After a Canister Would You Ever Go Back To HOB?

[Dacotah7]

After having a canister filter would you ever go back to a Hang On the Back?

I have MTS, and am thinking about a heavly planted 29g with some small tropical fish. The AC70 Big Al's has on sale for $20 + $10 S&H is very enticing.

How much I spend up front is not important.
Important:
* Buying the right stuff the first time,
* It must work well,
* Minimal operating costs, replacing sponges,
* How often I have to service (clean) it.
* Adequate or extra media space inside the filter

I don't run carbon.
I like to use Renew, Purigen and ceramic. I could put a sponge on the intake, but don't like man-made objects in the tank. I like to minimize the mechanical stuff in the tank, having an all natural appearance. Call me fussy.

Some of the AC70 reviews state that the intake is not long enough; sucks water from about mid tank level.

[Zilla]

Yes I would and I have.

I bought a canister last summer and hated it from day one even though it was supposedly the best on the market. That was $280.00 I could have saved or spent better elsewhere...

I don't use carbon either.

I'm not sure how far you'd like the extension tube to go down. Mine reach mid-point on my extra tall 55 and do a excellent job. I vacuumed the tank once a week as well, so there is no need for the intakes to go lower than that.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

It would all depend on the tank size and location for me. On a larger tank (40gal or larger) I would stick with my canisters, I love them. One of the big reasons I would go for a canister over the HOB is the increased evaporation I get with HOB filters. Where I live the increased moisture = mold, for this reason I do everything I can to keep evaporation to a minimum. I have nothing against HOB filters, but it's more of a personal preference for me.

[gadget228]

All the filters that I use are Hob's but have to be fair, the only canister I've ever had was twenty years ago and it was a pain to service.

[Lady Hobbs]

I much prefer the canisters by a long shot. No noise, no splashing, no spotting up my glass tops and no knocking over the plants from the water fall. But I agree with SW that on tanks less than 40, I would probably stick with just a HOTB.

[Cliff]

I think it can be a personal preference for most people. As long as the filter has enough of the correct biomedia and flow rate to support your tank, you good to go. I have a canister and a HOB filter on my 55. I’ll be using a HOB filter for my 36 gallon when I set it up this weekend.

I really like the canister better because it’s quite and less noticeable. Also allows you to place the tank closer to the wall.

Eventually when I have the $$$$, I will change all of my filters to canisters

[rhonin]

For me it really depends on what I am looking for.

For my Tanganyikan tank/stand/hood combo I really like my canister, on the other hand my Malawi tank I have displayed, no stand/hood, HOB made more sense; easier access, like the sound.

Then again I also have a few Eclipse systems that I like once I had a DIY filter.

Would I go back?
I never left

[j0hnh0lmes]

I prefer the HOB. As most said it's really preference.

[annageckos]

I am running one canister and four AquaClear HOB and two sponge filters. If I can get a canister cheap ( I paid $10 at a flea market for mine) I will use them, but I had five AC filters from over the years and love them. I like the ease of cleaning the AC when needed, I also like the canister. But I can put out over $100 on a filter, unless it was for a large tank. Basically what I am saying is that both work great, and both have thier places. It is a personal choise.

[Braccus]

I already have.

Wasn't a big fan of HOB's until I tried AquaClear's. My biggest gripe with other HOB's was the noise level but I don't even hear my AC's running.

Though I still love my Rena XP3. I just don't have the room for one on each tank.