Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fishtank Filtration and Cycling => Topic started by: fcmf on November 22, 2016, 08:24:09 AM

Title: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: fcmf on November 22, 2016, 08:24:09 AM
Hi folks,

I'm thinking of replacing my Marina i110 "waterfall" type filter. It's nice and compact, and the fish like the waterfall effect as though they're in a jacuzzi, but the sponges clog up every few days with plant debris, reducing the water output to a trickle. It seems as though most of the compact filters are for tanks under 50 litres. It seems as though the next size up (eg for tanks up to 100 litres), aside from the Marina i110, are all quite/too bulky.

However, I did notice the following corner filter http://www.water-garden.co.uk/prod/bioplus-100-internal-corner-filter and wondered if anyone had any views on this or can see any potential downsides?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: ColinB on November 22, 2016, 08:54:10 AM
That looks good. The only concern (I think) would be small fish getting behind it - but that would be a concern with any sucker-mounted pump.
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: Sue on November 22, 2016, 09:12:47 AM
It does not mention carbon, or cartridges of any sort which is a plus in my opinion. The way to stop fish getting struck behind a filter is to put some filter wool into the spaces.

I knew that Eheim also make a corner filter (aquacorner 60) but I've just looked and it is designed for 10 to 60 litre tanks and your 54 litre is right at the top end of that range. I prefer to use filters that are have with more 'spare' capacity.
All Pond Solutions also make them, and in various sizes.

Do you want a filter that fits snuggly in a corner - that is, one that is triangular - or is it just that the one in the link caught your eye?
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: fcmf on November 22, 2016, 12:45:39 PM
Thanks, both. Yes - I learned a lesson in mid-July that fish can somehow get stuck in the most tiny of places as happened with one of the male tetras. Judging by their crazed behaviour when chasing the females, I'm almost certain that's how it occurred, and when I discovered the filter had slipped down the tank glass, I moved it up, most likely finishing off the process.  :'( So filter wool squashed round every possible potential gap, even if only a couple of mm wide, is an "essential" for me now.

I didn't actually realise that corner filters existed but that one caught my eye as a possibility.  The one on APS website looks a bit chunky - the same problem with many of the non-nano filters - and I'm certain the fish would come to a nasty demise if they collided with the spray bar during their mating and sparring rituals.  Eheim Aquacorner does indeed look good but doesn't seem to have a bigger size.  I see that there are more products on the Eheim website, though, including cylinder shaped ones (eg Aquaball, Biopower), so may investigate those this evening although any thoughts on those in the interim would be welcome.
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: Sue on November 22, 2016, 01:33:30 PM
I am a big fan of Aquaball and Biopower filters  :) I had an Aquaball in the 50 litre I had to close down and have two Biopowers in my 180 litre. The gap between the filter body and the glass is wide enough for the vast majority of fish to swim through comfortably although there is a very tiny gap between the bracket and the glass which would be easy to block with filter wool. The only danger comes when putting the filter back on the bracket, but all you need to do is look first so you don't squash any nosey fish.
I use mini spray bars on mine but there is also a nozzle shaped outlet with optional venturi. The pumps have flow regulators and they can be rotated on the media containers so the outflow can be pointed in any direction.
The fact that they are modular makes setting up the quarantine tank easy - I have the smallest Aquaball for in there, it is kept in the cupboard most of the time.

I haven't used any other type of filter for years, except for the betta's tank where even the smallest model creates too much current for such a small tank.


Edit to add - don't let the red plastic clips on the biopowers put you off, they also come with a grey set  :) And they are used totally submerged so can can have the water level higher than with your waterfall filter
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: fcmf on November 23, 2016, 09:34:21 PM
Was it the Eheim Aquaball 130 you had in your 50-litre tank, @Sue? That looks the strongest contender for me although it does say for 60-130-litre tanks. The Biopowers look to be for larger tanks.

Other "contenders" from yesterday evening's research included:
* Tetra IN Internal 600 Plus filter, flow rate 300-600 lph, 28H/8W/6Dcm, but the height is 28cm which is maybe a bit tall for my tank.
* Aqua One Moray 320 Internal Filter, flow rate 320 lph, but with a height of 29cm.
* Interpet Internal Power Filter PF2, flow rate up to 500 lph, with a seemingly suitable height of 25cm, but the 1 review on the website I saw it on (SwellUK, Feefo review) states that it was too big for the customer's 54-litre tank and there are a lot of negative reviews on Amazon. [Note to self: the next size down PF1, for 45-68L/36-80L aquariums may be an option]
* JBL Cristal Profi, i60
* the previously mentioned BioPlus 100 Internal Corner Filter, flow rate 500 lph, 27H/?12W/?11Dm, but with a height of 27cm.

Therefore, it looks as though the Eheim Aquaball is the one I'll opt for.
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: Sue on November 24, 2016, 10:14:17 AM
In the 50 litre shrimp tank I had the older incarnation of Aquaball with a slightly different bracket (model 2208) Looking at the specs, it is the same as the 60 in the current range, they just changed the bracket and changed the slits from vertical to horizontal. I should add that I had the 2212 in my 125 litre before I got the Biopower so I stole a basket and added it to the one in the shrimp tank so it had two baskets rather than one.

My 50 litre was 60 x 30 cm footprint and I could use the filter on full flow, though with baby shrimps in the tank I had it turned lower.

If you do get an Aquaball, you have a choice about what to do with your current filter media. There are two media sections in an aquaball.
The baskets have cylindrical sponges which fit over a tube in the centre of the basket. In the basket, you could either put your old media in the central tube or cut some sponge out to put your old media in. I would opt for putting it in the tube as you can't be sure that there won't be a gap if you cut the sponge.
Under the pump you can use either a disc shaped sponge or a flat box filled with carbon sponge or substrat pro. This would also be a good place for the old media.
I do realise that neither of these options places the old media first in the direction of water flow, but if you leave the old media in there for a few months or even permanently it won't matter.

Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: Sue on November 24, 2016, 11:58:47 AM
I forgot to mention 2 things.

The 130 would be fine for your tank. You can turn the flow rate down if you think it is too strong and it would go in a larger tank should you ever upgrade.


I would recommend that anyone buying an Aquaball or Biopower to keep a spare impeller shaft in the cupboard.  They are ceramic and easy to break. I know, I have broken several. They only cost about £5 and it is worth it for peace of mind. The part number is given in the manual (which is on Eheim's website) to make sure you get the right one.
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: fcmf on November 24, 2016, 07:13:34 PM
Thanks, @Sue. Could you possibly confirm the dimensions of the Eheim Aquaball? From the website, it mentions 96mm diameter. My Fluval U2, which was only used for a few months and which I considered too bulky for the 54-litre fishtank, measures 80x70mm (100mm diagonally) and with the filter bracket plus suction caps almost an additional inch at the back and the outlet nozzles an additional inch at the front. I'd like to check that the Eheim Aquaball is actually sufficiently smaller that it wouldn't look too bulky and to justify the expenditure on it given that I do already have a perfectly functioning spare filter of which the only fault is its bulk; thanks.
:)
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: Sue on November 24, 2016, 07:45:54 PM
I have just got the one from the 50 litre out of the cupboard.

The diameter of the basket is 68 mm; the part the pump sits in is slightly wider and that is 79 mm.
Mine has the old bracket, so looking in the 180 litre at the biopowers which have the new bracket I would guess the body of the filter sits about 20 mm away from the glass.

As far as height is concerned, the 60 (one basket and top box under the pump) is 150 mm, though the flow adjuster stick up a bit higher than that. The 130 (2 baskets and a top box under the pump) is 210 mm plus the flow regulator.

The current aquaballs are slightly different from mine, they are like my biopowers in construction. With my aquaball the baskets just push together and the cylinder the baskets make has flat sides. The current range has the clip method of joining them together. If you look at a photo of one you can see a flange that sticks out at the top of each section. Since they use the same sponge, the baskets are the same size inside. I have the manual for the older version and the sponge part number is the same, and it is the same for the bottom basket of the biopower.
I think that 96 mm quoted diameter includes the flange. The body of the cylinder is not that big..............


To confirm, I have just lifted a biopower out of the tank and measured it. The main body of the baskets is just under 70 mm. From the outside edge of the flange to the back of the hook that slots in the bracket, it is just under 100mm. If you look on Eheim's website at the pictures of the Aquaballs there is one showing all the parts. You can just make out the hook at the back of the top section. The picture of the assembled filter shows the flange on the baskets quite clearly. The 96 mm includes both the flange and the hook.




I hope that is not too confusing  ;D
Title: Re: Internal corner filter - any opinions?
Post by: fcmf on November 24, 2016, 09:30:40 PM
Thanks, Sue - I'll print this out and digest it over the weekend. :)