UNCLERUCKUS
"THE ALL POWERFUL Q !!
so which filter gives you the best results for maintaining quality water for your tanks? is it economical? is it manufactured or homemade?personally i like emperor 400's, eheim 's, and the fluval fx5.
best filter
- Thread starter UNCLERUCKUS
- Start date
Pat Kelly
CCA Member
I have 23 aqua clears running. No major problems. I know the one on the 90 is atleast 15 years old. Yeah, sometime when the power goes out I have to restart a few but what the heck.
I try to run 1 type of power filter so that it makes it easier to buy supplies.
I do plan on cutting back on them soon. Electric....
I try to run 1 type of power filter so that it makes it easier to buy supplies.
I do plan on cutting back on them soon. Electric....
kaj41354
Members
Tough choice there. I you are talking about a large display tank, i have always had my best luck with Eheim or if it gets real big (dream) I would go with a Wet/Dry. But, all the smaller tanks I go with different variations on the Sponge Filter theme.
iamzrad
Members
It really depends on your tank size as others have mentioned.
On my 75gal, I need two filters.
One has the media and filtering agents and one has "polishing" materials.
I use my eheim 2217 as the media filter and a magnum 350 for fine polishing. The eheim has a polishing pad in it, but with all the media in there, it takes a while to clear up the water and make it polished, but it can do it.
The magnum is just there to make the process a lot faster and what a magnificant job it does.
On my 75gal, I need two filters.
One has the media and filtering agents and one has "polishing" materials.
I use my eheim 2217 as the media filter and a magnum 350 for fine polishing. The eheim has a polishing pad in it, but with all the media in there, it takes a while to clear up the water and make it polished, but it can do it.
The magnum is just there to make the process a lot faster and what a magnificant job it does.
longstocking
Members
Wet dry...
Then I guess I would pick eheim then aquaclear.
I run all three.... but honestly I use sponge filters for the post part.
DIY wet dry's are really easy to make
Can be cheaper as well. Not as cheap as sponge filters though
Then I guess I would pick eheim then aquaclear.
I run all three.... but honestly I use sponge filters for the post part.
DIY wet dry's are really easy to make
Can be cheaper as well. Not as cheap as sponge filters though 
kbeaudean
Members
I use 2 aqua tech's on the bigger tanks with spong filters in all. I run a magnum 350 from tank to tank everyday. The magnum 350 is also used for a quick vacuum of the gravel from time to time.
F8LBITE
Members
Im a fan of Emperor 400's and 280's they use the same filter cartridges but become noisy over time.
tash
Members
When I was younger I really liked the Aquaclears. I still do. But right now I am using a diy dump filter. I posted about it on here a while back. And I submitted more details on it's construction (along with the canopy) for the Biotope. My 10 gal quarantine tank has a hob (whisper I think? it came with the tank) and I added a sponge filter and plan to remove the hob and maybe try to use the 10 gal for something else if my husband doesn't object too much
I think it really depends on what you want/need in a filter. We built one because my husband didn't want to see any of the equipment at all. Even a hob was too much, and he did not want to see the heater at all either. So the heater is in the filter and everything is concealed in the canopy. If I had a fishroom though I would definatly not go with that design. It makes it harder to preform maintence and to catch fish etc. In a fishroom I would probably try the mat filters, or go with regular sponge filters. Either powered by air or powerheads. But in a fishroom I would probably be doing a lot of breeding (if the fish cooperate ) so I would want to make sure no fry got sucked into the filter.
I think it really depends on what you want/need in a filter. We built one because my husband didn't want to see any of the equipment at all. Even a hob was too much, and he did not want to see the heater at all either. So the heater is in the filter and everything is concealed in the canopy. If I had a fishroom though I would definatly not go with that design. It makes it harder to preform maintence and to catch fish etc. In a fishroom I would probably try the mat filters, or go with regular sponge filters. Either powered by air or powerheads. But in a fishroom I would probably be doing a lot of breeding (if the fish cooperate ) so I would want to make sure no fry got sucked into the filter.
davidhusker
Members
Ive used all of them, and really, they are all great.
Pat Kelly
CCA Member
I also use about 70 sponges and the sponge wall that I have posted in another thread. I did not mention before because the poll was on which
power filter. Like I said, I went to aquaclears about 15 years ago and not too many problems. Sometimes get a little noisey. But thats always with a lot of years on them.
power filter. Like I said, I went to aquaclears about 15 years ago and not too many problems. Sometimes get a little noisey. But thats always with a lot of years on them.
Spine
Members
I use sponges on all my small tanks and most of my mid size tanks (30-75g)
I use Aquaclear (HOB) for any Mid size tanks that needs extra filtration or water movement. I'm like Pat, I try not to use a lot of electricity.
I do prefer the aquaclears because of their foam filter blocks and it's ease to maintain.
For my display or large tanks ( 100g & up) I use Ehiem canisters.
Mine are quite and have never caused me any problems. The only knock that I can think of on a Ehiem is their price. I've bought all of my Ehiem's used .
I've never had a problem finding one and usaully at a decent price. Since I always buy them used I think that speaks for their durabilty too.
I use Aquaclear (HOB) for any Mid size tanks that needs extra filtration or water movement. I'm like Pat, I try not to use a lot of electricity.
I do prefer the aquaclears because of their foam filter blocks and it's ease to maintain.
For my display or large tanks ( 100g & up) I use Ehiem canisters.
Mine are quite and have never caused me any problems. The only knock that I can think of on a Ehiem is their price. I've bought all of my Ehiem's used .
I've never had a problem finding one and usaully at a decent price. Since I always buy them used I think that speaks for their durabilty too.
danger_chicken
Swim Fishy Swim!
For HOB's I consider myself an aquaclear snob. I like Aquaclear 110 best (I even use it on 20g tanks)
For Canisters I like the Fluval FX5
I also use sponges and w/d, it really depends on the setup.
For Canisters I like the Fluval FX5
I also use sponges and w/d, it really depends on the setup.
crazyclowntang
Members
For hang on backs I like aqua clears and emperor 400's. I like the the emp. 400 a little better only because it gives you the element of wet/dry filtration with the bio-wheel. I think both are great.
crazyclowntang
Members
I also have a marineland canister filter that claims it has no bypass, but whatever the case I think it is a hell of a filter and my tank stays real clean and I have it crowded.
dogofwar
CCA Members
I quit using canister filters a few years ago. Too hard to clean...so I don't.
I like air-driven boxes and sponges.
I also build my own "dump" filters: basically a wet/dry that sits on top of the tank...with water pumped from the tank...and dumped back into the tank via gravity.
I like air-driven boxes and sponges.
I also build my own "dump" filters: basically a wet/dry that sits on top of the tank...with water pumped from the tank...and dumped back into the tank via gravity.
Eheim makes one of the best filters in terms of build quality, reliability, pump longevity, noise, and mounting/set up hardware. This is all negated by the fact that their manuals are terrible and more so that their warranty department treats individual consumers pretty poorly. They make a wet/dry system which is an amazing machine; we had one on our 135 and the tank was fully cycled within about 3 weeks which is amazing for a tank of that size that wasn't seeded.
We didn't like have 10+ high dollar filters that a company wouldnt stand behind so we have been selling them and shifting to the Marineland Emperor Series and the HOT Magnum Series w/ biowheels as they provide good wet/dry filtration for the money. The Aquaclear filters have a better fit and finish than the Emperors, but lack a wet dry componenet. With that said, they are also a lot quieter and they do move a lot more water than the Marineland. We would up doing Marineland/Tetra/United Pet Group because their warranty department is great. Otherwise, we would have stayed with Eheim or gone with Hagen.
We didn't like have 10+ high dollar filters that a company wouldnt stand behind so we have been selling them and shifting to the Marineland Emperor Series and the HOT Magnum Series w/ biowheels as they provide good wet/dry filtration for the money. The Aquaclear filters have a better fit and finish than the Emperors, but lack a wet dry componenet. With that said, they are also a lot quieter and they do move a lot more water than the Marineland. We would up doing Marineland/Tetra/United Pet Group because their warranty department is great. Otherwise, we would have stayed with Eheim or gone with Hagen.
crazyclowntang
Members
couldn't agree any more fishmeds. Well said.