these...

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1


jus bought another 2 to run on my 180G tank.

how often do you clean it?