Which Filter?

[paw-paw]

Hi!

I want to buy a new filter for my 63 gallon tank, but am at a loss as to which filter to chose...

I need the filter to be as quiet as possible, but at the same time I want it to be easy to maintain...

I always had internal filters because other filters just looked so complicated but am now considering different types of filters also....

I read that the HOB filters tend to overflow a lot - is that true? How often do you have to clean them? How do you install them in a tank - doesn't it cause the glass to...I don't know...break?

I also looked at canister filters but they seem to be very expensive...Are they worth it? What is their main advantage? Doesn't it need to be cleaned that often? How loud are they? Do they use a lot of power? I read that with them you have to have something else to oxygenate water - is that true?


so which filter is silent, easy to maintain and efficient?

THANKS!

 

[squeakytoy]

fast, durable or cheap... you can pick two. Really, it will boil down to how much you want to spend. The Ehiems are dead silent, and the pro series are easy to maintain, as well as doing a great job on tank quality. I have never had a HOB overflow anything myself, so I cant verify that one. As to the installation, it's just like the name says, they have a sort of "U" shape, and it hangs on the edge of the tank. Externals will probably be your best bet though, but they are more expensive. Look at the pinned thread on filters at the top of this page to get a good idea of what people are using as well as what they hate. As to the oygenation, that is achieved through surface agitation, not bubbles. If you have the surface of the water in turbulance, that will take care of your gas exchange.

Another advantage to the externals is a somewhat cleaner tank appearance in that you dont have the box attached to the top of the tank.

 

[rabbut]

IMO on anything over 50g, exturnal canisters are the only thing that can cope with it Internal won't cut it, but then I have never used a HOB...

In the UK you have two choices, Tetratec or Eheim for decent canisters. Eheim is available more or less everywhere though... Tetratec are cheaper at about £63 delivered on-line for the EX1200, and nobody that has maintanined them correctly has had reliability issues unless they were damaged in transit... When issues do crop up, even if they could easily be your own fault, Tetratec seem to be very quick off the mark to fix the issue They have only been on the market for arround 3-4 years, so nobody knows how they will preform long-term. They are a dream to work on and next to silent in operation. The Tetratec EX1200 uses 21W of power, if memory serves correctly, and is suitable for your tank. I f you had enough internals to run 60+g, you would use about twice that... Mine get cleaned about once every 6 months

Eheim are the next option, but more expencive. They are available pretty much everywhere, and are proven to be reliable, lasting in many cases in excess of 30 years, with the Thermos and Ecco ranges being the exception. Avoid the Thermos and Eccos like the plague. The Pro 2 is the sweat spot in their range IMO, and a 2028 would be suited to your tank. It would burn 25W, is apparently nearly silent and easy to work. This comes at a price, of arround £120 delivered...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Schmill]

Trying my very hardest not to hijack the thread, but I've noticed no-one seems to mention the Aqua One external canisters. Are they not very good, or is it just that few people have them so not much is known about them?

 

[rabbut]

I have read many good reviews on the Aqua One range, but it is one of a select few ranges that I have not yet personally used There aren't many members on here that I know of that use Aqua One, so I suppose the rare mentions are just lack of exposure and current users of these filters by any of the members

HTH
Rabbut

 

[Schmill]

I shall therefore class myself a Guinea Pig (just because my new tank came with one )

 

[Dan81192]

only 1 option imo

Eheim pro2 2028

dead silent, easy to maintain and ive never had problems with mine

 

[T1KARMANN]

only 1 option imo

Eheim pro2 2028

dead silent, easy to maintain and ive never had problems with mine

+1