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Hi everyone, just been looking around ebay etc at filters for my new tank.. the thing is I need an excessive amount of filtration for my tank than would normally be needed as the occupant is very, very messy and water quality has to be spot on for him to do well. When I was doing my searches for filters etc I got a few hits from pond filters and there are those of the smaller variety that seem similar specs to top end aquarium filters but are about a quarter of the price.. so I was wondering if these could be used successfully in a tank setup?? I would imagine that similar media would be used etc but would noise be a factor etc.. just after your views as I think this could be an option for me..... any and all views are welcome. Looking forward to your comments guys..

Here are the details for one of the filters I've seen :

Pressurised Filter - Ideal for Waterfalls

Bioforce easy to hide, compact units for biological and mechanical pond filtration. The pressurisation allows the option of running the water from the filter to the top of a waterfall. For treating ponds of up to 2200 litres capacity

Effective Pressurised Filtration

Water is forced through special density foam. Because the water is pressurised the foam can fill with many more beneficial bacteria without becoming blocked. It is this larger number of bacteria, taking pollutants out of the water, that make Bioforce so effective.

Increased Performance and Less Maintenance

The water is forced through three specially graded foams which catch particles and hold beneficial bacteria all the way through. This increases the performance of the unit and increases the time between cleaning. Bioforce filters can be cleared of sludge without the need for manual cleaning. Just swap round the hoses and turn on the pump for a few seconds.

Filter Specifications:

For ponds up to 2200 Litres (500 Gal)
Max flow rate - 946 Litres (250 Gal)
20mm - 25mm Hose Connection

Recommended Pump: Titan 2000

12"x10" dia
29x25cm dia

Cable length: 5 mts



and another :

2 Year Manufacturer Backed Guarantee

The Fish Mate Gravity BIO pond filter has been designed to create optimal water quality and healthier fish for ponds up to 500 gallons.

Gravity Models feature U.V. tubes positioned over the water, thus eliminating problems of scaling, quartz tube replacement and frost damage associated with conventional U.V. clarifiers.

Includes SUPRA Bio Media

SUPRA bio media rapidly colonizes beneficial bacteria

Combined UV and Biological Filtration for crystal clear purified water

Flip up lid for easy maintenance

Frostproof quartzless U.V. chamber

2 Year Guarantee

Designed and coloured green to blend with natural surroundings

Dimensions: (H x L x W): 18cm x 36cm x 25cm



another:

Hozelock Ecomax 4500 UVC Combi Pond Filter

Ecomax filter combined biological filter and UVC - This is the top model in Hozelock's Eco range.

Brand New & Boxed with Manufacturers 2 Year Guarantee

Hozelock Helpline Available

Highly Efficient Filtration

A technologically advanced and highly efficient mechanical and biological filter for garden ponds up to 9000 litres (2000 gallons).

Advanced Turbulating Ultra Violet Clarifier (UVC)

Water enters the unit and passes close to a UV lamp, separated from it by its quartz sleeve. The UV light makes algae clump together so it can be caught by the foam. In-built 'turbulator' - the flow of water through the UVC, created by the product design, increases the unit's efficiency by even exposure of the water to the UV light and eliminates the possibility of air locks.

Highly Efficient at Breaking Down Harmful Polutants

Water leaves the UV chamber via a venturi, which aerates the water for a high oxygen content. The venturi's position in the filter is very important - the water is oxygenated before it enters the biomedia, which significantly increases the effectiveness and activity of beneficial bacteria. This results in a highly efficient breakdown of harmful pollutants in the water. The water passes though the plastic biomedia where beneficial bacteria cleanse pollutants.

Biological Filtation Performance

The amount of biomedia contained in the filter has been scientifically measured and tested to ensure optimum biological filtration performance and increases in proportion to the size of filter/pond to support a greater number of fish. A fine layer of foam traps any remaining solid particles.

Clear Healthy Water

Clear healthy water then passes back into the pond. A drain is built in to flush out sludge, which collects at the bottom of the filter. The floor of filter is sloped so sludge collects around the drain for easy removal.

Easy Maintenance

Integral carry handles are positioned on the side of the filter to make the filter easy to lift if maintenance is required. Viewing hatch to observe the internal operation of the filter, in particular whether any maintenance is needed.

Filter Specifications:

For ponds up to 9000 Litres
Max flow rate - 2250 Litres
Inlet: 20 / 25 / 32 / 40mm
UV Rating - 8w
Dimensions: 400mm x 430mm x 300mm
Cable length: 5 metres
Maximum Fish Size: 212cm

Recommended Pump: Titan 3000


I see all of these have recommended pumps in the listing so I take it that the filters need some sort of feed??? would this pose a problem too?? please let me know if you have any experience with these..

P.S. Obviously some of the filters above would be far to big but other smaller filters in the ranges are available.. these are just the first examples I came across.

thanks guys

Iain

and I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section but I couldn't really work out where to post it..

Hi bulldog188

this is a filtration concept that becomes more common in germany, here an english translation:

http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/6 ... 5616028865

that works fine and is less "technical"

Hi Bulldog

Saw this post somewhere else!!!!!


I used on of the pet mate pond filters with UV on my oscar tank fed by a small pond pump and these worked better than any tropical external filter on my 6x2x2 oscar tank with a couple of very large claris cats.

The water conditions where spot on


Cheers

Oscar52

Bulldog you may know me as AquaUK ( Small world ehh)

Cheers Jamie.. nice one.. I've been to my LFS today who also specialise in Koi and talked it over with the geezer there and he's sorted me out with how to go about it so I'm shopping on ebay right now. cheers mate

Iain

see ya soon

bulldog188 wrote:When I was doing my searches for filters etc I got a few hits from pond filters and there are those of the smaller variety that seem similar specs to top end aquarium filters but are about a quarter of the price.. so I was wondering if these could be used successfully in a tank setup??

No reason for not doing as long as there's space to house it. They be ideal for a large aquarium say in a conservatory where there is space to hide the filter or otherwise make it less obtrusive. The gravity fed ones would probably make a bit of noise from the return if they were just mounted on top of the aquarium without a baffle, maybe too much for a room where people want to watch TV.
Personally I'd rather have the tank drilled and fit a sump.

Hi

I have done that a few times with great success. I have a gravity fed one with 3 layers of sponge, and put some bio-ball at the bottom to increase the surface area. It cost a fraction of a normal filter and works just like a trickle as the water is spead across the top of the pads with a spray bar. I have also found that pond pumps seem to be cheaper and run for years.. ONLY down side is that they can be unsightly... but that is not too much of an issue for most of my tanks...

I would question whether you would need a UV on a tank filter??? Probably not too worried about algae blooms, and probably not too many parasites.. at least you hope not!!

Hi I have done similar to characinkid on an 8x2x2 in my fish house. The filter sits on top of the tank at one end and we use a large external pump to feed it. The problem for ours was that the pump was too powerful and the filter kept overflowing so we had to fit another couple of outlets from the filter into the tank.

It is slightly unsightly (wouldn't look good in a living room) and the external pump is quite noisy but our whole fish house is pretty noisy anyway as a large Koiair airpump runs the smaller tanks.

It appears to work well although we have only just started building up the stock in the tank. Ours has an inbuilt uv but we currently don't use it although there is no reason as far as I can see not to use it except the extra cost in bulbs and electricity.

Caz