Filters

[katykaye]

I have a new 440L tank arriving next weekend. It comes with a Rena XP3 external and a Eheim 2252 internal filter. I also have a Fluval 205 external which is currently running in my 125L tank.

I am considering running the two external filters on the 440L and putting the internal on the 125L.

Does anyone have experience of any of these filters or ideas about what the best combination would be for their use?

Many Thanks

 

[VaegaVic]

More water = more externals.
Stick both externals on the larger 440 and leave the internal for the 125, obviously transferring media and what not.

 

[waterdrop]

Well, I was about to say that I would use mature media (not more than 1/3 of the biomedia) from the 205 to boost the fishless cycling process of the new 440L and then switch the internal over to the 125 after the fishless cycle is over, swapping the 205 to the big tank simultaneously. BUT, its not clear to me that the internal 2252 would be enough of a filter for the 125. Is it a filter you know and have studied? Does it have sufficient flow rate to accomplish whatever your turnover mulitiplier goal you have for the 125?

I run a decent-sized external cannister on a 106L, so an internal on a 125L seems small to me but I don't know that particular eheim model. Without really doing the numbers, the XP3 together with the 205 does sound roughly like it might be enough on the 440, but I actually don't know that for sure either and its a pretty big tank.

Turnover is a factor that the members like to argue over endlessly in the hardware and planted sections. The needs depend on plants and stocking and type of tank environment you want for your fish. Most recommendations range from a low of 4x to a high of 10x. The most common recommendation shy of any other considerations has been 5x, for years. The planted folks mostly run 10x or over. The manufacturers put out two sets of numbers in their literature: The advertising copy will give a "size tank this filter works with" which can mostly be ignored. Buried in the specs or only obtainable via communication will be their actual "flow rate" spec, which itself will be as optimisitic as possible.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[katykaye]

Well, I was about to say that I would use mature media (not more than 1/3 of the biomedia) from the 205 to boost the fishless cycling process of the new 440L and then switch the internal over to the 125 after the fishless cycle is over, swapping the 205 to the big tank simultaneously. BUT, its not clear to me that the internal 2252 would be enough of a filter for the 125. Is it a filter you know and have studied? Does it have sufficient flow rate to accomplish whatever your turnover mulitiplier goal you have for the 125?

I run a decent-sized external cannister on a 106L, so an internal on a 125L seems small to me but I don't know that particular eheim model. Without really doing the numbers, the XP3 together with the 205 does sound roughly like it might be enough on the 440, but I actually don't know that for sure either and its a pretty big tank.

Turnover is a factor that the members like to argue over endlessly in the hardware and planted sections. The needs depend on plants and stocking and type of tank environment you want for your fish. Most recommendations range from a low of 4x to a high of 10x. The most common recommendation shy of any other considerations has been 5x, for years. The planted folks mostly run 10x or over. The manufacturers put out two sets of numbers in their literature: The advertising copy will give a "size tank this filter works with" which can mostly be ignored. Buried in the specs or only obtainable via communication will be their actual "flow rate" spec, which itself will be as optimisitic as possible.

~~waterdrop~~

Errr yeah right

The 205 keeps my 125L pristine and I have found it really good. Flow rate? hmmm

The thing is - and I know this sounds "girly" - but all this technical stuff is really over my head. I have read the reviews for the other two filters and they "sound" ok to me.

My plants are thriving and my fish are happy and healthy which is, of course, what I want to happen in the new tank. The 2252 gives me the following spec, but I would be lying if I said I actually understood it!

Aquarium Size 200 l
Pump Performance h 1200 l / h
Performance Height 2.0 m
Filter Volume 0.70 l
Power Input 28 W
Size in mm 335x75x80

Is there somewhere else I should be finding information for this (or any other) filter? Or is the spec shown enough to make a decision?

Thanks Waterdrop as always

 

[drobbyb]

Aquarium Size 200 l This is the recommended size for the filter
Pump Performance h 1200 l / h This is the flow rate
Performance Height 2.0 m This is how high the filter will pump water
Filter Volume 0.70 l This is how much water the filter holds
Power Input 28 W This is how much power it uses
Size in mm 335x75x80 This is how big the filter is

This filter is rated to filter a 200 l tank. You would need 2 of these to filter your new tank effectively.

It's perfect for your 125 though

I went filter shopping! Ok, the rundown is the eheim's are great filters, but they are very expensive. The Rena XP3 or XP4 is much more cost effective. The Fluval filters seem ok, but I haven't heard anything about them. Their best filter would be exceptional, but it's a tad expensive.

I'm not sure what you guys have available across the pond, but if I were in your shoes, I would opt for 2 filters instead of one big one for a tank that size. That will help eliminate dead spots and will give you a backup in case one filter fails.

 

[waterdrop]

OK KK, you made me drag out the mouse and go off to verify the 2252 and the specs are correct. Its a little surprising to me that a filter that looks like that is running at 1200 L/H and has enough media volume for a 200L but eheim are generally pretty good about their specs, so I believe them. There's no reason to believe that the 2252 wouldn't do just fine on your 125L. You don't sound like the type to stock a tank very heavily but I'd still try to get a feel for how quickly it clogs.

You're right KK , there are just some of us that a kick out of our numbers over in the hardware section and it doesn't really need to make a darn bit of difference if an aquarist jumps to the end-product and knows that a given set of equipment is acheiving the goal. Any time you reach a situation where your plants and fish are thriving and you are happy with the convenience of the maintenance routine, there's no need to worry about a bunch of numbers, you've already accomplished what the numbers would just be there to help with.

Its correct, the eheims, which are pretty much as high quality as you can get can be expensive, although I believe they are less in Europe. The Tetratecs and Renas are good workhorse brands that are less expensive, Tetratec being quite inexpensive I hear. Tetratec are mostly european and rena are mostly north america. Fluval are available both places. For all of these brands there will be a small number of people who have had failures and a few people who have had perfect experiences. Good maintenance (always brushing out passageways and the impeller and its area, always lubricating the seals and not shying away from the occasional tube cleanout) can keep any of these brands working well for years I think.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[katykaye]

OK KK, you made me drag out the mouse and go off to verify the 2252 and the specs are correct. Its a little surprising to me that a filter that looks like that is running at 1200 L/H and has enough media volume for a 200L but eheim are generally pretty good about their specs, so I believe them. There's no reason to believe that the 2252 wouldn't do just fine on your 125L. You don't sound like the type to stock a tank very heavily but I'd still try to get a feel for how quickly it clogs.

You're right KK , there are just some of us that a kick out of our numbers over in the hardware section and it doesn't really need to make a darn bit of difference if an aquarist jumps to the end-product and knows that a given set of equipment is acheiving the goal. Any time you reach a situation where your plants and fish are thriving and you are happy with the convenience of the maintenance routine, there's no need to worry about a bunch of numbers, you've already accomplished what the numbers would just be there to help with.

Its correct, the eheims, which are pretty much as high quality as you can get can be expensive, although I believe they are less in Europe. The Tetratecs and Renas are good workhorse brands that are less expensive, Tetratec being quite inexpensive I hear. Tetratec are mostly european and rena are mostly north america. Fluval are available both places. For all of these brands there will be a small number of people who have had failures and a few people who have had perfect experiences. Good maintenance (always brushing out passageways and the impeller and its area, always lubricating the seals and not shying away from the occasional tube cleanout) can keep any of these brands working well for years I think.

~~waterdrop~~

My stocking for the 125 Juwel is:
4 Cherry Barb, I Angel fish, 2 Glass cats, 1 Pearl Gourami, 3 Corydora, 2 Silver Shark (small and being moved soon), 1 Xray Tetra, 2 Bolivian Rams. The fluval 205 copes more than well with this level and I am really happy with it - pic of the tank below:

I've always wanted a big tank though and want to try and get this one (the 440L) right from the beginning with as few "redos" as possible which is why I thought putting 2 external filters on right at the start might be good. I can always get a bigger filter for the 125L if the Eheim that comes with my new tank isn't enough.

Thank you for taking the time to look it up though - I am most grateful

Kaye

 

[waterdrop]

You're welcome. Good luck with your planning. Wish I could get a big tank like that!

~~waterdrop~~