best HOB filters?

allaboutfish

allaboutfish

AC Members
Jul 12, 2011
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memphis, tn
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johnathon dunn
ok so i have aquatech and tetra filters right now. i pretty much HATE my aquatechs but theyre ok. i LOVE my tetras though. i was really looking to upgrade my aquatech 30-60 and putting that on a different tank, i was going to go with an aquaclear 110 bc thats the highest rated HOB ive seen, but i keep hearing of aquaclears overflowing and that would be a disaster. so does anyone have a recomendation for a HOB filter that is rater for above 100 gallons, and isnt insanely expensive?
 
Off the top of my head I don't know any that are rated for tanks that high, but considering most people, most fish people anyways, "over-filter" their tanks, I would bet you will be getting reccomendations to use two filters anyhoo:) I have a few aqueon filters, upgraded from an aquatech, a tetra whisper (whisper my rear end), and a sunsun canister (worked well, but was a pain to clean). I am in love with them. They are very quiet and the outflow is broken by this blue grid thing(I know, real technical) it has to pass through, so it helps with gas exchange and dampens the sound.

On a side note, over-filter was given quotations since most fishy people don't believe it its a real term:D However, petsolutions sent me a 55/75 gallon filter when I ordered a 10 gallon (for my 10 gallon tank)...I do believe that might have been a bit on the over-filter side.

Sorry, I tend to ramble. Hopefully you got something remotely useful out of that ;)
 
To my knowledge, there isn't a single HOB filter that is fully efficient for a 100 + gal tank, except the AquaClear 110, and even that alone isn't quite good enough imo, to provide sufficient filtration for that size tank, on which I would suggest using 2 AC 110's, or a 110 along with a 70.
(I have 2 AC 110's on my 75 gal tank.)
The AC's are excellent HOB filters, probably the best, and I've been using them for years - all sizes, and never had a single one overflow.

I would bet that most, if not all, the people using AC's and having them overflow, is because they've either assempled them improperly, some of the elements haven't been fitted in properly, the media is overly packed in, &/or they're not rinsing/replacing the media well/often enough, or not cleaning the entire filter as they should.
That's my .02 - you can't go wrong with an AC.
 
its for a 55 and i want my tetra 30-60 on there along with a HOB rated for around 100 gallons. i guess ill try the aquaclear. wheres the cheapist place to find one? amazon has been cheapist so far.
 
I have been using Aquaclear for 30 years and have never had a problem with them overflowing. Maybe people are not setting them up properly. They are the best HOB filters. I currently have 10 running.
 
I would recommend maybe getting an Emperor 400 and combining that with your AquaTech 30-60. They are $36 on Amazon plus $6 shipping, so $42 total. They pump 400 gph, certified flow rate...the AC 110 ($57 with free shipping) pumps 500 gph. 100 gph more is not that big of a deal, you can always add a circulation pump (like a Koralia) if you want more flow. Also if you use the cartridges, the ones that fit your AquaTech also fit the Emperor.

Definitely no overflow problems, flexible black plastic which makes it difficult to crack...other than the fact that the bio-wheels are kind of a gimmick, I have nothing bad about to say Penguin or Emperor filters. If you stuff them full of AC media, they work like a charm :)
 
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