Your current Fish tank Setups!
- Thread starter Malt_Vinegar
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Soldato
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Algae. Nothing to worry about
My tank was siting at 27.3 when i left this morning with the cooling fans going full pelt and another large fan blowing over the sump. Hoping it doesnt get to 27.5 or will have to start buying bags or making ice to float in tank
Thanks, Do you know if there is anyway of getting rid, I'm using my flipper magnet with blade but it won't go.
Caporegime
I have a 120l Jewel but musing over something bigger with a canistor filter for either more, or bigger fish, Aqua One any good? I notice they use a UV steraliser in the cansiter but UV is bad for plastic so how does that work?
Soldato
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May need a manual scraper or to go over if multiple times. Does yours have the metal or plastic blade?
Soldato
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It works by slowly degrading the plastic filter body untill it fails and leaks whilst your at work
I have an Aquaone 110ltr. The tanks themselves are well made but the cabinet is average, for real oak you'd pay 3x as much though. You can leave off the wooden bits at the top and have it semi-rimless which is nice (there is enough of a lip to stop fish jumping out, but it has a rimless appearance).
I use an Oase canister and then an external UV filter before going to the inlet.
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Ok thanks, it has the metal blade
The Aqua One looks like a re-branded cheap generic Chinese product, the UV will break down the internal plastic over 3 years or so. I would buy a higher quality European product if I were you from Oase or Ehiem.
The stock filter on a Jewel tank has enough capacity for a realistic stocking you should be putting in a tank of that size and it pushes an adequate amount of water around (500l/hour or 4X turnover).
The main advantage of a canister filter is getting ugly equipment out of the tank, you'll also get more swimming space in the tank and be able to hide other equipment like heaters with the right model. They can provide more flow and better circulation rather than the ability to have more fish. A correctly sized internal (which the included one is) will already have the filtration capacity to cover the realistic stocking for that tank.
They do unlock the ability to add a more diverse range of media but realistically it will not enable you to keep any more fish than you can keep with the internal filter due to the size of the tank. A good use of the extra capacity is to include some very fine media to get the smallest particles out of the water. You can 'get away' with maintaining the canister filter less but that's not good practice they still do need to be maintained. The most fitting analogy is that you are attaching a bigger toilet to the tank, it still need to be flushed just as often.
The downsides are can get pretty foul when it comes to maintaining them if you don't keep on top of them. There is also so much more to clean (pipes etc) and more time consuming to clean. You also need to keep the main o-ring lubed so it doesn't prematurely expire when you are at work/on holiday. Quality filters are generally reliable but there is always a small risk of a o-ring leaking or a pipe splitting which you don't have with internal filters.
Other things you need to factor in are removing the old filter and fitting the new one, its more complex than it sounds.
Removing the old one:
They are glued into place with big blobs of strong black silicone. You need a long sharp blade to cut through it and you need to be really careful not to scratch the tank or nick the seal in the back corner, its pretty to do both. You also need a glass scraper (raser blade type) to remove whats left on the glass. Ideally you should remove as much water from the tank as possible.
Fitting the new one:
The Juwel tank does have some cut outs on the back but they are only sized for cabling not large piping. You may need to trim the back flap around the pipes to allow it to close properly.
You'll also need to ether replace the heater or get some suction cup mounts for the exciting one because the tank doesn't come with any and the heater is normally mounted in the internal filter. Alternatively buy a filter with a built in heater from Oase or Ehiem (expensive).
The stock filter on a Jewel tank has enough capacity for a realistic stocking you should be putting in a tank of that size and it pushes an adequate amount of water around (500l/hour or 4X turnover).
The main advantage of a canister filter is getting ugly equipment out of the tank, you'll also get more swimming space in the tank and be able to hide other equipment like heaters with the right model. They can provide more flow and better circulation rather than the ability to have more fish. A correctly sized internal (which the included one is) will already have the filtration capacity to cover the realistic stocking for that tank.
They do unlock the ability to add a more diverse range of media but realistically it will not enable you to keep any more fish than you can keep with the internal filter due to the size of the tank. A good use of the extra capacity is to include some very fine media to get the smallest particles out of the water. You can 'get away' with maintaining the canister filter less but that's not good practice they still do need to be maintained. The most fitting analogy is that you are attaching a bigger toilet to the tank, it still need to be flushed just as often.
The downsides are can get pretty foul when it comes to maintaining them if you don't keep on top of them. There is also so much more to clean (pipes etc) and more time consuming to clean. You also need to keep the main o-ring lubed so it doesn't prematurely expire when you are at work/on holiday. Quality filters are generally reliable but there is always a small risk of a o-ring leaking or a pipe splitting which you don't have with internal filters.
Other things you need to factor in are removing the old filter and fitting the new one, its more complex than it sounds.
Removing the old one:
They are glued into place with big blobs of strong black silicone. You need a long sharp blade to cut through it and you need to be really careful not to scratch the tank or nick the seal in the back corner, its pretty to do both. You also need a glass scraper (raser blade type) to remove whats left on the glass. Ideally you should remove as much water from the tank as possible.
Fitting the new one:
The Juwel tank does have some cut outs on the back but they are only sized for cabling not large piping. You may need to trim the back flap around the pipes to allow it to close properly.
You'll also need to ether replace the heater or get some suction cup mounts for the exciting one because the tank doesn't come with any and the heater is normally mounted in the internal filter. Alternatively buy a filter with a built in heater from Oase or Ehiem (expensive).
Caporegime
I wasn't looking at replacing the built in filter as you say, its actually really good.
I was talking about getting another, larger tank, which would presumably need a canistor filter is its 245 litres or so.
I was talking about getting another, larger tank, which would presumably need a canistor filter is its 245 litres or so.
Ah, that makes sense. Yes, big canister filter or a sump if the tank allows it.
For that size of tank you are really looking at the biggest filters you can get:
Oase Biomaster 600 (can get a Thermo model with 300W heaters built in).
Ehiem Professional 4
Fluval FX4/6
For that size of tank you are really looking at the biggest filters you can get:
Oase Biomaster 600 (can get a Thermo model with 300W heaters built in).
Ehiem Professional 4
Fluval FX4/6
Biomaster 350 is probably enough really. You can upgrade the media instead of using just the foam if you need more surface area.
It will be far better than anything provided with the tank. Though the Juwel internal filters are quite good. Probably the only ones which are (the big ones which come siliconed to the tank are quite expensive to buy on their own).
It will be far better than anything provided with the tank. Though the Juwel internal filters are quite good. Probably the only ones which are (the big ones which come siliconed to the tank are quite expensive to buy on their own).
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Caporegime
What would you go for on a budget of £500? Tank, stand and filtration.
If I was buying now I'd probably go with a Juwel Rio 240L and keep the included filter.
All the other stuff adds up though. Water treatment, test kits, medicines etc aren't cheap (and nor are tropical/marine fish) and you'll need a small tank to quarantine new and sick fish.
All the other stuff adds up though. Water treatment, test kits, medicines etc aren't cheap (and nor are tropical/marine fish) and you'll need a small tank to quarantine new and sick fish.
Caporegime
Have had bad experiences buying used, scratched tanks etc.
To be honest, £500 doesn't get you a lot for that sort of size. The tanks no thrills but fine, the cabinets tend to be very cheap. Juwel/Fluval are pretty similar, in terms of the specs. Lights are pretty basic but fine for very easy plants, just don't expect any more.
Buying used is a minefield as Pike suggested, not just for scratches but for dodgy old tanks as well. Buyer beware for sure!
Buying used is a minefield as Pike suggested, not just for scratches but for dodgy old tanks as well. Buyer beware for sure!
Caporegime
This seems good value?
https://charterhouse-aquatics.com/s.../fluval-roma-led-240-aquarium-and-cabinet-oak
https://charterhouse-aquatics.com/s.../fluval-roma-led-240-aquarium-and-cabinet-oak
Soldato
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Caporegime
Fresh water tropical.