Dear Daniel: Thank you for sharing a close, informative look at this, fine product. Eheim is a terrific company and their products are top notch. All my best, Sincerely, E. J. Brinegar
Many years ago they made these for the American market (and powergrid) Mine has been running non stop for over 20 years - I wish I could buy 10 more! Greatest little mechanical filter on the planet. Please Eheim, if you're listening, make an American market version (115v-120v)! Thank's for the video, Daniel. At least I can dream...
Wow twenty years! That's is a testimony to their quality indeed. I agree they are amazing filters. I really hope Eheim hear you and start releasing them in the US so you guys can enjoy these filters again. Good luck bud and thank you very much for the comment.
my eheim canisters are going on 6, fantastic company wouldn't go fluval or anything else even if you delivered it to me free. I've just set up a 8 gallon shrimp tank, and my pickup 45's on its way and should be here in 4 days. Couldn't be more excited to add another piece of eheim to my tanks. I run eheim canisters on my 50's and eheim air pumps. Heck if they made em i'd buy eheim lights.
Great review, thanks. I bought one of these a month ago but hadn't got round to setting it up. The suction cups needing the extra plastic part confused me for a while but the build quality seems great.
Haha, yes. We are a little thin on the ground on TH-cam at the moment. Thanks for saying you found it useful. I really am a big fan of these, hope you feel the same if you get one.
I recently bought the Pickup 160. The bottom front panel/grill of the filter doesn't really suck detritus in. In fact i've noticed that it pushes detritus away from it most of the time with only a very small section of the grill sucking in detritus and even than, the suction is very weak! I've also noticed that most of the time it only suck detritus in from the side of the filter and even then the suction is also weak but at least it doesn't push detritus away. From my understanding, the inflow is supposed to be from the front and side. I don't think i've installed it incorrectly since the outflow is very strong, just that the intake especially from the front is almost non existent. Do you notice this in your filter? Maybe you can use a pipette to suck in detritus when you're doing your filter maintenance and squeeze that detritus filled pipette near the front panel and see if it sucks in detritus?
Not fish-safe! Great review, Daniel. I am quite happy with my Eheim pickup filter but noticed he eats fish! I found 5 cardinal tetras in the filter. They made it through the slits at the sides and couldn't get out again and died. I then pulled a nylon sock over the slits, and no more losses ever since. Highly recommended. If you want to add some biological filter media (e.g. biohome, sera siporax), you could cut the sponge in half and add the porous media on top instead (ideally in a net or nylon sock in ring-shape). The flow rate can be adjusted by pulling the nozzle up (max) or pushing it down (min).
Really? I've never had a fish get sucked in. I've used these filters with Neo Caridina and even adult shrimp can keep themselves out. That said when they've wanted to go in they have and I'm forever finding Bristlenose and other fry inside but that's the sane with most filters unless you take precautions as you mentioned. I'm wondering if perhaps the Neons died first then were drawn in. Thanks for sharing all the additional tips. That's great for us all helping each other out. You're dead right about lifting the nozzel. I had forgotten to mention that and had to make a separate video about it: th-cam.com/video/kz_2TeHPvHI/w-d-xo.html
Daniel Keeping Fish To prevent the fish from being caught in the filter, Eheim provided 2 filter clips which are to be inserted into the grooves behind the filter which are not used by the trailing wire (there are 3 options for the trailing wire to be routed).
@@cheekahchua2747 Well, those clips prevent fish from getting stuck behind the filter casing, but they do not prevent fish from entering the filter chamber through the slits!
salsakrs oh cos I am keeping dwarf rasbora, endlers and a shrimp in my 15 liter tank and running pick up 60 without any of them getting stuck for about 2 months now. Haha maybe I m just lucky!
@@cheekahchua2747 You run the Eheim pickup 60 in a 15 liter tank? Quite some water movement, I suppose. I sincerely hope that your fish won't be sucked into the filter. If it should happen after all, you now know how to make it safe with a nylon sock.
Got the 200 coming at the moment for a discus tank. Going to put filter floss pads for the bottom area to prevent my discus fry getting sucked up. I needed something to sit near the bottom where the poop is, as I have two small hang on the back canisters already and they do a great general job, but don't concentrate at the bottom.
That should help, they're great filters. Can always point the flow towards the back of the tank to break it up a wee bit too. Another idea if you fancy it is Corydoras Catfish. They are great Discus tankmates and constantly forage around the bottom of the tank stirring up waste and breaking it up further so the filters can pick it up out of the water column. They may pick off a few but shouldn't bother two many spending most of their time at different layers of the tank plus they can hoover up any food that the Discus miss and sinks to the bottom. Just a wee idea for you. 👍
Love this filter to! Not really suitable for schrimps, they will go thrue the wide suctiongrill but they can survive inside there for a little while BUT if you want shrimp babies you better get a spongefilter...
Nice review. I wanted to add one of these filters to my reef tank. Not for biological filtration but just put in floss to trap waste, carbon and polyfilter. There lovely looking filters and I like you can maintain them by just lifting the top off. The only thing I don’t like is the shaft that goes up the centre of the filter chamber as it takes up space. Without the shaft in the centre I could put a layer of polyfilter , carbon and some floss on top but I’m not sure it would be that easy with the shaft taking up the space in the centre.
What's happening Daniel this is take 3. I posted some questions but I seem to have worked through this. Shrimp can enter the grill but the impeller has a guard in it. Whilst I have only been running mine for 2 days there was quite a few shrimp inside but they were all alive. I think this is the only English review of the filter. Well done.
Haha, yes I made a mistake I had to fix but I answered you on the Keyhole video. Normally I'm very careful to get them exactly as I want before I post them but hey we're all human eh? Seems you beat me to fixing the problem but glad you have it nailed. Aye the shrimp can crawl in if they wish and as yoy say will be quite safe but my point is they don't get sucked in from the strength of the filter dragging them in. As ever thank you so much for your support and your encouragement. It really is appreciated.
@@DanielKeepingFish Well you motivated me to take it out and have a good look. As I said I think it was an airlock. Shrimp will get through the grill but the impeller guard will stop then getting minced up. I have seen where shrimp will get sucked into canister filters and happily start a colony. I always like your reviews as they are so relevant. Thanks again Daniel
@@robertfletcher3421 haha yes that one was perfect timing for us there. Aye I've seen colonies of shrimp living in filters too. Probably no bad thing for both the shrimp and the filter. Just need to be careful when cleaning the filter when this happens so we don't accidently loose kill or injure any wee shrimp. And thanks again for the comments. It's great to know someone is enjoying them as much as I enjoy making them.
I think they can go a long time to be honest. I've not replaced any of mine so far and some of them have been going a good long while. They're not too expensive to replace either considering what a good job they do and how long they last.
Great review Daniel! I am going to buy this because my current filter is too noisy and creates major water currents that prevents me from adding top dwellers like gouramis or betta. Its also disturbing floaters. Wondering if EHEIM pickup 60 is quiet and in minimal flow keeps the waters calm. From your 45 it seemed so.
Yeah the 60 is pretty quiet but more powerful than the 45 definitely. You can face it into the corner to disperse some of the flow. If the 45 is good enough for your size tank I'd be tempted to stick with that.
@@DanielKeepingFish Mine is a 60 litre tall. I'd be happy to settle for 45 if it works. Btw I saw your demo video of how it sounds - that was really neat! :) great channel & sub'ed. Thank you!!
@@82easyrider thank you Nimesh, very kind. Aye I think I'd be going for the 45 in a sensibly stocked tank. The 60 would be too much current for the likes of Gourami I reckon.
Great review. I like your content so subscribed. Could you cut the sponge in half and add some media filter instead ? Also the replacement sponges are a bit expensive. What else could you use?
Thanks so much for the feedback, I'm glad you enjoy the content. Makes it feel much more worth while putting my videos out so again thank you. I would hesitate to cut them in half. I feel like the way these filters are designed they rely on the water flowing through the sponge all the way up. You could perhaps spueeze some smaller media like Matrix down the sides but then you would need to be careful when removing it of course. I'm not sure you could make the sponges much cheaper even a DIY solution. You can buy packs of six and even ten on Amazon for like £10 and they do last a good long while so I would think that would be decent value. Maybe if you could find really cheap pond or filter foam you could drive the price down a bit but it would be more fiddly getting them in place and ensuring there were no gaps so personally I'm not sure it would be worth it. There is another comment by Horse Malone on this video where he customised his a bit but it was with finer foam for polishing rather than the type of filter media you're looking for. You may want to look at the SuperFish Aquaflow range if you want a filter like this but annding other types of media is important to you. I'll be putting out a review video shortly on the XL that may interest you and the smaller versions are more similar to the Pickups, just you can add other types of media a bit more easily.
Came on to try find out how to take it apart to clean it as I am really struggling with it and my fingers are killing me. I have difficulty every time with taking it apart and thought maybe I am doing something wrong, but I'm not. The video was great, no judgment of your video at all but the top of the filter once settled in does not come off that easy, 20 minutes later and very sore fingers still no luck. The filter performs in every other area though, its not very loud, my fish tank is always very clean and clear water I am very pleased with it but when it comes to taking that lid off the filter nearly flies over the back fence.
Feel free to judge all you want. I try to say it how I see it and be as accurate as I can be but I may not get it exactly right for everybody all of the time. A wee bit of critisism will only serve to help me to make better videos. 👍 I guess it could be trickier some someone with not quite as strong a grip you're right it does get a bit stiffer once it's be running for a while. Lifting and wiggling a wee bit at the same time normally does the trick. Alternatively placing a blunt table knife in the gap and pushing it up a little then doing this all the way around might help. Please be careful not to slip and push the knife away from you. I don't want anyone getting the top off but injuring themselves in the process. They are great filters though aren't they?
@@DanielKeepingFish Hi Daniel, I am so sorry if anyway you took this as criticism. Your video was great and when I first got the filter it came of the same way as in your video. Just as you say, over time it becomes more difficult. I managed to find a way that worked for me in the end and got the top off so hopefully ill find it easier next time. I found pinching the green section in at the back and pulling more from the back made it easier. I was pulling to much from the front which just was not working. But yes, its a great filter, I would 100% recommend it as it performs brilliantly. Sorry again if you took any offence to my comment, it was nothing towards your video at all :)
Oh crumbs no, no offence at all. I was taking it as a constructive criticism and a point that was helpful to make my videos better for everyone. I'm sorry if I picked you up wrong but like I say I still found it useful. Thank you very much for the kind feedback on the video and I'm glad you managed to figure out a way to open the filter up. Kindest regards.
Yes I had neglected to add that till someone reminded me so I covered it in a separate video: th-cam.com/video/kz_2TeHPvHI/w-d-xo.html Thanks for pointing it out though, that's what it's all about helping each other out with the extra tips. 👍
We just got an eheim pick up 60 after our last filter stopped working properly a week or two ago. Thanks for the video, so helpful. Ive just put it in, the tank is very green so I'm thinking of cleaning the filter and doing a partial water change tomorrow, do you think that's OK or too soon? We have a beta, guppies and catfish so I've pointed the nozzle towards the tank wall so it's not too much current for the betta. We have some guppy fry so perhaps a stocking over the bottom of the grill? Any other tips for getting a tank less green? I presume it's just happened because the last filter was slowing down on working. I saw the petshop was selling liquids 'against green algae' do you think this is necessary when it's gotten too green? We have live aquarium plants so it does seem to build up. Thanks so much for any advice. Still learning here!
Hi ya. I thinking you didn't swap any of the media from the old filter into the new one? If not look up a few videos on cycling a tank or cycling a filter. It's good information to know in the hobby if you don't know it already. I would spend money on alga away or what ever chemical you mentioned, better to treat the case. Green water is normally a build up of algea. We get that from too much light, too many nutrients or both. So if your tank is in the full sunlight from a window it's getting high light all day, same if we have our aquarium lights on for too long so one thing we could do is reduce the photoperiod. You could even do a full blackout for a couple of days, that would probably push it back. For the nutrients thing you can cut back on feeding a wee bit and also cut back a bit on any liquid ferts you might use. Can always increase it again slowly over time till you find the sweet spot for your tank. So working on the light and nutrients should help with the algae. For the filter you need to leave it as much as possible to allow for beneficial bacteria to grow on it but if you feel the sponged needs to be squeezed out do it in water from the tank. I'd definitely be doing water changes. I normally do 20-30% water changes on mine weekly but I'd be doing more than that; 20-30% twice a week at least if there were any issues or a tank was cycling with fish in it. I had those filters with fry and shrimp. One or two found their way in but most were able to swim by but no harm in covering the grills for that extra peace of mind. Just make sure they don't cause a blockage of old leaves, etc. Hope that was some help. Hope I didn't go over stuff you already know, if so apologies.
@@DanielKeepingFish thank you so much I really appreciate you taking the time to set all that out for me. Really helped clarify next steps to take. I think the tank does get too much sun so I'll have a think about that and where best to keep the tank. Thanks again for your help and advice
Hi - good video. Just wondering - how do you replace the sponge without losing all the beneficial bacteria. Normally you would replace, say half, and let the bacteria build up build up. Would you buy a new spoge, cut it in half and cut the old one in half and do it that way?
Yeah that's exactly what I'd do. I'd squeeze both pieces (the half I'm keeping and the half I'm removing) out into the new sponge too to make sure there's some waste and hopefully an amount if bacteria in it right away to get started. I'd have the newer part at the top and the established half at the bottom. That said if we do our maintenance regularly enough we shouldn't have to replace the sponges too often.
Thank you very much. It depends on a few things; how heavily the tank is stocked, how heavy you feed, etc. Without knowing those sorts of things about your aquarium I would say start with every ten days and gradually dial it back if you think you can till you find the sweet spot for your set up. Hope that helps.
Great review but i have an question about noise. I have an pick up 60 and i can hear the pump running from 6 meters distance if i open the venturi. With the venturi closed he's very silent. Do you reconise that? Pump is bright new, mabye it will be better tomorrow.
My tank is in my bedroom and I hear the filter. I don’t even have the Venturi running and had the filter on for 1 week, sand substrate. So annoying. Did you manage to resolve the filter noise issue?
I was wondering, does the impeller part being BEFORE the filtration makes this filter more prone to damage? Say, I'm removing some plants, the sand gets kicked up, goes to the filter... Can that cause trouble?
Anecdotally I've heard of sand jamming impellas but can't say it's every happen to be. Some sand is bigger in terms of grains I guess which could make a difference but I've used a few different types of substrate and never had that problem.
You have missed that you can change the flow rate by pulling the water outlet up (to increase the flow). But otherwise agree - great filters that are very easy to clean.
You're so right. Have recorded some more video to correct that. Just need to edit it and will put the video out to correct that. Thanks for reminding me.
Hi. Well the 200 is a wee bit taller than the 160, about 55mm. Assuming that's okay it might come down to the fish you intend to keep. Some appreciate more flow, some struggle with more current. In that case I'd go for the 160 unless you're keeping fish who like stronger flow in which case I'd say the more filter capacity the better. Hope that helps you decide.
If it were me I'd be going for the 60. Feel like that's plenty and the 160 might be a bit too powerful especially if you add fish at a later date that aren't comfortable with the higher water movement it would supply.
Hi ya Daniel, I am a complete newbie at this, have you got your filter completely submerged???? My hubbie suffers really badly with tinnitus and even the quiet Eheim 60 is driving him nuts, only have two fish so far but I do not want to give up on my new hobbie, any ideas (polite!) would be much appreciated. Your videos are very helpful, Thank You, Kim
Ah thanks Kim, very kind of you to say. The problem is every internal filter has a motor inside so there will always be some amount of hum but yeah you can definitely fully submerge these filters and it will dampen the sound some. Also make sure the filter is positioned so it's not touching the side of the glass, any rocks or scape, etc. If it's touching anything you could get extra vibration. That counts for the cable coming out of it to the power source. Can always secure that in place so it doesn't vibrate against anything. Do you run an airstone in the tank? If you do you could always connect the airline to a sponge or box filter and do away with the mechanical one completely. If you don't already run air though forget that. I've never suffered from Tinnitus so not sure what sounds are aggrevating but the bubbles breaking the surface might be difficult for your husband to manage if he's not already used to that.
I know it’s quite late, but I just got a Eheim pickup 60 filter. I am borrowing it so I don’t have any instructions, but the top won’t go of so I can’t wash the sponge. I don’t want to use a lot of force in case it breaks, but do you know any reasons for this?
Only way to get at the sponge is to get the top off. Might be it's just got some grime in it that has dried in making the seal tighter. Don't want you to break your filter but if it was mine I would use either my finger nails or a blunt dinner plate knife (please be careful not to slip and hurt yourself) if your fingers won't do it and prize the lid off working my way around the edge a wee bit at a time. Good luck. Hope you get it off with a bit of perseverance.
I can't think of a reason why not. You would need to take it out of the tank or move it to the vertical position to remove the sponge for cleaning though. If you try it in the horizontal position a lot of the collected waste will dirty your water when you try to lift it out. I'm not sure if the venturi will work. It might if you extend it with a length of air tubing but if you're not thinking of using it anyway it won't matter. I have a spare. If you like I can run it horizontally in a tank for a few days to see if it functions fine. You can let me know if you want me to do that.
@@DanielKeepingFish thanks for the advice... I tried placing horizontal it doesnt work that fine just like what u said so i placed it vertical and it works just fine.. thanks so much...
hey, i have this product, used it for a couple of hours before i decided to use another filter instead because i thought it was too noisy. that silent filter turned out to be weak trash so i switched back to the eheim one, but now i find that the flow rate is miserably slow, sometimes it just trickles down the outlet instead of having the strong gush like in your video. i've cleaned it in pond water, i don't think i could've installed anything wrongly as it is only a matter of sliding it back into place. the flow increased slightly when i added more water to the tank but after a few hours it's back to the miserable trickle. any ideas what i'm doing wrong or what i can do to fix it?
Hi. I would make sure it is all put together correctly. There are two points that need to form a seal, the bottom of the green part and the top of the green part. If either are not slotted together properly it can dramatically reduce the flow rate. It might seem like they are put together right but definitely worth double checking. This sounds like what the problem might be. Also check the impella is clean and the slot it goes in. If there is something preventing it spinning it won't draw water in efficiently. I'm guessing it's the first solution though. Hope that helps and you get it sorted.
Daniel Keeping Fish hey presto! i think that was it! i pushed it down firmer and seems it could've have been tighter and that dramatically increased the flow. i'll keep my eye on it if it reduces again. thank you so much!!
@@DanielKeepingFish Hey there! Had my Eheim pickup 200 a week now in new tank with sand substrate. Filter seems a bit noisier with a humming sound than when I first got it. Could it be sand getting in? Grateful for any tips...The tank is in my bedroom and struggling to get proper sleep!
@@naddyn685 I'd would maybe open it up and whilst still under water and make sure there's no air in it. Also make sure it's sitting properly fastened to the glass with the auction cups and nothing is touching it. The vibration of it running can travel along anything touching it and amplify. If that doesn't help to can tank it apart and check the impeller shift to make sure no sand has got in. The impeller is the part that spins to draw in the water but I would check the simpler things first.
I don't think you're necessarily doing anything wrong Sarah. I think the noise you're getting may just be the air running through it and out of the water. When you remove the tube it's only water running through it which would make far less sound so it's treally a choice between the additional aeration or the quieter operation.
It's not noisy. No filter is 100% silent so late at night with no other sound you may be able to pick up a slight hum but it's pretty quiet. I did a quick video a while back when someone else asked me that to show what sound comes out of it. Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/awnXQRxa1HQ/w-d-xo.html
I suppose it depends what you're keeping in there but if it's fish that don't require too much flow my go to would be a couple of box filters. You can run two, one in each corner off of one air pump and they're the same idea as sponge filters except they collect the waste in the box. That means they don't leak waste into the water when you take them out to give them a clean like sponges can. I have used box filters in many tanks over the years. If you're looking for a filter with a bit more power I'd say you can't go wrong with one of the smaller Eheim Pick Ups, the 45 or the 60. The 60 is slightly bigger so a little more sponge but more powerful than the 40. Personally if you're not too heavily sticked I'd be going for the 40 bud
@@DanielKeepingFish Thanks for the reply, i just got back from Maidenhead Aqautics and got a good deal on a Fluval U2 so i decided to go for that, i dont usually go for internals as i prefer Tidal HOBS or Oase Canisters etc but i want to put the Flex lid back on this one so i thought id try this one as i got a deal on it :)
@@Boss-zo4lw yeah I'd assumed you were keeping the lids else I'd have suggested giving the Marina S20 a try. But hey the U2 is good too. I like the multi-directional spray options. I do feel like there's a lot of inside components which would be better off as space for media but they still do a great job and maintenance is pretty easy on them. Enjoy your new filter!
I can't remember seeing a sticker on mine but it was some time ago I got them. My guess would be to say yes remove it, stickers, paper and glue don't generally be so good inside an aquarium. Hope that helps.
If there are no chemicals at all in the water it might be quite safe to do that but if you have a bit of tank water to hand anyway because you are doing a water change/filter maintenance I'd go for that as my very safest option. That's the way I'd approach it. If you're filling the tank with the well water anyway then I'd say go for it. The main thing is there are no chlorine, chloromine or other chemicals present.
I've used these filters on many shrimp tanks. Honestly I haven't had many get sucked in. I have noticed them crawl around on the filter and stay out if they wish to but don't worry. Those that have found their way inside have been fine. I normally just tip them out again when I open it to sneeze out the sponges. 👍
Would u recommend this filter for my fluval roma 200 as a backup filter to my U4 filter i need a filter that isn't to rough on a planted tank only reason I'm asking this is because my u4 filter started making a rattling crushing noise to me sounds like a need a new impeller it is marked a little bit and has been getting used since 2019 but 20 pounds for a new impeller seems steep when u can buy new one for 58 pounds from pets at home with 3 year fluval guarantee sorry bit to much information lol 🏴
I really like these filters so I'd say yes. The only thing I'd say the U4 has over the PickUp is the flow options. As you know the Fluval gives you the option of top middle and bottom for the water returning to the tank. If that doesn't matter to you I'd say you'd be happy with the Eheim. Great wee filters.
@@DanielKeepingFish Thanks for fast response your review of the ehiem pickup has basically sold it to me already a think eventually will just replace U4 with new one cant complain how long it's been running a suppose but giving my budget eheim will do 🏴
The sponge will last YEARS. For the life of the filter I'd be happy to guess as long as you squeeze out the waste in tank water every now and then. Should you think it needed replaced though I'd cut both the new and old sponges in half and use half the new and half the old sponge then swap out the old half for the other new one once you're happy the first new one you added is cycled.
Hi again…. When I squeeze my filter out and clean the tank…. After a day the filters flow is pretty much non existent the bubbles stop blowing out…. Is there something I’m not cleaning? Or doing wrong? Thanks
It's a close one. I think in that scenario I'd go for the Fluval. There are more flow options plus it's easier to mess about with the sponge and add different media. Soon as you start moving up through the models so U2 and onwards I'd take the Eheim instead every time. Don't get me wrong, the U series perform very well but they do clog quickly. Also they are tricky to customise and I'm not keep on keep buying the placement filter pads all the time which may be fine for some folk. Plus I don't like using carbon except in very specific circumstances and the pads have carbon in them. th-cam.com/video/U5SEf2Di71I/w-d-xo.html
Well it needs to be submerged right to the top and I know some people prefer longer and wider tanks for Musk turtles so they don't have water quite as deep as that. Then I know other people who have tanks like yours with deeper water in which case this filter will work yes. They aren't great swimmers so I would slow the current by adjusting the flow like in this video: th-cam.com/video/kz_2TeHPvHI/w-d-xo.html I would also make sure it has plenty fo resting places near the surface where it can relax with its snout out of the water and bask but in terms of this filter I would be confident to use it sure.
Oh wow, welcome to the hobby. Do you mean which of these filters or which filter in general? That's quite a big topic. I would say you need to decide what type of filter suits you best first then decide which brand. The main ones are: Sponge filters. They run off an air pump and are quite cheap but aren't great for removing waste. Hang on back filters are good but you need space on the side or back of the tank which isn't always wanted and may not work with some hoods. Internal filters (like these Eheim) sit in the tank. They are great at removing waste and will never flood the floor being inside the tank but can take up space inside the tank and not everyone is happy to see them in the tank. Canister filters sit outside the tank and tend to have more capacity in terms of volume (more water in your system) and the amount of media they can hold but maintenance can be a bit more involved and if something isn't quite right they can leak. I'd maybe look into which type of filter you like best then look at individual filters within that category.
Daniel Keeping Fish oh wow thanks heaps! I think I’m going to go with a small sponge filter and a canister filter... that’s what other people have told me but wasn’t sure until u kinda “confirmed” that they r good types, thanks heaps
Place the filter near the surface with some airline tube keeping the venturi above the surface. Or the filter lower down and a longer piece of air tubing. 👍💙
I don't use charcoal in any of my filter except in very specific circumstances. I run these filters just with the sponge that comes with them which is fine for sensible stocked tanks with the right sized filter for the tank.
It'll depend how much waste it's picking up which will be dictated by things like how many fish/plants you have, how much you feed, how often you do maintenance, etc. What I'd do I'd service the filter more often than you think and dial it back if and as you can.
I don't think I'd recommend it with this filter. It is designed perfectly for trapping the waste from your tank. If you alter the sponge or replace it then it won't be as effective. I have a suggestion for another reasonably priced filter that has lots of customisation potential if it would interest you: th-cam.com/video/6Nqa_aAQC9E/w-d-xo.html
I have one of these. It decided to stop working after 3 months.The motor won't come on when plugged in and it's a sealed unit so I guess it's for the bin.😒
@DanielKeepingFish I have it stripped right down to where the power cable goes into the unit. That's as far as I can get without removing glue or sealant. Even with the impellor removed turn power on nothing happens. Changed fuse but no luck
@rubberglovematerial sorry I took it you hadn't got as far as that. Think I'd reach out to Eheim. It'll still be under the manufacturer's warranty at the least and also not what I've found typical of these filters. Generally found them to be bomb proof and solid.
@DanielKeepingFish It has been a great filter up until now. It was your review video made up my mind to buy it. I will get on to Eheim in the morning. Keep up the good work mate 🤙👍
@@appel1800 I'm struggling to think of an internal filter which heats the water if I'm honest. For internal heaters you may need to go bigger like an Oase Biomaster Thermo. If you find one let me know though because I'll buy one myself and do a feature on it. If it's just a case of not wanting to see the heater you can always hide it behind your filter or plants. Or you can get heater guards to protect it and disguise it somewhat.
Daniel Keeping Fish its a combo of not wanting too see it and only 1 power plug. I had a big aquarium for years. Got rid of it like 5 years ago. My wife hated it. Now i have kids and now they want fish lol so im getting a little tank like 150l ish
@@appel1800 aquariums are great for kids. For enjoyment but also learning about nature, chemistry, etc. Bet they'll love it. Might need to splash out on an extention lead bud.
I believe so. However I'm not a salt guy and don't want to confirm something I haven't tried myself. It is advertised as fresh or saltwater but without the experience of having tried it myself I wouldn't want to steer you wrong.
@@richardwalker4220 no worries Richard. Sorry I couldn't be more accurate but haven't delved into the salty realms myself yet. Sure I will one day soon.
@@DanielKeepingFish I will see how it goes. So far it's been great, tank is crystal clear! But I've decided I'm going to put a couple of plants in the tank so we will see how it goes. Any suggestions on something that "schwimmer" (my fish) would enjoy?
@@purplepriestess7648 haha, that's a great name. The problem with goldfish is that they tend to be quite hard on plants and eat most of them. Also the like to dig about in the substrate so it will be hard for routed plants to stay in place and thrive. I might suggest starting with Java Fern and Anubias. Both of those are rhizome plants that you can attach to rocks, wood or ornaments and will get their nutrients out of the water column. They're also pretty tough so they should be pretty goldfish proof.
@@DanielKeepingFish haha! Thanks! Yea I've heard they can be pretty vicious when it comes to plants. I was going to keep them in small pots in the hopes they at least have a chance of staying planted. Thank you for your advice! I will let you know how they go 😊
not great at all, got one for free and threw it out rather quickly ... small offspring (snails, shrimps, etc) and food/plant particles get into it like with most other filters which have such primitive grills for the inlet. With Dennerle some at least offer a (ridiculously expensive) protective screen. Also silly to recommend those types of enclosed sponge filters for shrimp tanks, as they love an open sponge to feed on. Its a decent filter for larger animals, but not good for anything with small offspring or if you use food particles which float in the water column ... this stuff just gets sucked in and rots as barely anything can feed off it once its sucked up. I dont get why anyone would buy these simple enclosed sponge filters ... pointless as single piece sponges work far better and with less maintenance in open designs. A plastic box is only needed for loose filter materials or when you want to combine materials in a stack, but even then we got options which come with an open sponge for the inlet.
Gotta make sure there's no water in it. Pull it out the surface and flip the top off. Make sure there's no water in the venturi clip, etc. Put it together and lower it into the water but don't let the venturi go under the surface.
Not really with this filter. Folk have done it but I don't think it works well. I have a review on another internal filter that uses sponge and bio-media that may interest you though: th-cam.com/video/6Nqa_aAQC9E/w-d-xo.html
I put a layer of Superfish Crystal Clear Bio in bottom. Just enough so you get the sponge in without struggle. Only been running about 3 hours but seems ok so far.
Can't say I ever had that problem but try this, clean them then drop them in a cup of boiling water for about twenty seconds or so. Normally helps them bounce back. Remember to clean the glass where you want to replace them. Hope that helps.
Super review and a great little filter :)
Thanks Colin!
Instablaster...
Thanks for the introduction of the filter and the handling.
Dear Daniel:
Thank you for sharing a close, informative look at this, fine product. Eheim is a terrific company and their products are top notch.
All my best,
Sincerely,
E. J. Brinegar
Got to agree with you there E. J. Eheim rarely disappoint hey.
Thanks. Been looking for this EVERYWHERE!
No worries man.
Many years ago they made these for the American market (and powergrid) Mine has been running non stop for over 20 years - I wish I could buy 10 more! Greatest little mechanical filter on the planet. Please Eheim, if you're listening, make an American market version (115v-120v)!
Thank's for the video, Daniel. At least I can dream...
Wow twenty years! That's is a testimony to their quality indeed.
I agree they are amazing filters.
I really hope Eheim hear you and start releasing them in the US so you guys can enjoy these filters again.
Good luck bud and thank you very much for the comment.
my eheim canisters are going on 6, fantastic company wouldn't go fluval or anything else even if you delivered it to me free. I've just set up a 8 gallon shrimp tank, and my pickup 45's on its way and should be here in 4 days. Couldn't be more excited to add another piece of eheim to my tanks. I run eheim canisters on my 50's and eheim air pumps. Heck if they made em i'd buy eheim lights.
YES.MANTAP.NO DEBATE❤
Great video,you explained alot thank you.I got the 160 such a great filter
Thanks man. Aye I really like them. Think they do a great job.
I also liked EHEIM filters! Liked their Pick-up, Liberty & also their Aqua Compact filters.
Yeah they've got good at what they do over the years no doubt. 👍
Nice straight forward video, thanks Daniel
Haha, quite fitting for these straight forward filters then.
Thanks very much for the comment.
I have an Eheim Aquaball internal filter, amongst the various Eheim filters I own.
The Pickup design, is a beauty!!!
I can't use the Aquaballs. I'm a big Dr Who fan. With them looking too similar to Darleks I'd be forever suspicious of them. 😉
Hahaha………….that explains the "Exterminate!!!...…..Exterminate!!!!…….I can hear late at night :)
Great video. Have ordered one of these 🙏
Oh hey hope you enjoy your new filter. They're not pretty filters but I kinda like the look of them and they're solid. It'll do you a good turn.
Great review, thanks. I bought one of these a month ago but hadn't got round to setting it up. The suction cups needing the extra plastic part confused me for a while but the build quality seems great.
Oh thank you very much for the comment.
Yes I think they are great filters. They are my go to internal filters now.
Hope you enjoy yours.
How quiet is it?
Great little filters
For sure Jon. Great little no-nonsese units. 👍
Thank you! Very helpful 👍🏻
Oh good. I'm glad it was useful to you. Thanks for saying so.
Great review been thinking of getting one of these 👍🏼 nice to hear an English accent like mine for once on TH-cam 😜
Haha, yes. We are a little thin on the ground on TH-cam at the moment.
Thanks for saying you found it useful. I really am a big fan of these, hope you feel the same if you get one.
I just bought a mini Eheim to replace the noisy pump that comes with the Fluval Flex tank. I love Eheim filters.
i have it ALL.❤
Nice review cheers.
No worries. Hope it was useful.
I like this video he talks nice & slow so you under stand him
Thank you Gerard. I do try to slow down for clarity. Glad to hear it makes a difference.
I recently bought the Pickup 160. The bottom front panel/grill of the filter doesn't really suck detritus in. In fact i've noticed that it pushes detritus away from it most of the time with only a very small section of the grill sucking in detritus and even than, the suction is very weak! I've also noticed that most of the time it only suck detritus in from the side of the filter and even then the suction is also weak but at least it doesn't push detritus away. From my understanding, the inflow is supposed to be from the front and side. I don't think i've installed it incorrectly since the outflow is very strong, just that the intake especially from the front is almost non existent. Do you notice this in your filter? Maybe you can use a pipette to suck in detritus when you're doing your filter maintenance and squeeze that detritus filled pipette near the front panel and see if it sucks in detritus?
Good video 👍😄🔔
Not fish-safe! Great review, Daniel. I am quite happy with my Eheim pickup filter but noticed he eats fish! I found 5 cardinal tetras in the filter. They made it through the slits at the sides and couldn't get out again and died. I then pulled a nylon sock over the slits, and no more losses ever since. Highly recommended. If you want to add some biological filter media (e.g. biohome, sera siporax), you could cut the sponge in half and add the porous media on top instead (ideally in a net or nylon sock in ring-shape). The flow rate can be adjusted by pulling the nozzle up (max) or pushing it down (min).
Really? I've never had a fish get sucked in. I've used these filters with Neo Caridina and even adult shrimp can keep themselves out. That said when they've wanted to go in they have and I'm forever finding Bristlenose and other fry inside but that's the sane with most filters unless you take precautions as you mentioned.
I'm wondering if perhaps the Neons died first then were drawn in.
Thanks for sharing all the additional tips. That's great for us all helping each other out. You're dead right about lifting the nozzel. I had forgotten to mention that and had to make a separate video about it:
th-cam.com/video/kz_2TeHPvHI/w-d-xo.html
Daniel Keeping Fish To prevent the fish from being caught in the filter, Eheim provided 2 filter clips which are to be inserted into the grooves behind the filter which are not used by the trailing wire (there are 3 options for the trailing wire to be routed).
@@cheekahchua2747 Well, those clips prevent fish from getting stuck behind the filter casing, but they do not prevent fish from entering the filter chamber through the slits!
salsakrs oh cos I am keeping dwarf rasbora, endlers and a shrimp in my 15 liter tank and running pick up 60 without any of them getting stuck for about 2 months now. Haha maybe I m just lucky!
@@cheekahchua2747 You run the Eheim pickup 60 in a 15 liter tank? Quite some water movement, I suppose. I sincerely hope that your fish won't be sucked into the filter. If it should happen after all, you now know how to make it safe with a nylon sock.
omg wow, thanks ;) magical
Oh cool.
Hope it was helpful.
@@DanielKeepingFish jepp☯️🌱🦐
Got the 200 coming at the moment for a discus tank. Going to put filter floss pads for the bottom area to prevent my discus fry getting sucked up. I needed something to sit near the bottom where the poop is, as I have two small hang on the back canisters already and they do a great general job, but don't concentrate at the bottom.
That should help, they're great filters. Can always point the flow towards the back of the tank to break it up a wee bit too.
Another idea if you fancy it is Corydoras Catfish. They are great Discus tankmates and constantly forage around the bottom of the tank stirring up waste and breaking it up further so the filters can pick it up out of the water column.
They may pick off a few but shouldn't bother two many spending most of their time at different layers of the tank plus they can hoover up any food that the Discus miss and sinks to the bottom.
Just a wee idea for you. 👍
Same reason I bought one, place it low and and it shoukd pick up poop from the bottom better than the canister inlet and also double as a powerhead.
Love this filter to! Not really suitable for schrimps, they will go thrue the wide suctiongrill but they can survive inside there for a little while BUT if you want shrimp babies you better get a spongefilter...
Nice review. I wanted to add one of these filters to my reef tank.
Not for biological filtration but just put in floss to trap waste, carbon and polyfilter.
There lovely looking filters and I like you can maintain them by just lifting the top off.
The only thing I don’t like is the shaft that goes up the centre of the filter chamber as it takes up space.
Without the shaft in the centre I could put a layer of polyfilter , carbon and some floss on top but I’m not sure it would be that easy with the shaft
taking up the space in the centre.
But it works so well. More isn't always better.
I'm biass though, I really like these.
Daniel Keeping Fish I might give one a try. They do look like good filters.
Hello! Nice review! Are these filters quiet enough for a bedroom aquarium?
What's happening Daniel this is take 3. I posted some questions but I seem to have worked through this. Shrimp can enter the grill but the impeller has a guard in it. Whilst I have only been running mine for 2 days there was quite a few shrimp inside but they were all alive. I think this is the only English review of the filter. Well done.
Haha, yes I made a mistake I had to fix but I answered you on the Keyhole video. Normally I'm very careful to get them exactly as I want before I post them but hey we're all human eh?
Seems you beat me to fixing the problem but glad you have it nailed.
Aye the shrimp can crawl in if they wish and as yoy say will be quite safe but my point is they don't get sucked in from the strength of the filter dragging them in.
As ever thank you so much for your support and your encouragement. It really is appreciated.
@@DanielKeepingFish Well you motivated me to take it out and have a good look. As I said I think it was an airlock. Shrimp will get through the grill but the impeller guard will stop then getting minced up. I have seen where shrimp will get sucked into canister filters and happily start a colony. I always like your reviews as they are so relevant. Thanks again Daniel
@@robertfletcher3421 haha yes that one was perfect timing for us there.
Aye I've seen colonies of shrimp living in filters too. Probably no bad thing for both the shrimp and the filter. Just need to be careful when cleaning the filter when this happens so we don't accidently loose kill or injure any wee shrimp.
And thanks again for the comments. It's great to know someone is enjoying them as much as I enjoy making them.
Thanks for review. I wonder how many times you can clean this sponge befor you replace it with new one.
I think they can go a long time to be honest. I've not replaced any of mine so far and some of them have been going a good long while.
They're not too expensive to replace either considering what a good job they do and how long they last.
Year and a half because the, sponge filter will start breaking in a pieces!
Great review Daniel! I am going to buy this because my current filter is too noisy and creates major water currents that prevents me from adding top dwellers like gouramis or betta. Its also disturbing floaters. Wondering if EHEIM pickup 60 is quiet and in minimal flow keeps the waters calm. From your 45 it seemed so.
Yeah the 60 is pretty quiet but more powerful than the 45 definitely. You can face it into the corner to disperse some of the flow. If the 45 is good enough for your size tank I'd be tempted to stick with that.
@@DanielKeepingFish Mine is a 60 litre tall. I'd be happy to settle for 45 if it works. Btw I saw your demo video of how it sounds - that was really neat! :) great channel & sub'ed. Thank you!!
@@82easyrider thank you Nimesh, very kind.
Aye I think I'd be going for the 45 in a sensibly stocked tank. The 60 would be too much current for the likes of Gourami I reckon.
@@DanielKeepingFish Just the kind of vote of confidence I needed! Ordering 45 (Pickup filter ;-)) today. Thanks again Daniel.
Great review. I like your content so subscribed.
Could you cut the sponge in half and add some media filter instead ? Also the replacement sponges are a bit expensive. What else could you use?
Thanks so much for the feedback, I'm glad you enjoy the content. Makes it feel much more worth while putting my videos out so again thank you.
I would hesitate to cut them in half. I feel like the way these filters are designed they rely on the water flowing through the sponge all the way up. You could perhaps spueeze some smaller media like Matrix down the sides but then you would need to be careful when removing it of course.
I'm not sure you could make the sponges much cheaper even a DIY solution. You can buy packs of six and even ten on Amazon for like £10 and they do last a good long while so I would think that would be decent value. Maybe if you could find really cheap pond or filter foam you could drive the price down a bit but it would be more fiddly getting them in place and ensuring there were no gaps so personally I'm not sure it would be worth it.
There is another comment by Horse Malone on this video where he customised his a bit but it was with finer foam for polishing rather than the type of filter media you're looking for.
You may want to look at the SuperFish Aquaflow range if you want a filter like this but annding other types of media is important to you. I'll be putting out a review video shortly on the XL that may interest you and the smaller versions are more similar to the Pickups, just you can add other types of media a bit more easily.
Thanks for the reply. Didn't realize the replacement filers were that cheap. Never thought about Amazon. That is great value.
Came on to try find out how to take it apart to clean it as I am really struggling with it and my fingers are killing me. I have difficulty every time with taking it apart and thought maybe I am doing something wrong, but I'm not. The video was great, no judgment of your video at all but the top of the filter once settled in does not come off that easy, 20 minutes later and very sore fingers still no luck. The filter performs in every other area though, its not very loud, my fish tank is always very clean and clear water I am very pleased with it but when it comes to taking that lid off the filter nearly flies over the back fence.
Feel free to judge all you want. I try to say it how I see it and be as accurate as I can be but I may not get it exactly right for everybody all of the time. A wee bit of critisism will only serve to help me to make better videos. 👍
I guess it could be trickier some someone with not quite as strong a grip you're right it does get a bit stiffer once it's be running for a while. Lifting and wiggling a wee bit at the same time normally does the trick. Alternatively placing a blunt table knife in the gap and pushing it up a little then doing this all the way around might help. Please be careful not to slip and push the knife away from you. I don't want anyone getting the top off but injuring themselves in the process.
They are great filters though aren't they?
@@DanielKeepingFish Hi Daniel, I am so sorry if anyway you took this as criticism. Your video was great and when I first got the filter it came of the same way as in your video. Just as you say, over time it becomes more difficult. I managed to find a way that worked for me in the end and got the top off so hopefully ill find it easier next time. I found pinching the green section in at the back and pulling more from the back made it easier. I was pulling to much from the front which just was not working. But yes, its a great filter, I would 100% recommend it as it performs brilliantly. Sorry again if you took any offence to my comment, it was nothing towards your video at all :)
Oh crumbs no, no offence at all. I was taking it as a constructive criticism and a point that was helpful to make my videos better for everyone. I'm sorry if I picked you up wrong but like I say I still found it useful.
Thank you very much for the kind feedback on the video and I'm glad you managed to figure out a way to open the filter up.
Kindest regards.
3:28 i figured out if you lift the grey outflow thing up, you get more water comming out in a extra output
Yes I had neglected to add that till someone reminded me so I covered it in a separate video: th-cam.com/video/kz_2TeHPvHI/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for pointing it out though, that's what it's all about helping each other out with the extra tips. 👍
ive got one , its great but i find putting the top on after cleaning is a fiddle and faff.
Yeah it can be awkward but if done carefully we get used to it hey. Worth it too for a filter that works so well I reckon.
Hi my filter has stopped pumping - only a year old - been off dieting move and won’t turn back on - any ideas?
We just got an eheim pick up 60 after our last filter stopped working properly a week or two ago. Thanks for the video, so helpful. Ive just put it in, the tank is very green so I'm thinking of cleaning the filter and doing a partial water change tomorrow, do you think that's OK or too soon? We have a beta, guppies and catfish so I've pointed the nozzle towards the tank wall so it's not too much current for the betta. We have some guppy fry so perhaps a stocking over the bottom of the grill? Any other tips for getting a tank less green? I presume it's just happened because the last filter was slowing down on working. I saw the petshop was selling liquids 'against green algae' do you think this is necessary when it's gotten too green? We have live aquarium plants so it does seem to build up. Thanks so much for any advice. Still learning here!
Hi ya. I thinking you didn't swap any of the media from the old filter into the new one? If not look up a few videos on cycling a tank or cycling a filter. It's good information to know in the hobby if you don't know it already.
I would spend money on alga away or what ever chemical you mentioned, better to treat the case. Green water is normally a build up of algea. We get that from too much light, too many nutrients or both. So if your tank is in the full sunlight from a window it's getting high light all day, same if we have our aquarium lights on for too long so one thing we could do is reduce the photoperiod. You could even do a full blackout for a couple of days, that would probably push it back.
For the nutrients thing you can cut back on feeding a wee bit and also cut back a bit on any liquid ferts you might use. Can always increase it again slowly over time till you find the sweet spot for your tank.
So working on the light and nutrients should help with the algae.
For the filter you need to leave it as much as possible to allow for beneficial bacteria to grow on it but if you feel the sponged needs to be squeezed out do it in water from the tank.
I'd definitely be doing water changes. I normally do 20-30% water changes on mine weekly but I'd be doing more than that; 20-30% twice a week at least if there were any issues or a tank was cycling with fish in it.
I had those filters with fry and shrimp. One or two found their way in but most were able to swim by but no harm in covering the grills for that extra peace of mind. Just make sure they don't cause a blockage of old leaves, etc.
Hope that was some help. Hope I didn't go over stuff you already know, if so apologies.
@@DanielKeepingFish thank you so much I really appreciate you taking the time to set all that out for me. Really helped clarify next steps to take. I think the tank does get too much sun so I'll have a think about that and where best to keep the tank. Thanks again for your help and advice
Nice vidéo ! How many litters on the tank with the pickup 45?
That tank is 60L Cris.
Hi - good video. Just wondering - how do you replace the sponge without losing all the beneficial bacteria. Normally you would replace, say half, and let the bacteria build up build up. Would you buy a new spoge, cut it in half and cut the old one in half and do it that way?
Yeah that's exactly what I'd do. I'd squeeze both pieces (the half I'm keeping and the half I'm removing) out into the new sponge too to make sure there's some waste and hopefully an amount if bacteria in it right away to get started. I'd have the newer part at the top and the established half at the bottom.
That said if we do our maintenance regularly enough we shouldn't have to replace the sponges too often.
You never need to replace the sponge unless it falls to bits. Ive never had to replace a filter sponge in years and years.
How often should I clean the filter? Great video. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
It depends on a few things; how heavily the tank is stocked, how heavy you feed, etc.
Without knowing those sorts of things about your aquarium I would say start with every ten days and gradually dial it back if you think you can till you find the sweet spot for your set up.
Hope that helps.
Great review but i have an question about noise.
I have an pick up 60 and i can hear the pump running from 6 meters distance if i open the venturi.
With the venturi closed he's very silent.
Do you reconise that? Pump is bright new, mabye it will be better tomorrow.
I've had a few Martin but I haven't noticed that bud.
Maybe make sure the venturi and the tube are clear with no water in it and see if that helps. 👍
My tank is in my bedroom and I hear the filter. I don’t even have the Venturi running and had the filter on for 1 week, sand substrate. So annoying. Did you manage to resolve the filter noise issue?
I was wondering, does the impeller part being BEFORE the filtration makes this filter more prone to damage? Say, I'm removing some plants, the sand gets kicked up, goes to the filter... Can that cause trouble?
Anecdotally I've heard of sand jamming impellas but can't say it's every happen to be.
Some sand is bigger in terms of grains I guess which could make a difference but I've used a few different types of substrate and never had that problem.
You have missed that you can change the flow rate by pulling the water outlet up (to increase the flow). But otherwise agree - great filters that are very easy to clean.
You're so right. Have recorded some more video to correct that. Just need to edit it and will put the video out to correct that. Thanks for reminding me.
Gave you a shout out.
th-cam.com/video/kz_2TeHPvHI/w-d-xo.html
Hi thankyou for the info on the ehiem filter I have a question i have a 160 litre tank so what size filter is best to buy 160 or the 200?
Thanks
Hi. Well the 200 is a wee bit taller than the 160, about 55mm. Assuming that's okay it might come down to the fish you intend to keep. Some appreciate more flow, some struggle with more current. In that case I'd go for the 160 unless you're keeping fish who like stronger flow in which case I'd say the more filter capacity the better.
Hope that helps you decide.
Crikey! I wish the top came off mine so easy... Any tips to get it off an old one that's been in storage and doesn't want to come off?
Finally got it... Applied a few extra ounces of elbow grease, and ignored my fear of snapping it....
Two approaches mate. Finess or hard wiggling with harsh language. I can only assume which you went for. 😂😉
@@DanielKeepingFish 😂😂🤣
What size should i buy for a 65L tank housing corydoras? The 60 or 160? I currently have a Oase bioplus thermo 100 in it.
If it were me I'd be going for the 60. Feel like that's plenty and the 160 might be a bit too powerful especially if you add fish at a later date that aren't comfortable with the higher water movement it would supply.
Hi ya Daniel, I am a complete newbie at this, have you got your filter completely submerged???? My hubbie suffers really badly with tinnitus and even the quiet Eheim 60 is driving him nuts, only have two fish so far but I do not want to give up on my new hobbie, any ideas (polite!) would be much appreciated. Your videos are very helpful, Thank You, Kim
Ah thanks Kim, very kind of you to say.
The problem is every internal filter has a motor inside so there will always be some amount of hum but yeah you can definitely fully submerge these filters and it will dampen the sound some. Also make sure the filter is positioned so it's not touching the side of the glass, any rocks or scape, etc. If it's touching anything you could get extra vibration. That counts for the cable coming out of it to the power source. Can always secure that in place so it doesn't vibrate against anything.
Do you run an airstone in the tank? If you do you could always connect the airline to a sponge or box filter and do away with the mechanical one completely. If you don't already run air though forget that. I've never suffered from Tinnitus so not sure what sounds are aggrevating but the bubbles breaking the surface might be difficult for your husband to manage if he's not already used to that.
I know it’s quite late, but I just got a Eheim pickup 60 filter. I am borrowing it so I don’t have any instructions, but the top won’t go of so I can’t wash the sponge. I don’t want to use a lot of force in case it breaks, but do you know any reasons for this?
Only way to get at the sponge is to get the top off. Might be it's just got some grime in it that has dried in making the seal tighter.
Don't want you to break your filter but if it was mine I would use either my finger nails or a blunt dinner plate knife (please be careful not to slip and hurt yourself) if your fingers won't do it and prize the lid off working my way around the edge a wee bit at a time.
Good luck. Hope you get it off with a bit of perseverance.
Either that or run it in a tub with some warm de-chlorinated water for a while and see if that loosens it up depending how much of a rush you're in.
Daniel Keeping Fish thank you, I will try the warm water method now
Hi Daniel... Instead of placing it (upright), can i place it flat (horizontal) in the tank?
I can't think of a reason why not.
You would need to take it out of the tank or move it to the vertical position to remove the sponge for cleaning though. If you try it in the horizontal position a lot of the collected waste will dirty your water when you try to lift it out.
I'm not sure if the venturi will work. It might if you extend it with a length of air tubing but if you're not thinking of using it anyway it won't matter.
I have a spare. If you like I can run it horizontally in a tank for a few days to see if it functions fine. You can let me know if you want me to do that.
@@DanielKeepingFish thanks for the advice... I tried placing horizontal it doesnt work that fine just like what u said so i placed it vertical and it works just fine.. thanks so much...
hey, i have this product, used it for a couple of hours before i decided to use another filter instead because i thought it was too noisy. that silent filter turned out to be weak trash so i switched back to the eheim one, but now i find that the flow rate is miserably slow, sometimes it just trickles down the outlet instead of having the strong gush like in your video. i've cleaned it in pond water, i don't think i could've installed anything wrongly as it is only a matter of sliding it back into place. the flow increased slightly when i added more water to the tank but after a few hours it's back to the miserable trickle. any ideas what i'm doing wrong or what i can do to fix it?
Hi. I would make sure it is all put together correctly. There are two points that need to form a seal, the bottom of the green part and the top of the green part. If either are not slotted together properly it can dramatically reduce the flow rate. It might seem like they are put together right but definitely worth double checking. This sounds like what the problem might be.
Also check the impella is clean and the slot it goes in. If there is something preventing it spinning it won't draw water in efficiently. I'm guessing it's the first solution though.
Hope that helps and you get it sorted.
Daniel Keeping Fish hey presto! i think that was it! i pushed it down firmer and seems it could've have been tighter and that dramatically increased the flow. i'll keep my eye on it if it reduces again. thank you so much!!
@@clarafication5037 no worries at all. Glad we managed to figure it out.
Take care.
@@DanielKeepingFish Hey there! Had my Eheim pickup 200 a week now in new tank with sand substrate. Filter seems a bit noisier with a humming sound than when I first got it. Could it be sand getting in? Grateful for any tips...The tank is in my bedroom and struggling to get proper sleep!
@@naddyn685 I'd would maybe open it up and whilst still under water and make sure there's no air in it. Also make sure it's sitting properly fastened to the glass with the auction cups and nothing is touching it. The vibration of it running can travel along anything touching it and amplify.
If that doesn't help to can tank it apart and check the impeller shift to make sure no sand has got in. The impeller is the part that spins to draw in the water but I would check the simpler things first.
Hi!
Just bought one, and it is really loud. If I remove the little tube on top it's quiet. What have I done wrong? :(
I don't think you're necessarily doing anything wrong Sarah. I think the noise you're getting may just be the air running through it and out of the water. When you remove the tube it's only water running through it which would make far less sound so it's treally a choice between the additional aeration or the quieter operation.
Is it noisy? Planning to put it in my bedroom and quite concerned about the noise
It's not noisy. No filter is 100% silent so late at night with no other sound you may be able to pick up a slight hum but it's pretty quiet.
I did a quick video a while back when someone else asked me that to show what sound comes out of it. Here's the link:
th-cam.com/video/awnXQRxa1HQ/w-d-xo.html
I've stripped out the internals of a Fluval Flex 57l, any recommendations for a filter for that that'll Fit?
I suppose it depends what you're keeping in there but if it's fish that don't require too much flow my go to would be a couple of box filters. You can run two, one in each corner off of one air pump and they're the same idea as sponge filters except they collect the waste in the box. That means they don't leak waste into the water when you take them out to give them a clean like sponges can. I have used box filters in many tanks over the years.
If you're looking for a filter with a bit more power I'd say you can't go wrong with one of the smaller Eheim Pick Ups, the 45 or the 60. The 60 is slightly bigger so a little more sponge but more powerful than the 40. Personally if you're not too heavily sticked I'd be going for the 40 bud
@@DanielKeepingFish Thanks for the reply, i just got back from Maidenhead Aqautics and got a good deal on a Fluval U2 so i decided to go for that, i dont usually go for internals as i prefer Tidal HOBS or Oase Canisters etc but i want to put the Flex lid back on this one so i thought id try this one as i got a deal on it :)
@@Boss-zo4lw yeah I'd assumed you were keeping the lids else I'd have suggested giving the Marina S20 a try. But hey the U2 is good too. I like the multi-directional spray options. I do feel like there's a lot of inside components which would be better off as space for media but they still do a great job and maintenance is pretty easy on them.
Enjoy your new filter!
Should I remove the sticker thats on the bottom of the filter before putting it in the water?
I can't remember seeing a sticker on mine but it was some time ago I got them.
My guess would be to say yes remove it, stickers, paper and glue don't generally be so good inside an aquarium.
Hope that helps.
Have water from well not mains so no chemicals is ok 2 wash the filter in that water ?
If there are no chemicals at all in the water it might be quite safe to do that but if you have a bit of tank water to hand anyway because you are doing a water change/filter maintenance I'd go for that as my very safest option. That's the way I'd approach it.
If you're filling the tank with the well water anyway then I'd say go for it. The main thing is there are no chlorine, chloromine or other chemicals present.
I have shrimps who get sucked into the filter, why? And is it safe, will they get out?
I've used these filters on many shrimp tanks. Honestly I haven't had many get sucked in. I have noticed them crawl around on the filter and stay out if they wish to but don't worry. Those that have found their way inside have been fine. I normally just tip them out again when I open it to sneeze out the sponges. 👍
Would u recommend this filter for my fluval roma 200 as a backup filter to my U4 filter i need a filter that isn't to rough on a planted tank only reason I'm asking this is because my u4 filter started making a rattling crushing noise to me sounds like a need a new impeller it is marked a little bit and has been getting used since 2019 but 20 pounds for a new impeller seems steep when u can buy new one for 58 pounds from pets at home with 3 year fluval guarantee sorry bit to much information lol 🏴
I really like these filters so I'd say yes. The only thing I'd say the U4 has over the PickUp is the flow options. As you know the Fluval gives you the option of top middle and bottom for the water returning to the tank. If that doesn't matter to you I'd say you'd be happy with the Eheim. Great wee filters.
@@DanielKeepingFish Thanks for fast response your review of the ehiem pickup has basically sold it to me already a think eventually will just replace U4 with new one cant complain how long it's been running a suppose but giving my budget eheim will do 🏴
What do you do when the sponge needs replacing… as it comes out as a whole? Your putting a brand new one in there with no bacteria?
The sponge will last YEARS. For the life of the filter I'd be happy to guess as long as you squeeze out the waste in tank water every now and then.
Should you think it needed replaced though I'd cut both the new and old sponges in half and use half the new and half the old sponge then swap out the old half for the other new one once you're happy the first new one you added is cycled.
Hi again…. When I squeeze my filter out and clean the tank…. After a day the filters flow is pretty much non existent the bubbles stop blowing out…. Is there something I’m not cleaning? Or doing wrong? Thanks
Would you recommend an Eheim pickup 45 or a Fluval U1?
It's a close one. I think in that scenario I'd go for the Fluval. There are more flow options plus it's easier to mess about with the sponge and add different media.
Soon as you start moving up through the models so U2 and onwards I'd take the Eheim instead every time.
Don't get me wrong, the U series perform very well but they do clog quickly. Also they are tricky to customise and I'm not keep on keep buying the placement filter pads all the time which may be fine for some folk. Plus I don't like using carbon except in very specific circumstances and the pads have carbon in them.
th-cam.com/video/U5SEf2Di71I/w-d-xo.html
@@DanielKeepingFish Thanks for the reply, I'll probably get a Fluval and play with the media :)
Is this a very quiet filter? Im looking for a quiet filter Bc my 60liter tank is standing in my bedroom
Thanks!
Just fitted one. Very quiet. This will work well in a 60ltr. Good luck.
can you use this smaller filter for my musk turtle? its in a 54 L aquarium
Well it needs to be submerged right to the top and I know some people prefer longer and wider tanks for Musk turtles so they don't have water quite as deep as that.
Then I know other people who have tanks like yours with deeper water in which case this filter will work yes. They aren't great swimmers so I would slow the current by adjusting the flow like in this video:
th-cam.com/video/kz_2TeHPvHI/w-d-xo.html
I would also make sure it has plenty fo resting places near the surface where it can relax with its snout out of the water and bask but in terms of this filter I would be confident to use it sure.
Why can't I get the green part off mine to clean
It should just slide up and off unless they have changed the design recently but I doubt it. It may just be a bit tight hey.
Um so I’m real new to keeping fish and I’m getting a 40 gallon, what filter should I get....
Oh wow, welcome to the hobby.
Do you mean which of these filters or which filter in general? That's quite a big topic. I would say you need to decide what type of filter suits you best first then decide which brand. The main ones are:
Sponge filters. They run off an air pump and are quite cheap but aren't great for removing waste.
Hang on back filters are good but you need space on the side or back of the tank which isn't always wanted and may not work with some hoods.
Internal filters (like these Eheim) sit in the tank. They are great at removing waste and will never flood the floor being inside the tank but can take up space inside the tank and not everyone is happy to see them in the tank.
Canister filters sit outside the tank and tend to have more capacity in terms of volume (more water in your system) and the amount of media they can hold but maintenance can be a bit more involved and if something isn't quite right they can leak.
I'd maybe look into which type of filter you like best then look at individual filters within that category.
Daniel Keeping Fish oh wow thanks heaps! I think I’m going to go with a small sponge filter and a canister filter... that’s what other people have told me but wasn’t sure until u kinda “confirmed” that they r good types, thanks heaps
Hiya, does the venturi sit above the water?
Place the filter near the surface with some airline tube keeping the venturi above the surface. Or the filter lower down and a longer piece of air tubing. 👍💙
That's brilliant thanks so much Daniel, fantastic video👍
@@saracallus8726 no worries. Enjoy your filter.
So you don’t need active coal for this filter?
I don't use charcoal in any of my filter except in very specific circumstances.
I run these filters just with the sponge that comes with them which is fine for sensible stocked tanks with the right sized filter for the tank.
How often should I clean this filter? I have a 60L aquarium. Cheers
It'll depend how much waste it's picking up which will be dictated by things like how many fish/plants you have, how much you feed, how often you do maintenance, etc.
What I'd do I'd service the filter more often than you think and dial it back if and as you can.
@@DanielKeepingFish but average, every month?
can i exchange the sponge for media?
I don't think I'd recommend it with this filter. It is designed perfectly for trapping the waste from your tank. If you alter the sponge or replace it then it won't be as effective.
I have a suggestion for another reasonably priced filter that has lots of customisation potential if it would interest you:
th-cam.com/video/6Nqa_aAQC9E/w-d-xo.html
Does it work for 30 gallon aquarium
There's a few different sizes. You'd probably want the 200 for a 30G. 👍
Can this filter work for a betta fish?
I think there are better options for a Betta tank if I'm honest. These filters do create a bit of flow in the tank which isn't ideal for Betta.
I have one of these. It decided to stop working after 3 months.The motor won't come on when plugged in and it's a sealed unit so I guess it's for the bin.😒
They're not sealed units, you can take them apart. I would do that and check there's nothing stuck I'm the impeller preventing it from spinning.
@DanielKeepingFish I have it stripped right down to where the power cable goes into the unit. That's as far as I can get without removing glue or sealant. Even with the impellor removed turn power on nothing happens. Changed fuse but no luck
@rubberglovematerial sorry I took it you hadn't got as far as that. Think I'd reach out to Eheim. It'll still be under the manufacturer's warranty at the least and also not what I've found typical of these filters. Generally found them to be bomb proof and solid.
@DanielKeepingFish It has been a great filter up until now. It was your review video made up my mind to buy it. I will get on to Eheim in the morning. Keep up the good work mate 🤙👍
Inlcuding heating ? Or water heating seperate ?
Heating is separate bud.
Daniel Keeping Fish thnx for the reply. Im looking voor a all in 1 filter. Incl heating ang air flow. U have any suggestions ?
@@appel1800 I'm struggling to think of an internal filter which heats the water if I'm honest. For internal heaters you may need to go bigger like an Oase Biomaster Thermo. If you find one let me know though because I'll buy one myself and do a feature on it.
If it's just a case of not wanting to see the heater you can always hide it behind your filter or plants. Or you can get heater guards to protect it and disguise it somewhat.
Daniel Keeping Fish its a combo of not wanting too see it and only 1 power plug. I had a big aquarium for years. Got rid of it like 5 years ago. My wife hated it. Now i have kids and now they want fish lol so im getting a little tank like 150l ish
@@appel1800 aquariums are great for kids. For enjoyment but also learning about nature, chemistry, etc. Bet they'll love it.
Might need to splash out on an extention lead bud.
Would it work on a marine tank?
I believe so. However I'm not a salt guy and don't want to confirm something I haven't tried myself.
It is advertised as fresh or saltwater but without the experience of having tried it myself I wouldn't want to steer you wrong.
@@DanielKeepingFish cheers 4 the reply!
@@richardwalker4220 no worries Richard. Sorry I couldn't be more accurate but haven't delved into the salty realms myself yet. Sure I will one day soon.
Well if my fluval doesn't work out, I know what filter to try next. Lol!
Haha, aye that or the SuperFish. I'm really impressed with that so far can't deny it.
@@DanielKeepingFish I will see how it goes. So far it's been great, tank is crystal clear! But I've decided I'm going to put a couple of plants in the tank so we will see how it goes. Any suggestions on something that "schwimmer" (my fish) would enjoy?
@@purplepriestess7648 haha, that's a great name.
The problem with goldfish is that they tend to be quite hard on plants and eat most of them. Also the like to dig about in the substrate so it will be hard for routed plants to stay in place and thrive.
I might suggest starting with Java Fern and Anubias. Both of those are rhizome plants that you can attach to rocks, wood or ornaments and will get their nutrients out of the water column. They're also pretty tough so they should be pretty goldfish proof.
@@DanielKeepingFish haha! Thanks!
Yea I've heard they can be pretty vicious when it comes to plants. I was going to keep them in small pots in the hopes they at least have a chance of staying planted.
Thank you for your advice! I will let you know how they go 😊
@@DanielKeepingFish
I failed......
Went to get plants, came home with another fish.....lol!
Nice filher🤭
Yeah I think they're great for mid-sized tanks.
not great at all, got one for free and threw it out rather quickly ... small offspring (snails, shrimps, etc) and food/plant particles get into it like with most other filters which have such primitive grills for the inlet. With Dennerle some at least offer a (ridiculously expensive) protective screen. Also silly to recommend those types of enclosed sponge filters for shrimp tanks, as they love an open sponge to feed on.
Its a decent filter for larger animals, but not good for anything with small offspring or if you use food particles which float in the water column ... this stuff just gets sucked in and rots as barely anything can feed off it once its sucked up.
I dont get why anyone would buy these simple enclosed sponge filters ... pointless as single piece sponges work far better and with less maintenance in open designs. A plastic box is only needed for loose filter materials or when you want to combine materials in a stack, but even then we got options which come with an open sponge for the inlet.
bubbles aint coming out of mine
Gotta make sure there's no water in it. Pull it out the surface and flip the top off. Make sure there's no water in the venturi clip, etc. Put it together and lower it into the water but don't let the venturi go under the surface.
@@DanielKeepingFish it's OK I understand now I'll adjust it when I go home thank u
OMG I havent submerged mine !!! lol no wonder its so bloody loud !! hahahaha
Hahaha.. yeah I think you'll find it much less intrusive when you get it under the waterline. 😁
@@DanielKeepingFish Im so glad I found your video, cheers x
@@Emjay_____71 I'm real glad it helped. Enjoy your filter!
Could you add some biological filter media to it?
Not really with this filter. Folk have done it but I don't think it works well.
I have a review on another internal filter that uses sponge and bio-media that may interest you though:
th-cam.com/video/6Nqa_aAQC9E/w-d-xo.html
I put a layer of Superfish Crystal Clear Bio in bottom. Just enough so you get the sponge in without struggle. Only been running about 3 hours but seems ok so far.
If you plan on breeding fish, be careful. Those slits on the intake are wide enough to suck fry into the filter.
Medr Faller jaat do fast
The suckers become useless after a couple of months and don't stick .
Can't say I ever had that problem but try this, clean them then drop them in a cup of boiling water for about twenty seconds or so. Normally helps them bounce back. Remember to clean the glass where you want to replace them. Hope that helps.
Ok cheers
this filter sucks