I was wondering whether anyone was using one of the Hagen Biolife
internal wet/dry filters in their planted tanks?

Is it going to be a CO2-injected tank? Wet/dry filters can dissipate a lot of
CO2. I also don't like the idea of an internal filter. The Biolife (if it's
the one I'm thinking of) is huge. Why have a big ugly filter in your tank,
when you can have it outside and out of sight instead?

Here's what "Practical Fishkeeping" said about it:

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Hagen Fluval BioLife

The Fluval Biolife is larger than most internal power filters and would
probably take up almost the entire end pane of an average tank. However, it
houses much more media than other internals, as well as using a more advanced
trickle filter in which the beneficial bacteria remove the oxygen they need
from the atmosphere, rather than the tank water. This means it’s important
not to submerge the Biolife too deeply, otherwise the trickle filter won’t
function effectively.

The water first passes through a large sponge, then a fine carbon-impregnated
sponge, and is then pumped up to a very fine drip tray screen where it trickles
through partially submerged sintered glass rings.

This biological media sits within strong mesh bags, rather than being loose in
the media baskets, which makes it much easier to clean. The overall biological
media volume is a massive 1080cm3, which works out at 5.65cm3 per litre.

The instructions give very sensible advice about cleaning and replacing the
media, and are fairly easy to follow. Since the media is lifted out from the
top of the filter, it may be very difficult to install and maintain if you have
a tank with wide sills or strengthening bars. It may even be impossible to fit
in some tanks.

There’s a holder on one side to take a heater thermostat, which protects it
from damage and places it in a position where it receives a good flow of water.
Unlike the previous version of the Biolife, there’s no heater supplied with
the unit itself, which accounts for its lower price.

The pump is fitted with an overflow spout which diverts some of the water into
the top of the trickle filter and forms a makeshift handle for removing the
pump. Past experience with old Biolifes has shown that this is a weak spot.

There’s lots of media here, and Hagen recommends that you change certain
items quite regularly. This means that running costs could be quite high if you
follow them to the word.

As far as biological filtration goes, we think that the Biolife is one of the
best internals on the market. It is, however, much more bulky and obtrusive.
The Fluval Biolife sells for £59.99.

Verdict
What’s Hot Loads of media. Space for a heater.
What’s Not Bulky and hard to install in some tanks. Running costs could be
high.

Quality 60%
Instructions 70%
Ease of use 60%
Impeller access 50%
Features 70%
Design 70%
Guarantee 60%
Price 60%
Media 95%
Value for money 60%
Overall 66%

Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/