Rekord 120l Tank - Filter + Lighting Qs

[ChrisXL]

Hi! Very new here, and just started the hobby of fishkeeping.

I just purchased a JUWEL Rekord 120 tank from a friend. However, it being a bit old and second hand, there are some problems/questions I've stumbled in to.

Heating - The tank comes with a 100W heater standard. Am I right in saying that this is too small for a 120l tank? Will a 200W heater be fine?

Filter - The filter that comes with the tank is a JUWEL Pump Set 400. On the website, it says it can do 400l/h, whereas on the filter itself, it says it can do 590l/h. What do I believe? Should I get a new filter? Also, a stupid question, but, is a filter louder outside the water than inside?

Lighting - I have a nice light which I bought seperate from the tank, however, there are no seals that go at the end of the light. Is this a big problem? The seals are more or less impossible to get hold of

That's basically it.

Except, what filter media should I get? Should I get all of them or just the important ones?

Thanks

 

[Nick16]

i have a rekord 120 (not for long!!) i have never had any issues with the heater so 100w is ok, but a 200w will heat faster. the filter does make a bit of noise but juwel filters are notoriously sh~t. if i was you i would consider getting an external filter and cycling that alongside the juwel and also put a bit of media in it from the juwel. i have no carbon in my filter (black sponge) as i dose plant ferts. i just have theblue and green ones and the filter floss on top. instead of the carbon sponge i have an extra layer of floss!

 

[ChrisXL]

i have a rekord 120 (not for long!!) i have never had any issues with the heater so 100w is ok, but a 200w will heat faster. the filter does make a bit of noise but juwel filters are notoriously sh~t. if i was you i would consider getting an external filter and cycling that alongside the juwel and also put a bit of media in it from the juwel. i have no carbon in my filter (black sponge) as i dose plant ferts. i just have theblue and green ones and the filter floss on top. instead of the carbon sponge i have an extra layer of floss!

Thanks for the quick reply. I will look for a 200W heater, but if it's too expensive, I'll keep the 100W. (The 100W doesn't have a thermo on it though - unreliable anyway?)
I don't really have enough room for an external filter. How much would a run of the mill external cost me?

 

[Nick16]

well, the best imo for that tank size would be the tetratec EX1200. it says 200-500l tanks i know but you can never have 2 much filtration. EHEIM are the best but you pay for it. the tetratec you can get delivered for £63 whereas the eheim, for a similar model such as output (pro 2) something like the 2028, would cost you around £120 delivered. i will get a TT for my 240l for Xmas. in the 4 months i have had my rekord 120, i have kept the juwel internal, and also added a fluval 2+ filter at the other end for increased flow and filtration. (you can get these really cheap from ebay)

 

[ChrisXL]

well, the best imo for that tank size would be the tetratec EX1200. it says 200-500l tanks i know but you can never have 2 much filtration. EHEIM are the best but you pay for it. the tetratec you can get delivered for £63 whereas the eheim, for a similar model such as output (pro 2) something like the 2028, would cost you around £120 delivered. i will get a TT for my 240l for Xmas. in the 4 months i have had my rekord 120, i have kept the juwel internal, and also added a fluval 2+ filter at the other end for increased flow and filtration. (you can get these really cheap from ebay)

TY!

What I will most likely do is run the filter and heaters for a while. Get the tank up to scratch and start putting in some little starter fish (neons ect). After a paycheck or two, I may think about investing in an external

 

[bunnymummy]

Hi
Just to let you know that NEONS require a mature tank of around 6 months
It's probably best to start of with some hardy fish like Danios.

 

[Nick16]

too right. its a miss conception that neons are hardy fish. i used WCMM and didnt lose one, then i week later i put 8 neons in and didnt lose one, i was quite surprised at this!!! but stick with danio's.