Positioning my HOB Filter

[gwand]

I have a new AquaClear 110 HOB filter to go on a 48.5Wx18.5Lx16H 60 gallon tank. There is only one location in the house where I can place the tank (dictated by she who must be obeyed). However in this location, hanging the filter on the 48.5 inch wall will make it cumbersome to perform maintenance on it, and even more difficult to remove the filter to periodically clean the propeller. Can I hang the filter on the 18.5 inch wall? I will place an air-driven sponge filter on the floor of the other side of the tank.

 

[MaloK]

If you keep the water level at the point the water flows on the surface, not dropping like a fall.

You wont even need a sponge if you want. I ran these on 75 gallons tank with massive fancy goldfishes without problems.

And I mean softball sized Goldfish

 

[MaloK]

Yeah... Loll to answer the question they should be named Hang On Border...

Any side will do.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have a 3 step ladder which I use to service the AC 110 on my 150 gal. tank. I also use it on an in-wall 75 gal. which has an AC 70 on it. I am barely 5'3" and I can reach everywhere in/on the tanks from the ladder.

 

[Magnum Man]

I have 2 tanks that I hang filters on the ends… I see no problems doing that

 

[Colin_T]

Put it on the 18 inch side

 

[GaryE]

I also have 110s, and put them on the end by preference if I can. It does change things. Mulm can accumulate at the far end. You may end up adjusting the planting. @CassCats had a recent posting in her thread about a layout for a tank that I thought was really good.

Most of our fish come from streams, and I always position canisters at one end. It makes for interesting activity with shoalers.

 

[Fishfunn]

Most of our fish come from streams, and I always position canisters at one end. It makes for interesting activity with shoalers.

Plus, putting the HOBs on the end allows for the back of the aquarium to be placed closer to a wall to conserve space.

 

[CassCats]

The side of tank works great, also increases the space the water movement reaches easier so less odds of having dead zones pop up which will reduce the chance of things like cyanobacteria.

The only downside here is that if you've got fish who dislike flow (betta, gourami) then it's a little harder to reduce that flow for them.


My opinion on "HOB filters" though is to bin them and get a canister I've not had good experiences with HOB, and I've come to really prefer canisters for the larger tanks. If, down the line, you feel you're confined space to maintenance the HOB even on the side, a canister often fits under the stand of the tank and takes up less outward room.

 

[GaryE]

@CassCats Heresy!
I dislike canisters, as I have an extraordinary ability to break little plastic parts when I clean them. And I forget to clean them. So if you are clumsy or possibly impatient...

 

[Magnum Man]

I’ve always had many tanks when I had them running, and had most all kinds of filters over the years… and while some individuals are junk, as a general rule, the various types of filters most have something they do better than others… right now, and for me, the hang on tanks are the most versatile and functional, for my tanks between 30, and 70 gallons… I might even say some of the bigger tanks, but I don’t have any of those running right now… I was a big fan of the Magnum series canisters 20 years ago, hence my forum name…

 

[gwand]

Point counterpoint. Keep it going. That’s one of the reasons I like this forum. I know next to nothing, and I get to hear many cogent views.

 

[Fishfunn]

I’ve always had many tanks when I had them running, and had most all kinds of filters over the years… and while some individuals are junk, as a general rule, the various types of filters most have something they do better than others… right now, and for me, the hang on tanks are the most versatile and functional, for my tanks between 30, and 70 gallons… I might even say some of the bigger tanks, but I don’t have any of those running right now… I was a big fan of the Magnum series canisters 20 years ago, hence my forum name…

I like both. The only thing I dislike about HOB filters is for large tanks. I rather not see a large filter hanging on a large tank. Sitting on the back is better, but it takes more space for the tank to sit in a room.

 

[CassCats]

@CassCats Heresy!
I dislike canisters, as I have an extraordinary ability to break little plastic parts when I clean them. And I forget to clean them. So if you are clumsy or possibly impatient...

My issues have been with AC filters mostly. I've had them drain themselves dry for whatever reason and burn out the motor. Dried out all my media overnight and I lost a whole cycle because of it.
I replaced that one with another AC and it did the same dang thing, so I had enough and just forked out the funds for a Fluval Fx4 Canister and I've not looked back since. I've got a Sunsun filter and an Eheim Classic as well and I definitely like them way better.

But yeah, they're more tedious when you do need to clean them, they're not as quick as HOB cleanings, but they've not failed me and I've not lost a cycle because it decided to malfunction on me haha

 

[Magnum Man]

I’ll admit the Tidal’s have some fixable issues, and I’ve had the same thing happen on my Aquaclear’s albeit did not result in burnt out motors, as everything gets viewed at least twice a day, and I would usually notice that…
With the design difference on the Tidal’s, that can’t happen… but they have a few other things, that can bother me… I have one, out of 6 of them, that makes this infernal sucking noise, if the tank level goes down a 1/4 inch ( the others do the same, but at between 1 and 1.5 inches… well within my maintenance parameters ) I’ve watched a few videos on fixing a ton of things about them, but honestly only 1 or 2 things should have been done differently at the factory… I think all I need to do to fix the one that “sucks” is run some silicone down from the top of the skimmer slots, about 2 inches from the top… that particular filter just requires me to top off every other day