Advice for choosing a filter

Hi guys, I'm looking to convert my 200l to a heavily planted tank with a fairly high bioload, and would like to upgrade my filter from a crappy undergravel to something more efficient and suitable for plants. Any suggestions? Don't really want to spend more than 400 bucks...

 

R400 - ummmmm......... ja...... wellll.......

You might get a 2nd hand AquaClear hang on filter or a 10 yearold Fluval canister - check gumtree and the Capeads

 

If u wanna spend R400 try diy-worked 4 me and isnt very expensive

 

diy ftw

 

Ok, I get the picture Henk...

OK, diy sounds good. What am I looking to do? Build a sump...? I've got tons of powerheads lying around.

 

I looked up on the net and built an external cannister filter type thing
I used tubing, marine sylicone, a huge container with screw on lid and filter media. Put it all together-attached it to my pump and it works great.

Depending on what you want just look it up on the net- I looked up a couple of peoples ideas-took from them what I thought would work well and incorporated it all together Good luck

 

Gaawie... I bought a Jebo internal filter suitable for 200-400 litre aquarium (pump was 1500l/p/hour) for R380.00! They are bigish tho.

 

Zoom - does it have both mechanical and biological filtration?

 

Cool, thanks Zoom and Kat. Kat, could you give me some of the links that you used...? It would be really appreciated.

Cheers

 

Hey,
I did my research a couple of months ago so can't find all the sites, but hopefully these might be helpful

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/.../62265-diy-pvc-pipe-canister-filter-step.html

http://www.randystacye.com/diy_canister_filter.htm

http://www.petfrd.com/forum/articles.php?action=viewarticle&artid=87&page=2

http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/do-yourself/37207-diy-mini-canister-filter.html

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Uthup_Sump_Filter.html

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/diy/81597-diy-canister-filter.html

oh here i found the one I based my design on...

I didnt use taps on mine tho and I used a five litre water bottle, tried a bought container with a bigger lid but didnt hold with the pressure-screw on lids work best

 

And my pump sits inside the aquarium instead of inside the cannister.

 

Yep. It has compartments inside for bio balls (the plastic ones), Ceramic chips, a big activated charcoal compartment, and then a large space for sponges and wool. It's made of very cheap and nasty plastic, and as I said, it is rather large, and takes up a large area in the corner of the tank. But it does the job very well.

 

Thanks guys

 

for a planted tank you do not want a HoB and you dont want a sump thats not built properly - why? = you will loose CO2 to surface agitation...

best is a cannister or good internal filter

in your price range you should maximise what you get for your money - you will not get a new cannister for R400. I cant comment on the Jebo but I will advise you look at the Via Aqua 902 Internal Biofilter. Its got huge space for media, runs on a 1200L/h pump and wil cost you just about R400 new with filter media. If you go for this filter, let me know once you have it and I'll share some ideas on cheap but highly effective filter media that will go nicely in this filter... I use this filter and media in my planted tanks!