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New Aps, Disappointed :(

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andspenka

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I've been running the tank with a Fluval 205 for a while now, but I've never been happy with the flow always thinking it could be better.

After doing a bit of digging about, I found out the Fluval is for upto 200 litres which is what my tank is.

I decided after a lot of deliberation, to get an APS 1000EF, all the reviews seemed good from what I read.

Well, it came today and I've been on ages setting it up, it was a nightmare to get started! The pump on the top is useless it does virtually nowt, it was only bringing a trickle down the tube and not enough to start a siphon. I ended up filling the filter up with a jug, then filling the hose to the inlet up as well. It finally started working, it's quiet enough but the flow is rubbish! I thought it would be loads better than the Fluval but I'm not sure if it's as good never mind better.

At the minute I'm totally disillusioned after spending hours and sweating like a pig for what seems like no improvement at all! :angry: :sad:
 
andspenka said:
I've been running the tank with a Fluval 205 for a while now, but I've never been happy with the flow always thinking it could be better.

After doing a bit of digging about, I found out the Fluval is for upto 200 litres which is what my tank is.

I decided after a lot of deliberation, to get an APS 1000EF, all the reviews seemed good from what I read.

Well, it came today and I've been on ages setting it up, it was a nightmare to get started! The pump on the top is useless it does virtually nowt, it was only bringing a trickle down the tube and not enough to start a siphon. I ended up filling the filter up with a jug, then filling the hose to the inlet up as well. It finally started working, it's quiet enough but the flow is rubbish! I thought it would be loads better than the Fluval but I'm not sure if it's as good never mind better.

At the minute I'm totally disillusioned after spending hours and sweating like a pig for what seems like no improvement at all! :angry: :sad:
Click to expand...
well if that pic is your tank then i think it looks wonderful but otherwise that sounds like you have a nice tank!
 
I've got the 2000EF and I can confirm having those exact feeling when I first got it. Sweated buckets getting it primed for the first time - and then did the same - manually filled the inlet pipe and it started syphoning.
If your outlet is set up the same as mine was (http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h171/wiggyalex/Fish/8.jpg - Back left - see how it's like a U shape before the spray bar?) then I'd suggest getting the eheim installation kit 1 or 2, which is a lot better quality and more free-flowing.

I'm very happy with my 2000EF now though, and after a few days running in, it strangely seemed to settle down/get quieter/slightly more powerful(?) - [Maybe as it expelled all trapped air from inside the cannister].
 
Rock it backwards and forwards to see if their is any air trapped in it , I have the 2000 on a 200 l tank and it is more than adequate .....
 
try removing the taps and checking both valves open whenn you move the locking lever into place. mine was terrible and i was having very similar problems to you until i noticed one of the valves wasnt opening. had to prise the valve open with a screwdriver and now its working really well.
 
If its no good send it back. Buy a tetratec ex1200. They are brilliant. While your at it buy a 300 watt hydor inline heater to go along with it
 
PERCY said:
If its no good send it back. Buy a tetratec ex1200. They are brilliant. While your at it buy a 300 watt hydor inline heater to go along with it
Click to expand...
Thats exactly what I did :) well not quite, I had an aps 2000+ on my rio 180 which wasnt bad for the price, then i sold the tank and the filter. Then I bought a rio 400 that came with an fx5 filter but they are truly hideous so I sold that and got 2 ex1200's for it and sold my internal heaters for a 300w hydor external. Much happier overall :)

With regards to the original post, I found that my 2000 was ok on my 180 litre but the flow rate on the aps filters does drop drematically (one of the worst i believe)which is why most people would advise to go for the 1400 or even the 2000 on tanks around 200 litres.
I had mine for around 6 months or so, maybe longer and it was loud to start with. Had to prime it for ages before it would actually work (prime whilst the filter is off). I found it did get quieter after about 4-6 weeks but the flow rate wasn't what I'd call up to scratch compared to a lot of other filters out there.

My verdict on them would be... A good filter for the price but go for the 2000 model. I don't think I would buy one again unless I was on a tight budget, even then my ex1200's were only £89 each, brand new and delivered so I'd probably save the little extra and get more of them :)
 
I had considered the APS 2000 aswell. Really glad I bought the tetras now. Best of all, there is absolutely no noise from them at all.

I'm still wondering if I should have bought a second heater for the other filter instead of just the one :unsure:
 
PERCY said:
I had considered the APS 2000 aswell. Really glad I bought the tetras now. Best of all, there is absolutely no noise from them at all.

I'm still wondering if I should have bought a second heater for the other filter instead of just the one :unsure:
Click to expand...
My tank is 5 foot 450 litre and 1 300 watt external heater is fine. Iv noticed when I used 2 300 watt internals, if I set them to 26 degrees c then the thermometer would always read 24. Don't get that with the single external. Water is always showing same temp on heater and thermometer. I find it so much better
 
PERCY said:
If its no good send it back. Buy a tetratec ex1200. They are brilliant. While your at it buy a 300 watt hydor inline heater to go along with it
Click to expand...

How long are the pipes with the tetratec?
 
The spray bar that comes with the filter should fit. I don't use the spray bars though. I just use the elbow that comes off the inlet pipe for increased flow
 
I've a 5 foot aswell approx 450 litres. One heater seems fine then :good:

I currently have the spray bars fitted, but had considered removing them as I am planning on getting African Butterfly Fish and I read they prefer minimal movement on the surface. I assume I'd be fine without the spray bars but would probably need to add a pump to my set up ?
 
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