Sheepsnana Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Hey all, I have got my hands on a cheap second hand tank. :happy2: It's in dire need of a clean, but it's about 245L (1100Lx500Hx450W) and the price was right :thup: It came with a Via Aqua 230 Pro canister filter. Although I have been looking at canister filters, this brand is unknown to me. It looks in good condition, but the lower canister is empty, so I will need to buy another sponge and some noodles. Does anyone know this brand? Is it capable of filtering the tank in question? (Please be specific in how many litres it CAN filter...) I'm sure there are others who have bought 2nd hand filters before...? What are the do's and don't's? Is there anything I should run through it to make sure it's safe? How can I transfer some of the good bacteria in my 90L tank to this new tank, to help with cycling? I'ld love to say this is a good start to my MTS, but the wife is adamant that the new tank is to REPLACE the existing tank. I've got to work quickly, as she hasn't mentioned a time frame yet Thanks in advance, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 I think the via aqua is the older version of the aquaone CF, so an ok filter (I have a CF1200) Via Aqua 230 Canister Filter 600 Liters per Hour for use on aquariums up to 30 gallons [130 odd l] Should be ok for a the tank for a start if the stock rate is not too high, if and when you can afford a better one the CF1200 would be a good size for that tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 yes it does need a clean and the stand will come up really well if you brush it down with either a wire brush or wire wool and then spray it with enamel black spray paint. Its amazing how good they can look. IMO the filter will be struggling so if you have another filter, even an internal would help. You are best to aim for a filter to provide a minimum turnover of 4 x the volume of water per hour although a lot of us tend to go for 10 x the volume per hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted November 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Ok, so definitely more filtration required. :facepalm: Any idea's on priming a filter? I've only dealt with brand new ones before. Any tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuri08 Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 fill it up with water and when you are ready to turn it on turn the control valve to off on the out put before you turn it on to create a vacuum and then once water is flowing in turn control valve back on probably after 10 seconds should work good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Ok, so definitely more filtration required. :facepalm: Any idea's on priming a filter? I've only dealt with brand new ones before. Any tips? The process doesn't change any if it's used or new. Suck on the outlet so it's siphoning into the cannister, connect everything back up, turn it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GZ_Loach Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 I would scrap that filter and buy a new aquaone cannister filter, like 1200+ . You will be amazed how much better it will clean the water and provide good circulation. I actually had that same brand filter (same condition by the looks of it) on a 400L tank i bought and i had it running for a 4 days before i biffed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 what are you going to setup in to...planted tank doesnt need so much filtration. get it running with that filter.once running and setting down add fish..in a mouth or two get anthor fillter hook it up. so you end up with two on the tank..and clean one filter at six month intervals to keep you tank stable.. you should be sweet... cant wait to see what you do ..... :happy2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 do you want it drilled so you can run a sump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 do you want it drilled so you can run a sump? :cofn: you could do that as well... i must amit that tank whould make a nice sump.. :digH: :gigl: :spop: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 sump it and run canister as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted November 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 It seems like the previous owner wanted to do a sump. I've cleaned it out, I'm cleaning the stand tomorrow. (Got some sand paper and spraypaint from work, I've got some timber lying around, should be good). I have no idea how to do a sump or how one works, but there is a seperate section at the back, similar to undergravel filters. Ideas please. Lots of them. The wife has OK'd me getting the CF1200 from HFF !drool: . How do I transfer my fish from my current tank to my new tank without killing them? I didn't do a fishless cycle, my Tetra's have served me well. Didn't lose a single one of them. Logic would say, set up and cycle the new tank, then move the fish. But I want to use the gravel from the existing tank... am I deluded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 easy..when ready to more fish...put fish in a bucket with there tank water..more everthing from the tank into new tank. and water from old tank.get heater and fitler running...put fish in top up with freshwater.if running on the other tank a filter run that as well on new tank to sead it in .. keep water changes up..and feed less for a week...as it will go thourgh a mini clcyle...youll be way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted November 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Hmmm, I was thinking something along those lines... :cofn: I was going to borrow my brothers turtle tank (I got him a new tank, so he shouldn't mind me borrowing the 50L empty smaller one...) Transfer some tank water to the turtle tank. Move fish to turtle tank. Move as much water possible to turtle tank. Take out ornaments, plants, and gravel, and move them to new 245L tank. Swap filter materia from current 90L tank to new CF filter. if running on the other tank a filter run that as well on new tank to sead it in .. I wish! sadly, the current tank AR620 has the filter as part of the tank, so it cannot be adapted to the new 245L tank. Transfer some of the water from the turtle tank to the new 245L tank. Get heater up and running. Transfer fish to new 245L tank. Transfer as much of the remaining water from the turtle tank to the 245L tank as possible. Top up with new water. Hope for the best. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted November 26, 2011 Report Share Posted November 26, 2011 your forgetting... ---> increase water changes for first couple weeks as new mini-cycle takes place... Long as you keep up water changes, and get as much media/water as poss into new tank, you'll be fine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted November 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 Ok, so I've read up on sumps, and I'm pretty sure this wasn't one of them. I have got some photo's to show what the tank's set up is. There are also glass slates that sit on top of these, but I havn't put them in yet (Not sure if I will at all...) Also, I have filed and sanded the tank stand, so it's no longer a rustbucket. Big thanks to my Wife for helping! She also let me buy the Aqua One CF1200 from Animal Antics, so I didn't have to get it from HFF. I'm stoked to be able to support our local store. Dad has dropped off the turtle tank, it's smaller than I hoped, but it will at least save some tank water. :smot: I went looking for a shark air swimmer at the hobby shop in Greerton, and the pet store sold me a kitten :digH: The wife is happy, so I'm happy. Again: Got all the supplies for the kitten from Animal Antics... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 :slfg: :slfg: sonud like you too a rigth pair.. :rotf: :rotf: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 That looks to be an under gravel filter on that tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted November 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 That looks to be an under gravel filter on that tank Advantages / Disadvantages of using one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 Advantages / Disadvantages of using one? advantage = a filter disadvantage = not very efficient, can be dangerous to rely on, you're missing the grate and airpump required to run it. I wouldn't but I'm weary of these things. But that is certainly what the glass work looks like it's for. I've never seen a permanent one built into a tank and I assume I never will again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted November 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 I have all of the glass slates and plenty of air pumps. I'm curious, I don't want to throw the system away just because I'm ignorant of it. If I'm going to use it, I'm going to need to learn about it quick. I plan on this tank being full of fish by the end of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 under gravel can work as long you have anuff gravel to cover the plate ...i think from remeber 50 to 80 mm of gravel.. if you fit a power head on the up rigths you get better filter... make sure you clean that area more to keep the gravel free and not blocking up with dirt etc.. only another down side you cant have plants growing where the fitter is as it clogs the filter.. or you have fish that dig up gravel...upset the blance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 :smot: Why does everyone spell enough as anuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted November 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 down side you cant have plants growing where the fitter is as it clogs the filter.. Well, there goes that idea then, I love my plants and want a heavily plated tank. Thanks for the info though, I appreciate it. :thup: What about removing silicone? If I am to take the glass slates out, any advice on how to do this without scratching the glass? I'm getting the plywood tomorrow, to build the cupboards around the stand legs. :dunno: Does this thread need to be moved to DIY? Can't wait :bounce: everything is going together nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Well, there goes that idea then, I love my plants and want a heavily plated tank. Thanks for the info though, I appreciate it. :thup: What about removing silicone? If I am to take the glass slates out, any advice on how to do this without scratching the glass? I'm getting the plywood tomorrow, to build the cupboards around the stand legs. :dunno: Does this thread need to be moved to DIY? Can't wait :bounce: everything is going together nicely. Single sided razor blade will get the silicon/glass off. Just slide it along between the bit of glass that you want to cut off. I haven't noticed any major scratching from doing this as the blade stays pretty flat against the glass. Just take your time and not force it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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