Filter for a 25g

[YaYgoldFish]

I was wondering what the best filter i could get for a 25g would be. I'm going to try and limit this to about 180-200$. I was thinking about a fluval 305 or something like that..any good ideas?

[Drumachine09]

I would say an AC 50 would be sufficent. Arent you getting a 55 though?

[Rue]

I agree with Drumachine, AC50 would be more than enough...

[YaYgoldFish]

yeah i MIGHT so i wanted a filter that qould be REALLY awesome for a 25g, and just okay to pretty good for a 55g so that if i get the 55 i can buy an AC or something smaller.

[gm72]

I'd recommend stepping up to the AC 70 for a 25. I have dual 70s on both of my 40 long tanks, awesome filtration. The 50 however would be sufficient. The 70 would just kick butt.

[YaYgoldFish]

yeah i thought about it a little more last night and probably getting the 70..the lfs usually has loads of specials so i might get a fluval 105 for cheaper so i might get that..

[gm72]

Any time you can get a canister you will be better off than with a HOB. I am not familiar with the 105, so can't speak to it directly.

Edit: The gph of that 105 is pretty small. I'd either go with a bigger canister or stick with the AC70.

[Incredulous_Ed]

I would go with the AC 70.

[YaYgoldFish]

yeah i checked online and the 105 has a gph of 85 while the AC has 100, so the AC it is. Just gota wait till thursday..

[dev]

I would definately try to get a Fluval 205 canister for a 25 gallon. It has an actual filter circulation of 110 gallons per hour and an amazing 4.6 liter media capacity.

If you feel you need more circulation an inexpensive AquaClear 30 or 50 Power Head would do the trick. You can also get an in tank filter for the powerhead to help you with particles and back up the canister. The AquaClear 30 Power Head is $20 and pumps 175 gph.

- In my 33 gallon I'm using Fluval 205 combined with a Juwel Compact H in-tank filter with a 265 gph powerhead for circulation and backup.
- on the other hand my 29 gallon is perfectly fine with only a Juwel Compact H with a 160 gph powerhead, I guess this equals an AquaClear 50 Power Filter, only it has a little more filter media.

[YaYgoldFish]

Thanks for all the ideas. But one thing: Are Aquaclear 30 different from Aquaclear 30 powerheads? My lfs sell AC 30's for like 25 bucks..never checked for the "power head" part..Gives me some thing to think about. Thanks!

[gm72]

A powerhead just pushes water to create current in the tank, the AC30 HOB is an actual filter.

[dev]

A powerhead just pushes water to create current in the tank, the AC30 HOB is an actual filter.

gm72 is right, of course, but you do you get a filtering component for the powerhead aswell. They are excellent as particle filters as they have a large surface in contact with the water inside the tank, and don't have to pull the dirt out of the tank to filter it.

To clearify, I meant a powerhead only as an addition to a canister (or even a hangon filter). Sometimes you will find that while a certain canister provides more than adequate biological filtering, it may not do enough for the circulation in the tank.

Here is a picture of a filter module for an aquaclear powerhead (sold seperatly).

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[gm72]

The picture you posted is that of an optional filtering attachment, called the "quick filter" attachment. It is not included in the sale of the powerhead itself but rather is an add-on. At least, that's the case here in America. Maybe they are regularly sold as a package overseas?

Edit: OPPS! Sorry, just read where you mentioned it is sold separately. My mistake!

[dev]

The picture you posted is that of an optional filtering attachment, called the "quick filter" attachment. It is not included in the sale of the powerhead itself but rather is an add-on. At least, that's the case here in America. Maybe they are regularly sold as a package overseas?

Edit: OPPS! Sorry, just read where you mentioned it is sold separately. My mistake!

Nah, it probably didn't say that when you read it the first time, I edited it to make it clearer that this was an optional thingy - probably while you were typing :D

[gm72]

Sneaky post!!!! :c2:

Thanks for making me feel less stupid!

[Dave-id]

I'm not a big fan of powerheads myself.
For the price of the powerhead plus the filtering attachment, you probably could have bought the HOB that would provide even better filtration. Plus you'd have less stuff in your tank.

[dev]

I'm not a big fan of powerheads myself.
For the price of the powerhead plus the filtering attachment, you probably could have bought the HOB that would provide even better filtration. Plus you'd have less stuff in your tank.

If you read the posts carefully you'll see that I didn't intend it as a replacement for a hangon or canister ;)

More often than not canisters or hangons that provide more than adequate biological filtration lacks a little in the field of circulation and particle filtering. A powerhead or in-tank filter is much better at this, since they don't have to drag the water and particles out of the tank. Often giving you more waterflow and more particle filtering for less money, compared to upgrading your canister or hangon.

[zackish]

I just gotta rena xP2 off bigalsonline.com for $75 and so far it is working excellent. You can't even hear it. It can handle up to 75 gallons so it would be more than enough. Depending on how stocked you have the tank you might even be able to get an xP1 or if you want try the cascade filters. For a tank so small I don't even see a reason to spend that kind of money.

[Dave-id]

If you read the posts carefully you'll see that I didn't intend it as a replacement for a hangon or canister ;)

More often than not canisters or hangons that provide more than adequate biological filtration lacks a little in the field of circulation and particle filtering. A powerhead or in-tank filter is much better at this, since they don't have to drag the water and particles out of the tank. Often giving you more waterflow and more particle filtering for less money, compared to upgrading your canister or hangon.

You're right about everything except that they lack in circulation. This is only true sometimes, since it's entirely dependant on how much circulation you actually want. I didn't notice the OP say anything about wanting more current, but I did just now notice that his current tank's inhabitants (in his sig) would benefit from the current. So I think in his case, HOBs will be lacking in circulation :P

Which means most of my opinions would not really apply then. I'll state them anyway :P

Personally, I tend to view current as a limiting factor to the amount of filtration I can use. But that's based on the type of fish I've always kept. I'm never completely satisfied with my level of filtration, so I always look at it as "how much more filtration can I add before the current gets too strong?".

If you actually need more current in your tank, a power head will provide your extra circulation very efficiently, and the added filtration will come as a bonus. He could still match that level of filtration with an HOB that would be cheaper, but the flow would be much less.

Your point about particulate filtration being more efficient inside the tank is a good one too, just remember that a foam filter over the inlet of your HOB or canister filter would accomplish the same thing as a foam filter over the inlet to your powerhead.

[YaYgoldFish]

I went and once i was at the lfs i grabbed the fluval 105 in one hand, and the Aquaclear 70 and powerhead.They were the same price. I talked to the worker(very knowladgeable) and decided to go with the fluval 105. It's good for 25g so i dont know if its going to be that great, but im guessing it should be better than my broken AquaClear 50. If i find in don't like it, i might be able to bring it back.

[YaYgoldFish]

EDIT: Well i set up the fluval tonight and its awesome, makes no noises and works great!

[gm72]

You'll eventually need more filtration, like adding an AC 30 or 50. However, the 105 will be a good starting point for you.

[YaYgoldFish]

yeah but for now its working pretty well with my 25g. I dont know if its equivalant to like getting an Aquacleaar 70 for a 60g since the AC 70 is rated for i think 40-60 gallons since my fluval 105 is rated up to 25gallons.

[gm72]

You will find that you'll need to cut the "ratings" in about half for most filters. Always better to overfilter than underfilter.

[YaYgoldFish]

so a fluval 105 for a 12g tank? Isnt that a bit extreme..

[dev]

so a fluval 105 for a 12g tank? Isnt that a bit extreme..

Considering I use a 205 and a Juwel Compact H 1000 l/h for my 33 gallon (combined these are rated for 70-75 gallon or more), it is not very extreme. The throughput of a 105 will not be a problem for most 12 gallon set-ups, and the extra filtration certainly won't do any harm. In my case I need the extra circulation, and some of my fish are quite messy.

A better question might be, is it really required? For 10-15 gallon tanks I generally use either a Fluval 2+ underwater filter or a small AquaClear PowerHead with the QuickFilter attachment. These can't even be compared to the filtering capacity of a Fluval 105.

I think the "cut rating in half" view is a bit narrow. The need for biological filtration depends way too much on your set-up, stock and feeding routines. While a much overrated filter will give the newbie some slack, you won't find me using a 405 for a 50 gallon with tetras and dwarf cichlids. I know of much more fun ways to waste money :)

On the other hand - for a canister you may want to cut the rated gallon per hour in half. That rating is for a new and clean canister, not for one that's been gathering dirt for months.

[zackish]

But a general statement is the rating on the filter is not based on what it can really handle. Look at your stocking in your tank too. More fish, more filtration needed.