Eheim vs. Tetratec

[BushFishRox]

As for sumps, they are really just for added water volume and a place to hide all the filter intakes, heaters extra, you could aways do a big wet/dry filter, as they are mainly a bio filter and then you could also run a conister for mechanical...

 

[Twicksisted]

Thanks guys
I now know that I dont want a sump!!! which saves me a load of ballache and planning.

I am also happy to hear that all I need is 2 cannisters (FX5 & a large Eheim)
This will work out at £250 which saves me a nice amount... and I guess if it feel the urge I can always add another one.

I like the sound of once weekly or perhaps 2 weeks waterchange
Cant tell you how I dreaded coming home from work to lug buckets of water up and down the stairs every 2-3 days (depending on how much food my girlfriend fed the oscars when i was out as "they look so hungry...shame" hehehe)

 

[12 Volt Man]

For the last time... Foam is predominantly a mechanical filter media.

yes but nitrifying bacteria colonize the foam just like do any other surface.

they colonize activated carbon and ammo chips too.

the foam or floss is only primarly mechanical if you are constantly replacing it all the time.

if you are rinsing it and resusing it, you have lots of bacteria in there.

thats why filters like Aquclears that have just a foam block and carbon can handle bioload so well:

the bacteria live in the substrate just like they do in the more "traditional" biomaterial.

-12 Volt Man

 

[rallysman]

Thanks guys
I now know that I dont want a sump!!! which saves me a load of ballache and planning.

I am also happy to hear that all I need is 2 cannisters (FX5 & a large Eheim)
This will work out at £250 which saves me a nice amount... and I guess if it feel the urge I can always add another one.

I like the sound of once weekly or perhaps 2 weeks waterchange
Cant tell you how I dreaded coming home from work to lug buckets of water up and down the stairs every 2-3 days (depending on how much food my girlfriend fed the oscars when i was out as "they look so hungry...shame" hehehe)

drip system and wet/dry. It doesn't get any easier.
wet/dry is cheaper than an FX5 or canister (by far) if you DIY
I'm not a fan of canisters, so I'm very biased.

 

[Twicksisted]

A drip system? ...hmmm... tell me more.

is that an overhead drip tray system... when you pump water up into it, and it filters down back into the tank... as firstly thats gonna be loud and ... Ideally I am only going to have glass sliding lids on the top of my tank with overhead arcadia lamps suspended from the celiing... got no space up top to put filters

 

[aropal]

Drip system meaning drip water changer. constantly changes water from mains flow in using inline filter media connected to dripper. Never lift another bucket. Excess overflows to drain. Of course you need to have a permanent connection between your tank and a water source and a drain but that’s not too tricky. Some people use pumps and stuff to run the waste to a drain and such but I wouldn’t bother with any electrickery if you can avoid.. You can create a dripper without any electrics and such a system is both easier and more reliable than manual water changes as well as being easier on the fishes.
Wet and dry and over head filter trays are terrible noisy and I wouldn’t bother with em, but I would reconsider a sump for an aquarium with the proposed 1700 litre volume that you describe.

Edited to add: Incidentally which large eheim were you thinking off?

 

[BushFishRox]

Drip system meaning drip water changer. constantly changes water from mains flow in using inline filter media connected to dripper. Never lift another bucket. Excess overflows to drain. Of course you need to have a permanent connection between your tank and a water source and a drain but that’s not too tricky. Some people use pumps and stuff to run the waste to a drain and such but I wouldn’t bother with any electrickery if you can avoid.. You can create a dripper without any electrics and such a system is both easier and more reliable than manual water changes as well as being easier on the fishes.
Wet and dry and over head filter trays are terrible noisy and I wouldn’t bother with em, but I would reconsider a sump for an aquarium with the proposed 1700 litre volume that you describe.

so you run a line from a barrel or tub of dechlorinated water or how to do dechlorinate the new incoming water? sounds interesting and something I would like to try when I move and get a bigger tank...

 

[aropal]

I'm using the water filter about half way down this page described as "twin pod chloramine removal filter":

http://www.ultimateaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/Water_Purifiers__eg_Metalex_.html

This is connected to a pressure regulator and an adjustable hydroponics dripper. The system then connects directly to the mains water source with the dripper dripping into the tank of course.

Runs continually slowly dripping water into your aquarium which then over flows to the drain, has no moving parts so the chance of failure is very low.

The prefilter needs to be changed once a year but the chlormaine filter part will last for years.

Only problem is you'll find yourself with time on your hands when you finally realise you dont have to worry about water changes. I guess you could watch the fish

 

[WyldFya]

yes but nitrifying bacteria colonize the foam just like do any other surface.

they colonize activated carbon and ammo chips too.

the foam or floss is only primarly mechanical if you are constantly replacing it all the time.

if you are rinsing it and resusing it, you have lots of bacteria in there.

thats why filters like Aquclears that have just a foam block and carbon can handle bioload so well:

the bacteria live in the substrate just like they do in the more "traditional" biomaterial.

-12 Volt Man

This is true, but foam still is predominantly used as mech, as the surface area of fluval foam is very low, when compared to medias like bio-max, filstars, ehfisubstrat/substrat pro, or cell-pore.

 

[Wolf3101]

LOL Wyld and I are so differant in our approches to filtration... I use my canisters as mechanical filters mainly so I've always loved fluvals...I have 405's and FX5's all over the place and for bio-filtration I use emporer bio wheel filters along with air driven sponge filters. The reason I do this is because it allows the bacteria direct contact with the air rather than having to depend on desolved o2 in the water. This said...he is right about the eheims you mentioned in your original post. ALL manufacturers have what they call...entry level filters...and you shouldnt judge all ehiem filters by that one example. I always hated the eheim 'classic's' and still do but the pro3 is an entirly differant world...

Gph rating...and even recomended tank sizes listed on filters are nothing more than guesstimates. I love marineland filters..(emporers) but they sell several aquarium/filter/hood set up's that I wouldn't sell to my worst enemy...