I will be setting up a 75G brackish tank and would like to know some opinions on what would be the best power filter. A AquaClear 500 or Emperor 400 w/bio-wheel? I imagine that most people are going to say that the Emperor will be better, but I'm running a AquaClear 300 in a 29G and have not had any problems. I have both power filters, just would like to know which would be recommended. Thanks.
What would be the best power filter?
- Thread starter brackishwannbe
- Start date
I love the AQ for all my tanks! I use it as a mechanical/biological filter I stack sponge/filter floss/porus ceramic blocks from bottom to top. I rinse out the sponge every weekly water change. I also use Eheims in my larger tanks (in addition to the AQ) as a biological filter. These I clean whenever they slow down.
Hint: Filter floss really "polishes" the water
Hint: Filter floss really "polishes" the water
After some recalculating I realized that just one of the filters won't be big enough for the tank, so I'll use both. An AQ 500 & Emperor 400 should do the trick!
puffer... I don't know what you mean floss/porus.?
puffer... I don't know what you mean floss/porus.?
Just plain old fluffy cotton filter floss, like you used to put in interior corner fiters in the olden days (rember that?). I use a good inch in all my filter boxes. Works great! 
see the pic of Filter Floss here
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=4235
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=4235
PP - cotton rots too fast, the polyester is highly rot-resistant, so much better. The poly is also more compression-resistant in water, so does not collapse and compact/clog as quickly.
I guess I never paid much attention to what it was made of, just that it works great for getting my water to sparkle!
