Anyone had experience with Eheim filters?

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pondweed

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I'm trying to pick a filter.

I'm tempted to get a sponge filter for biological filtration — and because I keep reading they make for nice bushy gills.

But I understand I'd also need an air pump — and they wouldn't provide any mechanical filtration (this is to suck of detritus, yes?) I suppose I could keep on top of the worst things with a turkey baster, but that's not ideal. Is mechanical filtration necessary as well?

I don't want chemical filtration. If you get a fluval filter, can you take the carbon out and will the filter still work? (Minus chemical filtration, obviously.)

My friendly chap at the petshop recommended the eheim filters. But I'm a bit confused as to what each model covers (special sponges for mechanical and biological?)

I have a 2ft by 1ft tank (and I think it's about a foot high as well, but I need to measure it properly), and am intending to have two juvies in it for their first year. Then move on to a 3ft tank when I'm in a more permanent abode, and they've outgrown it. If I have to, I can only get one axolotl, but I was really keen on the idea of a pair.

I think I just need to make a thread where I can ask dumb questions.
 
Fluval and Eheim make a number of different models, but you are probably looking at canister filters? Canister filters are great, but it's a pain to clean them out. You might want to consider waterfall style filters, they have great mechanical filtration and are easy to maintain.
Caudata Culture Articles - Filters
 
I use both canister filters and HOB (hang on back) external filters, but only because I have been keeping fish for decades and have a ton of spare equipment.

I use an Eheim 2215 to filter a 50g tank and it keeps the water crystal clear but it is also troublesome and messy to clean and I find all the extra plumbing unsightly. Canister filters are versatile and you can take out the chemical media and use more bio as needed.

The HOB external filters do a good job and are easy and quick to maintain. You can also add sponges into their large storage areas to increase biological filtration surfaces. Another benefit of the waterfall style filters is they promote oxygen saturation due to surface turbulence. I normally use 2 per tank because I like the extra water circulation.
 
I just got a Ehiem Professional II canister the other day and it seems to be working well. canisters are a pain to clean but they are very low maintenance, I also like how it is self-priming.

I've got a chiller too so I had no choice but to go with a canister. other than that, the only downside is that it was expensive.

the model I got is rated for a tank much larger than mine but I plan on getting a bigger tank in a few months time so I wanted a established filter when I set it up. the output of the filter just goes into the trough above my axie tank and then trickles back into the tank so there are no flow issues.
 
I have a canister filter on my 55 fish tank for about a year now. I will never go back to Hob filter again. I clean my filter 2 times a year. what I do to clean my is a take out some of the filter stuff I but it out and wash it with the hose. then I what a few weeks and then I clean the other out. I will lose of the the good stuff but not much. carbon you don't need it. unless you are using meds. I have not used any carbon on my 55 tank. I used to use it on my others but not any more
 
Jennewt said:
Fluval and Eheim make a number of different models, but you are probably looking at canister filters? Canister filters are great, but it's a pain to clean them out. You might want to consider waterfall style filters, they have great mechanical filtration and are easy to maintain.
Caudata Culture Articles - Filters
Click to expand...

Thank you for the link. I'm kicking myself for not thinking to look there first. (I've read most of them already!)

Eheim Aquaball 60 Modular Internal Filter | The Green Machine

This was the one the chap suggested to me. I've measured my tank, and it's about a foot tall. I take it these need to be fully submerged...? It's technical tiny details like that that are foxing me at the moment.

Eheim Biopower 200 Internal Filter | Charterhouse Aquatics

I've also spotted this one, and I think it has a smaller model. (I'm not sure of the precise differences between them yet!)

Thank you everyone else, as well. I think the filter's one thing I really am prepared to go over-budget for, since I can get one I can upgrade to my larger tank. And a good one should hopefully last me years! I've already ordered my water testing kit and thermometer. I'm hoping to look into lidded buckets and tiles on the weekend.
 
I'm on the actual eheim website now. I quite like that you can extend/shorten them as necessary. And the biopower ones sounds quite good...
 
Have you looked at all pond solutions? Their filters are great, they do everything from sponge to external and at a very good price :) They have a sale on at the moment too!
 
I did go and have a look, and bookmarked their site for future reference!

Now I'm looking around again and fretting my 2ft by 1ft tank will be too small for two juvies for their first year, given how fast they can grow. (Mostly concerned about water maintenance.) It's definitely my intention to get a 3ft tank once I move back home and have the room.

I think I'll be able to get about 50 litres in the 2ft tank (it's only a foot high, and I don't think I'd fill it right to the top.) Would this be adequate for two juveniles for the first year of their lives? I know the recommendation is at least 50 litres per adult.
 
I have a similar tank, it comes with a hood but its meant to be 60l filled up to the line. Would think with substrate, hides etc that you'd be lucky getting 40l in.
Vampybabe had all three of hers in a similar tank for six months getting on fine, that is until they had eggs. It all changed for the worst then. Can you fit in something slightly larger, like a 2x2 instead? I've seen a few go on ebay recently for really good prices! I just got a 3x1x18 for a fiver! :)
Didn't mean to sound quite so doom and gloom, sorry :)
 
It's actually got less to do with space and more to do with portability. They're coming down to University with me for my final year. I actually need to ask my new house mates to check out the house again and look for likely spots in the communal areas.
 
I got a Fluval 206 for my 30 gal tank, and love it. I removed the carbon, which is super easy because its just a pouch in a basket, and put extra bio media (little clay cylinders) in that basket. Kaysie said that after a month the carbon can leach the chemicals it filters out, back into the water. I rinse the sponges for mechanical filtration about once a month in the buckets of water I siphon from the tank to clean the bottom, after the dirt settles to the bottom.

I have a chiller, so a canister filter was necessary. My only complaint about the Fluval is the tubing, which is totally awesome if you don't have a chiller, but a pain if you do. It's ribbed hosing, which makes a beautiful tight U shape into the holders on the lip of the tank, but it isn't compatible with my chiller's input. I made it work eventually though.

Oh, also, I bought mine on Ebay, and shipped direct from a big box pet store, for about half price. Probably overstock or a return.
 
Keep in mind internal filters will increase the temperature of your water.
 
I am aware, and will be monitoring the temperature closely before I get the animals. (And adjusting my set-up if necessary. I think I need to write-out a budget...)

I'll take another look at canister filters though.

I'm now more muddled when it comes to tank sizes.

It says in the care sheet that you can keep two adults in a 2 footer/50 litre. I'm still scouting for a larger tank, and the 2 footer would only be for the first year. I suppose more frequent water changes would be in order. I'm concerned about the temperature regulation (obviously a larger body of water is preferable. And I can construct a mesh lid and have find an LED light that won't generate much heat. Hmm. But the filter.) So I really will have to see how it goes before I get the 'Lotl(s). Test my set-up...
 
"Adequate". Ie, enough, but not as good as it could be. I may have to settle for that for the first year. (We'll see. I may be able to get a 2.5 footer in that house. If there's room and I can find a tank.)
 
Updates, updates!

My secondhand tank does seem to be watertight - I had a great time scrubbing it down and now stink of vinegar.

I've been hoping to get an Eheim Liberty 2041 (HOB), but I'm beginning to suspect they don't do them in the UK. So All Pond Solution's ones are looking like the back-up. (I'm presuming I can pop a bit of filter media underneath the waterfall to quiet it up and disperse the flow.)

I am also looking into getting a bigger tank off the bat, because portability is less of an issue than I'd supposed. And that way I can keep the other one for plants, quarantine, etc.

I would still like to know how large they can get in a year, on average.

Some other really lovely things happened yesterday. I went to an Aquatics centre, and had a great time with one of the assistants. He explained wet-dry filters, and I... gave him a crash course in axolotl colour morphs. :D He actually pretended to hide behind my Mum because I was being such a know-it-all.

But then, he DID think Albinos were the original colour because they lived in caves. No no, that's Texas cave salamanders (and others!), these guys live in lakes! They also had an adorably tubby melanoid. It's the first I've seen. And while I've been attracted to wild types, oh, melanoids remind me of black labradors!

The albino had her bum in the air, and when she turned around, it was easy to see she had a belly full of gravel (and I suppose the melanoid must have too, given I'd seen him/her snaffle at some gravel.) By the end of the visit, when I was paying for my water conditioner, I plucked up the courage to point this out, and he said he was happy to learn, would check with the manager, and would hopefully change it to sand! So that was great.

The gravel was smooth and quite small - like black chocolate raisins - so hopefully it will pass through without any issue. I'm going to go back to buy my Mopani pieces, so I'll get to see if anything changes.

( The only other issue is I've come away from there really, reaaally liking the idea of a mini mossy planted tank for shrimp. I never realised how damn cool they were! And I love moss. )
 
Oh, bungle.

It IS possible for me to get a Liberty, but they're out of stock at the moment. Also, apparently, HOBs just aren't particularly common in the UK, with more reliance on internal filters.

Can I ask how internal filters raise the water temperature? Surely if it's a low wattage, the effect is going to be negligible?
 
pondweed said:
Can I ask how internal filters raise the water temperature? Surely if it's a low wattage, the effect is going to be negligible?
Click to expand...

Unlike a HOB filter or canister filter, ALL the heat produced by a submersible filter goes into the water. I have had tanks where the temperature was increased several degrees by a submersible filter, so it isn't negligible in my opinion. The heat can be partly offset by having a screen lid rather than a solid lid. Use the lowest wattage you can.
 
I consulted my resident physicist, and this web page:
How is the measurement Watts related to temperature in terms of energy?

A submersible filter in water essentially puts its full wattage into the form of heat: some of the motor's action goes into kinetic energy, but this becomes heat via friction in the water.

A 4-watt filter produces about 4 Joules of heat every second, which is enough to raise 1 ml of water by 1 degree C. If we have a 10-gallon tank (about 40,000 ml), the filter will raise the temperature of the whole tank by 1C in about 12 hours. Of course, as soon as the internal temperature inside the tank is greater than the surrounding temp, the tank starts losing heat to the surroundings. The total increase in temp will depend on the rate of heat loss versus heat produced. I have no way of calculating the heat loss, but glass is a somewhat of an insulator.
 
Thank you, Jennewt. That's helped me get my head around it.
 
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