filters - Aqua Nova NCF-1500

[zoezealand]

hello!

I am trying to decide on the best filtration for a 4ft african tank. :lol:

the Aqua Nova NCF-1500 from AOA (http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/prod1479.htm) seems like good value, does anyone uses this filter?
is it good, and how does it compare to the more expensive and less flow rate Sacem Marathon 1000 (http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/prod1129.htm)?

thanks
Kathryn

[madtat]

i was going to get the  one for $110 (or some thing) but then i realised y not get two of the cheaper ones ($50). cuz wats 4 stage filteration going to do compared to 2 stage as far as i am consered ther going be pritty close.
plus if u have two 2 stage filteration u get 4 HAHA well thats wat i did lol

(hope this makes sence i cant be bother to read it all again b4 i post)lol

[Aquariums Alive]

Also you can get the AquaOne CF1200 which is a quality canister for only $119.

Brad

[Benji]

These filters work fine, they're a rebadged Aqua pro(made in china), i have 3.  I've had no probelms with these.  i know a few people who've had these filters running for 2 years or more and no probs.  i think these filters are best bang for buck.

Sacem is a better quality (made in italy i think?) filter and will do a good job too, it may also last longer than the Aqua pro/nova?

[nickbo]

HI
I've got one on my 6x2x2 and I've had no probelms with it
Cheers Nick

[zoezealand]

thanks guys,


one last question, what is the advantage of a canister, compared to an internal filter of a similar flow rate?
(ie, http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/prod15.htm, or http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/prod637.htm)

thanks again
Kathryn

[SeaMonKeY]

In our 6ft we have a AquaOne CF1200  and a internal filter.. iv had no probs with my Aquaone's

[smiley]

the maind diff between internal and external is the amount of filter material  all ext have a large cannister   while internals have only a small smount. Me personally i use the ext for filtering purposes and the internals like a power head to boost the circulation of water( the little that they filter is a bonus)  or if in a breeding tank the internals are used because i dont over crowd and they can be cleaned easily.  peter

[GTR73]

I've got both Sacem's and Aqua One. The Chinese Eheim copies aren't too bad but you get what you pay for - the first one I had the motor died within 12 mths and the second one the hose inlet cracked within 6 mths. I've had a Marathon 1000 for about 8 years and only problem was replacement of the impellor last year, while the 2000 I've only had to replace a couple of the clips (but can get these off AOA no problem).
For mine, I'd go the Sacem and at least you know it'll last a while.

But I'd also consider a secondary filter for a water polisher.  
I think I've got the right formula with my 4ft tank: I've got one with Africans and it has a Marathon 2000 external and a Aquaclear150 Hang On Back filter (HOB) as a water polisher. . .
http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/category4_1.htm

The big marathon is plenty of capacity in biological filtering to provide for a 4 footer with some large Africans (can really load it up with ceramic rings), and does the majority of mechanical filtering too, but it isn't 100% on keeping the water column sparkling clean. So I need the little bit extra in the HOB, just to clear the suspended particles. Plus the Aquaclear is easy maintenance so I also wack a bit of carbon in it to get rid of the yellow tinge, get it crystal, and change that monthly. Clean the Marathon's I have 6 monthly.

The Marathon 1000 I have is good for a 3ft tank but not sure if it'd be enough for a 4ft.
So my advice, go a Marathon 1000 and a 200L capacity HOB and you'll be happy with the results, and never have to worry about under filtering or anything breaking.

The Sacem 2000's arnt to bad a filter, and cheaper than on special at fishsupplies.com.au at only $159.95
 
Although personally i like the Otto's, $179.95 1800 L/PH and a real power house will run for years. and have a massive media capacity, teamed up with some matrix and you got a pretty reliable system.

[zoezealand]

:lol: while in general I agree, I was hoping to spend <$140 on filtration, so I think I'll go for the Aqua Nova and another internal or HOB as suggested

[Cichlidkeeper]

Get a cf1500 they do a good job,  buy some extra media for it, try zeolite, cheap but effective. Do not clean this filter until at least 3 months

Get a good internal filter with the rest of your cash, higher flow rate the better, clean it weekly or fortnightly as it is basically for mechanical filtration (keeping your water crystal clear) nothing more.

This way you can have a reasonably well stocked tank to enjoy without to much maintenance

When you stock it put a few pairs or trio's in, they are bound to grow and produce at which time you will purchase a 2 footer to grow the fry in after you strip the female ( and the cycle begins). Grow the fry up cause by the time you do this the cannister will be ready to die however you being a smartie will have $150 worth of fry to trade to ensure your new cannister will be cheap but not nastie

[zoezealand]

[quote:f5216dee83="Cichlidkeeper"]Get a cf1500 they do a good job,  buy some extra media for it, try zeolite, cheap but effective. Do not clean this filter until at least 3 months

Get a good internal filter with the rest of your cash, higher flow rate the better, clean it weekly or fortnightly as it is basically for mechanical filtration (keeping your water crystal clear) nothing more.

This way you can have a reasonably well stocked tank to enjoy without to much maintenance[/quote:f5216dee83]

That sounds good  :D

[quote:f5216dee83="Cichlidkeeper"]
When you stock it put a few pairs or trio's in, they are bound to grow and produce at which time you will purchase a 2 footer to grow the fry in after you strip the female ( and the cycle begins). [/quote:f5216dee83]

I regret to inform you that the cycle is well underway; I have ~10 2-3ft tanks, but this will be my first journey into the world of africans, and this 4ft will be in my house, rather than under it, so I thought a canister would be the way to go, so I didn't destry the house when doing water changes or cleaning the filter


[quote:f5216dee83="Cichlidkeeper"]. Grow the fry up cause by the time you do this the cannister will be ready to die however you being a smartie will have $150 worth of fry to trade to ensure your new cannister will be cheap but not nastie[/quote:f5216dee83]

do I detect a hint of sarcasm?? :lol:
if $140 would only get me a filter to last about a year, but for $150 I could get a substantially better one, then I guess it wouldn't be the first time I've blown the budget......

[GTR73]

I forgot to mention other points of the Hang On Back filters - another beauty is it doesn't take up any space in your tank and also not visually invasive - as some internal canisters are. Each to his own but I've trialled many internal canisters in tandem with my external canister, and as my 4ft is for display in the lounge room I've always hated the sight of a big black or grey cylinder in the corner of my tank. I like the clean look of just the fish, the seascape and barely noticeable inlet/outlet tubes in the corners.
Not to mention more room for the fish and the HOB's are so much easier to clean than an internal purely for the fact you don't have to remove lights and covers to access it.
As for any waterfall noise, the 150 isn't a huge pump so it's not like you'll have the sound of running water eminating from your tank. If anything I found the internal canisters with blowing bubbles to be much more noisy.

CF-1500 sounds like the go for your tank and budget, definitely. And as already mentioned I'd recommend the $45 Aqualear150 HOB for backup. AOA has cheaper hang on back filters but Ben recommended the Aquaclears for reliability and quietness, which I must agree is a spot on assessment, plus I have an Aquaclear Mini that is still going after 10 years.

Let us know what you end up getting. I love that stage when acquiring the hardware for a new tank, have fun with it!

[Otorix]

Yep I have an Aquaclear Mini been going constantly for 18 years only ever replaced a silicon seal once anout 6 years ago.
Also have an AC500 moves an awesome amount of water and fairly quiet.