Hmmm...Which filter?

[adriaand]

I have a 272L tank and i wonder what would be the best filter to use for freshwater fish?

Penn-Plax Cascade 300 hang-on-back was my idea.

Will it work or which is better?

[Singularity]

Hmmm, why not a nice big canister filter ?

[adriaand]

what type and size then?

[adriaand]

and cash wise? a guestamate price?

[adriaand]

please.

And thank you

[Singularity]

I think a 700-1000l/h would do nicely, prices can range from R700-1500 depending on make and model etc, HOB filters work but they are not great for bio filtration in my opinion, i usually just use them for a specific media like activated carbon etc, same with internal power filters.

[Henk Hugo]

Yea i agree - canisters rule. I use my HOB filters for polishing the water or acting as a reactor for some chemical filtration like carbon or peat

[adriaand]

thanx guys

[Dolphin]

consider the Eheim 2250 - it does 1200L per hour which will give 4X per hour water volume turnover. you should not pay more than R2280 for this filter. For filter media try to include Eheim Substrat Pro Biologique or Eheim bioMech - this is a great bio media.

[Henk Hugo]

for more info on the 2250 see: http://www.eheim.de/eheim/inhalte/index.jsp?key=liniendetail_27510_ehen

[Big G]

Hey Guys,

Wheres the best place to get Ehiem filters from?? I'm currently using an Ehiem ecco 2231 (I think?) but I believe its only good for about 200L where as I need one for a 315L tank! I'm interested in this 2250, but all I've seen are either R1300 for the classic 2217 or R4500 for the Pro II's!

Sorry to high jack the thread! Thought it was related tho!

Cheers
Big G!

[Henk Hugo]

i'm running both the Pro3E and the Pro3.... amazing filters!

[LiftCrazy*]

i'm running both the Pro3E and the Pro3.... amazing filters!

Yeah, but what do these go for on the street? Most mere mortals can't afford these. :push:

[Henk Hugo]

the pro3 wil set you back between R5000 and R6000 retail

[Big G]

Eish! Thats outa my league!

I'm looking to spend about R2000 tops really, but the R1300 classic is looking favourite at the moment!

Are Ehiem really that much better than the likes of the other makes?? What makes them sooo much better? Or is it more of a 'name' thing?

Cheers
Big G!

[Singularity]

their build quality is second to none Big, think thats the main reason.....

[Big G]

Cool! I mean I'm more than impressed with my Ehiem Ecco, just that I'm a bit concerned that I'm under filtered! I was a bit clueless with Canisters when i bought mine! The sales guy at a LFS that will remain nameless promised me that it would be more than capable for the 315L I need it for, but the manual only suggests that it will cope with around 200L max! I nearly took it back only for the fact that it is better than no filter at all, but now I got a bit more cash, I thought I'd upgrade!

I'd love a R4500 Pro II with the heater built in and everything, but thats roughly what the whole tank and Cabinet cost me originally! In fact its more!

Ok, another question, or the same question rephrased and clarified... Both the ProII for R4500 and the classic for R1300 suggest they are good for 600L tanks max, so what is the advantage of the pro II over the Classic that is worth 3 to 4 times the cost??

Sorry if this seems like a silly question, but its hard to get info that justifies the extensive cost difference! I know the Pro II has a built in heater, but even a good Jaeger only costs R350 so that can't be what inflates its cost??

Sorry, getting myself a bit muddled today!

Cheers
Big G!

[Big G]

Ok, One last question.... Which may be winner for stupid question for the week??.... Obviously a tank can be under filtered, ie, a filter that is not able to cope with the size of tank, but can a tank be over filtered?? So for example having a 500L tank with a canister filter that will do a 2000L tank?? To simplify things, we'll assume that the filter doesn't have a flo adjuster fitted! Would this system be ok??

I hope this question makes some sense? I've had rather little sleep!

Cheers
Big G

[Scaly]

In my opinion, no... the bacteria growing in the filter can only consume as much waste as there is to take out.

It would be nice to see other opinions...

[Big G]

Yer, thats what I would have thought, but can the flo rate be too strong for the tank? Obviously, the return outlet will be flowing far faster than say a filter designed to handle a 500L tank would, but would it be too strong?

Cheers
Big G!

[brentnorm]

There is no such thing as a stupid question around here. All very good questions.

[Scaly]

I think it depend on what fish you keep...some fish love a current and others don't...

I have heard though, that if you flow rate is too fast through the filter, it may not have enough contact time to actaully get cleaned...

[Big G]

Hmm... That would make sense, but then I guess thats why the bigger filters have bigger capacity canisters so that that contact time is increased??

It would seem stupid to create a hi flo rate filter that wasn't able to handle efficient filtration due to its flo rate??

Anyhows, we'll see how we get on? I'm still looking into Ehiems at the mo, so we'll see what I end up with? And more importantly, what I can afford?

Cheers
Big G!

[adriaand]

The thing is i can go with a Cascade 300 hang on filter or i can go with a cascade 1000 cannister filter.
There is a big difference in price.
Will the HOB do the work i need?

[Big G]

Hey Ad... If you can afford it, I'd go with the cannister... I'm not familiar with these exact models, but in my opinion, the Canisters provide far better settlement area than the small HOB! Although its more expensive in the short term, rather spend the extra now than to loose fish down the line due to insufficient filtration.

At the end of the day tho, it just depends on how stocked the tank will be?? If you have one or two larger fish as apposed to 20 or 30 small fish then you shouldn't require a larger filter, although I'd probably err on the side of caution and get the cannister anyhow! I know some of the larger fish can poop like elephants, so whatever filtration you choose should be able to handle the ammount of poop thrown at it!

Also, the Cannister will allow for many different types of filtration (chemical, biological, physical etc!) where as the small capacity of the HOB will only really allow one type at a time, maybe two at best?

Hope that helps?

Just out of interest, whats the price difference between the two?

Cheers
Big G!

[adriaand]

Thanx G

HOB = R380
Cannister = R1000

So you guys can see why im in 2 minds.
But then again if i want to convert to saltwater i can still use the cannister?

Can I?

[Singularity]

not advisable, a sump is so much better for a marine tank imo

[speedz]

im thinking of going the canister . ATM im running 2 HOB filters in 90L tank and i dont feel its really doing justice. One is a millenium 3000 or 6000 cant remember exactly and one is an aquaclear 150. What would be an ideal canister size and setup?