What Tank Should I Buy

[Sam21]

[SIZE=medium]Hi guys[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]Can I please ask for a little advice I used to keep tropical fish about 20 years ago and now I have retired I would like to take-up the hobby again.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]I am looking for an aquarium no longer than 1 meter about 180 Lts I have looked round my local stockists and I am bewildered on the models available and the advice I have received each stockist tells me this tank is the best on sale and the next shop tells that that tank is not so good and this one is better.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]I have looked at a juwel rio 180 and I like the fact that the filter and heater is in one box and is quite tidy. But I have heard that Juwel may have problems with the light unit and the filter and I might have to go for an external filter as well[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]One other I have looked at is the Fluval Vicenza or the Fluval Roma not sure about the filters but I think the heater is a separate item.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]Also I have been told the Aqua one 850 is a good buy and that has the filter in the hood.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]I know there are good and bad points in all products but I would like to ask you experts your opinions on the best in the three I have short listed.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]As this tank will be in my lounge so I would like a quite one and I don’t like the idea of external filters being on display [/SIZE]
   
[SIZE=medium]Also I need a little advice on lights I some have T5 light and some have T8 lights ?[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]I just want to keep some hardy fish and have living plants and a few shrimps if possible[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=medium]Hope you can help me please[/SIZE]
 

 

[fm1978]

I've not had the privilege of owning very many tanks at all - a small Jewel Rekord 600 and a Fluval Roma 200. 
 
But I absolutely love the Fluval, it's a perfect size and it doesn't make a single peep of a noise at all. You could get the filter to make a rippling noise on the top of the water if you were to point the nozzle up high enough, though. I got mine second hand for £100, including the filter and heater so that was a bargain.
 
There is a huge choice out there so I don't envy your decision! Best of luck and welcome back to fish keeping!

 

[Sam21]

Hi Fishaholic
Thanks for the reply
 
As this tank will be in my living room a would like a quite one if I can and I would like an internal filter system that works well, I like the look of the Juwel Rio but I have been told that they have lighting problem and the filter medium is quite expensive

 

[Miller2009]

I have the aqua one 850 and I can't help but praise the company everything works great and size is a good to take up the hobby again

Good luck and enjoy what ever tank you buy

 

[Sam21]

Hi Fish Fanatic
 
Thank for the advice on the Aqua One, can I please ask is it quite and where is the filter and does it work ok please

 

[DaveIOW]

I have a Rio 180, the light unit did pack up, but replaced with a new £5 ballast from Ebay after looking on a thread on here and all seems great.

I've also got an external filter, depending the style of cabinet you get, you could easily fit the external inside, hiding it from view.

Can't comment on the others

 

[fm1978]

Hi Fishaholic
Thanks for the reply
 
As this tank will be in my living room a would like a quite one if I can and I would like an internal filter system that works well, I like the look of the Juwel Rio but I have been told that they have lighting problem and the filter medium is quite expensive

 
The Fluval Roma 200 does come with an internal filter, the Fluval U4, which is very good and as I said, totally silent. Mine is also in my living room and quite simply, no sound comes from it at all.

 

[Miller2009]

The filter is fine it's a trickle of bubbles in the background which is soothing I guess. It works well keeps the water crystal clear and the powerhead is good. The 3 lights are ok but the only problem you have to buy aqua one lights due to the funny sizes.

Have you looked at these http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquarium-1/fish-tanks/cabinet-aquarium-fish-tanks/198l-modern-cabinet-aquarium-fish-tank-84cm-5-colours.html

Heard nothing but good words about these and the external filters they do. Might upgrade and get one myself

 

[Rob5]

I have got the AllPondSolutions 200 litre tank with built in T5 lighting, and in my opinion for the price, is a very good tank and cabinet
 
It has a trickle filter system built in the hood, which i dont use but the cabinet is big enough to have an external filter either end of the cabinet
 
One of the filters is a1000 litre an hour APS external for about £50 to buy which is performing very well at the moment
 
Good luck on the decision of your future tank

 

[Miller2009]

Rob I'm hoping to get the 5 foot one if the wife allows me but it might have to wait till the middle of next year I was planning on just getting a external to run on it did you have to modify the hood or anything to accommodate it?

 

[Rob5]

The hood has two ample size openings at the back to allow your pipework into the tank and allow all the cables for heater etc to fit in

 

[mrhidley]

I have the Fluval Roma 200 and i agree that it's a top tank. The filter it comes with does the job well, but i found that it dropped a fair amount of its contents back into the tank when removing it for cleaning. So i bought an external filter.

 

[Sam21]

I have a Rio 180, the light unit did pack up, but replaced with a new £5 ballast from Ebay after looking on a thread on here and all seems great.

I've also got an external filter, depending the style of cabinet you get, you could easily fit the external inside, hiding it from view.

Can't comment on the others

 
Hi DavelOW
 
Was it a complicated job to change the ballast on your Rio 180

 

[DaveIOW]

Hi DavelOW
 
Was it a complicated job to change the ballast on your Rio 180

The hardest bit is actually getting the old ballast out without destroying the unit, it's reasonably frustrating.

I did go to town with mine abit and had to end up getting a strip of acrylic to bond over the hole I made to make it watertight as the bit I removed to access original ballast ended in pieces.

Wiring up the new unit was extremely easy though.

There's a stickied post in the DIY section that explains it pretty well.

If your thinking about buying a new unit, it's WELL worth buying a new ballast and trying to do it yourself.

 

[Sam21]

Thanks for the tip DavelOW
 
Ps I have just had a look at the post in the DIY section and it look a bit complicated for me, but thanks anyway