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  1. M

    FX6 & Pondguru sponge replacement.

    It's possible, especially if you didn't have the issue before the modification. I went a bit left of field and did the Pondguru upgrade but with custom cut to size poret foam from a firm in Devon.
  2. M

    UK Purigen Users Only

    I just use thick bleach mixed 50/50 with water. Four years and counting, no issues.
  3. M

    New filter! Lets choose one

    I took the broken Unipump 1500 in to my LFS, they placed an order for a replacement and called to say it was there after two days. They've got an Aquael catalogue in the shop with all parts listed and it's just a case of getting the part number and putting through an order. Perhaps some parts...
  4. M

    Fluval FX

    Sunsun HW5000 is basically an FX6 copy, but with a UV bulb, even higher (but adjustable) flow rate and more traditional baskets.
  5. M

    Outside filter for a dennerle 20l cube

    Oase would be a good option. Aqua one Ocellaris 400 is the same but probably a bit cheaper too.
  6. M

    Taller bodied fish

    Would emperor tetras count? Sort of inbetween in body shape but the males shown some impressive finnage as they mature. My columbian tetras are also quite impressive.
  7. M

    New filter! Lets choose one

    Wow that's pretty poor. I've had full replacement pumps in 48hrs.
  8. M

    New filter! Lets choose one

    My LFS is an Aquael stockist and can get any spare part within 48hrs. They're definitely a growing brand but you shouldn't have any major issues with parts at this point.
  9. M

    New filter! Lets choose one

    I think the 2000 would be fine. You've got to take into account that 2000 is just the power of the pump and once the trays full of media, hoses etc are taken into account you're left with much less actual flow rate. The combined pump power on my 450 litre tank is 6500lph and its not too much...
  10. M

    New filter! Lets choose one

    Aquael Ultramax 2000 would probably tick all boxes for you.
  11. M

    All Pond Solutions External filter 2000litres "new and improved version"

    I ran the newer versions for a couple of years without any issues. Find them absolutely perfect but the flow rate isn't quite what you'd expect... Although still more than most of the competition. Finest filters sell the same models for a bit less (they're all rebranded Sunsun filters) but the...
  12. M

    Boyu 150 L/H Filter!

    I've owned two. One was whisper quiet, the other I couldn't get to stop rattling. I know it's a low flow rate filter, but the actually flow might disappoint you (never measured it). They fit a good amount of media in them and can be set up however you like, so pretty decent as long as you...
  13. M

    All pond solutions external filter?

    I've used a total of 6 boosters, all of different sizes (latest APS don't sell yet ;)) and they've all been great. You could do a lot worse for the money and APS are a good company to deal with if you have any warranty issues.
  14. M

    The Aquael Maxi Kani 500 is here

    Well all canisters lose some flow as the rating is just the power of the motor. That said the flow is good and I'd say comparable to my JBL e1501. Can't think of any reason why you couldn't hook up a different pump, could be a decent high flow option. One thing I'd strongly recommend though...
  15. M

    Aquamanta EFX600 spare parts

    I'm sure Maidenhead Aquatics carry spares for these.
  16. M

    Filter floss before or after bio-media

    I've been experimenting with sponges/floss for a while and I've got to a point where the floss lasts around 6 weeks in my Fx6 and 8 weeks in my other canisters. I say experiment because I had the thought to gradually mechanically filter the water, so by the time the water reaches the floss...
  17. M

    Allpondsolutions

    I've used a lot of Sunsun products over the years and as stated above, All Pond Solutions is just a re-brand. I've never been let down by them, quite well made and decent performance. There's other places selling the same such as Discount Leisure Products and Finest Filters... Sometimes...
  18. M

    Otocinclus

    I bought 12 to go in my Rio 450 a couple of months ago. They seemed to disappear but just last week I managed to count 9 and I haven't found any dead yet. My LFS currently has orange zebra otos in stock. Very rare... Very pricey!
  19. M

    The Aquael Maxi Kani 500 is here

    I did a water change this morning and when I turned the power back on, one of the pumps didn't restart. I've disconnected it, had a good look inside and even tried changing the fuse in the plug, but it's completely dead. Oh well, messaged the place I ordered it from about a replacement and...
  20. M

    Canister filters and flow

    I think it's more of a clarifier at that wattage, certainly enough to take care of waterborne algae but not much chance against the likes of ich etc.
  21. M

    Canister filters and flow

    I'm going to show my filter geek level here but... Boyu DGN filters have 200w heaters and an optional 5w UV all built into the bottom of the canister. They're pretty cool filters, you can even electronically adjust the pump's flow rate.[
  22. M

    Canister filters and flow

    What inline equipment are you using? I use prefilter canisters on two of my filters and found that the flow was much better if they were fed from the top down. In terms of plumbing in an extra pump, it is possible with the likes of the Aquael Unipump (external motor which the Maxi Kani models...
  23. M

    Which tank for a Betta?

    They've definitely got lids.
  24. M

    Which tank for a Betta?

    Superfish Home are quite nice.
  25. M

    The Aquael Maxi Kani 500 is here

    Just a little update on the Aquaels. They were a doddle to set up and get going. You're given a choice as to where you place the pump and even though it's smaller than pics on the net suggest, I'd never have it on the inlet just for aesthetics, but also to protect the motor from having to deal...
  26. M

    Fluval 107 or 207 for a 60x30 tank

    Too much flow is subjective, but I doubt it. Once you account for the hoses and media in the filter, the flow is much less than stated on the box.
  27. M

    Fluval 107 or 207 for a 60x30 tank

    I doubt it'd be too much flow, especially if you're using co2. I do like the Fluvals, had a 306 a few years ago and it was a great little filter... Loads of mechanical filtration, decent flow and very easy to clean.
  28. M

    Fluval 107 or 207 for a 60x30 tank

    The Fluval filters are excellent but the standard inlets/outlets and hoses are ugly, which means extra expense if you want nicer options. There's a lot of decent filters out there... I'd have recommended an Aquael but they all come with 16/22 hoses which would look a little big on a small tank...
  29. M

    The Aquael Maxi Kani 500 is here

    It's mainly a fish tank, including some cichlids and is quite heavily stocked. There are some plants but not enough to take care of the nitrogen.
  30. M

    The Aquael Maxi Kani 500 is here

    And a few pics of the pump and accessories... Suction cups look very nice too!
  31. M

    The Aquael Maxi Kani 500 is here

    So I've bought two of these huge filters to supplement a Fluval FX6 on my Juwel Rio 450. Long story short, the FX6 is set up for mechanical/chemical filtration, with only one tray of bio media and the idea is that these two filters will contain only biological filtration (mechanical will be...
  32. M

    A couple of interesting new filters from Aquael

    Well it's taken a while, presumably due to current events, but I've got a notification that the filters are out for delivery today. Might start a new thread with pics/details of the filters if anyone's interested? Or maybe even in this thread.
  33. M

    Choosing my first set of fish for hard, alkaline water

    If my water was like that, I'd be scrapping the planted idea and getting some African cichlids ;)
  34. M

    Hexamita

    Well he's taken a turn for the worse today, 24hrs since full dose of Esha Hexamita was reached (you build it up over three days). He's currently hiding in the vallis at the back of the tank, quicker gilling and showing darker colour. The patch on his head hasn't grown any but seems a bit more...
  35. M

    Sera 130

    That's really odd, never knew 14/18 hose existed. Is 16/22 too big? I'd be concerned about restricting the flow with 12/16 hoses.
  36. M

    A couple of interesting new filters from Aquael

    So I've just impulse bought two Maxi Kani 500s as I was thinking about ditching the Sunsuns to declutter the tank (pumps are inside the tank on the intakes). I'm going to run both through aftermarket skimmer inlets, down into a Sunsun prefilter, then the external pump, followed by the actual...
  37. M

    Best tank cleaners?

    I thought it was flying foxes that grow out of algae eating? I had some true Siamese algae eaters (Crossocheilus oblongus) that reached 6" and still ate BBA. Otos are also a good shout, as are amano shrimp, BN ancistrus. Maybe even some cories for taking care of uneaten food that falls to the...
  38. M

    Do I have too many fish?

    I'd take the barbs and glass catfish back and call it a day.
  39. M

    Hexamita

    So I've just started treatment with Esha Hexamita this afternoon. Can't find any information on how long to keep it in the water but I'm going to assume it's seven days... He was actually looking slightly better today but I don't know if that's because some of the white skin on his head had...
  40. M

    Sera 130

    Well if you got a Boyu, you could still use the Sera parts as they're the same filter. Same with Sunsuns which All Pond Solutions rebrand.
  41. M

    Sera 130

    I like the look of these, but would probably opt for the Boyu version as it's a re-brand and Sera take quite a cut for the media/bacteria.
  42. M

    A couple of interesting new filters from Aquael

    Morning all Thought I'd share Aquael's latest canisters. This is a brand that I took interest in around three years ago when I discovered another LFS that was a stockist (The Fish Room in Poynton). Having seen their aquariums, and having used their heaters, lights and internal filters, I've...
  43. M

    Hexamita

    No, only the octozin treatment was out of the norm.
  44. M

    Hexamita

    These are the best I could get...
  45. M

    Hexamita

    I'm having some really bad luck at the moment - I've recently treated my blue acara for internal parasites with Waterlife Octozin, and during treatment noticed a couple of hatchetfish develop white spot. The white spot has now gone and I'm assuming that the Octozin also took care of that...
  46. M

    White cloud mountain minnows

    I think times have changed. I've seen neons for a little as 75p each, which is less than half of what I see WCMM going for. They're so much hardier than neons too, can't remember the last time I saw good healthy neons...
  47. M

    White cloud mountain minnows

    They'll be fine at that temp. I kept 20 in an unheated biorb 105 for a couple of years, subsequently heated to 22 and couldn't stop them spawning... It was constant and I had to rescue fry a couple of times a week from the undergravel filter. I think they're really underrated fish. Beautiful...
  48. M

    Filter help?!

    Filter wool doesn't instantly kill the flow, it does happen fairly quickly though as it clogs easily... Mine goes around 2 months before needing to be replaced. Your best bet would be to diffuse the flow with a spray bar, possibly the whole length of the tank. If the flow is still too much then...
  49. M

    Octozin for white spot?

    Thank you for the detailed reply. I was under the impression that Octozin was dimetridazole, so might actually work for white spot. I won't pretend to be an expert, but I believe that that is an anti-protozoan treatment. I'm guessing the white spot was not in its free swimming stage while the...
  50. M

    Octozin for white spot?

    Afternoon all My tank is on day 5 of an octozin treatment as my blue acara was showing signs of internal parasites. I noticed last night that a ram and a couple of hatchfish have several white spots (definitely ich) and was wondering whether the octozin might also take care of that? It...
  51. M

    EF Booster filter (prefilter)

    There's a couple of larger prefilters - EF2 Booster which All Pond Solutions do has a capacity of 2.3 litres, and the Sunsun HW/EW (referring to white or clear plastic) 604 is 4.8 litres if I remember correctly. As I used mine for sponges and floss, I went for the clear versions so I can see...
  52. M

    Floating plants in a high-ish flow environment.

    Thank you for the suggestion, I'm liking the look of the riccardia chamedryfolia... So much so that I might grow some submerged too!
  53. M

    EF Booster filter (prefilter)

    So many variables with maintenance... I suspect that it could go 6 months if you remove the fine sponge and refrain from using fine pads/floss. I'm running two of the newer and much larger Sunsun prefilters on 1000lph canisters. I can go two months before the floss and fine sponge need...
  54. M

    Floating plants in a high-ish flow environment.

    I gave vallisneria gigantae a go and it got a little out of hand... Taking handfuls out every week and then it started sending out runners in all directions, trying to take over! I've currently got some twisted vallis which is around 4 inches from the surface (around a month since being...
  55. M

    Floating plants in a high-ish flow environment.

    Afternoon all Just some general musings about floating plants after some salvinia minima I tried was annihilated within 5 days in my Rio 450... Problem is that I'm running quite high flow - an FX6 (2000lph) in the centre, two 500lph surface skimmers, two 1000lph canister outputs at either end...
  56. M

    External Filter for Juwel Lido 200

    Assuming the cut out is the same size as on my Rio 450, then anything with 16/22 hoses should easily fit. I'd go for an Aquael Maxi Kani 500 if given the choice - Maximum filtration capacity with a reasonable flow rate for your size tank.
  57. M

    Occasional Skimming?

    They'll end up in my canisters prefilter, which gets cleaned monthly. I doubt it'd be enough to clog the prefilter like the skimmers.
  58. M

    Occasional Skimming?

    I've got two of the Ocean Free skimmers on my Rio 450. I tend to run them constantly but do get a bit fed up with all the bits of plants, leaves etc clogging the tiny sponges which need to be cleaned every 2-3 days. Considering a skimmer inlet for my canisters, which seems like the sensible...
  59. M

    Polyether sponge from Mark Harris Upholstery

    I've been using some profiled pond sponges in my Fx6 since November and they were literally falling apart when I cleaned the filter at the end of January... Never seen them do this so quickly so it made me look towards Poret foam given its longevity. After some lengthy searches, I came across...
  60. M

    fluval 406 or fx4

    Have you considered an Aquael Ultramax 2000? You could maybe get away with one and all the pipework will fit as standard. Fluval filters are great but the hoses are a major downside (and added expense in replacing them).
  61. M

    Three spot gourami sexing

    So I put another three gouramis in last Saturday. I got two of the gold variety and one opaline. I was half thinking of taking them back out as for 3-4 days they were absolutely vile to each other, but they seem to have now established a pecking order. There's only the odd chase now and again...
  62. M

    Noisy APS 1400

    Too much flow is subjective but I'd hazard a guess that your canister won't be excessive. I had a 2800lph Resun that physically dug up the gravel at the front of the tank and sent a gourami or two flying... That's too much (fixed with a four inch wide outlet!). My Sunsuns/APS filters always...
  63. M

    Do I have too many fish?

    Yes, far too many and some get very big for a tank that size. I'd keep the cories, tetras (depending how many tetras?) and one of the bristlenoses.
  64. M

    Noisy APS 1400

    No, it's not normal. I had two of the 2000lph versions and they were very quiet from new. They even got quieter after around a month as there can sometimes be a "break in" period for the motor. I'd check that the baskets are all seated correctly and are not over filled as that can cause some...
  65. M

    Three spot gourami sexing

    Thanks guys. I was thinking male as my male moonlight gourami's dorsal fin is of a similar shape compared with the female... But I suppose they are a different species! I'll pick up a few more female three spots over the weekend. What sort of numbers should I be looking at? It's a five foot...
  66. M

    Three spot gourami sexing

    Evening all I picked up a blue three spot gourami the other day on the understanding that they're solitary but have since learnt that the females are quite social and would benefit from the presence of conspecifics. With that in mind, I'd consider getting several more if the one I have is...
  67. M

    Small glass vase/pots

    Well these are the ones I've ordered. They're actually acrylic but if they do well I might upgrade to the glass versions. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264517820344
  68. M

    Small glass vase/pots

    So I'm hoping this is the right section to post this query in... Anyway, I've ordered a few of those small glass pots you see on ebay that have the suckers on the back of them. The idea is to have these dotted around the back of my five foot low tech tank, with a variety of...
  69. M

    Pipe work to fluval 107

    Not sure about the 107 but I used 16/22 hoses on my 306. If the hoses are smaller for the 107 then I'm sure 12/16 would work. Just soak the new hoses in hot water for a couple of minutes and they'll go on a lot easier.
  70. M

    Fluval 407 vs OASE Thermo 600

    I'd neither an option? AQUAEL ultramax 1500 or JBL e1502 would be my choice.
  71. M

    Happy Heater day

    Call me synical but that JBL heater looks a lot like the Sunsun unit. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192401382637
  72. M

    Happy Heater day

    Never used external heaters but Finest Filters sell the Boyu units
  73. M

    Product Review JBL CristalProfi e1500 Review (Picture Heavy)

    I checked and double checked the trays, even swapped a couple of them around incase there was a defect on one of the trays. I've seen it mentioned elsewhere too, quite frustrating until I got the booster.
  74. M

    Product Review JBL CristalProfi e1500 Review (Picture Heavy)

    Strange, I bought an e1501 in 2017 and only got a single tray of the ceramic balls (the remainder were sponges) and the power rating is 20w... Perhaps the e1501 was updated during the production run? Found it a decent filter but ended up using an APS filter booster for mechanical filtration as...
  75. M

    Filter Porn - ADA Superjet

    Anyone used a Chihiros stainless steel filter? Looks like an ADA copy but they do a model that's around three foot tall!
  76. M

    Filter Porn - ADA Superjet

    I didn't realise they did such a large filter. Makes you wonder though just how much you can charge for a bucket with a pump!
  77. M

    Inflow mesh filter guard

    Aquael Turbo 500 sponges fit on most inlets and are quite coarse so only need cleaning weekly. Used to be a pair for a fiver from Pro Shrimp, still using them nearly three years on.
  78. M

    Sera 130 External Filter

    I think a DGN might suit you then, flow is adjustable between 300 and 1610lph. I liked mine and all I heard was a slight hum at max power, no chance of hearing it on the lower flow rates. Bonus integrated heater and UV too...
  79. M

    Sera 130 External Filter

    I believe the Boyu version with UV is the EFU, not sure if they're available over here though. There's someone selling BOYU DGN canisters on eBay at the moment, with built in UV and heater...Literally chucked my DGN this morning as the UV and heater circuitry had failed. There's also the...
  80. M

    Sera 130 External Filter

    I haven't used one but bear in mind that the Sera unit is just a re-branded Boyu EF which you can get for much less due to lack of brand name appeal. I'm surprised you found the Eheim noisy though, I hear (no pun intended!) that they're meant to be one of the quietest canisters you can buy. I...
  81. M

    What media are you using in your Eheim classics?

    I suspect the issue with flow will be the inline heater. I'd also check if there's any build up in the hoses and/or around the impeller. Substrat Pro is actually quite good media, even in respect of flow performance. The ceramic rings might be slowing it somewhat as they channel the flow in...
  82. M

    Choosing the right filter

    The problem with canisters vs powerheads is that the pump power of the canister is greatly reduced at the output. The stated flow is literally just the power of the motor within the canister. To add to the equation things like media, head height and type of output also impact on flow rate and...
  83. M

    New filter needed for 180L Tank - eheim Pro 3 has developed a leak!

    I'm recently hooked up an Aqua Nova NCF 1500. Really impress with the quality and flow - Cheap as chips and seems to get good reviews albeit that it's not widely available in the UK under that brand.
  84. M

    Eheim Classic Humming noise

    Try coating the impeller in silicone grease. I've had a few powerheads and filters over the years that needed this just while they wore in. Any hoses touching part of the cabinet?
  85. M

    What’s the difference?

    Boyu ef-05 is the same too but has an even lower flow rate for around £20
  86. M

    2nd Hand Filter Media - Risk?

    I used to get hung up on the expensive bio media being superior but as time went on, I realised that everything actually works... And I mean everything, pot scrubbers are popular on some sites, but literally anything non-toxic will support aerobic bacteria. I found a supplier on Ebay for...
  87. M

    10 ppi vs floss/wool for polishing

    I've always found a gradual approach to mechanical filtration works the best for me - The floss clogs very quickly if it's immediately preceded by coarse sponge as so much gets through it - Mine are set up as 20ppi pre-filters on the intake, then inside the canisters is 30ppi ,45ppi then floss...
  88. M

    Polyester Wadding

    It's the grade of sponge - 20 pores per inch.
  89. M

    Sound proofing/vibration

    There were two outbreaks of columnaris from transferring livebearers from another tank. I'm guessing the stress of the move triggered the outbreak which then got quite out of hand very quickly. It seemed to disappear for 8 months or so and then made a comeback. This is the main reason I hooked...
  90. M

    Sound proofing/vibration

    Nothing too extravagant! In terms of the messy guys, I've got a pair of blue acaras, a juvenile female convict, two pairs of kribensis (one of which I think is actually a giant kribensis). Others include a couple of moonlight gouramis, assorted rainbow fish (red, lake kutubu, boesemani and neon...
  91. M

    Polyester Wadding

    I've always liked JBL Symec. It's pricier than your typical floss but doesn't compact as much when dirty and can actually be rinsed a few times.
  92. M

    Sound proofing/vibration

    So here's a picture of how it's currently installed on a sound deadening pad. One screw either end of the UV.
  93. M

    Sound proofing/vibration

    That's a good shout actually, my father in law did that with an air pump years ago... literally a thick elastic band and you couldn't hear it.
  94. M

    Sound proofing/vibration

    1st canister - Boyu DGN 520 - 1610LPH - with 11w Oase UV a fair bit less I'm guessing - Connected to 2 foot+ spray bar on left side of the tank. 2nd canister - Aqua Nova NCF 1500 - 1500LPH - Connected to 2 foot+ spray bar on right side of the tank 3rd canister - Resun EF 2800 - 2700LPH -...
  95. M

    Sound proofing/vibration

    Paranoia about disease having had a couple of bad experiences in 2017/18 that wiped out 50% of my fish. I do find that it helps with water clarity too. I've got some pretty messy fish and run three canisters but still struggled with getting the water as clear as I'd like.
  96. M

    Sound proofing/vibration

    Yes, there's just a slight vibration from the filter which is passed on to the uv via the hose and then through the cabinet. Essentially, it's amplifying the very slight hum from the motor. The filter is already on an old bit of carpet and was silent until the UV was fitted. Also, if I unscrew...
  97. M

    Sound proofing/vibration

    Morning all I've recently attached an Oase UV unit to the inside of my Rio 450 cabinet and it's creating quite a din though vibration from the canister filter which was previously silent. I've stuck a sound deadening pad between the UV and the cabinet but the sound persists, presumably...
  98. M

    New Aquael Ultramax

    I'd contact Aquael directly. As it came like that then I think they should just send you a replacement.
  99. M

    New Aquael Ultramax

    Looks like it's snapped. It should reach the cover and actually fit into it with a rubber tip.
  100. M

    Is there such a thing as a right angle lillypipe?

    If you're looking at an Oase Filtosmart, bear in mind that they're just rebranded Eden filters so you could pick up the Eden for quite a bit less. Only difference is that the Eden is transparent.
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