hi all

sorry this might be a long post!!!!

the tank im getting comes with a rena filstar xp3 external filter.its suitable for tanks upto 600 litres and has a flow rate of 1350 l/h so i know ill probably need another filter. im thinking about getting an internal filter aswell to add to water movement (more oxygen so i wont need an airpump) im thinking of either a rena filstar iv4 which is suitable for tanks upto 200 litres and has a flow rate of 600 l/h or a eheim aquaball 2212 which is suitable for tanks upto 200 litres and has a flow rate of 650l/h. are these good enough or do you suggest i get an extra external filter?

sorry its so long i just want to make sure i get everything right!!!

many thanks

shaner

Don't bother with an internal filter, there aren't any that will be able to keep up with the Oscars waste, you will be for ever cleaning it. 600 L was around 130 gallons. Your external filter will cope with that is okay. However, it is never a bad idea to have extra filtration. Why don't you just get yourself another external? You don't have to do get one that is the same specifications as the one you've got, just a little extra. When you set it up, make sure that the spray bars are causing surface agitation, this will put more than enough oxygen into the water.

Internal filters are a lot cheaper than external for a reason- they just don't do the job as well. If you are starting out with small oscars then you wont need the second filter straight away but you will need it soon enough


If you wanted an internal filter just to agitate the water just buy a powerhead. A powerhead just moves water around

thank for your reply

i think ill go with a external filter from the start. i can use my eheim 2224 that i got going in my tank at the moment,the only problem is its not self priming! i think on the new tank ill have to get it drilled because i dont think there is any where the pipes can go through! is this expensive? on my tank at the mo i had to cut abit of the side hood away to get the pipes through!

cheers for all your help

shaner

Are you talking about getting the tank drilled or the cabinet

I think you get tanks drilled for sump filters or for protein skimmers(use on salt water tanks) so you wont need to do this

For external filter you just cut holes in the lid for the pipes to go out the back. Run the pipes down the back and cut a hole in the cabinet to run the pipes through into the filter in the cabinet. A holesaw adapter for your drill will make a nice neat round hole.


If a filter isn't self priming all you got to do get it started it set it up, then suck on the outlet. You will know when you have got it started because you will be able to hear the water filling the filter

hi

its a rena aqualife tank and the ones ive seen i dont think you can do any cutting out on the lid i might be wrong ill have to check! i think its made of alluminium! does anybody have a rena tank?

it can be abit of a bugger to get it started again though!!! ive had mouthfuls of tank water before!!!

thanks again

shaner

You can still cut alluminium. Its a soft metal and easy to cut and drill

I am guessing you are sucking on the inlet pipe before it goes into the filter. To avoid mouthfulls of tank water set the filter up as would have it when it is running and suck on the outlet pipe that is furthest away from the filter, I.e take the spray bar or water outlet off and suck there. Give it a real good suck and then listen to the filter and you will hear it filling- no water in the mouth. Put the outlet/spray bar back on and wait till its filled with water and turn on

hi

thats how i done it last time and your right i didnt get any mouthfuls of water! my filter doesnt need cleaning that often so i often forget how to do it! it can be pretty frustrating!

how do self priming filters work do you just turn them back on?

thanks for your help

shane

Which self priming filter have you got? I don't think mine is self priming, I am using Eheim 2028 filters and may actually have a kind plunger that you push to prime. I did try once but I couldn't get it to work so I just make sure the filters are completely full of water and they just come on as soon as you turn them back on. Occasionally they start gurgling when they are switched on so I just push the priming knob are a couple of times and they seem to work.

ive got a eheim 2224.its fine if i do just do a normal water change its when i clean the trays out it gets abit of a bugger!!! when i do this its sounds like theres abit of water going through and you can hear the impeller going round but it doesnt seem to start up again. there is something you can buy to get it started but cant remember what it is!!! doh!!!

i think ive mastered it now though! at bloody last! usually the missus helps!

thanks again

Fluvals have a handle you pump to start the filling process. I have an eheim with a big button you push to get it started. I also have another type of filter(cant remember the name it came with the tank) where you take a little bit out of the top of the filter and pour some water in(you fill the filter with water 1st). I have another filter that is my emergency filter that has a opening at the top of the filter tube that you fill with water.



The fluvals syphon starter works well, the ehiem can be iffy and the other two are too much hassle- its easier to just suck on the outlet tube

my filter doesnt have any thing like that so its a case of sucking the water up!

i just thought that with a self priming one you just switched it back on!