New Filter

[ibanezgfx]

Im looking to get a new filter, im completely redoing my tank.
I have a 55g that i bought as a combo from walmart with an AquaTech filter. I want a filter that is quiet and cleans well and is not horribly priced.
Ive read good and bad things about the emperor 400, is it worth buying one or are they loud and pricey to maintain?
if all else fails, ill just stick with what i have for now.
thanks

[iangangoo]

if you are looking for a hang on filter i like the aqua clear line, i have an aqua clear 500 as a compliment on my 90 gallon tank it is the best i have ever owned. it's super quiet user friendley and the media is cheap.

oh and it keeps the water crystal clear!

[cyberbeer65]

IMO,Aqua Clear filters are the way to go.

[Soulcoffr]

The AquaTech filter you have for that tank is actually an older-style Marineland Penguin without the bio-wheels.

You can upgrade that filter to a full blown Penguin if you buy the parts. All you need are the bio-wheel and the bearings on which they run. You can order them online or PetSmart has a parts bin too.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/category.xml?pcid1=1971;category_id=2637

It's a cheap way to upgrade your filter without buying a whole new one.

[UncaBret]

I would go with 2 AquaClear 30s. Easy to maintain, quiet, customizable media, you can turn the flow down easily. I am going with 2 20s on my next tank (30g breeder).

[Native American]

If I had the space, the Hagen AquaClear 500 (now called a 110) I used to get my 100-gallon tank going would still be there. Moves a lot of water, very quiet, easy to maintain and change media, etc. Because of space, I have to have my tank very close to the wall, so I've got two canisters doing the job instead of that one AquaClear.

They are priced very, very reasonably, too.

v/r, N-A

[MidnightPyro]

Im looking to get a new filter, im completely redoing my tank.
I have a 55g that i bought as a combo from walmart with an AquaTech filter. I want a filter that is quiet and cleans well and is not horribly priced.
Ive read good and bad things about the emperor 400, is it worth buying one or are they loud and pricey to maintain?
if all else fails, ill just stick with what i have for now.
thanks

I own a Penguin 125 Biowheel, and I'm pretty sure the Emperor is about the same thing. The biowheels themselves aren't loud at all after the first day and they get warmed up. The filter itself is just a quiet hum (Emperor may be a bit louder), but what I like about the Emperors, unlike the Penguins, are that you can customize the media in your tank. The emperors also push much more water than the penguin, and are definatly a good choice in HOB filters.

What are you looking for a filter? Is there any particular reason why you want a new filter? What is your current filter not doing well that you'd like it to do better? Filters are largely a matter of personal preference/what scenario you have, but from what you've described, the emperor would be a decent upgrade.

[ibanezgfx]

my current filter just left some debris (really really small though) floating around. i may just add an other one. a guy at a LFS around here has a fluval 204 for sale for like 30 bucks used i may buy and just add to it. hows that sound?

[MidnightPyro]

my current filter just left some debris (really really small though) floating around. i may just add an other one. a guy at a LFS around here has a fluval 204 for sale for like 30 bucks used i may buy and just add to it. hows that sound?

I had the same problem with my Penguin. I'm not too sure how your filter is setup, but Soulcoffr says it's the same as a Penguin without the biowheel. The way I look at it, all the filter is doing is running tank water through filter floss and activated carbon (which goes bad) repeatedly. Chemical filtration is the activated carbon, biological filtration *could* be the filter floss (or in the new penguins, the biowheel itself), and mechanical filtration is simply the filter floss, and for dirtier tanks, I don't think one layer of filter floss is enough.

I like canister filters over HOBs (especially for bigger tanks) and I think canisters do a better job with mechanical filtration (which would solve your particle problem, most likely) because you can put in course and fine pads in there, which do a much better job than a thin layer of filter floss. Most canisters come with media, but it's completly customizable. As far as the Fluvals, I've heard mixed things about them. Some people say they leak, break easily, and are kind of undurable - yet others swear by them. The Fluval 204 you mentioned, according to the specs, is only recommended for aquariums 44 gallons and under. You can get it, but you'd most likely need additional filtration, though I've never used a Fluval canister filter, so I'm not too sure whether the 204 would be enough or not, but the $30 for the used one is a pretty good deal. If you like cannister filters, you might check out the Filstar XP line (XP2/XP3 for you) or Eheims (2213/2215). Eheims tend to be more pricey than the other canister filters, but they're extremely durable and work well. Eheims are also almost completly silent, but I've heard (no pun intended) that the Filstars and Fluvals aren't very noisy at all.

Also, the '05 line of Fluvals are out, which offer some improvements over the 04's. I can't find them anywhere but eBay and a few smaller sites though.

Hopefully that helps a little bit! I know filters are rather complicated, but it's mainly about finding something with suitable filtration that you like and are happy with.

[justintoxicated]

I find myself likeing canister filters myself....I think I need to add some coral to get my PH higher and I don't really have a place for it in my wisper.

Although the wisper works well I feel like I am cycling my tank every time I change the media since the bio, mechanical and chemical is all in the same part.

Aquaclears are cool because you can change only part of the media at a time, I have not used one but I hear they are good.

My Wisper is good for my planted tank because I have it setup so there is basicaly no surface agitation, however it is bulky and has the problems I stated above...

If I could do it again I would have a nice expensive canister filter, you can put whatever you want in them and they don't really take up any space inside the tank.

[Soulcoffr]

Even though cartridges are expensive, they are decent bio-filters in their own right. Once the carbon is used up, it makes ok bio-media. It typically does not release what it's absorbed back into the water either.

However, the better option, and it's one open to any HOB filter regardless of manufacturer, is putting AC filter foam in the media chamber. Just cut it to fit, and voila! you have a permanent biofilter in your HOB. All you have to do is rinse it out in the changed tank water every month or less. (YMMV, by the way, depending on how dirty you tank is.)

Also, places like Drs. Foster and Smith have alternatives to the cartidges sold by the mfgrs. Either store-branded filter cartridges which are much cheaper, or permanent solutions like a porous ceramic insert. Here's an interesting alternative that I've come across recently...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13374&N=2004+113804

You can't beat HOBs for ease of maintenance. They may not filter as well as a canister, but for the cost of the filter, I'd rather not have to tear down a canister and have multiple HOBs.

Just my two cents. Everyone has their preference.

[ibanezgfx]

i may try those new cartriges. i was going to add the fluval onto the tank as well as keep the aquatech possibly. thats why i mentioned the 204.

those cartriges look like they replace the entire system, mechanical, biological and chemical. maybe theyre better than the filter cartridges i buy from walmart :)

[HolyBull]

Get a Magnum 350 Pro. Very versatile. I'd get one for my 40 for the water polishing option.

[TKOS]

I had a Whisper which takes the catridges as well. And as was mentioned I threw out the catridge, cut a large piece of Aquaclear foam to size and stuffed it in. then I stuck some filter floss on the top and voila polished water, just replace the floss eveyso often, rinse the foam and you are good to go. Cheaper than running 2 filters as well.