30GL tank and Can Filter

DavidZ

AC Members
Sep 20, 2007
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NY
Need help, will be keeping Discus in the tank.
30gl should I go with an Aquaclear filter or Can Filter?
If can filter what media to use for Discus and Angels?
 
THAT'S NO HELP

There are 5 fish in a tank, I would like to add an additional filter, should I go with the canister model?
 
There are 2 Discus and 3 small Angels.
I can do another hob if that will work, will it help with the water quality. Which hob is best, I have Aquaclear it is OK, but during cleaning, it releases some of the output in the tank, would like something that contains averything and removes the waste, also quiet.
Any Ideas?
 
Canisters and HOBs are both good filters, a lot of it depends on personal preference. Any filter is going to release a little mulm back into the tank after cleaning when it all gets stirred up.

You're also going to need a bigger tank to keep all those fish properly, regardless of filtration, probably inside 6 months.
 
Eheim still makes the best cansister filters around (IHMO) - but I also agree with the above posters - no matter how many filters you provide, a 30g is a 30g - and not large enough for Discus. Personally, I think a heavily planted, established 75g w/ an Eheim 2217 and 3x 300W heaters cranked up to 82°F is a good *starter* tank for discus.
 
To answer your original question:

You can go with either, but truth be told you will get a lot more out of a canister filter than you will a HOB filter. But you will pay for it of course as they are a lot more expensive.

I prefer them for many reasons:

Media choices and spaces. You get to add basically anything you want, and choose where it goes.

Long term cost. Canisters are far less expensive to run over time as you will very rarely need to change out any of the mechanical and biological media. In fact I haven't added anything to any of mine except for peat and occasionally carbon for the last two years. My HOBs have had many cartridge replacements however.

Supposedly good for planted aquariums as the outflows can be placed to greatly reduce the surface agitation, keeping CO2 from leaving the water. Also this makes them easier to keep quiet at lowered water levels.

Choice in placing outflows and inlets. HOBs are fixed in place whereas cans can allow you to place in and out exactly where you want it.

Those are some reasons to buy a canister. Aquaclears are great too though.


Media? Peat filtration is a great option for angels and discus; especially if your source water is on the hard/alkaline side. But the only media you really "need" per se would be the mechanical and biological stuff.



And yes, a bigger tank. A pair of angels do nicely in a 30g but more than that, and discus...well, go with something like a 55g.
 
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