Views on Hagen Aquaclear filters.

[SimonWoodstock]

What are everyone's views on the Hagen Aquaclear filters? I recently got one because I thought it seemed pretty good. I like the idea of large re-useable piece of foam for bacteria and room for other filters like charcoal that can be removed if you are using medications or whatever.

Anyway, I'd like to hear some more experienced opinions.
Thanks

[Doublette90]

I use them to my two 20Gallon Tanks. I like them for the same reasons you mentioned. I probably won't use anything else.

[blitzen25bm]

yea they are cheap and pretty strong, i also use them to polish the water on tanks that just have bio filters. you should just double up the sponges then it would work even better.

[valerie]

I have them on all 6 of my tanks(8 filters total) and love them. They are easy to maintain, and you can have lots of media options. I use 2 sponges in my filters.

So far i haven't had any problems with them. Best HOB filters.

[Rometiklan]

They are the best hang-on-the-back (HOB) power filters on the market. The huge chamber can hold a variety of media. I use 2 or 3 sponges on all my AquaClears. Durable, silent, and priced right.

[kveeti]

I like them, reliable and quiet. My oldest (AC200) is 10+ years old. I become lazy in routinely cleaning the impeller, though. When it gets too gunked up, it won't restart if the filter's turned off.

[jdheff1982]

I use an AC300 on my 37 gallon along with a Filstar XP3. I does a good job disrupting water surface for air exchange. I use my filter a little differently tho. Instead of just sponge filters and charcoal, i use bio stars on bottom and a sponge filter on top. It works wonders when cycling a new tank!!! I had bought the bio stars for the Filstar, but had too many; plus, the package said use 1 star per 20 gallons, so I split them up between the 2 filters. Prolly the best bio setup possible.

[TKOS]

My AC mini is awesome. I have had it for close to ayear and I go it used from a friend who had it running for quite a few years. It had no filter media so I bought some fluvial sponges and just cut them into the right shape. Perfect for a 10 gallon tank. Just make sure to get one that is rated for a bigger tank. The AC mini is rated for 20 gallon tanks but I wouldn't use it there unless I only had a couple of fish.

[delmore]

I have AQ's on my three tanks. I only use the sponge media, which last for years! I just squeeze them out in the disgarded tank water once per week when I do a water change.

When you set up an add'l tank, just take the sponge media and put it in the new AQ, with a second unused sponge, and the tank is instantly cycled. I've done this many times, with 0 nitrite levels.

They are not silent. Once of mine makes a tick tick buzz buzz noise. Overall, IMHO they are great filters, VERY easy to maintain, close to zero maintenance cost, effective and inexpensive.

[somefinnfishy]

:rolleyes:

Got one word for all of you marineland ;)

[fishfood]

I like (and use) AC's; however, my only gripe is that they backflow more easily than some other filters. It doesn't take too much to clog and backflow, especially when using additional media. I like that AC's seem to have very good suction and will start up just fine without priming by needing to add water to the media chamber.

[Dapple2]

I detest my AC's. Our power goes out frequently and if I'm not home to reprime them..... Highly annoying to be woken up by the grinding noise of a dry pump also. Last outage one of them quit working altogether afterwards and the other is noisy as all get out no matter how much I fiddle with it. *sigh* The outages are never more than 10-15 min usually, but that's long enough to kill my AC's.

My Marinelands and the other hand start back up again nicely and, while they are initially more spendy, can be modified to re-use the same media over and over just like the ACs

[JSchmidt]

I like ACs OK; very easy to clean. Mine is TERRIBLE at restarting after a power outage and especially after a water change. Much finickier than Penguins/Emperors in that respect, IMO.

Jim

[Andy16]

I use both an AC and a penguin on my 1 tank. The AC is like a water fall. I think its nice that you can chose your media though.

[ROLLIN]

Aquaclears are ok, but I like penguin and emperors better because of the bio-wheels.

[sparky]

I have 3 ACs on my tanks and during the blackouts in August I was worried I'd have to run around restarting them as per the comments above. As it turned out, they all restarted beautifully each time, no help needed from me.

[NJ Devils Fan]

Lol, the Aqua clear fanboys come out first, then the marinelanders step up.;) ;) :p

I don't have any ac's but from what i've heard, they are pretty good. Here's something though. When I went to some kid's house, his dad had an ac 300 on his 30g tank, and the water was like restricted, it wasn't comming out as fast as it should. I took his carbon media out and no difference. He said he's cleaned it multiple times and it's always the same. It's about 2-3 years old, and he said he would just get another one soon since they are so cheap.

Speaking about price, there really isn't much of a proce difference between ACs and panguins/emperors, on Big Al's Online anyway.

[The Gipper]

gimme dat AC500, great filter,cheap, just keep a cleanin the impellor & it'l treat you right...

[yhbae]

I guess I should experiment with this (I have both 200 and 300), but what happens when you loose the power for say, 30mins? Without the manual priming(-> filling up the water within the container so that it can continue to suck up the water), I guess it won't start by itself?

[LindaD]

I have an AC mini, AC200 and AC300. No probems here as far as restarting after a power outtage. We lost power for 16 hours during an icestorm a few years back. All 3 filters started right back up with no help from me.

I have noticed though if the water level is low they may take a few minutes to prime, but they still start.

Another note though.. I clean the impellers one a month. Maybe that is what makes the difference???

As for noise.. the only noise I get is the lid rattling occasionally. Which is solved by re-adjusting it.

[Glenstorm]

I have an AC 500 that I like no complaints. . .

I also have a Eheim Liberty 200 on my 20G. I like that alot also. It doesn't have the restart problems to AC are sometimes accused of.

[Bristlenose Chuck]

I have an AC 300 which is about 5 years old and an AC 500. I love them and have never had a problem with restarting.

I cannot stress the need to clear the propeller. This is the number one reason for filters to stop working.

[matty150]

In my opinion ac's are the best powerfilters on the market. They're cheap, reliable, and quiet. how often does your power go out guys....jeez... . some people have complained about their ac being noisy. this only usually occurs when the impeller is dirty or if the filter is resting againast and uvenven surface(rattling). ive sold every PF on the market over the past 7 years and ac is definatly the best. filters that take cartridges dont offer enoughfoam or filter fiber area and they clog fast. penguins with the biowheel have had their share of problems especially with the biowheel itself jamming.

[Dapple2]

Well....I just returned to school and live in a dorm...so my power goes out rather frequently and I know there are some others here in dorms who might have the same problem. The problems people have with biowheels turning, just like ac impeller noise, are generally caused by improper maintance as well. ;)

[delmore]

Originally posted by Dapple2
I detest my AC's. Our power goes out frequently and if I'm not home to reprime them..... Highly annoying to be woken up by the grinding noise of a dry pump also.

The water level has to be within about an inch or two from the top of the tank for it to restart effectively after a power loss.

I keep my filters running when I clean the sponge media once a week, but once a month I turn the power off to make certain that it will restart on it's own.

If the impellor is clean, and the water level within an inch of the top, it will restart.

[Dapple2]

That's what I've heard, but my ac's continue to stymie me. I keep the tank topped up and am rather fanatical about water changes (once or twice a week on that tank minimum for my fry) as well keeping my filters and top glass clean. One of those...well as long as I'm at it sorta things. ...

I picked up a new Penguin at an auction last weekend so now the AC's just a backup filter for me.

If ACs work for you, go for it! If not, there's always alternatives :)