Which Is Better

[atmmachine816]

My friends mom just offered me a fluval 3 internal filter that they used for turtles but don't have anymore and was wondering if it's ok for a 10 gallon planted tank, as I think she'll give it to me for free and as a kid the money is harder to come by for a planted tank.

 

[Themuleous]

As far as I am aware (after a quick google search) the fluval 3 is rated for tanks upto 90cm which is much bigger than your 10g (think it'll be in the region of 20-25g) so it should be fine.

What were you going to filter the tank with if you'd not been offered this one?

I actually voted for the fluval for the very reason its rated for a bigger tank, the others would all be rated for a 10g. You cant really over filter a tank (providing water flow isn't to much for the fish you've got) so if its free I would get it.

The only problem i can see it the phyiscal sizer of it, I have a 10g and some filters look stupid in them because they are just so big. E.g. The interpet PF range. Ive not seen the fluval one 'in the flesh' but I have found some new fitlers IMO lack the spunge capasity (although in the case of the interpet ones this is replaced by the ceramic disk things), which is the most important part of any fitler IMO.

Hope this helps. Bottom line, get it, try it out, if it works great if not replace it then. No point spending the money now if you needn't

Sam

 

[atmmachine816]

That's what I thought, though the only problem I thought of was too powerful flow for the plants.

 

[Bloo]

I found a Fluval 2 too "blastingly" powerful for my 19 Gallon - and had to turn the flow right down (so what's the point) and angle the nozzle. So there's no way a Fluval 3 would work in a tank half the size.

Not sure about those other filters you gave as options. Though if it was me, I'd probably stick a small Eheim Ecco on it. Guess you should get whatever suits your budget and your tank.

 

[atmmachine816]

Only problem is I'd like an ehiem but there are none by me and I have went to lots of stores and no luck, only fluval. My parents won't let me order it offline so there's no real way I can get one.

 

[Bloo]

Ah you see we have the same probs with the bio-wheels and Aqua Clears etc.

I've heard some good stuff about the Bio-Wheels though, so try to do some searches on that

 

[Themuleous]

My parents won't let me order it offline so there's no real way I can get one.

Show them the price difference between a LFS and getting the filter online, that might pursuade them its ok to get stuff offline!

Two good websites I know are repreatable and I have used myself include

Livingseas

Aquatics Online

 

[Qays]

too bad the postage always costs alot elimintating the cheap factor

 

[handsomeboy]

canister filters are best, make one yourself
to cut down the power just use a spraybar and enlarge the holes
its also easy to run co2 into canisters

 

[atmmachine816]

The problem is paying online, my parents don't like giving away visa and they don't have paypal. I hope to get a PO box and split the cost with my friend this summer and use his paypal and then I can get stuff if it will be sent to PO boxes.

 

[George Farmer]

External filters are far superior. More bio media, less maintenance, easy fitment of spray bar, better control over flow rate and method, less ugly hardware in the tank.

If I had to choose an internal it would be the Eheim.

 

[atmmachine816]

Ya I would too. I have looked lots of places, went to the biggest fish store I know around here and they didn't have them. Only reason I asked about this is that I'm pretty sure she'd give it to me for free. All HOB filters are 25$ and up, which all have 100gph. I know HOB are better than internal and canisters are even better but they are out of my price range...for now. I was just wondering if the fast water flow would be bad for a planted tank. Thanks for the input everybody.

Austin