WHICH FILTER? INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL?

[Dannys111]

Hi!
I've got a 37L Aqua One tank with 8 neons in. We may be looking at putting other fish in soon, but not sure which type - any suggestions?

Anyway, the stock filter is ok but not great - we've had a lot of waste at the bottom of the tank in the gravel, resulting in excessive cleaning. So, I need some advice on what to get?

Do I go for an internal filter or an external filter, and which would you recommend? Looking for cheap options here.

Thanks in advance

 

[seangee]

8 neons in a 37l means your tank is pretty much maxed out and adding more fish is not recommended. No matter how good the filter this will create more waste. With that number of fish in that size tank you do need to change a minimum of 50% of your water every week and do a weekly gravel clean. (You should do this anyway but it is very important in such a small tank).

 

[Dannys111]

8 neons in a 37l means your tank is pretty much maxed out and adding more fish is not recommended. No matter how good the filter this will create more waste. With that number of fish in that size tank you do need to change a minimum of 50% of your water every week and do a weekly gravel clean. (You should do this anyway but it is very important in such a small tank).

Thanks pal, and ok - advice taken.
But, you haven't answered my question.
What filter should I go for?

 

[Byron]

The filter is not likely connected to the issue mentioned. A 37 liter is a 10 gallon, and I only use a single sponge filter. You have to be careful with water current (neons do not like being buffeted around), and the detritus that collects on the substrate has nothing really to do with the filter, but more to do with fish load and feeding.

Eight neons is manageable, since you already have them. Do a good clean into the substrate with the water changing unit at each weekly water change (and I agree with above, it needs to be 50-60%). Plants would help, even just floating plants (no mention is made of live plants).

So back to the filter, what do you have now? And watch your feeding...contrary to the bad advice on most fish food labels, you do not need to feed fish more than once a day, and sparingly then, and missing a day or two a week will not hurt either. What goes in must come out, so this could be part of the issue. Difficult to pin things down when we do not know all the factors.

 

[Dannys111]

The filter is not likely connected to the issue mentioned. A 37 liter is a 10 gallon, and I only use a single sponge filter. You have to be careful with water current (neons do not like being buffeted around), and the detritus that collects on the substrate has nothing really to do with the filter, but more to do with fish load and feeding.

Eight neons is manageable, since you already have them. Do a good clean into the substrate with the water changing unit at each weekly water change (and I agree with above, it needs to be 50-60%). Plants would help, even just floating plants (no mention is made of live plants).

So back to the filter, what do you have now? And watch your feeding...contrary to the bad advice on most fish food labels, you do not need to feed fish more than once a day, and sparingly then, and missing a day or two a week will not hurt either. What goes in must come out, so this could be part of the issue. Difficult to pin things down when we do not know all the factors.

Many thanks for your comment, and yes, I do feed them sparingly - as you said.

At the moment I've got the stock filter that came with the tank - Aqua One 37L. Don't think it's the best tbh

 

[Byron]

Many thanks for your comment, and yes, I do feed them sparingly - as you said.

At the moment I've got the stock filter that came with the tank - Aqua One 37L. Don't think it's the best tbh

I went to the Aqua One site, but could not find the 37L filter, so still no idea what it is like. But as I said previously, the filter is not the real issue; you do not want a filter strong enough to suck in detritus in this small a tank. The detritus should naturally decompose into the substrate, so being vigilant with water changes and substrate cleaning is the key.

 

[Dannys111]

I went to the Aqua One site, but could not find the 37L filter, so still no idea what it is like. But as I said previously, the filter is not the real issue; you do not want a filter strong enough to suck in detritus in this small a tank. The detritus should naturally decompose into the substrate, so being vigilant with water changes and substrate cleaning is the key.

Here's the link to the tank: http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/aqua-one-platform-37-litre-tropical-aquarium-white

Okay, so, are there any pieces of equipment that make substrate cleaning any easier? Random q

 

[Byron]

Here's the link to the tank: http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/aqua-one-platform-37-litre-tropical-aquarium-white

Okay, so, are there any pieces of equipment that make substrate cleaning any easier? Random q

The filter according to their data is probably good. I would myself not have more than a single sponge filter on a 10g tank, so this one probably serves the purpose well.

You want a water changer for water changes. Here's a photo of one type of manual WC unit. Once you start the siphon, you gently push the end (the large end obviously) into the substrate and the siphon action raises the gravel a bit and tumbles it around, so the detritus can be carried out with the water. Move this over the open areas of substrate.

 

[Dannys111]

The filter according to their data is probably good. I would myself not have more than a single sponge filter on a 10g tank, so this one probably serves the purpose well.

You want a water changer for water changes. Here's a photo of one type of manual WC unit. Once you start the siphon, you gently push the end (the large end obviously) into the substrate and the siphon action raises the gravel a bit and tumbles it around, so the detritus can be carried out with the water. Move this over the open areas of substrate.

Okay, thanks once again for all your help. Looks like a python water changer is what I'll order from Amazon.
Thanks again

 

[Byron]

Okay, thanks once again for all your help. Looks like a python water changer is what I'll order from Amazon.
Thanks again

Make certain it is the manual changer, not the "Python" that hooks up to a faucet. The latter is ideal with large tanks, but in a 10g it is very easy to overflow the tank, or suck up small fish. The manual type uses a bucket obviously.

 

[fish_r_great]

If you we're ever to upgrade your tank obviously more water equals more fish. Also, as stated above your filter is probably adequate and not the problem. But to answer your question external canister filters are generally better depending on use and personal preference. Imo internals take away from the aesthetics and hang on filters have expensive replacement cartridges or are poor quality. Where as many canisters can be used with cheaper universal media.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Just to add, external filters take up less room in the tank so you don't have to hide anything other than in and out pipes and you can get more powerful ones.

I've had both types in my tanks over the years and personally prefer external ones.

My tank in the front room is 4ft and has an external filter which does the job, whilst my daughter has a Fluval Roma 90 in her bedroom (from Pets at Home incidentally) and that has the Fluval U2 internal filter in it which more than does the job too. I contemplated swapping for something like the fluval 106, I could get the smallest external filter in the range rather than the 2nd smallest internal one that came with the tank but what she has works well and she's not bothered about changing it.

If you were considering an external one, you can get many types and from different places but since you've already been to Pets at Home, they do the Fluval range I was considering here.