Filter Help..

[Dakotagirl]

I would like to upgrade my AC HOB filters and maybe get a H.O.T Magnum Compact. I have a 55 gallon tank. Has anyone used these filters? Pro's and Con's? Something better I should look at? I found one at Petsmart for 47.99 and thought maybe that would be a good filter for my tank.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Barb

[beviking]

Hello Barb,

Can't really be of much help since I use Rena filstars but I have heard plenty good things about the H.O.T. Magnums...not sure if it was the compact though?
You might hear some say just get another AC.

Bill

[Dakotagirl]

Thanks beviking. After alot of thought (about an hours worth lol) I am just going to stay with my AC's. I really like them and they are quiet and do a good job keeping my tank clean. I thought if I got a canister for my 55, then I could use my 2 Ac's on my smaller tanks and get rid of the Whispers I have on them now. It seems like every time I change the filter in my whispers I get a mini cycle even though I have the grey sponge in with them. I really like my AC's and they are a breeze to clean and I never have to worry about the mini cycle with them. I also hate changing the whisper filters in my goldfish tank cuz they are messy and hard to clean out in used tank water.

[dixienut]

hi i have 1 hot mag, and 3 350mags, if you have alot of heavy stocking, the hot is only rate for a 55g i would use a much larger filter than you need.
as for the filter its self its very quiet and effective. and easy once you know how it goes together.. changes in around 6mins.
i have the 250 on my 10gal. dwarf puffer tank wonderful!

[Dakotagirl]

Well, I came home from Petsmart with an Emperor 280 HOB filter. It is huge compared to my AC filter but I hooked it up and it is very quiet and seems to work good.

It isn't the Marineland Penguin bio-wheel but it is made by Marineland. Anyone have one of these? Good, bad, or just o.k.?

Barb

[aardvark1]

Barb-

I'm running Penguins on all my tanks.

2X 350's on both the 55's, 2X 200's on the 29 and 20.

I'm happy with them!

[loaches r cool]

There has been some polls on other forums for best HOB's, as I recall it went: Emperor #1, AC#2 (almost tied for first), the penguin and magnums usually lower on the list, whisper at the bottom. I dont think you can go wrong with AC or Emperor Bio wheel as long as you get them big enough/or enough units for your tank.

[beviking]

Yeah, they make AC's in different sizes ;)

[Dakotagirl]

I have an AC50 (200gph) on my 55 along with the emporer 280 and I don't have a big bioload as everyone is still small. But when I hooked it up yesterday it blew junk all over my tank and then cleaned it up! I gravel vac once a week and am careful not to overfeed too much (have a hard time resisting the faces when they beg lol). I don't know if it sucked the stuff up from under my driftwood and plants or what.........but I was shocked at all the stuff I missed with my vac.

The only bad thing is that the filter is so big and there is no way to situate it on the back of my tank without it interfering with my light knob. It is hard to turn my light off and on now. Kind of funny how they are made for 55's but don't fit so well on the standard 55 hood and light set.

One thing is for sure, my water is alot clearer this morning. It wasn't dirty or anything before, just not as crystal clear as my other tanks, kind of had a greenish/dusty hue to it before I hooked up the filter yesterday. I am hoping that as my fish grow this filter and the AC I have on the other side of the tank will handle the bioload.

Thanks to all who responded to my post.

Barb