Tetratec Ex1200

[Davo86]

Ok i'm looking for a new external that will need to run on a well stocked 300 litre tank, Ideally i'm after one that is easy clean and is self priming,

I am currently looking at a TETRATEC EX1200 but before i jump in and buy one, i would be interested in any other recommendations anyone may have on other makes models etc,

Thanks in advance
Dave

 

[shroob]

Eheim are always a safe bet, not sure on model though. Maybe a pro II 2028 if its well stocked, but eheims have proven themselves to be good filters.

 

[Tobigara]

shroob's right about the eheim. they've deffinitely proven their worth. at the same time, i have the american equivalent to the tetratec 1200, the Marineland c-360. they're the same thing and i love it. it doesn't leak. great filtration. i have to put my ear on it to hear it and it has a good flow rate. Fluvals are supposed to be really good too but i have no personal experience with them. i don't think you can go wrong with any of them tho.

 

[MermaidMel]

I have an EX1200 on my 55gal and I am very plsed with it, great value for money and silent too!

 

[Davo86]

I have an EX1200 on my 55gal and I am very plsed with it, great value for money and silent too!

thanks mel, think i'll give it a try,

 

[Cooper2085]

I run a EX1200 on my 40 Gallon tank and its awesome. Also very very cheap here:

Warehouse Aquatics direct link

 

[rabbut]

Had my EX1200 for just over a week now, and am realy impressed. I had a bad run with Ehiems, with two failing in quick sucsession, and also poor customer service from the company itself. Tetratec are supposed to have great customer service, but are new to the market, so we can't realy judge long-trem effectiveness. The primer works a treat, even when the outlet is underwater, which IME no other filter is able to prime in similar conditions.
Fluval are also good, but get noisy near cleaning time, and when the unit gets older. Some on here will sight long-term reliability issues, though my 7 year old unit only failed due to misstreatment on my part
Rena are also good filters, but IME they clogg quickly. CFC, a mod on here has also had what sounds like by-pass issues with the Rena range

All the best
Rabbut

 

[shelaghfishface]

I run a EX1200 on my 40 Gallon tank and its awesome. Also very very cheap here:

Warehouse Aquatics direct link

i have been looking for one of the tetratec ex 1200`s too, and that the cheapest i have seen them

 

[Davo86]

Thanks for all the advice guys, and gals

travelled round the local aquatics this morning but could only find a Fluval 405? in my size requirement range,
however it was priced at £125 so i left it there.

Since then i've found a tetratec EX1200 on ebay for £61 so i've snapped it up.

 

[vinylman]

Tetratec are supposed to have great customer service, but are new to the market, so we can't realy judge long-trem effectiveness. The primer works a treat, even when the outlet is underwater, which IME no other filter is able to prime in similar conditions.
All the best
Rabbut

The Tetratec externals have been around for a couple of years now (if not longer) and their internals for longer than that. I can certainly vouch for their customer service; when I moved the tank into the kitchen last year (due to redecorating the living room) one of the 'collars' that hold the taps together snapped (partly my fault, I have to confess). Luckily 'The Reef Ranch' was still open around the corner from me and Chris did a great running repair on it. I emailed Tetra the next day from work asking where I could buy a replacement tap in my area. Around an hour later, they emailed me back to ask for my address - two days later I had two brand new taps in the post. THAT'S customer service. They were also more robust taps than the original ones, so they've improved them, too. That's the way to keep customers.

 

[rabbut]

The Tetratec externals have been around for a couple of years now (if not longer) and their internals for longer than that. I can certainly vouch for their customer service; when I moved the tank into the kitchen last year (due to redecorating the living room) one of the 'collars' that hold the taps together snapped (partly my fault, I have to confess). Luckily 'The Reef Ranch' was still open around the corner from me and Chris did a great running repair on it. I emailed Tetra the next day from work asking where I could buy a replacement tap in my area. Around an hour later, they emailed me back to ask for my address - two days later I had two brand new taps in the post. THAT'S customer service. They were also more robust taps than the original ones, so they've improved them, too. That's the way to keep customers.

Chris is great at things like that isn't he Shame the Reef Ranch has now closed, and he left the retail sector after a we months working with me

A couple of years is not realy long enough to judge the reliability of an exturnal filter on though realy, you want at least 10 years before you can make that type of judgement

Glad to hear you have had good service from Chris and Tetratec as expected

Rabbut