Suggestions on filters?

[AbbeysDad]

If when you build a great biofilter, all you need is a small filter for mechanical filtration - The Very Best Aquarium Filter. (food for thought)

 

[FishFriend11]

I second on getting an AC70, since you can have 2 sponges in it and it does a great job of keeping the water crystal clear. The sponges are easy to rinse out and last forever, so no cost. I have AC filters on my 30g (AC70) and my two 5 g's (AC20). I prefer more flow, since I have more fish than usual.

 

[Slaphppy7]

I have 6 of the AquaClears, really like them, as well...but I ditched the sponges, and just use a layer of cut-to-fit poly batting in the bottom of the basket, with extra ceramic media...toss the batting each week during WC's, and replace with a fresh piece...cheap and easy...I hate messing with dirty sponges

 

[madmark285]

I hate messing with nasty sponges, I just use a fresh piece of poly batting after every weekly WC, and added more ceramic media in the space the sponge(s) took up...

If you are using disposable poly batting, how often to you need to clean the sponge?

 

[Slaphppy7]

If you are using disposable poly batting, how often to you need to clean the sponge?

Never...I don't use the sponges at all, the poly serves as my mechanical filtration.

 

[Fishmanic]

@Slaphppy7
I hope you don't replace ALL the poly at once. Use two or three layers and maybe replace the dirtiest layer when doing you filter cleaning.

 

[Slaphppy7]

@Slaphppy7 I hope you don't replace ALL the poly at once. Use two or three layers and maybe replace the dirtiest layer when doing you filter cleaning.

I only use, and replace, one layer, maybe 1/2" thick...the rest of the filter chamber is filled with ceramic media. This is done weekly during my WC's. Filters are cleaned monthly.

 

[Ellabee]

Hey guys.

I need some suggestions for a filter for my 10g and 29g tank.

The 29g tank filter is absolute trash and doesn’t do any good. The one in the 10g is also trash and splashes like there’s no tomorrow.

I definitely don’t want sponge filters. HOB or internal for the 29g and only internal for the 10g.

(Sorry if that was confusing, lol)

Hi I have had aquariums for probably 30 years or more. I’ve tried every kind of filter you can imagine. I have 23 tanks of various sizes. In my personal opinion the
Grech hob with UV filters are great. You can turn the UV light on or off. It also has a surface skimmer attached to it. They are super quiet and you can adjust the flow and you can either turn the surface skimmer on or off. They do come in different sizes. They are very effective and easy to maintain. You will have to order it online. As a second choice I choose the Penn Plax Cascade. If you’re looking for canister filters I have several of the Sunsun UV . For larger tanks these are much more efficient.

 

[Ellabee]

Hi I have had aquariums for probably 30 years or more. I’ve tried every kind of filter you can imagine. I have 23 tanks of various sizes. In my personal opinion the
Grech hob with UV filters are great. You can turn the UV light on or off. It also has a surface skimmer attached to it. They are super quiet and you can adjust the flow and you can either turn the surface skimmer on or off. They do come in different sizes. They are very effective and easy to maintain. You will have to order it online. As a second choice I choose the Penn Plax Cascade. If you’re looking for canister filters I have several of the Sunsun UV . For larger tanks these are much more efficient.

I wanted to add that I do not like aqua clear. It can’t even come close to comparing to the Grech.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Why would anyone want a UV sterilizer on a filter where you are trying to GROW bacteria?

 

[FishGuest5123]

Little late on this convo but I like the Aqua Clears too. I have 3. Only issue is in a power outage, even briefly, they can lose their prime and end up dry before I realize it’s off. They usually make noise before that though. I keep sponge filters in with them just in case. Great filter otherwise. Aqua Tech is a good lower end filter.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Little late on this convo but I like the Aqua Clears too. I have 3. Only issue is in a power outage, even briefly, they can lose their prime and end up dry before I realize it’s off. They usually make noise before that though. I keep sponge filters in with them just in case. Great filter otherwise. Aqua Tech is a good lower end filter.

They won't lose their prime if the water level in the tank is high enough, but yes, it will happen with lower water levels.

 

[FishGuest5123]

Actually, bio-sponge material is even better than ceramics, plastics, and rocks as a platform for beneficial biology. Ceramics and pumice get coated in detritus. plugging nooks and crannies, yielding them less effective which is why manufacturers (and their marketing teams) recommend replacing half the media with new on a periodic basis.
Filling a HOB with sponge material effectively makes it a HOB sponge filter and as we know, there are thousands of large fishrooms that run exclusively on air driven sponge filters.

I have one 29G tank running only on a 50G air driven sponge filter and it stays clearer than some of my other tanks.

 

[Ellabee]

Why would anyone want a UV sterilizer on a filter where you are trying to GROW bacteria?

I have no problems with bacteria. I use stress zyme . I also have well water. My plants thrive, never any parasites or fungus or bacteria infections. I prefer my water to stay balanced and clean. Especially my tanks with scaleless fish. I can’t stand algae, so there’s another reason that I use them. As far as a new tank and getting good bacteria, are use filters from other tanks of mine that are cycled thoroughly. Very seldom do I lose any fish. In fact I have a beta that is 10 years old. Angelfish that are 12 years old. Seven year old gourami. I have five bumblebee gobies that are going on seven years old. I have anything from cichlids to community to black ghost knife fish, discus, 10 varieties of loaches. I raise electric blue long fin rams. That is just a few of what I have. So in retrospect, I find that crystal clear clean water is best, Plus I do not run the sterilizer 24 hours a day. And my planted tanks also thrive with the sterilizers.

 

[FishGuest5123]

They won't lose their prime if the water level in the tank is high enough, but yes, it will happen with lower water levels.

Tanks have plenty of water but they go dry. ?‍