Undergravel Vs Cannister Filter?

[swrzzzz]

Hi My first post!

I have not had a tank for a few years but I am going to set up again.

I will probably buy about a 3ft tank.

My question is , when I last had a tank I was recommended to use an undergravel filter with a powerhead. I have been looking through the posts here and there are very few mentions of that kind of filter?

Could someone please give me the pros and cons of the undergravel vs the cannister filter so I can get the best for my tank?

Thanks

Steve

PS it will be tropical

 

[trbjones]

undergravel filters are starting to die out alot from what i see and are beening replcaed with internal and exnternal filter, i like the fluval filters but the Eheim are good to filter too

it come down to your size of setup but i think exnternal filters are the best but in internal are good and easy to use but i find my fluval 305 sow easy to take appart and clean

 

[2day]

Hi My first post!

I have not had a tank for a few years but I am going to set up again.

I will probably buy about a 3ft tank.

My question is , when I last had a tank I was recommended to use an undergravel filter with a powerhead. I have been looking through the posts here and there are very few mentions of that kind of filter?

Could someone please give me the pros and cons of the undergravel vs the cannister filter so I can get the best for my tank?

Thanks

Steve

PS it will be tropical

Ok. One thing you should note - Under Gravel Filters are pretty much obsolete (well not obsolete, I’m your you can still find them, but you rarely see them).

A 3 foot tank will require a External at, at least, 700L/H. If you have cichlids/fish that produce a lot of waste, you should really look into a higher flow rate.

If you go to any LFS, most of them have internal filters, or even canisters. Very few people mention it here because that method of filtration has pretty much come to an end (don't get me wrong, they were good filters at the time; but technology is improving, hence giving them the flick).

Cannister Pro's

- Able to clean water, while dumping waste into body of cannister; as well as building bacteria.
- Adds a few litres to your aquarium.
- Isn't an eyesore (when compared to internal filters).
- Quiet, efficient and reliable.
- Overall, quality of filtration is heaps better than your average internal and undergravel filter.

Cannister Con's
- Tube's going everywhere, but hey, you get used to it after a while
- From my experience, algae grows within the tubing which really annoys me as it slows the flow rate down (i guess its my fault, because the tubes are in line with a window). This
- That's about it...

I don't know too much on Undergravel Filters, but im sure a quick google will help

Hope that helps

2day

 

[swrzzzz]

Thanks! That helps a lot.

This really shows my newbie-ness tho' - I thought internal and cannister were the same thing?

Steve

 

[Chri$]

A internal filter fits onto the inside of the tank.

A cannister filter is an external cannister which you can fill with various different types of filter media.

If you opt for an internal i would reccomend a Fluval 4+: [URL="http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/fluval-internal-power-filters.asp"]http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...wer-filters.asp[/URL]

Or if you go for external a Eheim 2215: [URL="http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/eheim-classic-external-canister-filters.asp"]http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...ter-filters.asp[/URL]

 

[OohFeeshy]

The 4+ will only fit if the tank is 15" tall or more, even 15" is a bit of a squeeze.

 

[2day]

Thanks! That helps a lot.

This really shows my newbie-ness tho' - I thought internal and cannister were the same thing?

Steve

No problems! That's what we are here for!

An Internal filter is a filter which sits inside the aquarium and filters the water.

A Canister filter/External Filter (same thing) suck water out of the tank, gets pushed through the media to filter it, and gets pushed back out into the tank via hoses.

Hope that helps

 

[dthoffsett]

Just to throw more info at you, there are also HOB(hang-on-back) AKA power filters. These filters hang on the back on your tank (hence HOB) and pull the water through an intake tube that goes in your tank, through the media and back out over a wide lip. Great for mechanical filtration and oxygenation, and if you go with an Aquaclear brand you have some options for biological media as well. A HOB would be a nice cheaper filter on a 3-foot tank, but IMO anything over 55gal should have a cannister on it. However, you can still use the HOB's in conjuntion with a cannister on larger tanks. For example I have a 75gal mbuna tank (African cichlids, typically overstocked to cut down on aggression) and I run a Fluval 404 (cannister) and an Aquaclear 70 (HOB).

Here's a link to an Aquaclear:

[URL="http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754068&cp=2767036.2769237&fbx=0&fbn=Taxonomy%7CPower+Filters&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2769237&fbc=1&parentPage=family&keepsr=1"]http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?...ly&keepsr=1[/URL]

 

[mrbudgie]

if your going with a 3ft tank get a fluval 205 they will be great for a tank that size it kept my 3ft cystal clear (try ebay its where i get mine I've got 3 in use around house at min)

 

[mrbudgie]

if your going with a 3ft tank get a fluval 205 they will be great for a tank that size it kept my 3ft cystal clear (try ebay its where i get mine I've got 3 in use around house at min)