Canister or HOB?

**Sagaris73** · 02-05-2014, 04:06 PM

hi,
I am soon to buy a 50 gallon aquarium from petsmart. It`s just a hood combo so no filter. Ive only had two aquariums previous to this new one and
they`ve both had HOBs. What are the pro`s and con`s to using a canister Filter

**KingFisher** · 02-05-2014, 04:11 PM

Canisters are quieter, less maintenance, have more room in them for media and allow you to have your tank closer to the wall.

Hobs are easier to clean and are cheaper.

**mermaidwannabe** · 02-08-2014, 01:23 AM

I have Aquaclear hobs on both of my tanks, and they're excellent filters. Easy to clean, easy to interchange media, usually (but not always) quiet, and I like the waterfalls. They come with flow control valves to adjust the current, and two intake tubes that allow you to piggyback if you have a deeper tank. Other filters might also have that feature.

I would take an Aquaclear hob anytime over a cannister. Can't be beat, in my opinion.

**talldutchie** · 02-08-2014, 06:12 AM

A good cannister is noiseless. It's out of sight. It's quite a few times bigger than the average hob filter so you have more filter media and therefore more bacteria. They also allow you a lot more freedom in the filter media you use. With a lot of aquarium hoods passing filter hoses is easy and requires no modification. A hob filter might require you to take a saw to the filter.

Only real drawback of a cannister is the pricetag.

**Cliff** · 02-08-2014, 12:17 PM

Cannister filters will also allow you to place your aquarium and stand closer to the wall than a HOB filter as the cannister filter itself will sit under the tank inside the stand.

**mermaidwannabe** · 02-09-2014, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by talldutchie

With a lot of aquarium hoods passing filter hoses is easy and requires no modification. A hob filter might require you to take a saw to the filter.

With a vinyl strip along the back of most lids, modification to accommodate the mouth of the filter box and intake tube of an Aquaclear is fairly easy. Just measure the length and width of the opening you'll need, draw in your lines and a nice sharp pocket knife will carve out the space. Some vinyl strips are soft enough you can cut them with a scissors.

There are no hoses with an Aquaclear, and one certainly wouldn't be sawing the filter. (I assume the poster meant sawing the lid strip.)

There may not be that much of an advantage in being able to place the aquarium closer to the wall. Should you ever need to access the rear of the tank for any reason, it could be a problem.

For instance, if you've attached a background mural and it starts to come off, it would be nice to be able to reach down the back of the tank.

The Aquaclears really don't take up that much room, and for simple, uncomplicated filters that are easy to work with, I've found them the best.

This is just my preference.

-- mermaid

**Stingrayg4** · 02-12-2014, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by talldutchie

Only real drawback of a cannister is the pricetag.

This.

I have canisters on all but two of my tanks. Eventually I'll upgrade those two to canisters as well. They're superior to hob filters in every way.

-S

**Crispy** · 02-12-2014, 05:39 AM

one way that I find canisters are not superior to HOBs is for flowrate and mechanical filtration. I like to use both canisters and HOBs on my tanks. HOBs are generally much easier to clean also.

**talldutchie** · 02-12-2014, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by mermaidwannabe

With a vinyl strip along the back of most lids, modification to accommodate the mouth of the filter box and intake tube of an Aquaclear is fairly easy

Aquariums sold over here tend not to have such a strip.