Acquaclear HOB s canister filters??

**fishluvr** · 11-26-2010, 11:53 PM

over the past 5 years I've gone through several HOB type filters, and soon after i started i had found that the aquaclear was perfect for me. the bio-wheel type ones sucked. but now, I've been wondering is their an advantage to canisters or hob's at all especially when it comes down to the sponge in my AC70 (i have two btw on a 55gal).

the problem is that the sponges get so clogged up with debris that it kills me every time i go to clean them, rinsing them under water, swishing them around in a bucket, over and over again drive me crazy. any suggestions, or does a canister filter eliminate or at the very least solve this problem?

**Pleco380** · 11-26-2010, 11:58 PM

I like AC's best. Canisters can leak and when they do, you'll hate them. At least that's my experience. They do have advantages but personally AC's are my favourite filters.

**FishyPastor** · 11-27-2010, 12:07 AM

I use AC's I clean my sponges once a month. It seem to work fine.

**Cliff** · 11-27-2010, 12:09 AM

I've owned a lot of ACs, they are great filters

I prefer canisters for these reasons:
1) you can place your tank a little closer to the wall
2) they are typically quieter
3) they can hold more filter media for more BB
4) you can hide them in the tank stand.

If you get a larger canister, like a XP3, you MAY not have to clean it more than what you are doing right now, but there are no guarantees

Out of the canister filters that I’ve owned, I like the XPs the best. Simple and proven design. Never had a problem yet.

**dbosman** · 11-27-2010, 01:03 AM

If your sponges are a pain to clean, they're working. Too hard perhaps, but working.
I drive water through mine to clean them.

It may be that the sponges are too full internally to ever get good and clean again. Since you have two filters, I'd try one new sponge and see how bad it gets in a couple of weeks.

**fishluvr** · 11-27-2010, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by FishyPastor

I use AC's I clean my sponges once a month. It seem to work fine.

do you turn your filters off when you feed, if i was to leave mine for a month, my filters would blow up lol. not literally but i would imagine they would get clogged, between food and the damn goldfish super long super thick poop clogging up the sponges (dont ask about the goldfish (rehomed)) i switch the AC's intake tube over to the lowest so that its not intaking as much water but at every feeding i still see most of the food get sucked up in there. so i clean the sponges every week and again its a pita!

**brianyu** · 11-27-2010, 02:06 AM

buy a good canister , then they will last for some years before is leak , enjoys those quit time and nice water movement for years , i think is priceless!

**fishluvr** · 11-27-2010, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by brianyu

buy a good canister , then they will last for some years before is leak , enjoys those quit time and nice water movement for years , i think is priceless!

the AC's i have had for years, probably over 4 years, and are virtually quiet as long as the water level remains high and there isn't any sand/gravel in the impeller. no noise what so ever

**brianyu** · 11-27-2010, 02:16 AM

that the point , it does make noise when water is low , and you can never have water movement like canister filter , a good canister can last 7 -10 years before is leak . in the end it always you decision .

**Aydreean** · 11-27-2010, 02:35 AM

I've had an AC70 on a 55 gallon once. When it's operating right it's pretty darn quiet. A very low hum and the water trickling. I loved it because I could change the amount of flow super easily and cleaning the sponges were as easy as shaking/squeezing them in warm water.

The reason I stated "when its operating right" is because the first AC70 that I had had a misaligned impellor or something and make the worst scratching noise ever. I ended up just giving it away.