Being immensely tardy with updates here, means no-one knows that the outgoing nozzle on the Eheim broke. After a regular cleaning session on the filter I noticed some very slight leakage at the pump head nozzle. I use the quick release bits from Eheim, which also means this was a part I never manipulate. Ok, I think; maybe the hose between the pump head and the quick release bit is old and hardened, after all it's been in place since forever. I change the hose, hot water and all to make the new hose pliable and get a good fit. Nope, still leaky. I try once more, very careful. Nu-uh. Ok, 3rd times the charm, there I am, nozzle in hand; broke clean off at the base.
On a sunday.
Now, I could change the pump head cover (and I might at some point), this got me thinking. If I had not noticed that one tiny drop of water, my experience could very well have been half a tank on the floor. So quickest rescape commenced; tank now runs with a HMF background. So f'ing tired of plastic, however a nice Amano all steel bucket is out of my price range these days.
I actually don't have any shots of the tank, after the refit; but it looks much like before. I boosted the Oto pop about 6 months ago, all still going strong. Got a few fancy Betta females. Green neon population is diminishing slowly, but I still have a couple of handfuls. Either I'm getting more of them, or maybe some other tetras, not too sure yet.