I like (and use) AC's; however, my only gripe is that they backflow more easily than some other filters. It doesn't take too much to clog and backflow, especially when using additional media. I like that AC's seem to have very good suction and will start up just fine without priming by needing to add water to the media chamber.
Views on Hagen Aquaclear filters.
- Thread starter SimonWoodstock
- Start date
I detest my AC's. Our power goes out frequently and if I'm not home to reprime them..... Highly annoying to be woken up by the grinding noise of a dry pump also. Last outage one of them quit working altogether afterwards and the other is noisy as all get out no matter how much I fiddle with it. *sigh* The outages are never more than 10-15 min usually, but that's long enough to kill my AC's.
My Marinelands and the other hand start back up again nicely and, while they are initially more spendy, can be modified to re-use the same media over and over just like the ACs
My Marinelands and the other hand start back up again nicely and, while they are initially more spendy, can be modified to re-use the same media over and over just like the ACs
I like ACs OK; very easy to clean. Mine is TERRIBLE at restarting after a power outage and especially after a water change. Much finickier than Penguins/Emperors in that respect, IMO.
Jim
Jim
I use both an AC and a penguin on my 1 tank. The AC is like a water fall. I think its nice that you can chose your media though.
I have 3 ACs on my tanks and during the blackouts in August I was worried I'd have to run around restarting them as per the comments above. As it turned out, they all restarted beautifully each time, no help needed from me.
Lol, the Aqua clear fanboys come out first, then the marinelanders step up.
I don't have any ac's but from what i've heard, they are pretty good. Here's something though. When I went to some kid's house, his dad had an ac 300 on his 30g tank, and the water was like restricted, it wasn't comming out as fast as it should. I took his carbon media out and no difference. He said he's cleaned it multiple times and it's always the same. It's about 2-3 years old, and he said he would just get another one soon since they are so cheap.
Speaking about price, there really isn't much of a proce difference between ACs and panguins/emperors, on Big Al's Online anyway.
I don't have any ac's but from what i've heard, they are pretty good. Here's something though. When I went to some kid's house, his dad had an ac 300 on his 30g tank, and the water was like restricted, it wasn't comming out as fast as it should. I took his carbon media out and no difference. He said he's cleaned it multiple times and it's always the same. It's about 2-3 years old, and he said he would just get another one soon since they are so cheap.
Speaking about price, there really isn't much of a proce difference between ACs and panguins/emperors, on Big Al's Online anyway.
I guess I should experiment with this (I have both 200 and 300), but what happens when you loose the power for say, 30mins? Without the manual priming(-> filling up the water within the container so that it can continue to suck up the water), I guess it won't start by itself?
I have an AC mini, AC200 and AC300. No probems here as far as restarting after a power outtage. We lost power for 16 hours during an icestorm a few years back. All 3 filters started right back up with no help from me.
I have noticed though if the water level is low they may take a few minutes to prime, but they still start.
Another note though.. I clean the impellers one a month. Maybe that is what makes the difference???
As for noise.. the only noise I get is the lid rattling occasionally. Which is solved by re-adjusting it.
I have noticed though if the water level is low they may take a few minutes to prime, but they still start.
Another note though.. I clean the impellers one a month. Maybe that is what makes the difference???
As for noise.. the only noise I get is the lid rattling occasionally. Which is solved by re-adjusting it.
