Equipment Review and Discussion :: Aquatop canister filter raves

[Hammerstix]

I just realized its been several weeks since doing any sort of water change on my 75gallon & the water remains crystal clear.

Im so happy that I purchased my Aquatop cf-500 UV sterilizer & was worth every penny!

I would just like to recommend this filter since all turtles require a uva/uvb bulb which generates algea spire. This filter jkills any algea spore it encounters. I had many algea blooms & had to do a "black-out" but since then....no worries. A dream come true.

[Rubicon]

It looks like a nice filter. Seems that's the one all these ebay sellers are selling the generic version of.

http://aquatop.com/filters/cf-500uv.html

Did it come with media?

[Listen97]

Amazon has a whole list of filters by them. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_pet-s ... in=AquaTop I wonder if getting a smaller one and just having it in addition would be useful.

[VeipaCray]

What are your ammonia / nitrite / nitrate levels with the filter? What media & how much did you use? I've been looking for data on these filters for the filter thread.

[Hammerstix]

Not exactly sure about amonia & nitrate levels...I have never owned a test kit.

As far as what the filter comes with....filter pad for one if the four trays. I bought bio balls & charcoal seperate. Although both are recomended by Aquatop. The UV steriluzer bulb is good for 6-9 months.

I had a bit of a hang-up when installing but called them & received prompt service & all questions answered. Couldn't have asked for better customer service. They walked me through the whole install process.

Wonderful product, reasonable price. Im sooooii happy!

[VeipaCray]

Without a test kit though, you have no idea what kind of job it's doing. The big trick with filtering a turtle tank isn't getting the water clear, any reasonable filter with some carbon or Purigen would do that. What I'm trying to understand is if this filter has enough media capacity and flowrate to actually filter the water for ammonia/nitrate for any period of time. Turtles produce a LOT of bio waste.. much more than fish in the same sized aquarium.

A tip if I may: ceramic bio media will outperform bio balls in a canister filter many many times over.

I'm glad you are happy with the filter and great news to hear they actually have customer service.

[Hammerstix]

I don't need a test kit to tell me Im doing a lot less maintenance. Not to mention the fact that I have fish thriving in the same environment as a turtle.

I have read that ceramic rings are better then bio balls & am taking that into consideration on my next order. I did use bamboo charcoal.

Don't overthink the whole water quality aspect. Turtles have been around since dinosaurs & are pretty resistant to filth.

[VeipaCray]

I was just trying to gather useful data for the filter thread we publish on this forum for the benefit of all the members.

[Hammerstix]

I understand...which is why I mention this filter & recommend it. I don't have the hard data but will say a lot less algea & water changes typically done weekly. This filter is the answer to my prayers!

[VeipaCray]

You have less algae because there's a UV filter. The UV lamp is not removing the cause of the algae. Your past algae outbreaks are caused by too many nutrients in the water from poor filtration or excess phosphates.

I'm very happy the filter is the answer you've been looking for but in order for me to do anything useful in terms of updating the filter thread, I need some empirical data from measurements. If you're unable to provide them.. that's no problem. I was just hoping you might have a proper test kit to supply the data. From this thread I don't know any more or less about this filter's performance capabilities.

Water changes are done to remove nitrates and keep their levels in check. I don't understand how you're gauging the necessity or frequency of water changes without knowing the nitrate levels.

[Hammerstix]

Less algea because the uv filter is pretty significant. No hard data to back that up except Im doing way less watsf changes per week. Customer service w/Aquatop is superioor

[VeipaCray]

Ok you are correct. I now know that Aquatop has customer service - i did just learn that.

[Hammerstix]

Your right...I give up...not sure how my turtle or fish were able to servive 4 years without a test kit...I'm sure they are useful to those who put their belief in them...idiots!

[Rubicon]

LOL no reason to get angry.

[Hammerstix]

Im very happy!