Internal Filter for Goldfish

Moments before spontaneously combusting Jolly Fisherman at
was heard opining:

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 22:33:37 -0600, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:
Thanks,... I've been looking at the Rena's in my mail order
catalogs. Since my 55s also have the larger Aquaclears running on
them I can probably get the XP1. I'm going to see if I can get a
better price than the $69.99 F&S is advertising them for. I had
such a bad experience with the Fluvals I
============
That's how I ended up with the XP-3. I was looking at the XP-2 and
thought a little extra $ bought me more power & flexibility that could
be useful. I think the XP2 & 3 are better buys (IMHO). The plumbing
kits has a valve to adjust flow.

There are some minor quibbles about the renas like how they color
coded the plumbing so the intake tube is blue. Replacement parts are
also expensive. Some ppl report they can make some noise initially
before it gets broken in. For some this is trapped air. For others
this is related to the impeller.

Noise can be a problem because at night you can hear a pin drop where I
live. Any noise will keep me awake. My husband can sleep through bombs
exploding........

hesitate to even consider them again, and the Eheims are totally out
of our price range.

You're not alone. I guess if Eheims were the only filters that worked
well & reliably they would basically be a necessary cost of fish
keeping. Here's hoping we aren't forced to take that view down the
line.

I wasn't retired and hubby semi-retired I'd probably go for the Eheims.

I'm going to do some Googling before I make a selection......

As you probably know already, try Froogle & Pricegrabber etc. as well

I'll see what I can find. ;-)
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 12:12:28 -0600, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:

snip

Noise can be a problem because at night you can hear a pin drop where I
live. Any noise will keep me awake. My husband can sleep through bombs
exploding........

I just want to provide a more balanced endorsement. Mine came
extremely quiet right out of the box. Many other ppl report the same.
I don't expect any filter to be completely silent but it is inaudible
in a closed cabinet and hardly noticeable when open & you are near it.
I was looking for something near-silent as well. That's part of the
beauty of a planted tank with no air pumps or splashing water. Noisy
equipment kill it for me.

hesitate to even consider them again, and the Eheims are totally out
of our price range.

You're not alone. I guess if Eheims were the only filters that worked
well & reliably they would basically be a necessary cost of fish
keeping. Here's hoping we aren't forced to take that view down the
line.

I wasn't retired and hubby semi-retired I'd probably go for the Eheims.

Frankly I don't know what kind of value they bring. If it's the
difference between something always working as it should for years
while everything else is giving headaches I guess it's worth it. When
you're spending all these hundreds or even thousands on even modest
tank or tanks the price difference can potentially loose it's
significance IMHO.

I'm going to do some Googling before I make a selection......

As you probably know already, try Froogle & Pricegrabber etc. as well

I'll see what I can find. ;-)

I think the XP1 is around $60 @ dr foster & smith & That Fish place.
I've never seen it for less than that. Hope you get a good deal on
whatever you choose.

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
news
I just want to provide a more balanced endorsement. Mine came
extremely quiet right out of the box. Many other ppl report the same.
I don't expect any filter to be completely silent but it is inaudible
in a closed cabinet and hardly noticeable when open & you are near it.
I was looking for something near-silent as well. That's part of the
beauty of a planted tank with no air pumps or splashing water. Noisy
equipment kill it for me.

I also find the sound of splashing water, buzzing airpumps and humming
motors annoying, especially at night when everything is so quiet. In the
daytime I don't notice such noise as much. My old Fluval was quiet and the
ACs I now use are as silent as any filter you could find. I was thinking
that even a second added AC filled with bio-media instead of sponges would
work for extra bio-filtration and be 1/2 the price.

I think the XP1 is around $60 @ dr foster & smith & That Fish place.
I've never seen it for less than that. Hope you get a good deal on
whatever you choose.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 22:30:57 -0600, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:


"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
news
I just want to provide a more balanced endorsement. Mine came
extremely quiet right out of the box. Many other ppl report the same.
I don't expect any filter to be completely silent but it is inaudible
in a closed cabinet and hardly noticeable when open & you are near it.
I was looking for something near-silent as well. That's part of the
beauty of a planted tank with no air pumps or splashing water. Noisy
equipment kill it for me.

I also find the sound of splashing water, buzzing airpumps and humming
motors annoying, especially at night when everything is so quiet. In the
daytime I don't notice such noise as much. My old Fluval was quiet and the
ACs I now use are as silent as any filter you could find. I was thinking
that even a second added AC filled with bio-media instead of sponges would
work for extra bio-filtration and be 1/2 the price.

Since you were looking for a canister I assumed the goal was improved
mechanical filtration as much or even more so than biological. You
can get supplemental sized BioWheels similarly priced to AC's. I
don't know what they sound like.

But I don't know that 3 HOB filters all disturbing the surface of a
budget planted tank is the best thing for the plants. IMHO the only
thing a 3 AC filtration system has got going for it is you already own
two. Plus planted tanks can be expensive to set up & run. An extra
$20 or $60 can easily get lost in the whole expense over time. Just
my $0.02. You know the tank and your situation better than I.

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 22:30:57 -0600, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:
I also find the sound of splashing water, buzzing airpumps and humming
motors annoying, especially at night when everything is so quiet. In the
daytime I don't notice such noise as much. My old Fluval was quiet and
the
ACs I now use are as silent as any filter you could find. I was thinking
that even a second added AC filled with bio-media instead of sponges would
work for extra bio-filtration and be 1/2 the price.
===============
Since you were looking for a canister I assumed the goal was improved
mechanical filtration as much or even more so than biological. You
can get supplemental sized BioWheels similarly priced to AC's. I
don't know what they sound like.

From what I understand you have to keep purchasing inserts from the company
and that can get expensive. I have no idea what they sound like either as I
never had one. Bio-filtration would be my aim more so than mechanical
filtration as I would leave the ACs on the tanks. I use my Vortex DE filter
for water polishing.

But I don't know that 3 HOB filters all disturbing the surface of a
budget planted tank is the best thing for the plants. IMHO the only
thing a 3 AC filtration system has got going for it is you already own
two. Plus planted tanks can be expensive to set up & run. An extra
$20 or $60 can easily get lost in the whole expense over time. Just
my $0.02. You know the tank and your situation better than I.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:19:59 -0600, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:

From what I understand you have to keep purchasing inserts from the company
and that can get expensive.

My understand is that you only have to replace the Bio-Wheel if it
gets damaged or stuck. Like all filters if you are creative I'm sure
there are cheaper substitutes for the mechanical pads.

I have no idea what they sound like either as I
never had one.

Apparently it can make a splashing noise as there are some models that
claim to "reduce" such noise. Never heard one in operation in a
silent room though.

Bio-filtration would be my aim more so than mechanical

Then a wet/dry type system makes a lot of sense IMHO.

filtration as I would leave the ACs on the tanks. I use my Vortex DE filter
for water polishing.

Do you mean the D-1? I'm not familiar with the DE.

I'm starting to consider a DE filter again, myself. I wish the
Diotomagic was still being made. Are you happy with yours? Is it
easy to use on multiple tanks?

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:19:59 -0600, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:

Do you mean the D-1? I'm not familiar with the DE.

Yes. They're excellent for removing what you can't even see from the water.
I buy the DE from Home Depot for a fraction of the price the LFSs charge.

I'm starting to consider a DE filter again, myself. I wish the
Diotomagic was still being made. Are you happy with yours?

Yes, I love the job it does. This is the second one I've owned already and
wouldn't be without one. No other filter removes the fine crud this filter
removes. I run for for awhile after my weekly or bi-weekly partial water
changes. Just remember to oil it. People don't read the booklet or don't
bother and it doesn't last long when not oiled.

Is it
easy to use on multiple tanks?

Yeah, you just turn it off and move it to the next tank. When the flow
slows you dump or flush and recharge it. I just wish instead of the hoses
it was made to *hang* on the tank in some way.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o