View Full Version : Which filter do you recommend and why?
My 15g tank is up and running great. Crystal clear water, 0 nitrogen levels...everything seems to be perfect right now.
I am using a Marineland Penguin 150 with a biowheel.
I have read a bit on the site about the Aquaclear brand and people seem to prefer them.
So my question is which filter do I buy for my new 55g tank? I will be using the mechanical filter that came with it, but know that it will not provide the bio filtration needed. It will act solely as backup mechanical filtration. I will purchase one of the following:
1. Penguin 350 with dual biowheels
2. Aquaclear 70 with "waterfall"?
Like I said, I am very happy with the performance of the penguin 150 I have, but am always open for newer better stuff. The price difference is negligible so that is not a factor. I do not know how the aquaclear's wet/dry works as I cannot tell by the pictures on the box or online. I am interested in the experience you have had.
opinions?
Remember to approximately cut the rating of the filter in half. I would recommend an Aquaclear 110.
Remember to approximately cut the rating of the filter in half. I would recommend an Aquaclear 110.
Okay. But that's a new one to me.
Why?
Dead quiet, powerful, large media capacity.
bigger is always better...
But is the aquaclear just quieter or is it a better filter?
Most of us will tell you both.
Don't mean to be a pain, and as new to this hobby as I am, I trust all your opinions, but can you elaborate a bit as to WHY the aquaclear is a better brand?
I ask because my lfs only stocks the penguins so I would have to order the aquaclears.....well and because of my uhhhhhhh great thirst for knowledge:c2:
In my experience they are more reliable over the long haul. They are also far more quiet than a biowheel, no splashing.
Check out the AC 110 here:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
NickFish
03-08-2008, 05:08 PM
They are more reliable, better built, and more advanced filtration media, than other brands. Don't forget quieter and more efficient design, allowing all water to pass through all the media.
Standard filtration for a 55 gallon would be an aquaclear 110, however if you want to go above and beyond getting 2 aquaclear 70s instead, while not nessesary, would be better than a single 110. Since having one big filter can really mess up your water parameters when you clean it out or change the media around.
Aquaclears are great on a budget, and almost as good as canisters while staying at a fraction of the price!
Ellen4God
03-08-2008, 05:20 PM
Aquaclears are great on a budget, and almost as good as canisters while staying at a fraction of the price!
That sounded like a PERFECT promotional line for AC. lol
I don't have much to add to the conversation. I have a Penguin Biowheel right now. I'm considering changing to AC or a canister.
They are more reliable, better built, and more advanced filtration media, than other brands. Don't forget quieter and more efficient design, allowing all water to pass through all the media.
Standard filtration for a 55 gallon would be an aquaclear 110, however if you want to go above and beyond getting 2 aquaclear 70s instead, while not nessesary, would be better than a single 110. Since having one big filter can really mess up your water parameters when you clean it out or change the media around.
Aquaclears are great on a budget, and almost as good as canisters while staying at a fraction of the price!
Agreed about the dual filters. I run dual AC70s on both of my 40 gallon long tanks. Great water movement and filtration.
Adrian
03-08-2008, 06:06 PM
I just upgraded from a whisper 60 hob to a aquaclear70 on my 37 gallon tank.
I have noticed 2 things that I don't like.
1.) You have a very hard time controling the water flow on an AC. You have 2 options full, and almost full. On my Whisper 60, I could have cut my flow to nothing if I so chose too. During the day, I ran my filter at the lowest setting possible, as I am also pumping co2 in my tank. Any surface agitation releases the co2 as fast as I can put it in. Major drawback on the AC.
2.) Yes, they may be a bit quieter, however the plastic covering that fits on top of the filter will rattle. Even on its lowest setting, this "noise" is still audible. My tank is set up in my bedroom, and it is enough noise to keep me awake. Point to ponder.
Now for the pluses. Aqua clear has a great filtration set up. I really enjoy the ease of cleaning them. Many kudo's there. My whisper wasn't hard, just pull the floss, and insert a new one. Aqua clear, pull out the biomax, remove the carbon, if you are running one, and then pull the sponge out. Hmmm, maybe my whisper was easier there too. However having the water forced thru the filter material is akin to a canister filter, which is what I should have gotten.
Time will tell.
jbeining75
03-08-2008, 06:45 PM
I run two AC 110's on my 55 gallon Oscar tank....
NickFish
03-08-2008, 06:54 PM
Yes, they may be a bit quieter, however the plastic covering that fits on top of the filter will rattle. Even on its lowest setting, this "noise" is still audible. My tank is set up in my bedroom, and it is enough noise to keep me awake. Point to ponder.
Have you tried taping down the top of your filter lid? it may take a couple more seconds to remove but should cut down on the noise some.
I run two AC 110's on my 55 gallon Oscar tank....
Nice filtration JB! I have a AC110 and a fluval 404 on my 55 gallon. Who was it that had a AC70 on a 10 gallon? THAT'S strong filtration!
2.) Yes, they may be a bit quieter, however the plastic covering that fits on top of the filter will rattle. Even on its lowest setting, this "noise" is still audible. My tank is set up in my bedroom, and it is enough noise to keep me awake. Point to ponder.
There must be something wrong with yours. I have AC HOBs on 9 of my 13 tanks. No rattling.
jbeining75
03-08-2008, 06:56 PM
Nick I got an AC50 on a 10 gallon that cycled in 3 days.... It came off my brothers 30 gallon...
Adrian
03-08-2008, 07:01 PM
There must be something wrong with yours. I have AC HOBs on 9 of my 13 tanks. No rattling.
I have tried everything I can think of. I am going to the LFS today to buy some silicone to line the inside of the lid with a seal. Let it dry, and then hopefully, with a little luck, I won't have plastic on plastic anymore, but plastic on silicone, which should be a heck of a lot quieter.
There has got to be a better way to control the water flow on these things. I am thinking of modifying the uptake tube by putting a venturi into it. like the butterflies on a carburator. This should effectively reduce the flow. I run full flow at night, but during the day, I want a little filtration, not a ton.
NickFish
03-08-2008, 07:01 PM
Nick I got an AC50 on a 10 gallon that cycled in 3 days.... It came off my brothers 30 gallon...Nice
Have you tried taping down the top of your filter lid? it may take a couple more seconds to remove but should cut down on the noise some.
I was just suggesting this for a solution to your problem, I have never had this problem myself. I have at least 1 AC on all of my tanks and no rattling.
Thank you all for the information. Good stuff. I'm getting the goods and the bads.
Cool.
AC filters are IMHO, the best choice for a HOB filter....
-They are, for the most part, very quiet. With the exception during initial start up and sometimes, the lid does tend to rattle, easily resolved by a few taps.
- The media chamber is by far the best designed for a HOB. Most HOBs, just as Penguin's, Whispers, AquaTech, Ehim, etc. require the use of pre-made cartridges that are placed in vertically due to the flow of the water. AquaClear's media is placed horizontally so it fits not only the various AC filter media types, but you can customize to suit your own needs or wishes with the greatest of easy. For example, if you want to soften your water, simply replace the carbon with a small nylon meshing of peat. The possibilities are endless.
Personally, currently I have the AC110 running on my 29g and the AC50 running on one of my 10g tanks.
Bassfan
03-10-2008, 08:36 PM
For my 55g, i plan on upgrading to just a canister filter, either the rena xp4 or the fluval fx5. The xp4 is rated for 265 gallons, and the fx5 is rated for 400 gallons. The penguin 350 bio wheel filter is also good.
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