I can't decide....

What filter should i get for a 20 gallon planted?

  • Aquaclear

    Votes: 15 68.2%

  • Tom Rapids Mini canister (getting 2)

    Votes: 7 31.8%
  • Total voters
    22
Vampie.. experience does vary. it's a good filter for those who like to tinker.(it would benefit with a mod right away as the biomedia can get clogged unless you add a prefilter to the mix) you are also correct with the air leak. again if you like to tinker.... ;)

paintballer..if you inject CO2 in the intake of the AC you may experience cavitation in the pump/impeller of the AC.
with the canister like the tims.. the CO2 would drop in at the biomedia and you may not exoperience the same effect as the water will have time to settle(CO2 mixes in) before getting to the return side.
 
I suspect that this 20 tank is your only or first aquarium. I also suspect that you either already have MTS or will at some point in the future as it is contagious, but not for everyone. Unless you already have MTS I would go with filter that is as cheap in cost but fairly effective like 2 or 3 simple sponge filters and pump which you can get dirt cheap on ebay or even at you LFS or internet. Once your sure you love the hobby save some money and buy a good scalable canister filter with a capacity of 100 gallons on ebay for about $50. Then you have something you can use when you buy that bigger aquarium. Because if you don't have MTS with your 1st 20 tank, chances are you will sell it all on eBay withing one year, so why waste money on intermediate entry level filters, get somthing that has real cleaning power for your 20 and future tanks.
 
If we're going planted, and want to preserve CO2, why not buy a small cansister filter. A small Eheim/Rena filter should not cost too much more than a pair Aquaclear 50s and at the same time provide better filtration.

Btw, Kensfish.com has some of the best prices on filtration is you dont mind mail-ordering equipment.
 
Paintballer99 said:
For co2 tanks, Do I NEED a canister filter? Or can i go for a HOB filter...
Click to expand...

No it is not a necessity, just makes it easier to preserve CO2 especially if your going the DIY route with CO2 production. Canisters allow better placement of return and intake lines allowing you to custom tailor flow pattern or surface agitation. Plus they give you a greater volume of space to fill with bio-media and etc.
 
the caveat to having large amounts of bio media..your tank will only produce bacteria for the stock.

extra biomedia is essentially wasted. or a great place to collect mulm/detritus.

i tend to agree here with CWO... purchase what you can afford then decide is Aquaria is for you.

a filter really only needs to pump water thru the media.. reduce surface agitation and you reduce off gassing of the CO2.

some of the best diffusion of CO2 is done with a reactor..but simple glass diffusers work well too.

there is nothing wrong with canisters if the price is right it's the way to go.

Riiz is right on with the ability to place the lines from a canister. this is a definite plus.
 
Star_Rider said:
the caveat to having large amounts of bio media..your tank will only produce bacteria for the stock.

extra biomedia is essentially wasted. or a great place to collect mulm/detritus.
Click to expand...


Of course, but the extra space doesnt need to be filled with bio-media, it can be overloaded with floss, carbon, etc. Plus you increase the volume of the aquarium and again out-gassing is decreased, and the filter can double as a CO2 reactor.
 
I concede I don't know squat about plated tank needs so please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't under gravel systems also dirt cheap, effective and good for planted aquariums? I didn't mean to insinuate that AC and other hand filters are a bad cheap choice as I use them as well as nitrate filters and they can be had for near nothing used. Just don't want to see you go cheap on a canister filter which deals with water pressure and possible flooding if you go cheap. For the price of two Rapids you could buy a Hot Mag or Mag 350 on eBay and almost forget about your filtering issues and concentrate on your plants. I think those Rapids will keep you busy in fixes, don't skimp on canisters, better to buy used quality then new junk.
 
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