Oase Filtosmart 300 (Amazon): geni.us/agRZg Oase Filtosmart 300 Thermo version (Amazon): geni.us/ShjsDPu Foams and Biohome products: www.filterpro.co.uk (FilterPro site has links to suppliers in other countries) Biohome Ultimate on Amazon UK: geni.us/GDV8oLd Biogravel on Amazon UK: geni.us/o98PP The Filtosmart 300 is a bit of an enigma as it is essentially the old Eden canister filter with some Oase tweaks. As it comes set up from the manufacturer it has some serious flaws but can be made much more efficient with minimal effort as you will see in the video. WHAT IS A FULL CYCLE? *If someone tells you the aquarium nitrogen cycle ends with the production of nitrate that is incorrect - please read on* A full cycle is completed by bacteria - the aerobic part of biological filtration which processes ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate followed by an anaerobic part which processes nitrate into soluble nitrogen which bubbles off to the atmosphere. Therefore it requires a suitable amount of excellent quality filter media to be able to provide the environment for both aerobic AND anaerobic bacteria - that is what Biohome ultimate does perfectly but even with such good media there are limitations and we recommend the following amounts for different stocking scenarios: (1 US gallon = 3.8 litres) (1kg = 2.2 lbs) Average community tropical aquarium = 1kg per 100 litres Average coldwater aquarium = 1kg - 1.5kg per 100 litres Predator aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Large cichlid aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Malawi / Tanganyikan aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Marine aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Average mixed fish pond = 1kg per 200 litres Average koi pond = 1kg per 150 litres You may be disagreeing with the above figures but remember that they are for a FULL CYCLE not half a job - achieving 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite is quite easy since aerobic bacteria grows freely on any surface but the anaerobic bacteria responsible for COMPLETING the cycle needs more a specialized habitat. Size a filter properly, set it up sensibly and you will have perfect water - it's that simple....and your filter won't be the dreaded 'Nitrate factory'. This series of videos is all about trying to squeeze more efficiency out of internal and external aquarium filters which generally have a limited filtering capacity - If you have a filter you'd like me to feature in a video then please contact me on: sales@filterpro.co.uk 07772848730 (Richard) Anyone who sends a filter (UK only at present) will have it upgraded and returned to them for free and the only cost you will pay is how much it costs to ship it to me - I'm helping to boost your filter and the resulting videos will hopefully be useful to viewers all over the world so it's a win/win. The following videos will be useful to anyone interested in learning more about filtration, bacteria and making the conditions for your fish as good as possible: Sizing a canister properly and filter set up: goo.gl/om19un Looking INSIDE different filter media: goo.gl/hZWS6c Bacteria and filter media: goo.gl/123gAF How to clean an aquarium: goo.gl/bPMhvh Aquarium tips / filtration playlist: goo.gl/pXgqVj This channel is purely a hobby for me so I will never ask viewers to donate money for any of my projects or charge anyone for information - information should be shared freely and I certainly don't consider myself an 'expert' in anything I pursue as a hobby so please do your own research, never accept anything as 'fact', reject anyone claiming to be some sort of authority or 'expert' and make your own minds up about anything you wish to study. We all are on a long path of learning......... RECOMMENDED AMAZON PRODUCTS: amzn.to/2Mw81OU INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/2KAk1fx FILMING EQUIPMENT: Panasonic HC-VX870 HD camcorder geni.us/3UwE +Rode stereo microphone: geni.us/4OL Zomei Z666 tripod: geni.us/1a1af3 Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI mini tripod: geni.us/87f7 If you've enjoyed this video please check out the playlists on my channel for hundreds more - on a variety of subjects. Feel free to share or link any of my videos on facebook, twitter, forums etc. for the benefit of anyone you think may also enjoy watching. See you next time. Pondguru

I think it's possible you may be misunderstanding the flow pattern. I just unboxed a Filtosmart 100 Thermo. Looking at the pump head, it appears that there are outflow vents from the impeller unit that could send water into the 3rd media chamber from the top then down, meaning it would then be partially recirculating. Would make more sense this way, but I'm pretty confused looking at this thing.

@mateeke9971

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, this is the actual concept. The idea behind this, that biological filtration requires slow flow to be effective, so in the third chamber there is slow flow and only biological media. Here is a figure for that from Eden's website: images.app.goo.gl/xifJN4hiYLX61r828 Despite the misunderstanding I think he really pimped that filter with adding more bio media.

@mackarof77

3 жыл бұрын

as pondguru stated that default ceramic rings was not porous so he dramatically increased efficiency of that filter, also different density of foams increasing mechanical filtration efficiency

I have used your method on my filters and it's working very well. Terrific video.

You completely destroyed the flow with you new design. You blocked most of the flow to go up in chamber 2. But the pump is designed to push water down to chamber 3. A fast filtering flow down trough 1 up to 2 and a slower flow down to 3 and also up trough 2. Replace the biomedia and your done.

@palcente

Жыл бұрын

Underrated comment. One needs to inspect the pump to understand how this filter works.

Another informative and well made video Richard. Always look forward to the pimp videos. Keep up the good work. All the best for 2020. Aengus

I bought the oase thermo 200 and i followed your instructions and great little tweaks to make it a efficent filter..

@vervamon

2 жыл бұрын

What did you change?

I have had a 100 on my 30 gallon for about 2 years. It runs silently. Strong flow. East to maintain and self primes. My ammonia is zero, my nitrites are zero. My water is crystal clear. What more could you ask of a filter? Certainly not crap, as some claim! There engineers at OASE know what they’re doing. I think most people simply don’t understand how this design works...being somewhat non traditional.

@gicechicken7062

2 жыл бұрын

Did u pimp your filter

@marksmithj9892

2 жыл бұрын

@@gicechicken7062 Nope. I haven’t changed a thing. It’s running just as it came. I clean it once every 6 months along with proper weekly tank maintenance. As I mentioned…my water is crystal clear with excellent parameters. Great filter!

@kieranfrench666

Жыл бұрын

Well said, this guy's an idiot and also the more you mess with these things you void your years of guarantee.

@shadowofthestarsdespair

Жыл бұрын

zoo med maid it first ....

Hey Richard, I’m a big fan of your videos, but I must agree with the previous post. I think you could have filled the first section with the course, medium, and fine foams; and then remove the next divider to combine the two sections with some kind of riser to allow the water to travel all along the combined section before rising up through a ton of media.

Hi from Canada. Thanks for the Oase 850 pimp up. Mine is working perfect. I am watching this 300. Thinking of buying this for my 30 gallon. Thanks.

@pondguru

Жыл бұрын

That should be spot on for that size of tank. It's far from being the world's best filter but it is absolutely decent for tanks up to 150 litres.

Thanks so much for the insight as to what’s going on inside the filter!😊

@ThousandYardStare

Жыл бұрын

(my other channel) No worries and best of luck with the tank.

great video.. But.... What you describe is not the way the water is supposed to go trough this filter. After going trough all the sponges, the water is pushed back to the tank, right. But the impeller housing is designet so that some of the water is pushed down trough the bio-media chamber from the top. when hitting the bottom it then goes trough the other part og the bottom sponge and from there it goes up again. This is quite effective, as all the mechanical filtration is done before the water hits the bio-media.

Thank you PondGuru for this upgrade, its works perfectly, biogravel in 3 days transform my 112l aquarium to crystal clear water. You're definitely right about upgrading this filter by your method, big thanks once more.

@ThousandYardStare

Жыл бұрын

(my other channel) Good one - I'm glad it's working well for you as it isn't a terrible filter, just terribly set up from the manufacturer, lol

Where the hell have you been. Been waiting for a pimp my filter video for what seems like ages lol

Is the sound coming out of 1 speaker for everyone else? Still great a video but terrible to listen to through headphones

@MrOverclock

4 жыл бұрын

yes

@RealMenHaveCats

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, just left channel.

@RandyAW

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah left channel, had me worried my right channel crapped out on my headphones

@UNAL0504

4 жыл бұрын

yes

@rockfella27

3 жыл бұрын

Yes lol.

I have a scaled down version of the same filter, that they make for Zoo Med. It does have a port on the impeller housing that pushes the uptake from the middle chamber into a downward flow thru the biomedia in the third chamber. They call it recycling.

Another great informative video When are we getting a pond update 👍🏻😊

@juliesadler6481

4 жыл бұрын

I'm not even looking for a filter, yet you have a brilliant way of describing it! Thank you.

Thanks for your video's man, love this series! Just a heads up, seems to be something wrong with the right audio channel on this video.

@pondguru

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, I filmed this one after doing a fishing video when it rained continuously and it broke my external mic. I've got a new one now.....damned expensive.

@DanielHoogland

4 жыл бұрын

@@pondguru Ouch, such is life in the UK I guess :) Great work on this bad filter design though, love it!

love these videos ....keep them up

HELLO SIR YOU ARE DEEPLY KNOWLEDGE OF AQUARIES AND FILTERS

Thanks I have been scratching my head on how this filter works.i

I have two of the old Eden versions of this filter, I will definitely be doing this on both of them! Never really thought those rings were doing much biologically, but it’s so hard to get anything else in with the shape of it. Cheers :)

Great review! After watching this I have decided I would go the Master series....

I've had good experiences with the Oase Filtro smart series.

Thanks for the video. I have exactly the same filter. Only mine is called the Eden 522. I noticed the same problem with the final compartment. Every time I clean it, that compartment is more or less clean whilst the rest of the filter is dirty. I have done exactly the same setup as you showed, so it will be interesting to see if it's better.

@pondguru

2 ай бұрын

Groovy - let me know in a few months how it has performed after making the changes.

Not long ago a very experienced aquarium enthusiast told me. Filters are for amateurs. I thought he was full of it. But after going filterless he was right. My 5 gallon has no water movement at all. Its water is crystal clear. My 72 has only a power head with a sponge intake to keep fry and shrimp from getting sucked up. My nitrates and nitrites are undetectable. I do utilize lava rock as hardscape and plants. I never change water i only top off to replace evaporated water.

i filled my fluval fx4 with bio home ultimate mini today and replaced the sponges the same way you did Ritcherd

Pondguru where have you been brotha?!!!!, I love the info you put out in your videos keep them coming 👍

I have an idea. Disclaimer it's oriented towards planted aquariums as these filters are generally aimed at the planted hobbyist with the heater features. What if the first chamber had a medium and a fine pad? That would give you the rest of the space entirely for media!

I'm interested in the shower filter on the table next to you. Are you going to do a video on it?

Love your channel. I would like to see the cannister I use. Aqueon 300 quiet flow. I am based in western Canada.

I have never used a canister filter before but I have just upgraded my goldfish aquarium from my old 54L to an 'All Pond Solutions" 198L. My only local fish store recommended to buy the 'Oase Filtosmart 300' filter and recommend that I watch this video. 🙂 I haven't yet set up the tank or filter yet but after watching your video I am now worried that I have been sold a dud and don't know what to do as I don't have the money to buy all the media that you suggest and I need to work with what I have. Should I take the filter back as when I enquired about the Fluval canister filter, I was told that they weren't that keen on them because it's not easy to get the parts and they probably not going to stock Fluval products any more. Also was it possible that they were giving me a sales pitch?

Any chance to pimp one of those Fluval Flex aquariums such as Flex 15 or maybe Fluval Spec with the integrated back chamber?

Excelent video, I have one Oase filtosmarth 200 and I would like to hear your opinion about the sound they make working and also you coud add this to your videos "How noisily my filter is ?"

Why not swap bottom middle sponge with small stand like ehim classic base tray. So that water will flow under it and spread evenly

I haven't seen this filter in person but from the looks of it couldn't you have a course and medium foam on the intake side? Then remove the 2nd divider and fill it with bio media?

Hey Richard what way do I pimp my filter on a Eden 501/Oase filtosmart 60

Another great video. Don’t like the look of this filter, think the Biomaster with Biohome Ultimate is a much better bet

Thats all nice and so, but where does the heater goes, after de upgrade?

terrible design, as for "pimping" I think it would be much easier and efficient if the left plastic divider was entirely removed and middle and left chambers treated as one

@shanehewlett1404

4 жыл бұрын

I thought the same thing. I have the filtosmart 60 on my shrimp tank. It only has 2 chambers. I don't think much of the filter to be honest.

@Mapantz1

4 жыл бұрын

I have the 100 on a shrimp tank, but getting rid of it this week. It's the worst filter I have ever come across! You cannot prime it, so you need to add water to the filter before putting the hose connector on. It leaks badly, it's noisy, it gathers air like nothing else. The heaters don't seem to be up to much either. It cannot keep a consistent temperature. I have it on a 55L tank and the thermostat is set to maximum, but the temp never get's above 23C. I got sent a replacement, and the same thing occurs. I cannot wait to get rid of it.

@mariot.5178

4 жыл бұрын

i got the 300, temps are stable ate 26,6°C and maney peopel don t now how to close the filter... but yes I to don t think to the this filter is good

@arthurpellett9256

4 жыл бұрын

Mario T. Thought thats what Richard was going to do

@frodehokholt3944

4 жыл бұрын

I think the same. Also I would add coarse, medium and fine pads in the right chamber and ceramic rings in the bottom, up to the devider. To diffuse and spread the flow. Then just fill the rest with biogravel. Then make a shim to attach the output strainer directly to the top, if it is needed at all.

Hi Rich , i gave a friend som bio home media out of my well established tank to seed there new back filter , i sealed the tub with tank water and gave her it , how long do you think the good bacteria will live in the sealed tub ? ( mals aquaholics here from middlesbrough )

My biomaster is the best thing I've ever bought man. For aquascaping it's essential to keep the equipment out of the tank and they are really the only brand putting out filters with built in heaters. Well forth the ridiculous price. lol

@JohnAbrahamsen

4 жыл бұрын

Heat the room then... That is what I do...

@Dominion28

4 жыл бұрын

I found 2 biomaster thermo filters very cheap second hand - worth a look if you don't want to spend the money like I didn't :)

I am thinking of purchasing a MarineLand MagniFlow D360 Canister Filter. Have you had the opportunity to perform a Pimp My Filter on any of the MarineLand MagniFlow series of filter?

What a poor call from Oase,strange really as their Biomasters are really well designed. Great job on maxing the filter out though 👍🏻,amazed these companies don’t get in contact for consultation.

which can hold lot of bio logical media is it fluval 407 or fx4 or hydor proffessiobal 600 i am planning to install these canister for a 120 gallon tropheus tank i will up to 25 fishes in this

Can we use this media on a saltwater reef filter

Pondguru what testkit do you use to test nitrates?

Do the manufacterers ever respond to your reviews? They could use your info to their advantange I reckon. I will be purchasing some biohome ultimate for my new tank soon!

Is it me or did you insert the first filter sponge upside down?? I cant see why you did it this way and just leave the sponge the correct way up so that the water going down would travel through the whole sponge. Inserted your way there is much open space not actually doing anything, correct me if I am wrong.

I think that if this filter was designed to have 2 chambers instead of 3 it would be really efficient

You just pimped the left side anti your own pimp my filter way :) the blue sponge should go first to the bottom not on the top, to keep the media as clean as possible. I know you did the bottom that way because of the whater flow, but for the water flow it does not matter if if it is on the bottom or on the top. Also, the vlack sponge is not needed at all. the water should already be clean, or ceep it just minimal, and have even more space for media or that integrated heater. Btw, love your ideas, keep pimping.

I just cleaned up my scape 😁👍

If one wants to use the inbuilt heater option, 1/2 the media is lost!

Can i pimp my ferplast bluwave 05?

Hhhhmmmmm after watching pretty much all of your pimp my filter series I think you've missed a few tricks on this filter! The input chamber could have better delivery by making a delivery tube to spread the water across the sponge like a bakki shower, doing the usual coarse, medium and fine sponge to take care of mechanical filtering the water could then flow through bio filter media with a blanking plate on top with small bypass just in case things block with a medium sponge to increase resistance, path of lest resistance, then in to the main bio media chamber with holes drilled in the plate near the mid section to the top going in to the middle section with more bio and a space for chemical filtering and a thin sponge )to even out the draw of water) and out. back to tank This would give more bio and better insurance for flow path??? Not a criticism more a do I understand filters better after watching your series?? Any ways keep up the great videos I enjoy watching all the different contnents

AND I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT CERAMICS TO USE IN THE FILTER FLUVAL C4 IN A 26 GAL TANK WITH A LARGE FISH LOAD ?

@andrewaxel

3 жыл бұрын

seachem matrix is the best due to its porosity.

@n.rod.2025

2 жыл бұрын

@@andrewaxel lol...biohome products are better for sure

Nice video 👍 Have you ever test Filtosmart 100 in same way ?

@pondguru

10 ай бұрын

Not the 100, no. I'm not really a fan of this range of filters and I don't know why Oase didn't upgrade it when they bought the original company making them (Eden). It was good to take a look at the 300 but I've got no desire to complete the video set on the Filtosmart range, lol

@Largo1981

10 ай бұрын

@@pondguru OK thank you. I have one, model 100, for a 50-liter aquarium, so I'm looking at where to insert fine cotton wool and a bag of Purigen to improve the filtration a little

@pondguru

10 ай бұрын

@@Largo1981 Just make sure the fine pad goes after the foam(s) and the purigen goes last and it's all good.

Any giveaways coming soon?

biogravel marine?

Is activated choral necessary in a sump system

@stevejohnson9

4 жыл бұрын

@WoundrousMindTrick yes

Materials and building quality of Oase are really great... But i think the filtosmart family has not the best design in terms of flow order filtration

Man, where is your accent from? Thanks for nice video, I just bought FiltoSmart 100 Thermo :)

@cdsmith1990

4 жыл бұрын

North east England. His store is based in Durham.

Whats wrong with filter manufactures nowerdays... You would think they would have perfected the design by now... But no, all got to be different, all got to "out do" eachother with who can design the crappest filter or make the water flow through it in a spastic way thats totally un-necessary. If I were a filter manufacture all my units would come supplied with a booster, to take care of all the muck, then the main unit used purely for bio. Thats how I got my fluval 406 setup, water hits the booster first going thru course, medium, medium-fine then fine pad. My 406 has 4 trays rammed with bio home, and the sponge tray has been removed & I filled the void with my old ceramic rings, filter unit weights several kilos now without water in it!!

What if you get the thermo version would the same pimping still apply?

@n3bux

4 жыл бұрын

nope, that's why no one understand that that second chamber is for the heater only. they left the tap in case you want to upgrade it to the thermo version later . this isn't really a good design for a canister filter

@Ahigh3lf

4 жыл бұрын

@@n3bux returned that sh*t and got a bio master lol

@Dominion28

4 жыл бұрын

@@n3bux Actually you can. I took the media out of the bags and surrounded the heater capsule. Got almost as much in and works pretty well on my 120L and 60L tanks :)

any chance of an update video on the pond filter?

What happened to the give away that you did a few weeks back?

@pondguru

4 жыл бұрын

I randomly selected 2 winners and gave them the filters. When the give away video reached a certain view count I stopped taking entries and deleted the video after informing the winners.

@MrDougiehunter

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate appreciate you replying I know your busy!! Well i wasn’t a winner then :-)

Pimp my filter #6 wow did you have hair back then 😉😂👍✌️

Hi Richard

@anthonywilson2346

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Richard- sorry about the blooper above. It was my filter that you have done and i meant to get back to you about the media- the bio gravel that you put in restricted the flow to much so I changed it for biohome ultimate - now it’s super fine. Thanks for all your hard work, and I am sure that I speak for the majority of aquarists- Tony

Звука нет!?

Mate, if you use the clamps on either side you won't have ANY PROBLEM opening up this filter. Just push the clamps down and the top comes of very easy

@pondguru

11 ай бұрын

Good tip and I can be a bit rough due to limited time when I'm making the videos. Things have been so crazy lately that I haven't made a video for 3 months or so.

What’s with the mega big pond filter it’s been 12 months!! Come on lad get on with it

nice presentation how it should works but that filter is soo bad even that unproportional shape which can't fit into most cabinets i have at home... on the other hand their biomasters are top only ceramic axle is missing to be absolute perfect biomasters are loud in contrast of eheims, but we know which filters are best ^-^ ehm ehm eheeeim :D

Do pimp my filter Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO 75 Aquarium Power Filter

Isn't it pronounced like oasis with out the s at the end.

just be honest and say you think it's a crap filter, especially compared to their good line.

haha im deaf in my right ear anyway!

At 7:30 what do you mean when you say the ceramic rings are useless as a biological filter ? Been watching your pond making videos since I was 11. Found this video as I’m now setting up my first high tech tank a decade later

@ofbguppies2325

2 жыл бұрын

I understand from watching the video, may I ask the name of the new bio filter media you added ?

@ofbguppies2325

2 жыл бұрын

Never mind also answered 👌🏽

Waaaay

Dont open the lid like that, I was screaming at my phone while watching, guys dont force the lid

i would have done away with that second divider all todether!

I love my oase 600 now that it is pimped. I would never buy this model.

Argghghghgh left channel sound only! :P

No thank you

This is a garbage design. I purchased one because of the inline heater feature, but it has never done much in the way of filtering water.

Mono audio in 2020..

This is one of the worst filters to get started without a primer

Why spend all this money it isn't designed right

What a bizarre, unnecessarily complicated filter design. I'd have expected better from Oase. Thanks for showing us how to make the most of this filter, but it makes me feel cynical about the lengths manufacturers will go to produce and sell something "innovative." A canister filter is a pump, a bucket and layers of media. Anything beyond that is gilding the lily at the purchaser's expense.

Nice pimp, terribly designed filter

That is one stupid design.. I can't see why anybody would by this when there is so much better options for that money.. Imagine if you would use heater inside, makes the filter basically useless.. Biomaster series is awesome but this...