Eheim vs. Tetratec

[Twicksisted]

7foot by what???

Personally I'd recommend going with an Eheim 2250, 2260, or a 2262 (all three are classic models, not as user friendly as the pro models, but they get the job done, and don't break down) or eheim 2028, 2080, or 2078. For the smaller ones (2028, 2078, 2250) I'd run an FX5 with them. For the larger ones (2260, 2262, 2080) I'd run your tetratec and an Aquaclear 110, with three layers of foam, or 2 foam 1 carbon.

well originally I was going to go for a 84X24X24 as I could get a great deal from a manufacturer... since then I have been given advice (by other MFK members) that I need to go at least 36" wide and 36" high in order to keep my knifefish happy for the next decade.

I will just have to absorb the (double) cost of the tank for this little bit extra I guess. Obviously at this size, I dont want to be doing waterchanges every 3 days!!!... A sump is obviously gonna give me the best filtration... or will it?

Also, if I clean the sump, wont I just dump loads of crap right back into the tank and lose most of my BIO?
Thats why I was thinking of spreading the filtration over a few external cannisters.

 

[WyldFya]

It is a matter of preference. I prefer canisters to sumps, as canister have far better media generally. Wet/dry filters are very good, are cost effective, and can be built to accommodate the specific tank. For a tank the size you are doing, I'd go for an Eheim 2262, 2260, or 2080 with an FX5 actually. These will keep the fish well fed, without having to worry about water changes being too frequent (still will be once a week- once every two weeks), and you won't have to limit their food intake.

 

[BushFishRox]

In the FX5 you get 3 trays surrounded by 2"s of foam, in my FX5 I have the top tray with pre-filter and then the bottom two with bio-max and it does everything very well, it really depends on how you set up the media trays...

personally I just dont like eheims just because they are so expensive, Fluval makes the FX5 you should check them out...

 

[WyldFya]

The Fluval FX5 is a mech filter, unless you remove all the foam, and replace it with a bio-media. It has the ability to keep a tank cycled that is far smaller than the eheim equivalent sized filters. Foam is a mech filtration, although it does house BB, it is irrelevant compared to say Eheim's Ehfisubstrat pro.

 

[BushFishRox]

I prefer Bio-Rings as you get better water flow and more surface space for BB, Eheims little pebbles work but not the greatest flow rate, not to mention the FX5's trays are about 2x bigger then eheims, oh and the prefilter also carries BB...

Oh and the FX5 is a 3 stage filter (if you want it to be) not just a mechanical filter...

 

[WyldFya]

It's primary function is that of a mech filter. The eheims 2080, which was released close in time to the Fluval's FX5 holds nearly 3 times as much media, and the media from Eheim is nearly 3 times as porous. I already stated that foam can hold BB, but it is very little, and not what a filter should run on for bio-media. The flow rate around bio-rings is a little higher, but that is because you have a large void where no media, nor detritus can build up. Hence why they are not as good of a media.

 

[Twicksisted]

Thanks for the many replies in such a short time... this is great for my research as I plan my new tank

Ok, so what I have gathered so far, is that a sump isnt really neccessary... and that I can get away with having a couple of large cannisters.

I am thinking of using a couple (2) of FX5 (mech + mech & bio setup) backed up with a large Eheim for (bio).

I really dont want to get this wrong and end up having to empty the whole tank and get weirs and a hole cut.... I also dont want to start with a weir and have to have a sump along with the extra noise and cost it will add to the bill.

this would cost me a total of +-£380... which is comparible to drilling holes, wiers, plumbing, sump & filter media.

So far everyone has told me about how good canisters are... would this beat a sump for this tank... and what could I do sump wise, for the same results or better?

 

[BushFishRox]

This is the prefilter media I am talking about.

This is the Bio-Max I use.

But you can choose what you wish, to me saying an eheim is more of a bio filter then a FX5 is just "dose not compute" as they are pretty much the same 3 stage filter just the FX5 has more more...

 

[WyldFya]

A wet/dry combined with an FX5 will do very well. IMO one FX5 and one Eheim 2262, 2260, or 2080 woud be fine. Craig is selling a 2262 in the buy sell section. You might wanna hit him up.

 

[WyldFya]

This is the prefilter media I am talking about.

This is the Bio-Max I use.

But you can choose what you wish, to me saying an eheim is more of a bio filter then a FX5 is just "dose not compute" as they are pretty much the same 3 stage filter just the FX5 has more more...

For the last time... Foam is predominantly a mechanical filter media. THe FX5 only houses 1/3 of what the 2260, 2262, or 2080 can house for bio-media, and the eheim media has far more surface area per gallon. When you add up that, eheim media has nearly 3 times as much surface area per gallon, plus the equivalent filters housing 3 times as much media, you have 9 times as much bio surface area. That is the reason why FX5 are not as good in bio filtration. You need to do research before saying things. Use the search, there is a review of the two filters here on MFK, as well as a few other sites.