Which Filter?

[fenwoman]

I am about to start keeping fish again after a break of some 20 years. I have 2 tanks, one is 167 and the other 149 litres. In the larger one I plant to keep only 3 fish, 2 oscars (kept those before and liked them) and one catfish of some kind as yet undecided. The other tank is to be a community tank with a shoal of tetras, a couple of gouramis, one betta splendens, some loach, shrimp and perhaps a crab.
When I last kept fish, the water was filtered via an externat pump or an internal box filter. Undergravel filters were relatively new and I had no good results with them. I always prefered the internal box filter powered by an air pump with removeable cleanable filter medium.
Anyway, since I last kept fish it seems that there is so much new on the market and other than I don't want an undergravel filter, I don't know what I DO want. It seems that internal box filters powered by an air pump, do not exist any more. Or they don't for the size of tanks I am about to set up.
I welcome advice from younger fish keepers with experience of newer methods.
The only restrictions I have are financial. Everything I have so far is secondhand and has been thoroughly cleaned.I am on a disabilty benefit so have limited funds available.
I can get a good air pump reasonably priced to power the bubble walls I plan on buying. They didn't have those 20 years ago and I think they are great.
So what are my options with regard to filtering the water please.

 

[dthoffsett]

The two most popular options are HOB filters (hang on back, also know as power filters), or cannister filters. Without touting a certain brand, here are examples of both.

HOB/Power filter http/www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/F2...4/Itemdy00.aspx

Cannister Filter http/www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/F2...1/Itemdy00.aspx

For the community tank you can use a HOB/power filter with no problems, but because of the high waste output of oscars I would recommend a cannister filter on their tank. Ideally you want your filter or combination of filters (ex. a cannister and a HOB on one tank, or two HOBS), to filter your entire tanks water 5 - 7 times per hour. This is especially important for the oscars.

HOBS/Power filters hang on the back of the tank, where as cannisters sit under the tank with hoses running up the back, and you only have an input and output hose running in.

Any of these filters can be picked up second hand, on ebay or aquabid, or most other auction type websites.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask, and welcome back to the world of fishkeeping.

 

[fenwoman]

thanks for the quick info. I have had a look at the external filters for the oscars but they are around £90 new which is more than I can afford right now. Would it be acceptable to start with a cheaper internal one since I will be buying them young and only 2 inches long? That would give me a few months to save up and buy a bigger one or look for a secondhand one .

 

[dthoffsett]

thanks for the quick info. I have had a look at the external filters for the oscars but they are around £90 new which is more than I can afford right now. Would it be acceptable to start with a cheaper internal one since I will be buying them young and only 2 inches long? That would give me a few months to save up and buy a bigger one or look for a secondhand one .

Yup, while they're small that should work, just remember, they grow quickly if fed well, so you'll want to upgrade as soon as you can afford to. If you haven't, you might look on ebay or aquabid, they have quite a few used filters, or new ones cheaper than retail.