emperor filters

[Henrye]

I think the Emperors can be customized quite easily using the empty, extra media cartridge, as well as changing out the filter media in the cartridge. Fosters & Smith even make a replacement cartridge that can hold a sponge, along with their filter/carbon material. I have a package of Marineland double bonded filter pad that I can cut to size and refit either the spare empty cartridge, use in a Foster & Smiths third party cartridge, or even cut and replace the filter media in a standard cartridge. It only cost about $5.00 at Petco for around 300 sq. inches. I do like the bio wheel for attempting to provide for wet/dry filtration, which I believe it does quite well.

That being said, AC makes some excellent filters as well. They are easy to maintain, have plenty of room for different media, and are well constructed. As to noise, I don't find it an issue on my Emperor, but it's also not in my bedroom.

Either one would be an excellent choice. In the end it's just personal preference, not performance that differentiates the two.

 

[manna]

Henrye,

Can you give me a little more info on the Third party cartridge for the emperors? I am browsing Foster & Smiths website and haven't found it. Thanks for the pointer!

 

[oscar119]

I had an emporer 280, was vacuming the other day and removed maybe 2" of water the other day (had probably 6" water above the intake pipe) and it started freakin out like it always does and making funny noises because it can't suck up the water. Why I have no clear since there was plenty of water above the intake tube. Long story short I unplugged it when it started make the noises right away and it seems to be fried. I tried everything to get it back pumping water even letting it run for hours and of course cleaning the whole thing. It just doesn't want to suck up enough water. Don't think I'll be buying another emporer, I'll probably go dual AC500 or canister setup for my next(larger) tank.

 

[insomniac.vivi]

I hear a lot of people saying HOB filters are loud, and I just don't understand that, partly because my AC's have never been 'loud' and they never say what part of the filter is loud.

Now, if you were to say that the water spilling from the filter into the tank is loud- duh, water is supposed to be loud. Fill your tank up more or adjust the flow so the water doesn't spew out so fast. You'll lose a few gph, but it's hardly noticable.

Let's say that the motor is loud- well, it's probably faulty then. From my expierience most noises that appear after using the filter for a while come from a dirty impeller. Sometimes you are lucky enough that you can pull the impeller itself out of the mount and clean the shaft off easily, which solved the problem I had with it once. If the impeller is uneven, it's going to make noise, enough said. If the motor is still making noise, you can attempt a DIY fix, but I wouldn't reccomend it. Send it in or buy another, your choice of course.

I've never owned an emporer, but I can attest to the fact that AC's won't lose thier pressure until a lot of air gets into the system and it loses suction. AC filters here cost about $20-$30 for a three pack of sponges, carbon and amonia reducer. Pretty cheap, IMO.

 

[blitzen25bm]

aquaclears are quiet if taken care of but the emperors ive had (5 of them) rattle like you tossed a pebble into the impeller. but the penguins i have are trouble free.

 

[cabbspapp]

my emporer does a good job of cleaning the water, has a quiet rattle, but whenever i unplug it and plug it back in, or have the flow on the second lowest setting, it rattles like no tomorrow.

 

[Blueiz]

As far as the rattling goes. My penguin was doing that for a while. Well I finally got tired of it and took the magnet and stuff apart, there was a pice of moss wrapped around it. After I cleaned it off and put it back together its quiet as a mouse.

 

[Henrye]

Manna,

Here's the link:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13371&N=2004+113808

 

[Henrye]

If I'm doing a water change, I just kill everything right off the power strip (incl. the emperor), drain and fill, check there is water in the intake section, turn everything back on, and not even a rattle or cough as it starts up. I imagine we all have our own experiences.

 

[manna]

If I'm doing a water change, I just kill everything right off the power strip (incl. the emperor), drain and fill, check there is water in the intake section, turn everything back on, and not even a rattle or cough as it starts up. I imagine we all have our own experiences.

I do the same. I turn off the heaters and filters when changing water, and turn them back on after the tank is full. Probably one reason the AC's tend pull better at lower water levels is that the intake tube has a smaller diameter than the intakes on the AC's. I haven't used the AC500/110, but I have a AC200, and I could put 2 of the AC's intake tubes into the tube on my 280's or 400.

Either way, I have had my emperors make rattling noises, but it's always been when sand gets in the impellers. Sand and impellers don't mix well. My AC200 also vibrates and makes high pitched noises when sand gets into it.

One more thing. You'll find it much more difficult to crack the housing on an emperor than on an AC, which may not be an issue if you are not as hard on your gear as I sometimes am. lol!

p.s. Thanks for the link. It would be worth ordering these 3rd party filters just to get the reusable frame. It looks like it might be better for adding your own floss than the ones that come with the emperors.