Need Advice on Water Filters

[paloma91]

I have 2 40 - 50 gal fresh water tanks used to house fish and water turtles. Right now I am using Fluval 4 submersible water filters with a spray bar for the water fall effect. It areates the water for the fish. Kind of cute when the fish try to swim upstream. I am thinking of going to an external filtratrion system. where the unit itself would be housed outside the tank. That way, I wouldn't have to tear apart the set up in order to clean the filter.

The current fliter is down at the bottom of the tank, under big rocks that the turles bask on. It would be great to have the filter or "water in" area (Please excuse my terminology) in that same area so the turtle gunk would be sucked up and out of the tank. I'd also like to keep using a spray bar. I hope this makes sense. I need your opinion as to which is the best water filter to purchase for this use. If it helps, I live on the San Francisco peninsula.

Thanks ahead of time for your help

 

[Kissofthegorami]

Hang on back power filters have that great waterfall effect and create a good current but in a turtle tank you probably do not have the aquarium filled all the way. External canister filters do a great job and can handle a big waste load. My Eheim 2213 ($65.00 at petsmart.com) has a spray bar and creates decent current.

 

[paloma91]

water filters

Thanks Kissofthegorami, for the info.

I don't think one that hangs on the side of the aquarium would work out too well. then again, I could be wrong. I was thinking more along the lines of an external canister type. Easy to open up, clean and put back together without disturbing the fish and the turtles.