16 replies to this topic

[Scat]

Hi,

Im looking for around 3-4 new powerhead/sponge type setups or a similar internal power filter setup for some catfish tanks and would like to hear peoples opinions on what thye believe are the best around atm.

Ive had many cheap resun/made in china type ones over the last few years and have found them ok but generally die after no longer than 2 years, so im looking for a filter than can achieve a decent flow rate and also has a reasonable capacity for detritus before becoming clogged ( Not keen on cleaning it more than once per week )

I would like to get what people consider the best on the market rather than go the cheap which doesnt end up saving you money in the long run. I keep hearing the otto filters are really good ( I think thats the right name ? )

Would love to hear opinion sand expeirences of other hobbiests.

Cheers
Craig

[taipan]

Hi Craig

I am using an Eheim in a Malawi tank as a polisher and it is fantastic. It gets cleaned every three weeks due to my work roster and I have on occasion let it go six weeks and it was still doing a pretty good job, obviously the efficiency was down and I couldn't believe the amount of crap that the sponges contained!

I can't remember the model exactly and am not home at the moment to let you know but I do know it was bloody expensive(I think they were around $450 each and I had a lot of trouble tracking down a supplier). Outrageous price but I wanted the best! I was going to set up a tropheus tank running two of them and two canister filters but until I find a great paying job at home my T tank is just a dream

I found this link to the Eheim powerball internal though and I reckon you couldn't go wrong with them.
http://www.eheimasia...uaball_test.pdf

Cheers

Matt

Edit: Found it Craig. It is a Eheim Powerline 2252, bought a few years ago. Selling in the UK for over 100 pounds

[Fox]

Go the Otto, I have used them for years, And we now have them instock, Powerful & quiet

I dont go much on the Otto Canister filters, But the Internals are great.

[smellsfishy]

fluval U series are quite nice not to exspensive on ebay either $50-$100.
check them out.

[Cawdor]

Eheim pickup series works well for me. I clean it about once a fortnight.

[Scat]

Thanks for the feedback

Tim, Ive used the eheim internals before ( have a fine sponge inside them ) and found them ok but only for small bioloads, is this what you have ? Will have to check the model number ( Been busy taking shots for the malawi photo comp )

Nice plug Az Whats the price and litres per hour for those ? Can i trade in 20 firemouths ?

Will research some more on the suggestions !

Cheers
Craig

[Fox]

Nice plug Az Whats the price and litres per hour for those ? Can i trade in 20 firemouths ?

LMAO I do what I can I think Aquotix has them too, a bit closer to you.
I think.......the 1200's are around $60 with 3 sponge canisters, they are 1200lph & no you cant

[Scat]

Ok thanks mate !

I have a number of eye burners and firemouths i would like to credit out towards these as some mongrel sold my wife 20 firemouths awhile back in one hit and now she doesnt want them !!

Is that the largest being a 1200ph ?

Cheers
Craig

[Krystal]

Eheim Powerline!

http://www.eheimasia..._powerline.html

We dont stock them....not sure if other stores do? Can get them in for you. BUT they have to ability to 'close' each canister before taking it out of the tank so you dont put all the crap back in your tank....also you can attach mutiple sponges onto it. Also have quite large flowrates on them....better then any pickup in the Eheim range....Up to 1200 l/h!

If you want to know more shoot me a PM....too hard to type a lot right now

P.S Thanks Az We dont stock the Ottos but a similar model....

[Fox]

LMAO, I wonder who that was..I just gave you the offer, not my fault you took it

Eyeburners OMG no way, I'll need my sunglasses everytime I go to the Malawi area hahahahahahaah


No, You can get bigger, But I dont have any ATM as I just wanted to try them in store, so I grabbed the 1200 Powerheads & 1200 Internals.

[Scat]

I just gave you the offer, not my fault you took it

My wife took the offer not me you *&^%$ lol

Will check out the otto plus the ehiems Krystal put me onto look like they have prospects too

Cheers
Craig

[Fox]

My wife took the offer not me you *&^%$ lol


Cheers
Craig

hahahahahahahahaahahhahahahahaa You should control your wife

[Scat]

Thanks for the advice and will talk to you soon to finish this conversation

Craig

[taipan]

Will check out the otto plus the ehiems Krystal put me onto look like they have prospects too

Cheers
Craig

Craig, the Eheim powerlines I mentioned were around $450 for the pair, not each sorry about that. They were hard to track down and as Krystal said they have a shutter type system to stop crap going back into the tank. The system doesn't quite stop all of it but much better than any other I have seen. You can also attach a spraybar to the outlet instead of the nozzle to diffuse the waterflow. The sponge material is fairly coarse as well. A top internal imo.

[Cawdor]

Tim, Ive used the eheim internals before ( have a fine sponge inside them ) and found them ok but only for small bioloads, is this what you have ?

I have the largest one, the 2012, and I use it it conjunction with canisters mainly for polishing the water and flow. By itself I think I wouldn't put it in anything larger than 250L. Properly positioned it picks up a fair bit of detritus.

[Neakit]

i think morley had a few eheim powerlines but it has been a while since i have been in there.

[Scat]

Thanks everyone for the valuable input, Will let you know what i end up over the next couple of weeks

Cheers
Craig