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AHHHHHHHH...

With all the filters out there, is one better than another?
Does one server a better purpose than another?

HOB filters
canister filters
protien skimmers
UV filters

what is everyones top choice and why?

HOB filters - alot of flow but with it comes frequent maintence, they are also cheaper then most. all and all work just as good but at the cost of high maintence.

canister filters - low flow rate but great filtration, lots of media for biological media and lots of area on the pads so you need to clean them less often. you get just as much filtration from these as HOB at a lower flow rate so its good for fish sensitive to currents. also the majority of it is outside of the tank so you dont have the eyesore.will cost ya 2-3 times more then a HOB.

protien skimmers - these are for salt water really. they skim the surface for floating debrie such as protien that causes a film. this fouls the water and causes more frequent water changes which are costly in saltwater tanks.

UV filters - this really isnt a filter it mostly prevents outbreaks of waterborn parasites and other nasties that infect one fish after another by swimming through the water. most pet shops will run these to prevent outbreaks from one tank to another. this is a debatable thing as far as effectivness is concerned, it depends who ask. they are very costly and need to be replaced as their effectivness falls as they get older.

oh forgot my top choice. this would depend on the size of the tnak honestly. you get into the larger tanks say 55g+ and a strip of HOB filters looks very ugly and take away formt he tank. not to mention the current these things put out. i would go with HOB for anything 55g or under. a HOB and canister combination for anything larger.

the best by far is canister. they last for ages and supply far better filtration then a HOB while being out of site. very important things when you are trying to disapear into your tank.

Last edited by Sin in Style at 12-Feb-2005 17:54

I've never used anything but HOB filters so I can't comment on canisters or any other types of filters. My favorite HOB is Aquaclear by far for many reasons. One is that as the media clogs up, the flow rate doesn't slow as quickly as with many other filters I've used. Also Aquaclears are easy as can be to maintain. Simply rinse the sponge every week or every other week and maybe tear the filter down and give it a good thorough cleaning once every few months and you're good to go. Using 2 sponges or a sponge and biomax are the best options, imo.

btw, I'm going to move this thread to Technical Tinkering.

Hi,
Generally speaking:

HOB style filters are used on tanks up to 55G.
Within the HOB style you have what is considered the
standard and then the "Biowheel" style. Of the two
the Biowheel style filters offer more surface area for
the bacterial colonies that purify the water and in
general, do a better job of filtration.

Canister style filters are for tanks over 55G and
produce very good filtration at high rates of turnover.
These sit on the floor behind the tank, or can be
remotely located some distance from the tank.
Canister filters also come in types as well.

There are the single canister, in which all of the
filter medias are sectioned off, and contained in one
plastic can. These are generally used as one canister
per tank or in larger tanks two or more.

The other type of "canister" devotes one "can" or container
to each type of media and accessories. These are for very
large tanks, or systems where several tanks are in series.
Because of the pump noise, these are usually located remote
from the tank and plumbed with PVC pipe and hoses. There
is a container for the Sponge, one for carbon, one for the
aquarium heater, one for a UV sterilizer, and so on.
These too provide outstanding filtration at a very high
turn over rate.

Protien Skimmers, are used only in Salt Water tanks and are
used, as the name hints, to remove protien molecules from
the tank. The consist of a high tubular column with a
collecting cup on the top. Air is forced in the bottom in
tiny bubbles, and the protien molecules stick to the air
and form a foam in the cup. This cup is removed and washed
out at regular intervals. It works because of the
difference in the specific gravity and other characteristics
of Salt Water. It won't work in freshwater tanks.

The Ultra Violet "filter" is not a filter at all. It is
a water sterilizer. They were origionally designed for
Pet shops, and commerical aquariums, where several tanks
all feed into a central filtration system. When water is
passed through them, the UV light kills virtually anything
alive that is exposed to the light. That includes bacteria
and parasites. The commercial "monsters" have been "tamed"
down to much smaller sizes that can operate on tanks from
10G and up. There is a size for just about any tank that
can be found in the home, and if they don't make one for
that specific gallonage, then you can add one or two more.

They are expensive.

They must be taken apart regularly for cleaning, and
the bulbs should be replaced at a 6 month interval with
new ones.

You should NEVER look at one in operation as the UV
light will destroy your eyes, and you should NEVER touch
a UV bulb with your bare hands as the body oils stick
to the Quartz bulb, concentrate the light and heat,
weakening the glass and causing it to bulge outward
sometimes rupturing, or blocking the flow of water in
the narrow passages.

As far as which filter to use on your tank, that is a
matter of personal preference. Some don't mind a string
of HOBs on the back of the tank, I've seen tanks with
five and six hanging on the back. Others prefer the
canister as it has a generally higher turnover rate, and
can be sat on the floor behind the tank or under it in
the cabinet. Caution should be used with the canister
style filters in that they can produce too much current in
a given tank and wind up blowing the fish around.

Hope this helps some...

Frank


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