Another but unmentioned advantage of air driven filters is what happens during a power outage. Well, I guess I mean when the power comes back on, there is an advantage in that air pumps tend to always start back up and so when the power comes on there is again good filtration in the tanks. With power filters like HOB and canisters, there is always a chance that the impeller or something gets caught and does not start or you lost the siphon and the HOB cannot restart. Besides, if you have a backup power generator it is a lot easier to supply one or two or three outlets for the air pump or pumps than for 10 or 20 or 30 power heads, HOBs or canisters. I think that is why a lot of fish rooms go to air driven filtration, though there are other reasons.
In my area of the world we have power outages at least 6 times a year and some years even more if you count ones of only an hour or two. But those short ones have the same restart problems.
In my area of the world we have power outages at least 6 times a year and some years even more if you count ones of only an hour or two. But those short ones have the same restart problems.