julielynn47
Fishaholic
Opinons wanted... Which do you prefer?
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HOB or Canister filter?
- Thread starter julielynn47
- Start date
AbbeysDad
Fish Gatherer
Well first, I don't think I'd put a canister filter on anything less than say a 50g.
I have two Aquaclear 70 HOB's (with AC50 impellers) on my 60g. The AC design allows me to decide what media to use (they do not use cartridges like many HOBs do). They are now both filled with bio-sponge and topped with polyester fiber for water polish. The benefit is I can pull the media basket with the filter running, clean and replace.
If they were both to break, I might go with a canister, who knows.
I have two Aquaclear 70 HOB's (with AC50 impellers) on my 60g. The AC design allows me to decide what media to use (they do not use cartridges like many HOBs do). They are now both filled with bio-sponge and topped with polyester fiber for water polish. The benefit is I can pull the media basket with the filter running, clean and replace.
If they were both to break, I might go with a canister, who knows.
I re-plumbed and adjusted the flow of a 2 tray 800 liter per hour canister filter to suit a Betta in a 5 gallon cube it allowed me to have 8 liters of extra water in the system, It only had 1 tray with some medium foam in it
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julielynn47
Fishaholic
Thanks for the responses. Please keep the opinions coming! I am trying to decide if I want to stay with the HOB I have in my 55 or go with a canister.
I bought a canister for the 75 I am setting up, but I have yet to actually run it. I don't even have water in the 75 yet. ( my patience with setting up this tank astounds even me....lol ) So I really have nothing to compare too as yet.
I am just thinking that with the canister I have has so many choices of what media I can put in it...with enough room to put it in... I say enough room because I have the 10 gallon shrimp tank and that little HOB does not allow for much media of any kind. I attempted to add some Purigen to it yesterday and I had to really work at it to get anything extra in the little filter system. I had thought I would like to try the Purigen in my 55 gallon, just for water clarity, but I have so much media in the AquaTech HOB now I know I can't get anything else in that space. So I thought it would be nice if I could layer it from bottom to top like with the canister, instead of from front to back and running out of room. I wanted the Purigen to be the last thing the water touches before returning to the tank. I know there is no way that is going to happen with this HOB filter. And the filter has already quit working once, so I know I will have to replace it anyway soon.
I bought a canister for the 75 I am setting up, but I have yet to actually run it. I don't even have water in the 75 yet. ( my patience with setting up this tank astounds even me....lol ) So I really have nothing to compare too as yet.
I am just thinking that with the canister I have has so many choices of what media I can put in it...with enough room to put it in... I say enough room because I have the 10 gallon shrimp tank and that little HOB does not allow for much media of any kind. I attempted to add some Purigen to it yesterday and I had to really work at it to get anything extra in the little filter system. I had thought I would like to try the Purigen in my 55 gallon, just for water clarity, but I have so much media in the AquaTech HOB now I know I can't get anything else in that space. So I thought it would be nice if I could layer it from bottom to top like with the canister, instead of from front to back and running out of room. I wanted the Purigen to be the last thing the water touches before returning to the tank. I know there is no way that is going to happen with this HOB filter. And the filter has already quit working once, so I know I will have to replace it anyway soon.
Well, filter choices depends on a number of factors but it really comes down to personal choice and as long as the filter, be it HOB, external cannister or internal filter is suitable for the tank size and stocking / bioload waste.
I have used all three different types over the years and I have no real preference for any except that the internal takes up space inside the tank and can sometimes look somewhat bulky.
So that leaves the choices between the two types, cannister and HOB, both have pros and cons.
HOB has much easier access for those maintenance services of the impeller and general clean every now and again so thats a big plus in my book. You can actually use whatever media you choose as long as theres room for it, my own HOB originally had these silly cartridges and I still have them unopened in the packet! :d I just simply swapped those cartridges for sponge, a few ceramic noodles in a little bag at bottom and filter floss on top, works very well I have to say, keeps the tank flowing nicely and crystal clear water as I do change the filter floss every week.
I have another HOB by Fluval on my 25 gal long that actually has separate pull out trays for the sponge, ceramics and filter floss, this is a nice feature but not all HOB's have this.
Cannister does have a lot more space for much more media of your choice so that something you must consider, especially for larger tanks as well as if you having say plecos or BN as they are basically poop factories so you need something with lots of media to deal with that kind of bioload. Maintenance cleans are less often than HOB's but can be a bit of a task lifting out a heavy cannister full of water from the stand cabinet and opening the filter up without water going everywhere (double tap connector valves on the hoses are a must imho) I tend to use a sink basin and put the cannister in the basin to catch any water runnoff from the filter (a bucket works just as well but access to open the top of cannister can be limited this way).
Basically HOB is more maintenance cleans and limited to media quantity but access a doodle, while cannisters rquires less maintenance and holds more media but more troublesome to do the maintenance cleans.
Don't forget, cannisters, depending on the size you have can have much more flow so that could be useful in whatever stocking choices you have.
Personally I feel larger tank should have cannisters as a matter of choice but this is not always feasible so 2 HOB's would still be a good choice for large tanks.
It all depends but I think the choice of filter really should suit your tank size and stocking choices, that imho should be the deciding factor.
I have used all three different types over the years and I have no real preference for any except that the internal takes up space inside the tank and can sometimes look somewhat bulky.
So that leaves the choices between the two types, cannister and HOB, both have pros and cons.
HOB has much easier access for those maintenance services of the impeller and general clean every now and again so thats a big plus in my book. You can actually use whatever media you choose as long as theres room for it, my own HOB originally had these silly cartridges and I still have them unopened in the packet! :d I just simply swapped those cartridges for sponge, a few ceramic noodles in a little bag at bottom and filter floss on top, works very well I have to say, keeps the tank flowing nicely and crystal clear water as I do change the filter floss every week.
I have another HOB by Fluval on my 25 gal long that actually has separate pull out trays for the sponge, ceramics and filter floss, this is a nice feature but not all HOB's have this.
Cannister does have a lot more space for much more media of your choice so that something you must consider, especially for larger tanks as well as if you having say plecos or BN as they are basically poop factories so you need something with lots of media to deal with that kind of bioload. Maintenance cleans are less often than HOB's but can be a bit of a task lifting out a heavy cannister full of water from the stand cabinet and opening the filter up without water going everywhere (double tap connector valves on the hoses are a must imho) I tend to use a sink basin and put the cannister in the basin to catch any water runnoff from the filter (a bucket works just as well but access to open the top of cannister can be limited this way).
Basically HOB is more maintenance cleans and limited to media quantity but access a doodle, while cannisters rquires less maintenance and holds more media but more troublesome to do the maintenance cleans.
Don't forget, cannisters, depending on the size you have can have much more flow so that could be useful in whatever stocking choices you have.
Personally I feel larger tank should have cannisters as a matter of choice but this is not always feasible so 2 HOB's would still be a good choice for large tanks.
It all depends but I think the choice of filter really should suit your tank size and stocking choices, that imho should be the deciding factor.
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julielynn47
Fishaholic
Aquaclear 70
Can you tell me what the footprint is of the Aquaclear 70? I want to know if it will fit between my tank and the wall. So I guess what I mean is how wide is it from front to back?
edited to add--- well, only the part that hangs "out" of the tank from front to back that is.
Can you tell me what the footprint is of the Aquaclear 70? I want to know if it will fit between my tank and the wall. So I guess what I mean is how wide is it from front to back?
edited to add--- well, only the part that hangs "out" of the tank from front to back that is.
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The decision on the filter should be made once you know what the aquarium will be used for, meaning the aquascape and fish species, and if plants are intended. Different fish have differing needs for water current, and this is a major factor of filters. Plants generally reduce the need for stronger filters (here meaning the equipment, not the function), another factor to consider.
Edit: Forgot to mention that of the two, I would recommend canister over HOB. I used HOB for several years but would not any longer. I use a canister on large tanks (my 70g and 90g, and former 115g), but on smaller tanks I use a dual sponge filter. This is about as easy and efficient as you can have in tanks under 50g, assuming the fish are forest fish not requiring strong water currents, which all of mine are. B.
Edit: Forgot to mention that of the two, I would recommend canister over HOB. I used HOB for several years but would not any longer. I use a canister on large tanks (my 70g and 90g, and former 115g), but on smaller tanks I use a dual sponge filter. This is about as easy and efficient as you can have in tanks under 50g, assuming the fish are forest fish not requiring strong water currents, which all of mine are. B.
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AbbeysDad
Fish Gatherer
The AC70 is 6" front to back with 4" extending behind the tank, The AC50 is about 4.25" front to back with about 3" extending behind the tank.
(Note because I have the two, I opted to use AC50 impellers in the AC70 filter for slightly reduced flow. Another nice thing about the Aquaclear HOB design, in addition to being able to choose the media is that the AC20, AC30, AC50, AC70 motors are the same and the impellers are interchangeable (The AC110 is of the same basic design but has a larger, unique impeller).
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julielynn47
Fishaholic
Thanks so much! I think being about to add whatever media you want, like a canister, is nice feature. And it should fit. I think I am going to seriously look into this one when I replace the one I have now.
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julielynn47
Fishaholic
I am kind of excited to find a HOB that works like a canister as far as media goes. I didn't know about them. And I like the ability to use what media I wish to use instead of what the filter housing dictates.
cowgirluntamed
Fish Herder
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUNSUN-HW-6...004086?hash=item43df782df6:g:eY0AAOSwyQtVn0W4
I have this canister filter on a 5 gallon tank. If you want flow, keep the spray bar holes pointed toward the inside the tank and for lesser flow point towards the wall. It has 3 sponges in it, course, medium, and fine. I also put in polyfil and just added some biomedia to the bottom(water flows from top and out the bottom in this one). One con is, when you open it, make sure you have something underneath! Lol. It likes to spill water out. Also the clips pop off easy but are also easy to put back on. Works really well. Basically a sponge filter that's not in the tank! Lol.
I have this canister filter on a 5 gallon tank. If you want flow, keep the spray bar holes pointed toward the inside the tank and for lesser flow point towards the wall. It has 3 sponges in it, course, medium, and fine. I also put in polyfil and just added some biomedia to the bottom(water flows from top and out the bottom in this one). One con is, when you open it, make sure you have something underneath! Lol. It likes to spill water out. Also the clips pop off easy but are also easy to put back on. Works really well. Basically a sponge filter that's not in the tank! Lol.
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julielynn47
Fishaholic
That is a tiny little canister!
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