what if i get a marineland penguin 330 and a aqua clear 300??
are those two good enough for a 60g??
are those two good enough for a 60g??
whats the best filter
- Thread starter Mert999
- Start date
That would work as well, but I'd take an Emp 280 over the penguin personally, or go with two ac 300's Just my preferences though
Dave
Dave
There is something to be said for getting two filters of the same type, if you're going with two (which is a good idea, IMO). If you have two identical filters, keeping spare media or parts is easier to do. For example, I like to have spare impellers on hand, and if you have one brand of filter, you only need to keep on impeller on hand.
That being said, I'd recommend the Emp 400. I've been recommending Emps and AquaClear pretty much equally, but I'm fed up with the ACs inability to reprime themselves after a water change. My Emp (and Penguins) reprime without fail. My ACs never do. Doesn't matter if they've recently be cleaned or not; they just won't reprime themselves.
So I'd go with the Emps and since redundant filration is such a good idea, I'd consider maybe two Emp 280s. A single 40 would probably also do the trick, provided you didn't overstock.
Also, you can get foam blocks (the AC500 foams work, cut to length) to replace the Emp cartridges. Then you get better mech filtration and you'll never have to buy another Emp cartridge.
HTH,
Jim
That being said, I'd recommend the Emp 400. I've been recommending Emps and AquaClear pretty much equally, but I'm fed up with the ACs inability to reprime themselves after a water change. My Emp (and Penguins) reprime without fail. My ACs never do. Doesn't matter if they've recently be cleaned or not; they just won't reprime themselves.
So I'd go with the Emps and since redundant filration is such a good idea, I'd consider maybe two Emp 280s. A single 40 would probably also do the trick, provided you didn't overstock.
Also, you can get foam blocks (the AC500 foams work, cut to length) to replace the Emp cartridges. Then you get better mech filtration and you'll never have to buy another Emp cartridge.
HTH,
Jim
should i just go with one aquaclear 500?? it is recommened for 100g tanks and can filter up to 150g....
go with 2 aqua clears, bio wheels can be annoying when the stop spinning. you cant just take out the carbon easy like you can with aqua clear, and when one filter is cloggy in a emp, the biowheel wont move cuz al the water is diverted to the non clogged filter pad! argh! aquaclears are like all the benefits of a canister (sponges easy to rinse out dont have to buy new ones*
never believe filter ratings. You want a miiiinimuuum of 8x your tank size in gph. so for a 100g tank, you would want at LEAST 800gph. and more is always better 
I stand by my origonal go with one each. The 500 aquaclear simply because in my experience its the best filter out there right now. The 400 emperor because I think the idea of the biowheels is neat (okay, so i'm old). I wouldn't use the 400 alone in even a 30 gallon tank because it doesn't put through enough water. I use a powerhead for water movement in my 50, along with the 2 above filters, and maybe because I have plants and caves, still don't have a whole lot of current in the far 1/2 of the tank ( the end with the emperor). I've never run into a problem with the aquaclear not repriming itself (maybe i've forgotten). I prefer redundancy but if i had to go with just one filter it would be the aquaclear.
the ACs only have a problem repriming themselves if the water level in the tank is so low that it siphons all the water out of the filter when the power goes out. I have nothign bad to say about the ACs. Sturdy, practical, inexpensive, and most importantly, effective filters.
My Aquaclears won't reprime if the water level drops more than 3 or 4 inches... in other words, every time I do a partial water change. Maybe acceptable for some, but not for me...
As for Emperors clogging on one side only, I've never seen this, in part, because there is no reason the mechanical media on one side would clog before that on the other. Also, Emperors have a spraybar that feeds the biowheel independent of water passing thru the mechanical media. I don't think it's possible that clogged mechanical media would interfere with the biowheel. Maybe on a Penguin, which has not spraybar, but not on an Emperor. I could be mistaken, but I have a number of Emps and have never, ever seen this problem. (Of course, I try to avoid letting my filters run until the media clogs.)
I think statements like 'x filter is too small for a xx gallon tank' are misleading, because stocking levels and maintenance are as important as filter throughput. An Emp 400 could be more than enough on a moderately stocked 60g. It would be insufficient for a tank of that size, though, stocked heavily or with messy fish (e.g., cichlids).
I still think two filters are safer than one big one. Each to his (or her) own, though...
Jim
As for Emperors clogging on one side only, I've never seen this, in part, because there is no reason the mechanical media on one side would clog before that on the other. Also, Emperors have a spraybar that feeds the biowheel independent of water passing thru the mechanical media. I don't think it's possible that clogged mechanical media would interfere with the biowheel. Maybe on a Penguin, which has not spraybar, but not on an Emperor. I could be mistaken, but I have a number of Emps and have never, ever seen this problem. (Of course, I try to avoid letting my filters run until the media clogs.)
I think statements like 'x filter is too small for a xx gallon tank' are misleading, because stocking levels and maintenance are as important as filter throughput. An Emp 400 could be more than enough on a moderately stocked 60g. It would be insufficient for a tank of that size, though, stocked heavily or with messy fish (e.g., cichlids).
I still think two filters are safer than one big one. Each to his (or her) own, though...
Jim
