External/Internal Filter or hang on filter?

[dialow]

Hi,

I'm currently using a hang on filter for my 1.5ft planted tank. Thinking of setting up a new bigger tank, probably at least 2 ft. Was just wondering if I should get an external/internal filter or continue with my hang on? Any difference?

[torque6]

Physical difference between the 2. However, determining which is more suitable is dependable on your tank setup. Are you keeping shrimps/fishes/plants ? etc.

[dialow]

Hi,

I'm intending to keep fishes and plants. Mainly carninal tetras and other small fishes..

[beetlejuice403]

Hi dialow, in my own opinion (bear in mind that I'm also a very new novice in fish-rearing & planted tanks..), if you intend to have a 2-feet tank with floras & faunas, an external canister will be a better choice as it may be able to provide better water current & filtration as compared to a hang-on filter... (All professionals in here please correct me if I'm wrong...

For my 2-feet tank (houses 5 small Blood Parrots, a clump of Nana & 1 more unidentified flora in lapis sand), I'd also just bought myself an external canister filter [Atman CF-600] for the purpose of better filtration of my tank...

[specky7]

use a big sponge filter

[emmanuelwoon]

i think a cannister filter would be ideal as compared to other filters, a cannister would be able to have good flowrate and filtration and also bear in mind that "usually" a planted tank and co2 is in a package. having a cannister filter will reduce the amount of co2 loss as compared with external, hang-on or such.

2cents

[alechim]

Go for canister, satisfaction with 1 time buy.

[Aquaculture]

A canister would give you more options. Additional of a reactor, connection of a CO2 to give you better distribution, etc.

[salexjared]

My opinion only,

A HOF is simple. If you do not want to meddle with the aquarium, it is the way to go.

A canister have a lot more options

eg Flow rate, better circulation, large boimedia volume (more fishes), reactor for your CO2 and for some people - aslo easy to maintenance.

However to me it has the following to consider,

eg It is external => need for a place (hidden ?) to put them (there are big and small ones depending on what you can afford (space I mean)

Then there are the pipes that you would have to manage (both in the tank and the "octopus" outside.

You would also definitely also need to clean the tank (some say 6 months but I do it in 2) ie have to open it, take it out to the back, remove the filter pads etc and put in new ones. In the meantime, there maybe some water spashed around.

Of course canister means more money as well.

[torque6]

Dialow,

No rush and jump right into this hobby,
-tank size
-using chiller ?
-list the plants you want to keep.
-note the time which you have aside to committing to this hobby.
-high maint/ low maint plants.
-co2 , non co2
-more importantly of course your budget

[Aquaculture]

I seconded torque6's train of thoughts. Personally I got my 1st canister when my HOF died on me. Sadly, the remaining options came when a good friend of mine introduced me to AQ and it opened my eyes to the potential beauty of a planted tank. I'm a late bloomer but its better to be late than never.

[xaine]

True, I also started with my tank with a internal, then proceed to a hang-on filter. Do ensure that the water flow does not cause too much CO2 lost for the planted tank. Since there isn't going to be much bio-load for a planted tank, hangon filters should work just fine. As and when load increases, you might consider a even bigger hangon filter that can put in more media or even a small canister filter.

[larlee]

I would go for a external canister for a 2ft tank. Bigger surface for BB, better filtration, filter media etc. Hang on filter can only have this much of space for filtration and BB growth. You want planted tank, then if possible minimise movement to the water surface if you don't intend to get CO2 canister or external reactor if you go on and buy CO2. Hang on filter cannot fit a CO2 system and it will make u lose CO2 even with a diffuser. You can get those canister like Eden etc which is cheaper but it might not have enough flowrate for a external reactor but works fine with a diffuser. Or go for any other brands cheaper than eheim. I would still recommend eheim if you can spare a little budget as you can get all spares for eheim and it will last you for years to come. Note that eheim classic model is already in the market for more than 20yrs. I saw it around since 10yrs old and now i am 30+.
spend some time thinking of how you want your tank to turn out and u will make a choice from there.

Have fun.

[dialow]

wow.. thanks for the many opinions. I am currently having a planted 1.5 ft tank using HOF with CO2. Am aware of the CO2 loss and hence considering getting external filter when I upgrade to a bigger tank. Hmm, any idea how much would an eheim external filter cost?

[torque6]

I do have a hang on filter that is causing some surface agitation, so instead of using the standard co2 diffusor, i used a co2 atomizer airstone and place it right under my filter inlet. The strands of small bubbles are so fine they get sucked into the inlet and get churns up by the filter media, this method is good as it doesnt cause your filter to burp

[larlee]

wow.. thanks for the many opinions. I am currently having a planted 1.5 ft tank using HOF with CO2. Am aware of the CO2 loss and hence considering getting external filter when I upgrade to a bigger tank. Hmm, any idea how much would an eheim external filter cost?

Depending on the size and model you are getting, can range between 100-200+

[Yongliang]

I would go for an external EHEIM canister

[torque6]

Dialow,
Eheim stuff are good but relatively expensive. I guess the sole purpose of changing to a canister would be to reduce the co2 loss in your tank. Yongliang was selling off his SF-601, its brand 7star i think, may want to check with him on the performance.

[WaterH2O]

Dialow,

Ask yourself if you are really into this hobby long term and not on impulse. Will you upgrade to a tank bigger than 2 feet in the future. If not after getting the 100-200 plus Ehiem canistor then 1 year later you sell off because you "sian" or lose interest. You will definitely have to sell off at a lower price (loss). But if you are long term in this hobby and can afford then by all means.
There are other cheaper canistor filters in the market which in my opinion works just as well as a Ehiem or another way is get a second hand one first from people selling in marketplace. Then if oneday you lose interest then not suffer so much loss.

[geezer333]

Ya i agree with Mr WATERH2O get a 2nd hand external canister filter from people in this forum usually the price is quite resonable . I have 2 tank 1 is 1ft and the other is 2 ft my 1 ft I use hang on and my 2ft i use canister filter , compare the 2, canister is much more better in terms of water clarlity and the water movement at the top is much more lesser just my 3cent thought CHEERS