We will be splitting our review of the Fluval C2 hang-on filter into two articles. In this first article, we will talk about our first impressions, accompanied with a slew of pictures of the C2. In our second article, we will discuss the C2′s operational effectiveness and efficiency.

Our first impressions of the C2 were highly positive. Even before opening the box, we were intrigued about the numerous filtration chambers and excited about how technical the filter was in comparison to the other hang-ons in the market. Needless to say, we are passionate about filtration and the way we gushed over the C2′s box at the store was a little embarrassing.

We got to the office as quickly as we could and eagerly opened up the box like kids on Boxing Day, we were not disappointed. The plastics used for the C2 are very solid, although still not at the same quality as Eheim’s Liberty series. We suspect the reason why the Liberty series has a better build auqlity is because it uses a plastic that is opaque while most other hang-ons, including the C2, uses plastics that are transparent.  Although the plastics are a tad lower in quality when compared to the Liberty series, we were easily satisfied with the C2.

The box is well designed, eye catching and full of details. It clearly explains all the filtration chambers, the path of water flow and the provided filter media. With just a quick glance, we knew that the C2 was a serious piece of equipment if all diagrams and claims on the box were accurate. For the first time, a hang-on filter instilled in us a faith that this filter would be on par with the effectiveness of a cannister filter.

The Hagen AquaClear and the Fluval C2 are in many ways similar, and not surprisingly since Hagen is the parent company of Fluval. The effective guidance of water flow through the various filtration media and the control of flow rate are the same in both filters. Also alike are how the filters are packaged and that they come with mechanical, biological and chemical filtration media. The C2 can generally be described as the upgrade of the AquaClear, having better filtration media compartments, better build quality and more up to date technologies.

The C2 boasts a 5 stage filtration process while Hagen’s AquaClear comes has a 3 stage filtration process. Eheim’s Liberty comes stock with a 2 stage and many other hang-ons struggle to effectively implement a proper single stage. Looking at the industry’s track record when it comes to hang-on filters, Fluval’s claim is most impressive.

Taking a closer look at the C2′s 5 stage process reveals that filtration is still carried out by the three main stages of mechanical, biological and chemical, but separated into 5 different sub-stages. Stages 1 and 2 is mechanical, stage 3 is chemical and stages 4 and 5 is biological.

Stage 4 is most interesting. All hang-on filters are constructed in such a way that the front walls of the filter body are lower than the back walls. This is so that as filter media clogs up over time and water inflow is higher than its outflow, excess water will simply wash down the front of the filter and into the aquarium. This design of the deliberate design of the filter body prevents the accidental emptying of the aquarium.

Fluval must be credited here for coming up with an ingenious way to use this flow of water as part of the filtration process. Unlike other filters in which water simply overflow back into the aquarium, the C2 uses this overflow to feed a trickle compartment in which biological media is placed. We were pretty impressed by this innovation.

With the filter body empty of its compartments, one can tell that high quality plastics have been used simply by looking at a picture of it. Instead of the normal transparent body found in almost all hang-ons, Fluval has tastefully used matt plastics for the back of the filter body. There are almost no sharp corners to be found on the body and all corners are stylishly rounded off. Also, Fluval has imprinted its brand name at the back of the filter, all these lend the filter body a touch of class, unknown in the vast majority of hang-ons.

With all the media compartments removed, a plastic plate with holes can be seen. This plate is responsible for the C2′s effective water flow, it blocks water from entering the biological and chemical media prematurely, without first passing through the mechanical media. Most hang-ons do not properly guide the flow of water through the proper sequence of filtration media, thus, filtration effectiveness suffers by a large margin. This guidance is what makes the C2 a proper filter, which cannot be said for other hang-ons without it.

As with all hang-ons, the C2 comes with flow rate control that allows for the strength of water output. Unlike most other hang-ons which depend on a water gate within the inlet pipe, the C2 controls its flow rate by maximizing or reducing the amount of water drawn into the inlet pipe, by its placement over the impeller. The AquaClear uses the same mechanism, but the C2′s feels smoother and better implemented.

The first stage of filtration found in the C2 is the mechanical media stage. The C2 mechanical media was very well thought out, water that flows into the filter is first met by a porous, sponge like material and when it flows through this material, it is then met by a dense foam. The porous sponge filters out the larger solids and particles while allowing the smaller ones to pass, the dense foam then traps these smaller solids and particles and at the same time, polishes the water. A two stage mechanical filtration allows for optimal water flow that last for a longer period of time, as compared to a mechanical filter media which consist of just one type of material.

One major issue in all hang-ons is the way the mechanical filtration media is implemented and this is important as this filtration media is the one the requires the most maintenance. Most hang-ons either do not provide for a effective mechanical media or implement it in such a way that it is troublesome to maintain. Of all our experience with hang-ons, Eheim’s Liberty was the easiest to remove for maintenance but now with the C2, it shares the crown with the Liberty.

With other hang-ons, the need to clean out the mechanical media is judged from the amount of water flow from the filter. A good strong flow will mean that the media is clean, while a slow and sluggish flow will mean that the media is clogged and requires cleaning. In the C2, Fluval removes the need for this observation and adds a visual cue to when your mechanical media requires maintenance. Working on the same fact that a clogged media will decrease water flow, the C2′s visual cue will rise and emerge from the filter body as a slower water flow means an increase of water levels within the filter, resulting in the cue’s rising.

After water flows pass the mechanical media, it then goes into the chemical media if used according to Fluval’s recommendations. However, we will not be using any chemical media as such media will require constant change and is costly over the long run. If a good biological media is used in its place, the filter will have no issues with maintaining an aquarium’s water quality.

All the media compartments in the C2 are top notch in design and in quality. The red basket that was designed to hold the C2′s chemical media was used instead to hold our biological media, Seachem’s Matrix. When we needed to remove the Matrix for cleaning, it was a joy to simply pull it out, no fussing around with nets, or trying to squeeze the netting filled with filter media back into a rigid filter body.

With the mechanical media and the chemical media compartments in place, the trickle biological compartment goes on top of them. This trickle compartment is fed by a sprout from the filter’s inflow pipe as well as any overflows when the mechanical media clogs up.

The top of the trickle biological compartment is covered by a thin mechanical media made out of soft foam. This will prevent solids and particles from falling into the biological media in the compartment and impeding water flow, which is highly vital in the up-keeping of a healthy biological colony.

This mechanical media is placed in a highly accessible location, which is advantageous as it will require the most maintenance as compared to any other filter media in the C2, due to its small size and thin nature. However, clogging of this media will not be much of an issue as the biological media compartment below it is also fed by another source. Such attention to design is a tribute to Fluval.

The trickle biological compartment is too small for our liking as the biological media is the heart of a filter system and space should be prioritised for it. As mentioned earlier, we replaced the ample chemical media basket with our biological media. In this trickle compartment, we placed the same biological media as well.

When looking at the space allocation difference between the chemical media and biological media, it is easy to see that the C2′s main filtration capabilities will largely be chemical. This is not a bad thing as chemical media are far more effective than mechanical or biological media. But as mentioned, the only issue we have with chemical media is its short lifespan, requiring a monthly change to be kept at peak performance. If the C2′s chemical media is constantly renewed, we have no doubts that its filtration capabilities will be better than other hang-ons in the same class.

As with the AquaClear, the C2 comes with a separate box within its packaging that holds its inlet tube, inlet guard, chemical and biological media. It’s nice when such attention is paid into packaging, and reinforce the image of a quality product.

The inlet tube and inlet guard deserves special mention as the plastic used were of an even better quality than the filter body itself. The quality and construction is so good that it surpasses Eheim’s. We were pleased as the inlet tube and guard is a component of a hang-on filter that requires frequent cleaning. Such great quality gives the assurance that this vital part will be long lasting.

Last but not least are the instruction manuals. There were clear and easy to read, with diagrams and information that were designed attractively and easily understood.

All in all, our first impressions of the Fluval C2 are overwhelmingly positive. Look forward to the second part of our review in which we discuss its operational effectiveness.

[TAG]

Seachem’s Excel, Prime and Purigen are three products that have been very well received within the community, being established as standards in their areas of expertise. For an aquarium company to have these many standards, is a remarkable achievement. Today, we are going to review Seachem’s biological filtration media and see if its up to par.

Co2 injection, high output lights, chillers or corals are all different areas of our hobby. Depending on which aspect of the hobby is embraced, these areas will then be applicable. Filtration however, is the foundation of the hobby. There is no self sustaining aquarium and filtration is the life support system that keeps everything going.

Within filtration, the biological aspect of it is perhaps the most important. The biological media hosts Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria, these bacteria breakdown ammonia and nitrite into less harmful substances that are then physically removed by regular water changes. An effective biological media will ensure that the bacteria is of sufficient quantity to maintain a negligible level of ammonia and nitrite.

The choice of biological filtration media is a passionate topic for most aquarists. Most of us have our favourites and there are well-established ones, such as Eheim’s Substrat Pro, ADA’s Bio Rio, Biotech’s Biohome, Fluval’s Bio-Max, Sera Siporax and of course, Seachem’s Matrix.

At [TAG], we have been using Eheim’s Substrat Pro and ADA’s Bio Rio to good effect. Although ADA’s Bio Rio has no scientific data as compared to most other brands and some have compared it to simply being very expensive lava rocks, we had good experience with it.

For this review, we replaced the filter media of our Eheim Aquaball with Matrix. This Aquaball is our Ranchu tub’s filter and the constant waste generated by our heavy and regular feeding of our Ranchus has been the perfect test bed.

Graphs and data are fantastic ways to delve deeply into products and judge with exact precision how effective they are. But here at [TAG], we have used enough products to recognise that observation and experience are sufficient to judge, and they do not dampen the joy of the hobby as meticulously pouring over data sometimes does.

Visually, the Matrix does not seem as impressive to look as when compared to Substrat Pro or Bio Rio. Substrat Pro has that splinted glass look that conveys a impression of a highly advanced media that has been created in the laboratory. Bio Rio on the other hand seems to be  a media taken directly from nature, harnessing the same power that keeps streams and rivers crystal clear.

Matrix in comparison, looks ordinary. And if we were not already convinced by Seachem’s reputation in creating great products, we would have simply written off most of its claims just because it does not look as capable its competitors. We were somewhat surprised that we derived that thought simply based on appearances alone. It seems that even in our hobby, packaging and appearances give off the same visual feed back on a product’s perceived value and effectiveness, the same way as other products outside the hobby would. The ability of ADA to retail some of its commonplace goods at premium prices, the recent dressing-up of Ocean Free to differentiate itself, Seachem’s launching of its premium line, Vitro, all convey the importance of visual feed back in impacting a company’s bottom line.

Seachem has claimed, after carrying out research and BET surface area measurements, that Matrix has 10 times the specific surface area of Substrat Pro. But this does not mean Matrix is 10 times better than Substrat Pro because not all surface area are usable by biological bacteria, some of Matrix’s pores are reserved for physical and chemical filtration due to its size. But even so, Matrix has 4 times more biological active surface area to Substrat Pro.

4 times more biological bacteria is a lot. If Seachem is right in its analysis, it would mean that a filter filled with Matrix will be equivalent to four similar filters filled with Substrat Pro. Although we may never really know Matrix’s true surface area lacking the availability of scientific equipment, we can attest that Matrix is the best biological media we have ever used.

We have had extensive experience with Substrat Pro and Bio Rio prior to using Matrix. So we will be comparing Matrix with both of them. The first positive impression we had of Matrix was how quickly it cycled. In our new planted tank with ADA Aquasoil, we achieved zero levels of free ammonia from day 5. When using Substrat Pro, we averaged about 14 days and with Bio Rio, about 10 days.

It should be noted that we utilise Seachem’s Stability on a daily basis for all our cycling tanks. Although Matrix took only 5 days to cycle, we continued using Stability up to the 2 weeks mark just to play it safe, as we do with all other media. The amazingly fast cycling by Matrix do lend credence to their claims that it has the ability to hold much more biological bacteria than Substrat Pro.

Besides a faster rate of cycling, Matrix also seems to be able to handle waste better than its competitors. When using Matrix in our highly polluting Ranchu tub, it trashes the performance of Eheim’s regular sponge. When compared to Substrat Pro, it ensure that water parameters stayed safe, longer. We were really impressed by its capabilities as we feed our Ranchus very heavily and no non-chemical filter media could keep up with it like how Matrix does.

Besides using it in a cannister filter, Bio Rio presents challengers as its minute size requires filter bags. It is not easy to find small enough filter bags to fit properly into internal power filters or hang-on filters. Substrat Pro fits nicely into some of these filters without the use of bags, however we never had quite good results when we use them outside a cannister filter. Matrix however, was surprising versatile in all our filters. It works best in cannisters and well-designed internal power filters, but does a most admirable job in hang-ons as well. In fact, Matrix is now our filter media of choice in all our hang-ons. When comparing it to all other available hang-on filtration media, there is really no comparison.

In hang-on filters, Matrix’s physical size becomes a great strength. It is easy to use it with a coarse filtration bag and the wide gaps between pieces translates to a higher flow of water. One issue with hang-ons when using third party filter media, especially those designed for cannister filters, is that they usually impede the flow in hang-ons by quite a substantial amount due to their closely packed nature. And it’s not an issue that hang-on filters can avoid, as insufficient flow rates are one of their weakest attributes. With Matrix, we discovered that flow rates were even faster than when using the stock biological media of the hang-on filters.

Matrix also seems to clog less frequently than Substrat Pro or Bio Rio. Bio Rio clogs the fastest but that can be easily explained by its dense and packed nature. However, an advantage is that Bio Rio polishes water to a level unmatched by Substrat Pro or Matrix. If you intend to use Bio Rio, we highly recommend using Eheim’s Classic cannister series, its ability to back-flush without removing Bio Rio from the cannister body is always very much appreciated and allows for easy regular maintenance. Even when Matrix is fully covered with detritus, its filtration performance do not diminish. With regular maintenance, Matrix would have no issues with earning its keep.

In a nutshell, Matrix really surprised us. It has proved to be able to take punishing aquarium conditions and yet have more to give. Its physical size is perfect for hang-on filters and the wide gaps between the pieces allows for better flow and reduce clogging tendencies. Used with Seachem’s Stability, we felt like we were running an engine that was fed fuel specially designed for it, cycling a new aquarium was a dream and free ammonia was not an issue.

In light of all our favourable experiences with it, Seachem’s Matrix has become [TAG]‘s biological filtration media of choice.

[TAG]

credit: Seachem

Hang-on filters are popular because of their ease of use and relatively low cost. However, they are only suitable for small aquariums as their filter capacities are far beneath other filters, such as cannister filters. Even among such aquariums which are suitable for hang on filters, the majority will still struggle to provide efficient filtration over the long haul.

How great a hang-on filter performs, is dependent on two fundamentals;
1. How the flow of water is guided
2. How well the filter media performs

In our review on the Eheim Liberty hang-on filter, we mentioned if Eheim does a rethink and redesign of their Liberty filtration media, they will secure the crown of hang-on filters comfortably. The Liberty filters are by far, the best constructed and quality-assured, hang-on filters available today.

Many hang-on filters today have sacrificed filtration capabilities to design requirements. It is always nice to have a sleeker, slimmer filter, but physics will always dictate that such filters will not be as effective as their bigger counterparts when using the same filter media setup. The AquaClear is of the traditional hang-on design, providing more filtering space as compared to slimmer filters such as the GEX Slim Filters.

When it comes to filtration capability however, the AquaClear is the best that we have experienced from a hang-on. The reason why it filters better than the rest of the competition can be greatly attributed to the way its filter compartment is designed. The AquaClear’s filter compartment takes a page from canister filters and follows the same mechanical, biological and chemical filtration stages.

The AquaClear comes complete with its own filter media that allows for three stage filtration and it is easy to substitute it with third party media, unlike Eheim’s Liberty, which requires modifications to do so. Such flexibility is most welcomed and makes a good filter, superb. The ability to use filtration media like Seachem’s Matrix, Purigen and Eheim’s Substrat Pro greatly increase the filtration capabilities of the AquaClear.

The water flow within the AquaClear is genius. No other hang-on filter that we know of directs the flow of water like it. Because of the position of the impeller found in hang-on filters, most will direct the flow of water into the filter compartment close to the halfway mark, which in our view handicaps filtration as there is no clear flow from the bottom to the top, ensuring filtration is flawed by bypassing some of the filtration media.

The AquaClear’s impeller is found at the same location as other hang-on filters. How it achieves a clean flow of water from the bottom of the filter compartment to the top is through the ingenious use of a plastic barrier which prevents water from flowing directly into the compartment and forcing it to flow from the bottom instead. As such, setting up the filtration media in a mechanical, biological and chemical filtration actually works.

Another great attribute that the AquaClear posses is that it runs silently and this is an important aspect. Small tanks which the AquaClear was designed to operate on will most likely be found on desks, bedrooms and offices. More often than not, these areas will require or benefit from an aquarium that is silent.

The only area that the AquaClear that is not perfect, is its build quality. Although it uses high quality plastics that easily best or equal the majority of hang-on filters in the market, it is not Eheim’s quality. Handling Eheim’s Liberty and its filter cartridges are always a joy, with the quality of plastics being the very best.

With our AquaClear, we didn’t use the chemical and biological media provided and in their place, used Seachem’s Matrix, which is fast becoming our biological media of choice. In this setup, our AquaClear 20, the smallest of the AquaClear series, easily filtered [TAG]‘s 15 litres betta tank.

When comparing all other hang-on filters to the AquaClear, the AquaClear filters better because of its ability to move water in a fashion similar to cannister filters. The ability to also use third party filter media just sweetens the deal. We can already imagine using Purigen in these filters and get a filtration ability that far exceeds anything else.

If you are in the market for a hang-on filter, the AquaClear is the best there is now.

[TAG]

credits: Hagen

Fluval by Hagen has released a unique product. Phosphate removers are nothing new, but to have thought to incorporate it within an artificial moss ball, brings a smile to our faces.

The Marimo ball or Cladophora algae, holds a special place in many of our hearts because of its spherical shape and sponge-like properties. Fauna such as shrimps adore it as a feeding ground because their fine hairs trap food and detritus. So instead of placing phosphate removers in your filter, you now have the option of placing one of these artificial Marimo balls in your aquarium.

The only drawback to these Marimo balls, is the fact that chemical filtration usually have a very short effective life cycle within the aquarium before they need to be replaced or recharged. The phosphate remover within these Marimo balls cannot be replaced and they last about 2 months. That would mean that you will need to get new Marimo balls every 2 months to ensure optimal phosphate remover levels.

These artificial Marimo balls appear in a much lighter shade of green as compared to the real Marimo balls, but once placed in water, they quickly resemble a similar dark shade of green. A more apparent difference between the two would be the hairs that form the Marimo. On the artificial one, the hairs are soft and wool-like. While on the real one, the hairs are more spiky and firm.

Fluval's Marimo Ball

Live Marimo Ball

We are glad that Fluval went out of the box for a chemical filtration product. And although some may not be happy with it not being rechargeable, we agree with the approach for it would have not been possible to create an artificial Marimo ball that looks this realistic and stay that way over a long period of time. Its soft, wool-like hairs that mimics the real Marimo ball would not take kindly to multiple washings.

If for some reason you cannot get a Marimo ball in your area, have difficulty keeping the real ones alive, or just want to save filter space while adding more green to your aquarium, give Fluval’s Marimo ball a go. For those who have one of these in your aquarium, do comment and let us know what you think of it!

[TAG]

pictorial credit: Fluval

The popularity of the nano aquarium in recent years, has drawn the attention of major aquarium companies such as Aqua Design Amano, Eheim, Dennerle and Fluval. These companies have launched products that cater exclusively to this market segment and we now have much more choices than previously possible. In this article, we will be looking at Eheim’s latest filter for the nano aquarium, the AquaCompact.

When it comes to aquarium filters, Eheim is an established legend, having pioneered the cannister filter in the 1980s. Their classic cannister filters are so effective, efficient, genius in maintenance and simple in operation, that they are still in production today, fuelled by continual demand.

The Eheim Classic 2211 is Eheim’s smallest cannister filter, measuring a mere 29cm in height and 11cm across. When it comes to filtering nano tanks with a cannister filter, the Classic 2211 is the top choice of many. Aqua Design Amano which makes the highly desirable SuperJet filter, uses the Classic 2211 for their nano tanks.

As hang-on filters became widely popular and accepted for the nano aquarium, Eheim developed and launched the Liberty series of hang-on filters some years ago. This hang-on filter is by far, one of the best hang-on filters today, its build quality, filtration capacity, ease of use and superb filtration pump are top notched.

Although the Liberty series are such great hang-on filters, these cannot be compared to the filtration capacity of a cannister filter due to their physical design limitations and hang-on nature.

This year, Eheim launched the AquaCompact, a marriage of a cannister filter body, with the head of a hang-on filter. Why it has done so, makes sense.

Although the Classic 2211 is perfectly competent for nano tanks, some hobbyist have shunned it because of the need to use Eheim’s ugly and conspicuous, green tubing, filter inlet, spray bar or jet pipe. The Liberty on the other hand does not utilise any green parts and its presence inside the aquarium can be very well hidden with some creative aquascaping. However, its filtration effectiveness is nowhere near that of the Classic 2211.

When pictures of the AquaCompact were first released, some commented it was an ugly design, arguing that no nano aquascaper will house such a ‘huge’ filtration head within the already space-challenged nano aquarium. We admit that we had the same initial thoughts, but that changed when we got our hands on a unit.

The graphics on the AquaCompact’s box gives an insight to who Eheim hopes this filter will cater to. The foreground of the box is filled with a famous iwagumi aquascape by Takashi Amano, or bearing a very similar resemblance to it. Pictures of shrimps and flora fill the top part of the box and it is obvious that Eheim hopes the AquaCompact will be embraced by the aquascaping community.

The first impression of the AquaCompact is the superb, and excellent build quality that Eheim is known for. Unlike many other aquarium equipment today, the AquaCompact is still made in Germany and that accounts greatly for the build quality as the Germans are famous for producing high quality goods.

Every plastic part, each clasp, joint and tubing are of quality. Even after handling multiple Eheim filters over the years, we still appreciate the high quality feel of the AquaCompact. It is also good to see that Eheim has not slacken in their high standards.

The AquaCompact uses the same excellent filter media as all other Eheim cannister filters, included in our AquaCompact was Eheim’s filter media for a two stage filtration.

Mechanical Media | Eheim Coarse Blue Sponge
Biological Media | Eheim Substrat Pro
Polishing Media | Eheim Fine White Sponge

In the AquaCompact’s unique filter inlet, a custom fitted blue coarse sponge is used as a pre-filter. The incorporation of this pre-filter sponge is Eheim’s official acknowledgement to many aquascapers who have slipped a pre-filter sponge unto their filter inlets. This inbuilt pre-filter sponge should prevent dead flora and shrimplets from being sucked into the main filter compartment.

Besides Eheim’s trademark rain bar, a jet output and a round output are also included, an indication that Eheim has noticed the reduced usage of their rain bar among aquascapers. The jet and round output not only has a smaller profile than a rain bar, but will also result in stronger flow. These will be the outputs of choice for many aquascapers.

Eheim has made the AquaCompact avaliable in two models, the AquaCompact 40 and the AquaCompact 60. The only difference between the two models is that the AquaCompact 60 has a cannister volume of 1.5 litres, while the AquaCompact 40 has a cannister volume of 1 litre. Both models has the same output at an approximate of 350 litres per hour. Actual output will vary because of water resistance caused by the filter media, or how clogged the filter is after a period of operation.

At 350 litres per hour, the output of the AquaCompact is quite the sweet spot, falling between the outputs of the Classic 2211 and the Classic 2213. For the normal aquascaper, the output of the AquaCompact for your nano aquarium is going to be sufficient. But for those that believe in high outputs and want double the filtering capacity, we still see them purchasing the Classic 2213 instead.

The filtration head is not as big as we thought it would be. And being in a nice greyish-black colour, it will be less striking than Eheim’s green pipes. For aquascapers that use any other filtration pipes, the AquaCompact will not work as the impeller is in the filtration head, not the filter body.

Pictures of the AquaCompact do not convey how well designed and small the filter really is. We were also pleasantly surprised with the design and quality of the entire product. As we went through the filter in detail, it was easy to see that Eheim did invest the effort into creating a filter that will cater to the needs of the nano aquascaper.

The AquaCompact is not going to be for everybody, it is not going to be a filter that replaces the Eheim Classic. However, the AquaCompact is a filter designed with a specific purpose. It effectively filters the nano aquarium using a cannister filter body, without the need to use filtration pipes or a third party pre-filter. Also, it is designed to be placed beside your nano aquarium and not inside an aquarium cabinet.

If your nano aquarium needs for a filter fits what the AquaCompact delivers, then grab the AquaCompact because we are certain you are going to be in love with the it for a long time to come.

[TAG]

credits: AquaCompact statistics and diagrams | Eheim Asia Pacific

Water changes are often not understood properly. Newcomers into the hobby are strongly influenced by friends or forums, and its likely that they take their understanding of water changes as their own.

The act of water changing is not seen as scientific, when compared to other aspects of the hobby such as the injection of CO2, the measure of lighting intensity or the nitration process of filtration. However, water changing is the most important maintenance act that any aquarist can perform. In this article, we seek to provide the right approach to effective water change.

The changing of water in an aquarium accomplishes one key necessity, the physical removal of nitrate, a by product of the nitrification cycle that is not consumed by the filter’s colony of bacteria. If the aquarium is newly established and the filter is immature, then the changing of water will also remove ammonia and nitrite, which are poisonous to fauna in any quantity. Phosphate, algae, dirt, other impurities, organic materials and tannins (if you are using driftwood or leaves) are removed during a water change as well.

In the normal aquarium or planted aquarium, the frequency of water change is to be determined by the current water parameters. Aquarium test kits that detect ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are easily available in almost any local fish shops. Brands that we recommend are API and Sera, API being the most economical and Sera having the better test kit.

As a general guide line for a newly established aquarium, tests should be performed daily till ammonia and nitrite are undetectable, this will indicate that the nitrification cycle has been established and that the beneficial bacteria within the filter is healthy. Only at this stage, should fauna be added into the aquarium.

After the nitrification cycle has been established, testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate at regular intervals is greatly encouraged. The amount of flora, fauna and size of the filter’s bacteria colony will determine how often a water change will be required. When moderate nitrate is detected, a water change of about 30 t0 50 percent should be performed. This amount will sufficiently remove enough nitrate before it reaches an excessive and dangerous amount. In adverse situations where ammonia or nitrite are detected, a larger percentage of water changed may be needed to stablise water quality to safe parameters.

Experience have shown that a water change is usually needed on a weekly or fortnightly basis for the majority of aquariums. But for the minority of aquarists who keep monster fishes or unusual aquariums, this generalisation may differ greatly.

When adding fresh water to the aquarium, an anti chlorine solution should be added to chemically remove any chlorine or chloramine. Chlorine and chloramine are highly poisonous and fatal to any fauna, with death being a certainty over time.

Chlorine can naturally be sterilised by exposing it to a period of sunlight, or by removal using an active air stone for a few hours. Chloramine however, cannot be removed by these methods and only a chemical solution will be effective. We highly recommend Seachem Prime, an excellent water conditional that is the staple of many, removing not only chlorine and choramine, but detoxifying ammonia, nitrite and nitrate as well.

Determining the specific time for a water change should always be dependent on the testing of the aquarium’s water quality, and not by comparisons with other aquariums of similar capacity, maintenance habits or broad generalisations. Each aquarium is a mini aquatic ecosystem, unique in itself. Only be testing the aquarium regularly can the character of the aquarium be made known, making it possible for the aquarist to understand the aquarium and perform a water change just before water quality deteriorates.

It is important to perform a water change only when it is needed. Excessive water change will keep water quality pristine, however, the stressing of fauna is also highly likely. A water change is thus a delicate dance, all in the aquarium’s own tune, turning and stepping, just at the right moments.

[TAG]

Almost all aquarists are familiar with the iconic green filter pipes and hoses from Eheim. They have become so much of a brand symbol for Eheim that there should be no chance that Eheim will ever change its colour, although it is almost universally agreed that it is quite an eyesore.

For those that wants a neutral colored filtration pipe but do not want to mess around with glass pipes, you can consider Eheim’s Filtration Installation Sets.

The Eheim Installation pipes, which are made of plastic, come in a grey and black colour scheme and are purchased as two different sets. Set 1 contains the inflow filtration pipe and Set 2 contains the outflow filtration pipe. Both sets must be purchased separately as Eheim does not offer them as a combined set.

The first thing that struck us about these pipes were that they were modular. The majority of Eheim’s users with normal green pipes would have experienced the need to cut their pipes to length in order to properly fit their aquariums. For these installation sets, the pipes do not come in one established piece but in separate modular pieces, enabling easy modifications to their length and depth according to your required needs.

The assembled pipe below, is the outflow pipe. The length of the outflow’s rain bar can be adjusted to consist of one module or up to 3 combined modules. A well-fitted rubber stopper is provided to close up the end of the rain bar.

The rain bar is held in your desired location by up to 4 of Eheim’s excellent rubber suction cups. These suction cups are highly regarded and are among the best within the aquatic hobby. With the rain bar fully assembled, we realised that Eheim has provided an extra right angle connector and that is well appreciated.

A hose will be attached to the inlet valve of the outflow pipe and is held in place by Eheim’s excellent hose connector. This hose connector will securely hold the hose in place till your next hose maintenance or change.

A much welcomed modular design that makes you feel better about paying for these installation sets as all Eheim filters come equipped with the required filtration pipes.

The quality of plastic used for the usual green Eheim filtration pipes are of a very high standard. Even so, it is very safe to say that these filtration pipes are build much better and are of a even higher standard.

Every module and part reeks of quality and professionalism. We are actually pretty impressed by the design and build quality of these filtration pipes, so much so that we would not hesitate to use them over glass filtration pipes, if the use of plastic is not an issue.

The inflow pipe is no less impressive that the outflow pipe, using the same high quality modular plastic parts as the outflow pipe. The inflow pipe has lesser modules and parts, as its function is of a more straight forward nature. It was nice of Eheim to produce a black version of their green inflow guard and it just reinforces the fact that their normal green filtration pipes are nowhere as professional looking.

A close up on the Eheim logo shows the precise and clean machining that is found throughout these filter pipes. All parts fit nicely and smugly, without difficulty. With such a high quality product, it was easy to have a sense of confidence when fitting the pipes together.

When you really think about it, there is nothing really exciting about the Eheim Filtration Installation Sets. They are not made out of glass, they do not create whirlpools and they do not offer a completely transparent view into your aquascape.

But like Eheim’s renowned Classic filters, they are excellent because they perform the task required, in the simplest and most straight forward manner, which results in excellence. The quality of plastics used, and its unbreakable properties would mean that your Eheim filtration set should last you a very long time.

We like these filtration sets so much that we will be using them on [TAG]‘s next show tank. If you are searching for a high quality, well machined and superbly executed filtration pipe that does not have to be made of glass, get these filtration sets. In our opinion, all Eheim filters should come standard with these, even if it means a slight price hike. They are worth it.

[TAG]

After our article on the Power Men glass filtration pipes, we decided to track down the smallest commercial glass filtration pipes to see exactly how small they can get. The smallest we could find were by ANS, and they are so small, that we wonder if they are even usable.

These glass filtration pipes are really small, and we have included a 50 cent coin in our pictures as a comparison to how small they really are. Our first thought during this review was to wonder if there is such a small canister filter on the market with filter hoses that fit the width of these ANS nano pipes.

A search on the internet revealed that there is an interest for nano canister filters and because of this interest, aquatic companies have responded to the demand. Notable nano canister filters include the Eden 501, Rapids Mini and the Zoo Med 501 filters.

Because these filters are much smaller compared to other established filters such as the Eheim 2211, they often come with their own filter pipes and accessories. Even so, we have not found a commercially made filter that uses a hose size small enough to utlise the ANS nano glass filtration pipes.

The overall build quality of the ANS nano is good, better than the Power Men pipes in our opinion. The glass is clear, strong and without any deformities, similar to the Power Men, but the ANS nano pipes do not have the design faults that we highlighted in the Power Men.

The ANS nano uses a glass that is stronger than the Power Men but no less clear. We do not think it is because ANS uses clearer glass, but rather because of its minute size, there is no difference in its clarity when compared to the Power Men. We are glad that ANS has decided to incorporate glass that is pretty thick as this will drastically cut down the number of accidental breakages, especially when the ANS nano pipe is so small.

An issue we had with the outflow sprout of the Power Men pipe was that it was too small for its size. We are happy to report that the outflow sprout of the ANS nano is appropriately sized and should create a decent whirlpool, aiding in clearing the protein layer.

While looking at the outflow pipe from the side, the sprout protrudes from the body of the pipe by quite a fair bit, more than what we observed from other glass filtration pipes. Rather than this being a design error, we feel that it is a good thing as this nano pipe is really minute. Having it extend further into the aquarium will help it clear the relatively thick tank walls because no matter how small your nano aquarium is, aquatic tank makers do not usually produce an aquarium with walls that are thinner than 4mm in thickness.

The intake vents of the inflow pipes are cut nicely, even and smooth. This once again, is in contrast to the terrible cracks that were found on the Power Men glass pipes. Credit must be given to ANS for excellent quality control on their nano pipes, especially when it is more difficult to cut, and its a fraction of the price when compared to the Power Men pipes.

We have little trouble recommending the ANS nano glass filtration pipes because of their excellent workmanship and quality. The only trouble is, that we have not come across a filter that uses filtration hoses of this size.

If you know of such a filter, please drop as a comment and we will be happy to bring them in for a look.

[TAG]

Aqua Design Amano (ADA) introduced the now iconic glass filter pipes many years ago. Since then, these elegant, beautiful filter pipes have charmed aquascapers as works of art and with their ability to be almost invisible in an aquascape.

Because of the popularity of glass filter pipes and the premium pricing adopted by ADA for their high quality products, many other aquatic companies have also introduced their own interpretation of these filter pipes that cater to those that are not willing to pay for the ADA original.

Power Men (PM) is a little known company and we only found out about it through our LFS. A search on the internet will show that these glass filter pipes are only found on ebay and the few dedicated LFS that bring them in.

If you are familiar with ADA’s glass filter pipes, you will immediately notice that these PM glass filter pipes are not of the same standard as the ADA ones. However, we also do not expect them to be, as their retail cost is significantly lower than ADA’s.

The quality of glass used in these filter pipes is solid, smooth, well-formed and without deformities. The only issue we had with the construction was the sculpturing of the outlet sprout. It is not as big or rounded as we would like it to be and that has limited the famous whirlpool effect that these filter pipes are known to create.

The main advantage of having the whirlpool effect is that it will clear the protein film that is often found on the water surface of an aquascaped aquarium. If you are using a spray bar outlet or a shepard pipe, the same result can be achieved simply but ensuring enough water surface agitation.

The bend in the outflow pipe was also not as smooth as we would have preferred. Although it will not likely lead to any noticeable different in water flow output, a great draw of these glass filter pipes are their elegant curves and beauty. There is a lack of smoothness and connectivity between the pipe and sprout, and this has lessen the beauty of a glass filter pipe by quite a fair bit.

The same glass used in the outflow pipe is used in the inflow. And as such, it is the same soild, smooth, well-formed glass that we have earlier observed. But just like the outflow, with its slightly poorly designed outflow sprout, the inflow does have problems with its intake vents.

Looking closely at the intake vents, we can see that there are cracks found around the vents. We do not know if this happened during the cutting process or it developed afterwards. Either way, it is troubling.

If the cracks happened during the cutting process, the fact that it was still shipped out for retail shows that PM’s quality control is not up to par. If the cracks happen after shipping and in the hands of the retailer, it will shows that the glass used is not of good quality, although it appears to be so.

There has been multiple heartbreaks among ADA filter pipe users when they break during maintenance, and that is with the high quality glass that ADA uses. If PM’s glass is not as strong as ADA’s, we foresee even more breakages although it will not hurt the wallet that badly.

All in all, we feel that although the PM glass filter pipes are not as costly as their ADA counterparts, their workmanship and quality control could have been better. The PM filter pipes are priced about the same level as other glass filter pipes offered by other aquatic companies. We recommend giving them a visit before committing to these filter pipes.

[TAG]

The Eheim Air Pump 100 is Eheim’s smallest air pump and can deliver adjustable air output to a single air tube. The bigger models, 200 and 400 are able to deliver air to multiple air tubes and they are all independently adjustable.

Technical Specifications

Pump strength: 98.28 litres per hour
Power consumption: 3.5 watts
Dimensions: 15.24cm x 6.35cm x 9.65cm

The two main criteria for any good aquarium air pump is its low operational noise floor and diaphragm reliability. Cheaply made air pumps tend to be much louder and not as long lasting, as less attention and effort has been paid to utilise technology in muffling the diaphragm’s vibrations.

The build quality of the Eheim 100 is of the usual superior quality that Eheim is known for. Superior rubber matched with high quality plastics are found throughout the air pump’s construction. Also, the design and quality of the diaphragm translates to what makes the Eheim air pumps famous, its extremely low noise floor.

The low noise generated by the Eheim 100 is exceptional when compared to other air pumps of the same category. Eheim accomplishes this suspending the pump diaphragm in a harness, that hangs in the middle of the air pump’s enclosure. The detachment of the pump diaphragm from the actual air pump’s enclosure helps in eliminating the majority of vibration that results from the diaphragm’s operation. The thick rubber that covers both ends of the pump also helps to reduce and dampen the transmission of vibrations to environments outside the air pump.

The dial that controls the amount of air output is large enough for easy handling and it has a sufficient amount of friction for precise control.

An aquarium air pump, such as the Eheim 100, will be required if there is a need to aerate an aquarium through an air stone, or to filter an aquarium using an air-driven filter. If only aeration is desired but the aquarium has space for an air-driven filter, we will advice using an air-driven filter instead of an air stone as it provides additional filtration capacity while aerating the aquarium at the same time.

The Eheim 100 is bigger in size than other air pumps of the same output. And this can be attributed to the space needed within the air pump’s internal enclosure to independently suspense the harness. When compared with the minute GEX Roka Boy Compact, the Eheim 100 appears huge.

There has been some feedback among aquarists that the Eheim 100 does not stay quiet after a period of time and its performance will drop. It should be noted that this is not just typical to the Eheim 100, but to all air pumps as the diaphragm suffers from wear and tear and has a limited lifespan. Unlike aquarium filters in which the impeller can be changed out, there is currently no option to change a air pump’s diaphragm.

However, it is not all bad news. We have been using our Eheim 100 for about 2 years and it has performed admirably, with no noise increase or drop in performance. The degradation of the diaphragm is inevitable, but the Eheim 100 should give you a few years of solid performance before succumbing to old age.

The Eheim 100 is one of the quietest, or the quietest air pump in the market today. If you are in need of such a low noise floor, the Eheim 100 gets our recommendation.

[TAG]

Product specifications credit: Eheim

We are on a filter roll here, with the GEX Slim S being the third filter to be reviewed in a week. As mentioned in the GEX Roka Boy articles, we have been impressed with the build quality and design of the GEX air-powered filters. Thus, we decided to review another GEX product that is appealing to some aquarists, by being the slimmest hang on filter in the market today.

The GEX company should be credited for having the guts to redesign the hang on filter at such a fundamental level. Other aquarium companies have differentiated their hang on filters by changing the filter media options, but no company has taken the established hang on filter design and brought it back to the drawing board.

The GEX Slim S breaks the look of the traditional hang on filter by positioning the filter pump outside the filter’s body. By doing so, the filter body can now be slimmer than usual as it does not have to have a body big enough to house a pump. In the image below, the diagram shows how GEX has accomplished this.

The GEX Slim S is really a slim filter measuring 180mm in length, 152mm in height and just 50mm across.

Here, GEX waste no effort in emphasizing how slim their filter is, compared to other competing brands.

The build quality of the GEX Slim S is of the same high quality found in all their other products. The plastics used are strong, without flex, and all parts are machined nicely. We especially liked the ‘metal’ feel that GEX gave the top cover of the filter, adding a touch of class.

The GEX Slim S is slimmer in width compared to other hang on filters, but it’s longer in length. This longer length allows it to compensate for its small width and still pack enough filter media to be effective.

For the GEX Slim filters to be effective, water must be directed in a way that it passes through all the filter media along the length of the filter before returning to the aquarium. Based on the internal design of the GEX Slim S filter body, we can see that GEX has planned it to be so. However, the second cartridge that is further from the intake will not see as much flow going through it as the first cartridge. In a Slim S body with just two cartridges, this will be a minor problem and there should not be any penalty to filtration effectiveness.

In is heartening to know that in the bigger Slim bodies, GEX has appropriately position the outlet sprout closer to the filter cartridges that are furtherest from the intake. This will force water to also flow through the outlying cartridges before exiting the filter.

The filter cartridges that GEX provides with every GEX Slim filter, is enough for that filter’s operation. For the GEX Slim S, it comes with two filter cartridges.

The filter cartridges has words in Japanese and we could not guess the functions of the different cartridges as they also look exactly the same. On the packaging’s picture, they are placed in the same position.

The only difference we can spot was one had the words “2 in 1″ and the other had the words “3 in 1″. In filtration speak, these numbers can only mean the three means of filtration; mechanical, biological and chemical. The “2 in 1″ media should encompass biological and chemical filtration while the “3 in 1″ media should encompass mechanical, biological and chemical filtration.

We hope to get the Japanese words translated and will update this article accordingly if we manage to.

The motor of the GEX Slim S is positioned outside the filter body. As seen in the picture below, water is sucked into an intake that is covered by a black sponge, it then passes through the motor and flow into the filter by the intake tube. This tube is also adjustable in length.

One slight disappointment of ours was that the plastic used to make the intake tube is not of the same great material that makes the filter body. Its slightly darker and softer, and flexes a little. But there may be a use of such a softer plastic for the intake tube. Our guess is so that the ability to extend the intake tube can be housed within the tube itself, and not fixed- on extensions that other filters employ.

For aquascapers, the extra bulk of a motor in the aquascape may not be welcomed unless flora can be used to hide it.

If you have been wondering why we have not mentioned the flow rate of this filter, it is because we cannot find any mention of one. GEX’s official website is in Japanese and we tried to track down any flow rate information for the GEX Slim S but found none.

The only information we have is that the GEX Slim S is recommended for aquarium of about 25 litres. Unlike Eheim’s more optimistic view on filter to aquarium size ratio, GEX’s recommendation of pairing the Slim S to an aquarium of approximately 25 litres is pretty accurate.

Not everyone will be pleased with the dependency of the GEX Slim S on GEX filter cartridges. Using third party filter media is possible but may not be as effective as compared to using them on traditional sized hang on filters, as the slim and long body of the GEX Slim S may impede their filtration effectiveness.

For aquarists who have aquariums on their desks, the GEX Slim S is a good choice as it saves precious desk space as these aquarists can have the aquariums closer to the wall.

GEX has proven to be a company that produces aquatic products that work, with a solid build quality and attractive design. Till date, aquarists on various aquatic forums have given the GEX Slim filters good reviews, saying that it works as well as the usual hang on filters.

If you are in the market for a small hang on filter that is slim, do check out the GEX Slim S.

[TAG]

About two weeks ago, we reviewed the GEX Roka Boy Compact after a reader wrote to us about reviewing an air-powered filter. We were pretty impressed by the Gex Roka Boy Compact which was a great filter designed into a very small package, and decided to bring in the Gex Roka Boy S and Gex Roka Boy M and do a comparison of all three.

There will quite a number of aquarists who will require a conventionally sized air-powered filter and we hope that this comparison will provide a guide to the different sizes. As the S & M are very similar to the Compact in terms of design and operation, we will not be going too much into the details. For a detailed review, please follow this link: http://theaquaticgazette.com/2011/06/14/gex-roka-boy-compact/

The boxes of the S & M spots the same appealing design that is usually typical of Japanese aquarium companies. The diagrams on the boxes clearly illustrates the filter that you will be purchasing and the functions that it performs.

However, the S & M do not carry any English translation for their diagrams while the Compact does. We found that puzzling as the lack of space cannot be an issue when the Compact manages to squeeze these translations in. One reason for this lack may be because the S & M were not meant for our local market but for the Japanese market instead.

Unlike the Compact, the S & M does not come with a separate biological sponge. Instead, their biological sponge is packed with activated carbon and it will require replacing every month or so to ensure optimal chemical filtration effectiveness.

Frequently changing the biological sponge just to ensure chemical filtration effectiveness does present its own problem. The new biological sponge will have to start the colonization of beneficial bacteria all over again and this will affect total filtration effectiveness.

When we used the S for one of our aquariums, we prefer to let the activated carbon run its course and then to depend on the biological sponge for the long run.

The S & M are made of the same good quality plastic that the Compact is made of. The plastics are solid and clear, machined properly, with the different parts fitting nicely. The plastic clamps that hold the filter together are sturdy and we don’t foresee any problems with them breaking as sometimes seen in other such filters.

Unlike the Compact which is made out of three parts, the S & M are made out of four parts and we are glad for it. As seen below, the filters can be dismantled quite throughly and this makes for easy washing and maintenance.

The M is quite a beast beside the Compact. We didn’t managed to get a GEX Roka Boy L, but we can imagine that it will be much bigger and more impressive in size difference.

Here is the M beside the Compact.

The GEX Roka Boy S & M are similar to the GEX Roka Boy Compact and we have no doubts that they will make good air-powered filters. The only disappointment is that there is no way to change the activated carbon in the S & M filters without throwing out the biological sponge as well. If GEX could split the sponges like in the Compact, that would be great.

[TAG]

The Eheim 2006 is not only the smallest filter in Eheim’s Pickup line, it is also the smallest internal filter by Eheim.

Technical Specifications:

Model: Eheim Pickup 2006
Approximate Maximum Aquarium Size: 45 litres
Approximate Pump Output: 50 to 180 litres per hour
Approximate Filter Volume: 58 litres
Power Consumption: 3.5 watts
Dimensions: 135mm x 50mm x 63mm

Using the electrical head as a guide, you will realise how small this filter is

The petite size of the Eheim 2006, with its ability to reduce flow rate to a slow 50 litres per hour, makes it the perfect filter for a nano tank. We have been using the filter on our 6 litre betta tank and it has been great, being small enough to be hidden behind some Java fern and gentle enough in flow to not disturb our betta.

Eheim coined the name ‘pickup’ because the filter media and the body that houses it, can be picked up during maintenance without having to detach the suction cups from the aquarium. This allows for a trouble free and fast maintenance which takes about a minute or less.

These suction cups are strong

There is a sense of joy when holding such a small filter that has been designed and executed properly, in a quality manner. The Eheim 2006 is of the usual excellent build quality that Eheim is known for. All parts fit exactly and nicely, plastics are solid and without flex. The flow switch at the filter head turns smoothly and the suction cups are strong. Overall, the Eheim 2006 is the standard that all nano internal filters should look up to.

The vast majority of consumers that purchase the Eheim 2006 will have done so because their for an appropriate filter for their small tank. In a tank of this size, a successful internal filter will need to address three concerns, flow output, filtration media effectiveness and physical size.

The outflow of water can be directed with the turning of the filter head

The filter head of the Eheim 2006 has a switch that allows for the adjustment of outflow from a range of 50 litres per hour to 180 litres per hour. If 50 litres per hour is still too strong for the aquarium, the filter head can be turned to direct the outflow towards the side of the aquarium, weakening the flow further.

As an example of using the Eheim 2006 in a nano tank with a flow senstive fauna, our betta did not have any issues with the minimum flow and there was no need to direct the outflow towards the side of the aquarium. The minimum flow of 50 litres per hour was perfect for our 6 litre tank.

Underneath the filter head | Maximum flow

Underneath the filter head | Minimum flow

The cream coloured filter sponge that comes equipped with the Eheim 2006 is of a good quality and it spots a compact grid. Our first contact with it makes us wish that the Eheim Liberty’s default blue sponge was made with this same sponge.

This filter sponge is surprisingly compact in grid and that makes for a good biological media as more space can be found for beneficial bacteria to established itself. However, the lack of a mechanical filtration media in the Eheim 2006 will mean that a monthly light washing of this sponge is a must, with more frequent washing if your tank has a high biological load. This washing is to prevent excessive detritus from building up on the front surface of the sponge as this will reduce the filter’s effectiveness.

To find out how often the filter sponge needs maintenance, observe the flow rate and when it drops, it will be time to carry out a washing. Besides watching the flow rate, the clear body of the filter also allows a visual check on the detritus build up on the filter sponge. If you observe a thick build up, it may be also time to perform wash.

Cream coloured filter sponge | Compact and of a good material | Should make a great biological bacteria media

Close up

Filter sponge in filter body | The gap found between the sponge and body is where water flows into the sponge

The bottom of the body | Impeller

The hole is where the impeller sits | The vents are where water flows through to enter the filter

Besides the excellently designed filter head, the compact and good quality filter sponge, the diminutive size of the Eheim 2006 is its greatest strength. In our 6 litres betta tank, the filter is well hidden by some Java fern and never once seem to be too big for it. Unlike another of Eheim’s internal filter, the Aqua Ball, we prefer the rectangular frame of the Eheim 2006 as it blends better into the corner of the aquarium and it can be easily maintained with its ‘pick up’ ability.

At this point of writing, Eheim is no longer sending new stocks of the Eheim 2006 into Singapore, what is sold in the local fish shops are from existing inventory. We do not have any idea if Eheim intends to restart production of the Eheim 2006, but we hope they will, as they did for the Eheim Classic 2211.

It will be a shame if the Eheim 2006 is allowed to fade away as there is nothing in the market that is its replacement for being a small filter of such quality. For all nano tank owners who want an internal filter, we highly recommend the Eheim 2006, in fact, we are going to stock up some just for our nano tanks which we will be featuring some time in the future.

Side profile | The most likely view in the aquarium

[TAG]

Technical credit: Eheim Asia Pacific

Colourful is a Chinese aquarium brand which is little known outside its local market. For this article, we will be taking a look at this unique hang on filter, one that has ultraviolet capabilities built into it.

It was difficult to get any kind of information off the internet in regards to this filter. We could not find any official website, so the only details we have for this filter is found on the box.

The quality of the plastic used in the Colourful CF-A2 are not of the high quality that is found in other competing brands. Our filter came with numerous scratches and with a slight discolouration. This build quality certainly does not inspire much confidence in the product or its long-term longevity.

Similarly, the box that houses the filter spots a lower printing quality compared to other brands. It is a small issue but attention to such details can speaks volumes of the company’s vision.

The Colourful CF-A2 is a filter that is different from other mainstream hang on filters by incorporating ultraviolet as part of its filtering capabilities. Ultraviolet works by passing a thin layer of water over a ultraviolet lamp that produces ultraviolet rays. These rays produce radiation which kill micro-organisms as they pass by, penetrating the cell membrane and destroying them. Harmful disease causing bacteria or algae spores are some of the cells that can be dealt with. However this radiation will not discriminate between good and bad bacteria, so any extra vitamins or nutrients that were added into the aquarium may be eliminated as well.

The ultraviolet lamp is housed in a black plastic compartment that dominates the filtration compartment. Right before the ultraviolet lamp is a filter cartridge which contains a ‘biofoam’ and activated carbon. Water from the aquarium enters the filter and passes the filter cartridge before going through the compartment that houses the ultraviolet lamp.

The filter cartridge that Colourful has provided is inadequate for the job. The biofoam is of a very thin layer and it will get clogged with detritus before long, not to mention the lack of surface area for beneficial bacteria habitation. Behind the biofoam is a chamber than houses activated carbon, however the amount of activated carbon provided is disappointing. Because of the poor design of the filter cartridge, effective biological and chemical filtration is not going to be this filter’s strength.

The ultraviolet lamp is inserted into the base of the filter and screwed in place. As with all connections in this filter, the screw threads are not machined to exact precision and we do have some concerns about water leakages over the long run. The slots holding the filter cartridge are also not exact in its fitting and there will be some water bypass.

Colourful CF-A2′s only strength is in its ease of use. Looking at its almost non-existence biological and chemical filtration properties, one would only purchase this filter if there is a need for an ultraviolet that is easy to set up. Unlike tradition ultraviolet lamps which require its attachment to the filtration path by the use of hoses, the Colourful CF-A2 can be hung on the aquarium and easily removed.

We would only recommend this filter if you are on a very tight budget and you need a ultraviolet filter that hangs on the aquarium. If you do not need these two requirements to be made, there are much better constructed, and designed products out there.

[TAG]

One of our readers have requested that we do a review on air powered filters as they are still popular and useful in many situations, especially for some types of fauna that are sensitive to the strong water current of power filters. So, we headed out to our LFS and spent some time looking at different air powered filters, trying to find a unique one to start this review. Hidden in a dark corner, at the back of a shelf, we came across the GEX Roka Boy Compact. Immediately we knew that this baby of a filter was the one.

The GEX Roka Boy Compact is extremely small, 4cm across on both sides and 5cm in height. Our first thought was, in what situation will someone require a filter this small? After giving it some thought, we realised that there are numerous pico tanks out there, some housing just one or two shrimps and some housing bettas. Because of the lack of a filter for a tank this small, their aquarists have used daily water changes as a guarantee of healthy water conditions.

Another market for such a small filter could be small fry tanks in which aeration and slight water movement by an air pump, is essential in keeping the eggs or fry healthy. In such a tank, why not throw in this filter? With an air powered filter this small, not only will these tanks have the continual advantage of aeration and water movement, but they will get filtered too!

Here are pictures of the box.

GEX Roka Boy Compact comes in a box that is nicely designed with informative diagrams and attractive colours. These diagrams conveyed how the filter works without the need to be able to read Japanese, and they create a sense of confidence with the inclusion of schematics. All sides of the box hold information and there is a professional feel to it, enabling the brand to stand out from its other competitors.

The construction of the GEX Roka Boy Compact is excellent. The filter itself is made of good plastic that are well machined and fitted together. The filter is made of two separate plastic compartments that are held together by two plastic clasps. In an inferior product, these two compartments will creak during handling as the parts were not machined to exact measurements. However with the GEX Roka Boy Compact, there is no such fear and the filter shouts quality when held.

The GEX Roka Boy Compact works by filtering your aquarium through water displacement. As air is pumped into your filter, it rises upwards in a designated passageway and heads for the surface. The air that rises in this passageway pushes water upwards to flow out of the filter, theis displacement of the water in the passageway, forces water outside the filter to flow into it via the designated vents. As long as air is introduced into the filter, this displacement will ensure a constant filtering of your aquarium’s water.

One unique feature about the GEX Roka Boy filters not usually found in competing air filters is that they cover all three filtration methods, mechnical, biological and chemical filtration. At the bottom of the GEX Roka Boy Compact, gravel is found and these provide mechanical filtration as these gravel will trap larger detritus before they make their way to the biological media. The trapping of such large detritus is essential as the all important beneficial bacteria is house in the biological media. If such detritus are allowed to get stuck in the biological media instead, the amount of beneficial bacteria will drop due to the blockage of oxygen and water, resulting in a filter that is under performing.

Biological filtration is provided through the use of fine filter wool and this provides a surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow and thrive. Biological media is the most important media in a filter and the surface area dedicated to it should be the largest to house as much beneficial bacteria as possible. These bacteria converts toxic ammonia to nitrite, and from nitrite to relatively harmless nitrate.

Chemical filtration can be found in the form of activated carbon embedded within another layer of filter wool. Activated carbon works by the attraction of organic pollutants by static forces. These forces will bind the pollutants to the activated carbon until all space on the media is filled, absorption effectiveness will thus diminish over time till it stops entirely. Because these attraction forces will wane over time, it is usually recommended that such chemical media be changed on a monthly basis.

In summary, the GEX Roka Boy Compact is an air powered filter that has been well thought out in design, and machined to precision. Its strength is that it is small enough to fit into any tank, providing filtration, water circulation and aeration. The main bulk of filtering will be done by the activated carbon as the amount of filter wool for permanent beneficial bacteria inhabitation is quite small. As such, a monthly expense will need to be incurred to change out the activated carbon for a new one to ensure optimal absorption.

If your tank can accommodate a bigger filter, then a larger filter with more surface area for filtration will be better. But if your pico tank can only fit a filter as big as the GEX Roka Boy Compact, we doubt you will be displease with it as long as you are regular with its maintenance.

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After choosing the ADA 30C as the tank to house our aquascape, the next step is to choose our filter. We selected the Eheim Classic 2213 for the job and proceeded to write about it, then we remembered that the Eheim Classic 2211 is also a firm favourite among nano aquascapers. So, to make things more interesting around here, here is an article on both these filters.

The boxes of the Eheim 2211 and Eheim 2213 are not that great of a difference, with the 2213 being about a quarter bigger. The filter themselves however, are another story. The Eheim 2213 is significantly bigger than the 2211, with triple the media capacity.

Technical Specifications:

Eheim Classic 2211

For aquariums: 50 to 150 litres

Flow rate: 300 litres per hour

Media Capacity: 1 litre

Energy used: 5 watts

Height maximum for tubing: 1.2 metres

Dimensions: 110mm x 290mm

Eheim Classic 2213

For aquariums: 80 – 250 litres

Flow rate: 440 litres per hour

Media Capacity: 3 litres

Energy used: 8 watts

Height maximum for tubing: 1.5 metres

Dimensions: 160mm x 355mm

We do not know what test parameters does Eheim use to establish their filter to aquarium size recommendations, as such, we will not comment much on them but to say that they are optimistic. In our experience, the strength of the flow of water within your aquarium is highly important. And if we based our filter selection on Eheim’s recommendations, the chosen filter will not be adequate for the job.

Good flow in an aquarium allows fauna the option of swimming against a current. And the availability of such a current ensures the good health and development of fauna by allowing them a means of exercise. However, this rate of flow needs to be adjusted according to the fauna you have, for example, Cardinal tetras will be able to live with a higher flow compared to Discus or Bettas. Fauna have also shown to have a better appetite when they are kept in a aquarium of a good current, growing to be strong and healthy.

There are some that argue our aquariums should not have a good current because the streams and rivers of the wild are gentle. This is true when you look at a specific location in a stream or river, but when you view the entire system as a whole, strong currents do exist in certain parts. In our minuscule aquarium, a good current is thus essential.

Besides the benefit of healthy fauna, a good current in the tank ensures that all uneaten food will not be left decomposing in your flora mass and is instead swept by the current into the filter. The elimination of such detritus is important. Many an aquarium has crashed overnight when the amount of detritus build up to a critical level. In nano tanks, this can happen in a matter of weeks.

Your flora will also thank you for a good flow. Flora grow better in such conditions as nutrients, CO2 and Oxygen are spread by the current to all areas of your aquarium. Some hobbyists today have even started using marine pumps in their freshwater tanks to achieve strong flows of about 100 times the turnover rate!

If you are wondering how much current is too much, we have a simple rule of thumb. Fauna should have places in the aquarium where flow is reduced because of rocks, wood or flora, and they are able to rest there without getting blown around. When they swim in the open spaces, they should be able to do so without difficulty, being moved by the current only if they stop swimming. If you happen to buy a filter that proves to be too strong for your aquarium, do not lose heart as all you have to do is to purchase Eheim’s connecting taps, this will enable you to manually control the amount of flow to your desired amount.

Because of the importance of a good current within an aquarium, the Eheim 2213 was chosen for our 30 litre tank. The Eheim 2211 was not chosen because of its lower output.

The Eheim 2211 is a cute little filter. If you have been exposed to normal sized filters, laying your eyes on a 2211 for the first time almost brings out a chuckle. It is the exact, same Eheim Classic filter but in miniature, and only holds a litre of media. We have used the 2211 for our 10 litre tanks and it is perfect. We would recommend the 2211 for any aquarium with an aquascape under 25 litres.

The Eheim 2213 is much bigger than the 2211 but is still a small filter when compared to the rest of the Classic range. It holds 3 litres of media, 3 times the capacity of the 2211 and this is significant. For any aquarium with an aquascape above 25 litres to about 45 litres, we would recommend the 2213.

The build quality of an Eheim is among the best for filters. Quality control is usually excellent, but was slightly better in the past when Eheim filters were made exclusively in Germany. Eheim filters are also famous for their low noise operation and can be safety recommended for aquariums found in bedrooms. You would have to be almost beside it to hear it hum.

Besides being quiet, these filters are also known for being energy efficient. The 2211 takes only 5 watts to run and the 2213 takes 8 watts to run. Other filters from competing brands sometimes require up to 3-5 times the wattage of the 2211 to push the same amount of water.

Eheim Classic filters have been around for about 30 years and were Eheim’s first cannister filters. Although Eheim now carries numerous higher tech filters, the Classic range remains a cult favourite due to its ease of use, its simplicity, its time-proven effectiveness and its favourable prices. And on top of all these strong points, a favourite function amount its users is the ability to back flush the filter, thus cleaning the filter without the removal of the media from the filter body.

The Eheim 2211 consists of 2 plastic meshes, a blue sponge (mechanical filtration media) and a white sponge (polishing/fine filtration media). Here is how you should set up your 2211:

1. A plastic mesh is first inserted into the filter with the legs of the mesh facing downwards. This creates a space at the bottom of the filter where large particles will be trapped till their removal during filter maintenance.

2. The blue sponge or mechanical filtration media is inserted next. Mechanical media is designed to stop large particles from passing through, while allowing minute particles and water to pass. These large particles will accumulate over time and we recommend performing a back flush every month to wash these particles out of your filter.

3. You would have to purchase biological filtration media as it is not included and this media is inserted after the mechanical media. Biological media is the most important media in your filter as it is on the biological media that beneficial bacteria establishes. These bacteria converts toxic ammonia to nitrite, and from nitrite to relatively harmless nitrate.

4. After biological media, you may want to add chemical filtration media. Chemical media works by the attraction of organic pollutants by static forces. These forces will bind the pollutants to the chemical media until all space on the media is filled, absorption effectiveness will thus diminish over time. Activated carbon is a common form of chemical media and we recommend its replacement on a monthly basis to ensure optimal absorption.

5. The last filtration media that is added should be a fine sponge that polishes the water as it leaves the filter. This fine sponge will also trap minute dirt till their removal during filter maintenance.

6. Lastly, the second plastic mesh is placed on top of all the media with its legs facing upwards, this ensures the necessary space for optimal water flow into the impeller chamber.

The Eheim 2213 consists of 4 blue sponge, an activated carbon sponge, and a white sponge. Here is how you should set up your 2213:

1. The Eheim 2213 is the only filter in the Classic range to come equipped with a filter basket. Remove the lid of the basket and insert a blue sponge or mechanical filtration media. If you look into your filter body, you will notice that there are stands to hold your basket above the base when its inserted. This stands create a space at the bottom of the filter where large particles will be trapped till their removal during filter maintenance. These large particles will accumulate over time and we recommend performing a back flush every month to wash these particles out of your filter.

2. Unlike the Eheim 2211, the 2213 comes with 4 blue sponges. These blue sponges can double up as biological filtration media if you need them too, however, they will not be as effective as dedicated biological media. Our recommendation is to purchase dedicated biological media if you are able to. Biological media is the most important media in your filter as it is on the biological media that beneficial bacteria establishes. These bacteria converts toxic ammonia to nitrite, and from nitrite to relatively harmless nitrate.

3. After biological media, the activated carbon sponge is next. This sponge is quite thin and its absorption properties will not be as strong as other forms of activated carbon, such as activated carbon pellets. If you desire stronger chemical filtration, either use pellets or simply add more sponges. Chemical media works by the attraction of all organic pollutants by static forces. These forces will bind the pollutants to the chemical media until all space on the media is filled, absorption effectiveness will thus diminish over time. We recommend its replacement on a monthly basis to ensure optimal absorption.

4. The last filtration media that is added should be a fine sponge that polishes the water as it leaves the filter. This fine sponge will trap minute dirt till their removal during filter maintenance.

5. Lastly, replace the lid on the filter basket, screw it shut and place the entire basket in the filter body. You will notice that the lid is quite deeply flushed within the basket, this is to ensure the necessary space for optimal water flow into the impeller chamber.

Here are some pictures of the sponges that come with the filters.

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The Eheim Liberty is the hang-on filter series for this reputable filter company. In nano tanks when the need of filtration media quantity is not that great, these filters are popular as they are simple to set-up, they provide an ease to maintenance, they are cheaper compared to cannister filters and they are less of an eyesore compared to internal filters.

Eheim Liberty 100/2040

Technical Specifications
Model: 100 / 2040 (depending on your region)
Approx Max Aquarium Size: 75 litres
Approx Pump Output: 150 to 380 litres per hour
Power Consumption: 2.5 Watts
Available Filtration Volume: 600ml
Approx Filter Volume: 240 litres
Dimensions: 180mm x 105mm x 135mm

The Liberty 100/2040 is the smallest hang-on filter in the series. Build quality is solid and excellent, one of the best constructed hang-on filter in the market. Every part of the filter speaks of quality, and you do feel a sense of pride when assembling it. The red flow switch is large and has nice resistance to it, which makes for a precise control of your filter’s flow rate. The cover of the media compartment doubles up as water catchment when removing your filter media for cleaning. Filter media cartridges are similarly well constructed and their black handles makes insertion and removal a painless affair. Everything feels snug and tight in this filter, there are no loose bits or poorly machined parts.

How great a filter performs is dependent on two fundamentals;
1. How the flow of water has been designed
2. How well the filter media performs

With cannister filters, it is common to use your own preferred media, you are not restricted to the cannister company’s media. For hang-on filters, it is another story altogether. Hang-on filters are much smaller than cannister filters and their media are specially made to fit their interiors. Using company’s A media for company’s B hang-on filter is not always going to work. Even if you could fit it in, it is not going to fit tightly and you do not want any flow bypassing your media through the cracks. Modifications are possible and can be found on the numerous aquatic forums, but it is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

Eheim Liberty 100/2040 comes default with a blue sponge cartridge that is meant for general filtration, in other words, it is a mechanical and biological filter sponge. Again, the quality of the Liberty series translates to a filter sponge that is very well made, we can easily foresee a decade of use without any problems. Performance wise though, it is slightly disappointing. The blue sponge cartridge reminds us of Eheim’s blue filter pads from their cannister filter range. These blue filter pads are meant for mechanical filtration, trapping the bigger amounts of dirt so as to prevent your biological media from getting bogged down. It may be because of their similarity that the blue sponge cartridge works exceedingly well as a mechanical media, but in doing so, it prevents effective water flow throughout the blue filter sponge as the front wall clogs up quickly because of the small surface footprint. If the blue sponge cartridge is not cleaned on a weekly basis, quite a bit of water flow will bypass the sponge and flow over it instead.

blue sponge cartridge

However, the biggest issue we have with the blue sponge cartridge, is its inability to polish the aquarium water as it leaves the filter. Most competing brands will incorporate a fine filter wool media in their filter and this filter wool will trap minute dirt. Because the blue filter sponge is not fine enough to trap these minute dirt, you will see them flowing around your aquarium.

blue sponge cartridge | close up

Instead of using the blue filter sponge, there is the choice of purchasing the green sponge cartridge together with the carbon cartridge. The green sponge cartridge is touted to be a superior, biological friendly media and the carbon sponge is your usual chemical filtration media.

The green sponge cartridge has a smaller cross section than the blue sponge cartridge, as such, more surface area should be available for beneficial bacteria cultivation. We can see the smaller cross section as being the reason why the green sponge cartridge will be more effective for biological filtration. But in overall sponge size, it is only about a third as thick, as the blue sponge cartridge. So unless the green sponge cartridge’s biological effectiveness is more than 3 times that of the blue sponge cartridge, the superior biological claim is not really true. We wish Eheim will release more technical and research data on all their filtration products, like Seachem does. This will enable us to make filtration decisions based on hard facts.

green sponge cartridge | close up

blue & green sponge | size comparison

The major difference the green sponge cartridge has, is in water flow. The blue sponge is designed to have all flow passing through it while the green sponge is designed to have some flow pass over it. The reason for such a design is that water that comes into contact with the green sponge and then pass over it has more contact time with the biological bacteria than if passing through it. To achieve this, the green sponge is lower in height when compared to the blue sponge, encouraging water to pass above it instead of going through it, as there is less flow resistance in doing so. How much of an advantage is this, we will never really know unless an extensive test is done in a controlled environment.

green filter sponge | carbon sponge

When using the green sponge cartridge, an activated carbon cartridge is also to be used, using a carbon cartridge brings chemical filtration to the fore. Chemical filtration through the use of activated carbon is a proven and effective method. The activated carbon absorbs organic pollutants, harmful ammonia and excess nutrients. We would like to highlight that organic pollutants such as organic acids, metabolic waste, hormones, proteins, organic compounds and antibiotic compounds cannot be removed by mechanical or biological filtration.  ADA has been known to use 100% activated carbon filtration for their Mini S & Mini M. For aquariums that do not use chemical filtration, all is not lost, just keep up with regular water changes to aid the removal of organic pollutants.

After a period of time, activated carbon would lose its absorption properties as it runs out of space to bind more pollutants to itself. Contrary to popular belief, these pollutants will not leak back into the water column when the activated carbon is spent. Most aquarium companies would recommend a changing of activated carbon on a monthly basis.

The activated carbon cartridge also performs a vital task in which the other cartridges have failed, it polishes the aquarium water, due to its compact and dense form, trapping minute dirt. On a weekly basis, we give the activated carbon cartridge a swirl in aquarium water to wash these dirt off the sponge surface, this is essential in keeping the activated carbon’s surface optimal for absorption. You will find water bypassing the activated carbon because of accumulated dirt if not for the periodic clean.

carbon cartridge | close up

For the Eheim Liberty 100/2040, one can argue that the combination of green sponge cartridge and carbon cartridge is the most effective because there are mechanical, biological and chemical filtration properties. Our preferred set up would actually be the blue sponge cartridge with a activated sponge cartridge. However, this is not possible due to the lack of space. But with the bigger Liberty models, it would be possible as their filter compartments are bigger.

Although it is rated for an aquarium up to 75 litres, we find that it is just about keeping up with our 15 litre tank. Weekly maintenance for the green sponge cartridge / activate carbon cartridge or fortnightly maintenance of the blue sponge cartridge is a must.  Another issue we faced, was a noisy impeller after some sand got sucked into the intake tube. So if you plan to use fine sand in your aquarium, we would suggest skipping this filter.

blue sponge cartridge | carbon cartridge | green sponge cartridge

If you have space of a cannister filter, we would recommend the Eheim Classic 2211 over the Liberty 100/2040. The Classic 2211 has about the same amount of flow as the Liberty 100/2040 but 4.16x the amount of filtration space. The design of a cannister filter will also make for more effective and efficient filtration. If you have to use a hang-on filter, the Liberty series is among the best. If Eheim does a rethink and redesign of their Liberty filtration media to match the effectiveness of the cannister filter media, they will secure the crown of hang-on filters comfortably.

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credit: Eheim Asia Pacific

Some years ago, ADA pioneered the glass and stainless steel filtration pipes as a alternative to the usual plastic ones. Glass inflow / outflow filter pipes are now common, with a variety of companies producing at all price levels. Stainless steel however, is still not used widely and only one other aquarium company makes it, BorneoWild (BW).

ADA stainless steel inflow

ADA inflow power jet

BW produces stainless steel pipes in two sizes, 13mm and 17mm. Their outflow pipe is an almost identical design to ADA’s Metal Power Pipe, except for the usage of two suction cups instead of ADA’s one. Their inflow pipe differs in the design of the filter guard. ADA’s inflow uses a stainless steel mesh strainer while the BW’s inflow uses holes drilled into a cylinder. ADA also has another outflow pipe that is identical to their inflow with the only difference being the size of the mesh strainer.

ADA stainless steel outflow

TAG purchased a set of the BW’s 13mm pipes for our filter. Overall construction feels solid and well machined, there were no kinks in the metal’s curvature. The clear suction cups feels thick and reassuring, one of the best we have seen.

BW stainless steel inflow

BW outflow screw thread

The holes drilled into the inflow pipe were uniformed and clean, a real work of quality. The filter guard is detachable and this facilitates the periodic clean. The two pieces are held together by a metal thread, the screwing on of the filter guard is not completely smooth, but good enough to be problem free. The holes of the filter guard are on the small side compared to the ADA’s, and filter output may be limited. We will report back on the performance in our tank build.

BW stainless steel outflow

The same degree of quality applied to the outflow pipe. The only thing to note was that not all the outflow pipes bend at the same degree. When choosing our outflow, we selected the one with a bend closest to 90 degrees. For those that may be purchasing these pipes directly from an online store, you may wish to specify that you want an outflow pipe that bends correctly. After being satisfied by how well machined these pipes are, we were disappointed that an important aspect fell underneath the quality control radar.

Value wise, these stainless steel pipes are well worth it. They cost quite a fair bit less than their glass counterparts and they do not break. If you are into the industrial look for your aquarium filtration pipes, these will make you happy.

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credit: Aqua Design Amano