Best Filter?

[birddancer]

I have the option between buying a fluval or aqua one canister filter for a 55 gal tank. I have an existing internal one that has handled the workload so far but that was with just a few fish in it. I'm moving in 2 Clown Loaches to add to my neons, cardinals and plecos who are already in residence. The clowns have been quite happy in a 40 gal tank with the aqua one 750 and a few airstones (they're just bubs), but I want to ensure they are happy in the bigger tank. Would it be better to go the fluval 205 or 305? Or the Aqua One 1050?

I would have just got another aqua one but upgraded to the 1050. But we've had alot of problems with the existing one despite it being about 2 months old.

[Diana]

I have not used the 'Aqua One" filter.
You say you have had problems with it, even though it is new. This is not a good sign.

I do not like the Fluvals.

Perhaps a Rena Filstar XP3, though they also have problems (including skyrocketing price).

If you have to pay that much, maybe an Eheim? The quality is there, according to others (I am not impressed).

The Aqauclear 110 would work very well on this size tank. I have several, on a 50 gallon and on a 72 gallon tank. These are very good filters.

Are you moving all the fish out of the 40 gallon?
For a while you could run both filters on the 55 from the tank where the Clowns are now, as well as the one that is on the 55 now.
Add a new filter, and when it is colonized take away one filter, put it back on the 40 and restock the 40 gallon.

[onebto]

Ill be honest I only have experience of Fluvals only being in the hobby for a year I have a fluval 405 backing up my internal filter.

In the 9 months (I know that's not a huge amount of time) I have had my fluval 405 it has served me well no failures , easy to maintain and clean , its quiet (sits in the cabinet in our living room).

The negatives I have found: Sometimes it can be a bitch to prime after a clean and I have found that it is better to prime throught the inlet hose than it is to fill the canister with water first. The second easily remadied is the hose you get with fluvals is like that crinkle stuff i have found that the pipe can build up with considerable waist as mentioned this is easily remidied I changed the hose for clear pipe much better.

I have found the people that have worked in the Aquarium stores and have sold these things and dealt with the break downs and refunds and who are also keen Aquarists
can give you a better feed back than I.

I have read with great interest about the subject of external filters and which one is best on a few forums I am a member off It is a very subjective discussion.

I think you will find people that will support all ranges and models.

I would say that I have no complaints with fluval but cannot compare my experience to any other make and that is only 9 months running time.

I think there is one irrefutable thing the bigger the better when it comes to filtration Loaches enjoy as well as demand good water.

I look forward to reading further comments and recommendations in your thread and I would also be interested to here which unit you go for and why.

[Diana]

For a really good article about filtration go to the Seachem website and look in their library for an article. The title is something like 'A primer on aquarium filtration'
I will see if I can find it, and how closely I can link it.

[Diana]

http://www.seachem.com/Library/Articles ... tionPrimer

This is not a direct link to the article itself (it is a download) but scroll down the page to the article.

Tons of info there, especially a couple of pages in, about the optimum thickness of the sponge material for the best removal of debris.

Essentially: Cartridge media is very poor.
Thicker masses of sponge of various cell sizes is MUCH better.

[onebto]

Interesting article in fact the whole page has some interesting articles thumbs up good link thank you

Regards onebto

[HSTurning]

I have only been keeping fish for a few years. I used HOB when I got started and upgraded to Marineland C series. I have had no problems with them.

I have
1 C220 on a 46 bow Fresh. Have had this filter for 15-18 months
1 C220 on a 29 Salt. Have had this filter 12-15 months
1 C360 on a 55 Fresh. Have had this one 12 - 15 months

All are in the living room. They are quiet other then the random air bubble. The only problem I have had it priming them when I first got them, but that was my fault. I didnt keep the hoses vertical. An air pocket formed and wouldnt prime. No problems since. I like them and would recommend them to anyone. Again i have no experience with any others.

[plaalye]

I'm with Diana on the Aquaclear for HOB filters, the best by far IMO. I bought my first cannister about 8 months ago and after much research I bought an eheim classic. It's been trouble free so far and silent!

[birddancer]

Thanks for the advice guys! And GREAT article......

In the end I went with the same as my old one (but bigger payload), the Aqua One 1050. As it turns out many ppl have had probs with the spray bars due to the holes not being large enough and clogging up. I was advised to simply take the spray bar off and it's made a world of difference! And the loaches love the man made "waterfall"!!. It should also make the water quality even better due to more water being moved around the tank.

I would now highly recommend the Aqua One canisters to anyone - just don't use the spray bar!. lol

[plaalye]

Very easy to make the holes bigger!

[birddancer]

Very easy to make the holes bigger!

Lol, that's what I said. But Hubby ain't too handy with the drill ;P

[HSTurning]

I know many women that are more handy then men. You're not using the spray bar so whats the harm in giving it a try. If it don't work its not a big loss.

[kimura]

My two cents :

I have a small aqua clear HOB that has been used on and off for the last
twenty years. Maybe it had ten years of use in the those twenty years
of me owning it but i never had an issue with it if i did any maintenance.

I currently use fluvals 2 404s, 1 304 and an FX 5. I've heard the complaints about them but usually buy them for the price. I bought
my 304 for a round 50.00 new on ebay and got my 404s for around 70.00.
I did have to be patient and wait for good deal but you can usually
snipe them if you are pretty patient.

The do have a few problems but nothing too major in my experience.
When priming or restarting make sure the water level is above the
filter output. Also i've found that if you make your filter lines very
straight with no slack at all you can GREATLY increase your filters
output. I kinda took that for granted the first time I sent one up.

I did have a sealing issue once and eventually replaced the rubber seal
around the edge and it seemed to fix it. It would leak and i had to
place a dumbbell on to to hold it tight.

Bottom line on fluvals: yeah they arent the best but they work for me
since I find them affordable with patience and it's convienient since i have a few I can rob parts from them if need be. I once broke my impeller
cleaning my 304 and used the one off my used 204. The flow was
reduced but it saved me while i waited for another in the mail.


Sorry for the rambling and spelling.

[Mr. Loach]

Here's some sound info for you - Aqua One products arn't worth the boxes they come in.

If Ehiem used the same pipes as Fluval i would say go for them, but since they don't - Fluval all the way.