Best HOB power filter?

g20zoom said:
Let me ask...since we are on the topic of an aquaclear.

i have a AquaClear mini on my 10 gallon. Every couple of weeks, I rinse the sponge...but it doesn't seem to catch much. I don't see crap clinging on the sponge, so what's up with that? There is some brown stuff in it, but not that dirty. btw, I have a 2" pleco + 2" fancy goldfish.

Now the weird thing is that when the tank was new, the first few weeks...the poop accumulated on the bottom. A decent amount. Now after a month, I'm not sure where it goes because it's about 1/3 of when the tank was new. I'm guessing the bacteria in the sponge is breaking down the solids before I can see it when rinsing the filter. What do you think?

The bacteria will definatly break up the fish poo faster now. Both of those fish will get too big for that small of a tank. Goldfish need at least 30 gallons for one, and the pleco if it is a common pleco, will get 25+ inches....way too big. I would take the fish back and replace with fish more suitble for that size tank. Just a heads up don't rinse your sponge throughly, a simple "swish" or two to get large debris out would be sufficient, if the flow is not showing any signs of slowing down, I would'nt even touch the sponge. You lose beneficial bacteria if you rinse your sponge out too well.
 
jm1212 said:
i think the penguin 350s are awsome. there are four slots that you can use media basjkets with, and they will fit pretty much anything, plus you get two giant biowheels that provide great biological filtration.

yea, I really like the idea of the bio-wheel but the general consensus is that people like the aquaclear. I'm still on the fence :(
 
It really is just a matter of personal preferance. I have the aqua clears on some of my tanks and I really love them. Thier filtering capacity is fantastic and they are very quiet. I also have the penguin filters, the 350, and the 200 and I really like them as well. However, if my penguins decide to kick it, i have decided that they will be replaced with aquaclears.

Marinemom
 
clawlan said:
yea, I really like the idea of the bio-wheel but the general consensus is that people like the aquaclear. I'm still on the fence :(


well then go with what you prefer... its your tank:]

and just to note.. you can always customize your filter so it best suits you... forget about what the company says
 
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Marinemom said:
It really is just a matter of personal preferance. I have the aqua clears on some of my tanks and I really love them. Thier filtering capacity is fantastic and they are very quiet. I also have the penguin filters, the 350, and the 200 and I really like them as well. However, if my penguins decide to kick it, i have decided that they will be replaced with aquaclears.

Marinemom

i also have penguins and aquaclears, and i would go with aquaclears, because they are quiet, they have very low surface disruption, and they have a way better media, it is just easier to work with the media, change it, clean it, and use it to begin cycles on other tanks, because you can fit it in anywhere! i have 3 aqua sponges in the back on my penguin right now, collecting bacteria
 
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From my previous experience the Emperor 400 has proven to be a great filter for me. I like the spray bar feature that keeps the bio-wheels wet and turning at an adjustable rate. Just my 2 cents :)
 
i think that I am going to go with the AQ70 with an extra biomass filter. That should do everything that I want it to.
 
i love the bio 350..i use it in my tank and have no complaints! even though you have to change the pads, hey its all part of maintenence...our duty to our scaly friends! plus the bio wheel 350 has space for two extra cartriges that you could fill with whatever media you desire!
 
i have an ac50 and no complaints for me! easy to maintain and all media is REUSABLE! plus backed by lifetime warranty
 
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