Not so new tank establishment

[Turbosaurus]

MGamer- You CAN NOT be serious on the cleaning?

HOB- remove top with two fingers, at tank height, lift out single basket with one hand, rinse, replace, maybe you need a plastic cup to prime, scoop water from tank, poor into HOB and replace top with two fingers.


Canister- remove quick connects, drag the filter out from under tank stand (with water they are VERY HEAVY- my sun-sun on my 125 weighs almost 60lbs when its full! and there is a LIP on the bottom of my stand and I only clear the top by about 2" so it is a very tricky maneuver) unhook clasps, pull off top- against suction (NOT EASY), and somewhere that when you spill gunky water all over it wont matter- ( certainly cant be done with two fingers like an HOB) dump water, rinse media, replace, then refill with tank water using syphon- force top back on, move heavy full filter back under the tank, reconnect hoses, then still mess with priming mechanism to get rid of air pockets and re-run your plug wire back behind whatever is there-

You gotta be kidding- canisters are a PITA

 

[FishFanMan]

Most but not all canisters are pain in the but to clean IMO. That's why I bought my G6. Effortless cleaning like a HOB!

 

[Tinajo]

Ok, all I'm all for easiest to clean so I will go with hob. But--I should have stated earlier(sorry!), this 35 gal tank is a hexagon. There is no way I could fit 2 hob filters, unless I utilize more than the "back side" of the lid (and it would look weird, wouldn't it?). The opening on the back side is no more than 9 inches long. I will look for something else, but when I bought the Tetra, I did so because it said it was 35 gal or more, and because it fit. I really appreciate everyone's feedback! I'm eager to get this tank looking alive again.

 

[Tinajo]

After considering the choices at the pet store, I ended up with a Marineland H.O.T. Magnum Canister Filter, large enough for up to 50 gallons. I can tell the water flow is improved over my last filter set up. I did water testing (without a water change out & before installing the new filter) and the results are: pH7,
Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, Ammonia 0, Temp 76.

So-am I ready for fish? I can't tell what the problem has been, unless it was the filter.

 

[Tinajo]

Correction: Nitrate is 20.

 

[authmal]

Please provide documented proof "that HOBs *will* always have a higher value there than a canister for a similarly sized tank"...


GPH isn't a rating that differ for a tank size that it is on...it is a function of the pumping mechanism, that has no clue to what size tank it is on.

I didn't bookmark when researching filtration. The takeaway I got from the specs of dozens of filters is that HOBs are typically in the 4-6x turnover for their rated tank size, and canisters are at 3-5x turnover. The two I researched most heavily are the AC 70, rated at 50-70 gallon, pushing up to 300 gph/roughly 4-6x, and the Aquatop CF400UV, rated at 75-125 gallons, pushing up 370 gph/roughly 3-5x turnover. That ratio seemed pretty consistent across different makes/models, and doesn't account for head loss, which may vary according to your individual set up and the specific canister filter.

 

[Rbishop]

I didn't bookmark when researching filtration. The takeaway I got from the specs of dozens of filters is that HOBs are typically in the 4-6x turnover for their rated tank size, and canisters are at 3-5x turnover. The two I researched most heavily are the AC 70, rated at 50-70 gallon, pushing up to 300 gph/roughly 4-6x, and the Aquatop CF400UV, rated at 75-125 gallons, pushing up 370 gph/roughly 3-5x turnover. That ratio seemed pretty consistent across different makes/models, and doesn't account for head loss, which may vary according to your individual set up and the specific canister filter.

Turn over of one filter is connected to another filter...turn over is turn over. Just because HOB filter manufacturers make filters with "X" turnover and canister manufacturer do another range, doesn't equate to one type of filter being better than another. You are confusing apples and oranges. Not a soul here that will agree a manufacturers rated tank size is norm or ideal.