What Filter & Heater

[tenohfive]

I've just been given a 3 foot tank and stand (36 x 12 x 12 which works out to 85L / 22 USG) by one of the members on here, and once I persuade the other half that we can find room for it, I'll be looking to get it setup.

Am I best off looking at a big internal or small external filter? Money is an issue at the moment, so I daresay the Eheims will be out of my price range.

And remind me, what size heater will I need?

 

[minxfishy]

Personally, I would try to find an external as it will ultimately give you more space inside the tank, plus they usually work better at filtering, easier to clean, change media. But thats just my preference.

I believe a 200W heater will be big enough, maybe even too big, again my preference to have oversize than undersized.

What are planning on putting in this one then?

 

[tenohfive]

I've no idea, thats another thread for later in the day once I've been to the LFS to have a nosy around for inspiration. Just got off a nightshift (having got sod all sleep yesterday) and am exhausted, but going to pump meself full of caffeine and head on down there in a few minutes.

Dedication to the cause is everything

 

[minxfishy]

You could always nose around aquarist classified or ebay for a good deal on an external. I wouldnt recommend a second hand heater, but filters are usually a good deal 2nd hand, then all you would need is some media plus some media from your existing filter and hey presto!! Away you go. Dont worry about bankruptcy, its the fish that are important

Edit to say: Sleep whats sleep!!???

 

[tenohfive]

Lol. I need to stop spending money on fish so I can save for a house. Which is important. (Because without a house I can't get any bigger tanks )


On an unrelated note - is there any particular make/model of external filter thats worth considering? I don't know much about externals in all honesty.

 

[rabbut]

Tetratec on a budget, either the EX700 or EX1200, the latter being the preferance.

Avoid Fluval like the plague

If there is a 2nd hand Eheim about, not ecco or thermo range, then they may be worth it. If cash is tight, new Eheims aren't likely to be an option...

200W will be fine. I'd either get an Visitherm internal or a Hydor-in-line exturnal heater

Best of luck

Edit for spelling (may need it again considering the number of mistakes I made origionally )

 

[tenohfive]

Its first thing on a Monday morning. I'll let you off


Just out of interest, are you two off work or skiving at work?

 

[rabbut]

Day off. I do Sat, Tue, Wed all day, and Evenings some nights at my other job.....

Thanks for letting me off spelling issues

 

[minxfishy]

Me Skivving never!!! I work at home, three kids, my work never ends.

Hey rabbut, why so down on the fluval? I have a ex 305 and it works great. Pain in the bottom to prime I admit, but other than that does a great job.

 

[tenohfive]

Lol. When I used to do office work I'd spend more time skiving on the internet than working. Which proves the old adage - pay peanuts, get skiving bastards like me.

I'll have a dig about for one of the tetratec ones, I don't intend to heavily stock (and from when I was looking before, the EX1200 was minimum £40) so I'll keep my eyes open.

 

[alysonpeaches]

Lol. When I used to do office work I'd spend more time skiving on the internet than working. Which proves the old adage - pay peanuts, get skiving bastards like me.

I'll have a dig about for one of the tetratec ones, I don't intend to heavily stock (and from when I was looking before, the EX1200 was minimum £40) so I'll keep my eyes open.

I have a 96 litre tank which is of similar dimensions to yours. I have a 100w heater and its enough. The filters ... argh dont get me started. I have two internal filters: one is a Resun Magic Jet 1000 which was fine until it began running noisy. I also have a Clear Seal 1100L which Im about to swap it with. Both of them suit my tank size and were given to me by a more experienced hobbyist with the tank. Like you, I cant afford an external one. Have a look on ebay, there are some fluval ones reasonably priced. eg Fluval 3. At least the spares are readily available.

 

[tenohfive]

Yeah, I've had a nosy through. I'm quite happy to wait though on the off chance I can pick up a cheap external, the tank won't be setup this month regardless as I don't have the money for a heater. I scour ebay 2-3 times a day for anything interesting, and have got a couple of bargain small tanks as a consequence.

If it comes to it, I'll buy a slightly smaller internal filter, pop that in my 65L and put the Fluval 3 I have in that tank into the bigger one.

 

[tenohfive]

Anyway, I'm off to Chipperfield (where my LFS is), I'll be posting a "What should I put in the new tank" thread when I get back.

 

[rabbut]

Hey rabbut, why so down on the fluval? I have a ex 305 and it works great. Pain in the bottom to prime I admit, but other than that does a great job.

I was using it with messy fish and was forever clogging. When I opened it up to clean it, all the dir was basically in a strait line between the bottom flat corner where the water enters tat chanber, up to the hole entering the pump section Channeling. It is a pinn to prime as you say, and their inlets and outlets are hardly the best. All in all budget piece of kit with budget build quality and fetures. I haven't had it leak for a while, and when it has leaked, so far they have only been minor (looks for nearest wood to touch) requring just a re-lub of the seals to fix... Members such as CFC and Andywg have both had Fluvals empty pritty large tanks onto their floors for them in worryingly short spaces of time. Few make it out of warrenty and it is rare to see one more than 7 years old and still running..... Thats not great reliability

All the best
Rabbut

 

[minxfishy]

OK now Im worried, though mine is pretty new, no problems with it channelling or leaking .......Yet! Before warrantly gives out, I shall look into buying a new external, just to be on the safe side, but which time Im hoping for a 6ft tank anyway so the fluval will be useless to me.

Enjoy your trip tenohfive