Internal Filter VS Canister Filter

Hi There

I have a 1.75Lx0.5W tank, currently there is about 30 fish in the tank (Malawians). I have a hang on filter, but it is not doing the job at all, the bottom of the tank is filled with strands and strands of fish poop!! Don't look so cool!

So I am debating between an internal filter or a external canister filter.
I have read in a thread here that the filter needs to pump about 6 times the capacity of the tank p/h? So i would need a filter that circulates roughly 2700l p/h! On the Daro website I have seen a internal filter by ViaAqua VI2000 pushes 1800l p/h and a canister filter also by ViaAqua VC1200 pushes 1200l p/h.

Out of any one's experience which filter would be the better system between the two filters?

Thanks.

 

Hi

I have one word for you: syphon :bigsmile:

Regards
L

 

Hi Peekay
I have had both and in my experience the external canister filter is a much better bet, no as much maintenance and you don't have to try and hide the ugly thing in a corner were no matter what you do every one sees it.... and as for the pumping the tank per hour, 3 to 4 times an hour is fine you don't have to go that big.

You could go for a Sump underneath you tank that will work as well

 

And I'll add another 4 words "Buy One" & "Use it"

 

Ha Ha Ha!!

I Have one, well, did not buy it, made it out of a buddy bottle and hose pipe! It works OK, problem is it takes out too little poop than it does compared to how much water it takes

@ Gareth - thanks for the info, I am leaning more towards the canister as it is external and cleaning it out will be that much easier. A sump underneath? would that go underneath the gravel? And is it not a nightmare to clean?

 

Hi no a sump goes underneath the tank, works a lot like a external canister just better according to some people.
Search the work sump in the forum and you will find a topic that will explain how it works and you only clean it maybe once a month or so depending

 

External holds more media. but siphon is the way

 

OK after my one liner earlier I think I need to add something. :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

You probably need an external cannister with an intake strainer close to the substrate. It needs to be strong enough to suck most of the waste into or near to that corner, unless there are obstructions along th way such as rocks, which you will typically have in a malawi tank. Then you mostly just syphon in one area.

Remember, you also need to do water changes from time to time, so syphoning out some water is not a bad thing.

 

Oh and what Laure said...

 

Did I read that correctly 1.75m tank?

I don't think any internal filter would be big enough (pump volume) to handle that amount of water, so your only option should really be a Canister filter or Sump option.

Regardless of the filter though, you'll need to Syphon at least every 2-3 weeks...at the least.

If you ask me your Syphon is the problem here, as you said you made it yourself, and if that bottle is too big in diameter then there's not enough flow to lift anything.

You can buy a really good one for R70-odd that auto-starts and does the job beautifully.

 

Hi All

Yes, it is 1.75m, it is a big tank. Hence filtration with just the hang on is not adequate. The water is beautiful and clear, but the waste collects big time along the entire bottom of the tank. If it was just in one area I would be able to live with that syphoning it once/twice a week. Yes, my home made syphon is probably too big as the waste takes it sweet time going thru the hose! And I will buy a better one as the idea of the auto starter really appeals to me, tank water really tastes k@k!! I will do a bit of resarch on the sump, I'm guessing I will have to have a combo of filtration systems and regular syphoning of areas that circulation does not reach or is obstructed, I do have a few rocks and caves and stuff on the bottom of the tank.

Thanks all for input.

 

You might not have enough circulation to keep the poop in the water as opposed to on the sand. So maybe just adding a cheapo powerhead would make a difference?

 

The better word is LOOKS:blink1: beautiful and clear.
The powerhead is diffinatly a good investment but you should get a sump filter too. In a canister you have virtually no bio filtration. The water flows far to fast past the medium, considering your tank size and a minimum of 2-3 cycle a hour. With malawies are beeing quite poo factories and you vitually can't have any amount of plants in there tank I personally find a canister not ideal.
Under gravel is also out because your fish will dig it open(Don't jump on my throat guys i think these thinks are wrongly undervelued)
I think at 1 mabe 2 weekly 30-50% water change PLUS rinsing the filter pads at the same timewill give you beautifull and clear/clean water.
This is all but my oppinion and others may differ

 

Autostarts? Please explain....

 

No more sucking on the end of the hose to get the syphon going....it starts without any sucking No more yucky water ending up in your mouth by mistake....echt!:sick:

 

I just scoop water in the main tube, let it run down, stop it with my thumb then resubmerge the main tube, letting the air out. I dont suck on fish water

 

Yip, I do the same with the smaller tanks, but in some cases I have over 4m of tubing so the only way is to suck (well not the only one, but certainly the quickest way )

 

Lol, fortunately for you Vee if you have 4m you definatey shoudnt be getting any water in your mouth.

 

LoL Brent - you'll be amazed :sick::sick: As a matter of interest, tank water does NOT taste very good! :bigsmile:

 

Hi

I would think there is plenty bio filtration in an external cannister. You are right - you cannot have water flow too fast. But you can have more than 1 cannister. For example, a 300L tank requires 1800L per hour of filtration. Most filters perform at 75% of rated flow. So buy 2 x 1200L/hour filters, and they will probably perform at 900L/hour, so both of them together gives you 1800L/hour.

With good media such as siporax there is plenty of bio filtration in these filters.