What's your opinion on these power filters?
- Thread starter shimek182
- Start date
I would vote for AquaClear as well. I also disagree that their mech filtration capability isnt good. I add floss between two sponges, change the floss weekly and rinse the sponges and they do great mech filtration. For better you need a micron cartridge or a diatom filter. I find canisters more work to clean in regards to mech filtration. If mech is my main concern I would not use a canister for that purpose.
I would also suggest that one is usually better off using two smaller sized HOBs than a single larger one. But then I suggest multiple filters for almost any tank. It costs more but offer more versatility and a bit of a fail safe.
I do not like any HOB that use cartridges as they are usually over priced and more work to clean and often contain carbon which I then have to remove. I also feel the quality of the most popular bio-wheel filters has declined radically in recent years. When I went to replace a 12 year old one this year I sent it back- it is now a piece of junk rather than the well made filter it used to be.
I would also suggest that one is usually better off using two smaller sized HOBs than a single larger one. But then I suggest multiple filters for almost any tank. It costs more but offer more versatility and a bit of a fail safe.
I do not like any HOB that use cartridges as they are usually over priced and more work to clean and often contain carbon which I then have to remove. I also feel the quality of the most popular bio-wheel filters has declined radically in recent years. When I went to replace a 12 year old one this year I sent it back- it is now a piece of junk rather than the well made filter it used to be.
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Strsight off the shelf and what is normally supplied with them, IMO and IME, they do limited mechanical filtration. Almost every serious hobbyist I know, and it sounds like you too, modify them or use a different style media to improve function. I can see them as very adequate for many folks and their tanks. Just not for me. I can load a canister to be way more effective, both mechanically, biologically and chemical if needed. To each, their own. 
I prefer the Aqueon's myself. I like the high flow rate and they are easy to clean and maintain.
I use 1 x Aqueon 10, 6 x Aqueon 30's, 1 x Aqueon 50 and 1 x Aqueon 75. The rest are all sponge filters.
Every 1-2 weeks I rinse out the cartridge and once a month I replace them.
Andy
I use 1 x Aqueon 10, 6 x Aqueon 30's, 1 x Aqueon 50 and 1 x Aqueon 75. The rest are all sponge filters.
Every 1-2 weeks I rinse out the cartridge and once a month I replace them.
Andy
Ptrick125
Learning a lot everyday
I have a bio wheel 400 that I am using for SW... That thing is loud! Meanwhile my smaller bio wheel that is in my bedroom on my 20 is silent... I am also going to get an aquaclear for my SW soon.
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I have 2x 350b penguins and I love them. Very effective, easy to clean, self prime from large wcs, etc. good filters and iv never had one fail
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Also mine are silent except for the water going back into the tank when the waters low
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Rb- I modify the media in virtually every filter I own, and this includes canisters. Most filters come designed to do a bit of everythig- bio, mech and chemical. However, my experience it that most tanks usually want a media mix specifically for that tank. For me the appeal in the AquaClears is their versatility. I think they allow for a much greater assortment of media than most other brands. I also prefer doing spot Chemical filtration using a power filter- its a lot easier to throw a bag of carbon into one than having to deal with a canister.
The big difference for me between canisters and power filters is ease of cleaning. I just have to pull the frame with the sponges and floss to a bucket to rinse and replace. With canister I have to disconnect the hoses, bring the canister into the bathroom or kitchen to clean. Of course I have to do this less often than I clean the power filters. Afterage time to clean one AquaClear is 5 minutes of less while for my Eheims its more like 45 minutes.
But what I can say, is that one's choice of filter should be based on a number of factors. Trying to select the best filter for a given tank and application as well as appearance considerations dictates the choice in the end. I find it is much easier to hide canister intakes and returns than to mask power filters. Canisters also tend to have more media capacity.
For me, once you know the better brands to buy, the selection of a filter or combination of filters should be dictated by the specific needs of any given tank. I even have a tank which uses an Eheim canister, an AquaClear power filter and a hang-on-the-tank (H.O.T.) Magnum loaded 100% for mech waste removal.
The big difference for me between canisters and power filters is ease of cleaning. I just have to pull the frame with the sponges and floss to a bucket to rinse and replace. With canister I have to disconnect the hoses, bring the canister into the bathroom or kitchen to clean. Of course I have to do this less often than I clean the power filters. Afterage time to clean one AquaClear is 5 minutes of less while for my Eheims its more like 45 minutes.
But what I can say, is that one's choice of filter should be based on a number of factors. Trying to select the best filter for a given tank and application as well as appearance considerations dictates the choice in the end. I find it is much easier to hide canister intakes and returns than to mask power filters. Canisters also tend to have more media capacity.
For me, once you know the better brands to buy, the selection of a filter or combination of filters should be dictated by the specific needs of any given tank. I even have a tank which uses an Eheim canister, an AquaClear power filter and a hang-on-the-tank (H.O.T.) Magnum loaded 100% for mech waste removal.
