HOB filters?

Cam-L · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Location: Canada

Which one is better and queiter?

Marineland or Aquaclear?

cjacob316 · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Location: Lafayette, La

no experience with ac's

but i just bought an emperor, it's great, love the biowheel, it's a little noisy to start but it quiets down, it also comes with a plastic media basket to fill with whatever you want which is nice
_________________
55 Gal Malwai/Victoria 29 Gal Haplochromis sp.44 "Red Tail" fry tank 29 Gal soon to be Tanganyika 1.5 Gal Crowntail Beta

smellsfishy1 · Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: Palestine

I use both and like them both but for different reasons.
AC is quieter and cheaper to run.
Marineland offers a bio-wheel/wet-dry feature that I like.

Whichever features you want will be the better filter for you.
Both offer media options, are easy to maintain, dependable, and move a lot of water.
My two favorites for HOB's and you can't go wrong with either. Thumb

KaiserSousay · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: PartlyCloudyFlorida

Toby_H · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Location: Detroit, Mi

I have used most brands of HOBs by this point... and have chosen to use only Aqua Clears anymore...

There are two main reasons for this choice...

A) AC makes the highest gph HOB... While there is a lot more to filtration than gph... gph does matter and is important...

B) Ease of media cleaning and lack of a need to replace or rebuild cartridges. I have a lot of tanks and do my best to keep them all very clean, so this is important to me.

I also find it quite easy to use alternative media combinations in the Aqua Clears compared to competitors...

Although that is not to say that Penguin or Emporers are bad filters...

Provided you keep the bio wheels turning, they do what they are advertised to do... although I'm personally convinced that a typical aquarium has plenty of 'surfaces' for bacteria and special bio media is not in any way needed... but it doesn't hurt either...

Both these brands are made of a much more flexible plastic as opposed to the hard / rigid plastic of the Aqua Clears...

They all make splashing noise when the water level drops in the tank... but topping off the tank as needed is a very simple logical solution that we should eb doing anyway...

They can all be loud if the impellers aren't cared for... and are all typically quite when properly set up and cared for...

I find some of the off brands more prone to problems, but the brands mentioned in this thread all seem to hold up well provided basic care is offered...
_________________
The happier you make your fish the happier they will make you

Minimum requirements means minimum happiness for all

Toby_H · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Location: Detroit, Mi

Flippin double post... I never double post... Razz

...okay obviously I do every once in a while...
_________________
The happier you make your fish the happier they will make you

Minimum requirements means minimum happiness for all

Cam-L · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Location: Canada

Thank you everybody.

I think i'll try AC because is quieter.

Which one is good for 46gal bow front ?

Dj823cichild · Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Location: Philadelphia, Pa

I would go with the AC 70 Cam-L. I always over filter. I have a AC 50 on my 20 gallon and it works great. I have a AC 70 and a Emperor on my 60 gallon. Keep us posted.

Toby_H · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Location: Detroit, Mi

I've owned several if not all the sizes of Aqua Clear HOBs... Anymore I wouldn't buy anything but the AC 110. They hold so much more media, can easily be turned down to accommodate smaller tanks, seem to have less issues, etc...

I ran an AC 110 at full power on a 29 gal tank with (Pool Filter) sand substrate... the sand stayed on the bottom and the Dwarf Cichlid fry had no problem navigating the tank...
_________________
The happier you make your fish the happier they will make you

Minimum requirements means minimum happiness for all

KaiserSousay · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: PartlyCloudyFlorida

timbruun · Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada

I agree for sure. I have 2 AC 110 on my 55 and they work great. Quiet as can be and very easy to change media and clean.

jh82 · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Location: St Louis, MO

I have about 15 tanks going right now. I have Aquaclears, Emperors, Penguins, Whispers, Aquatechs and some XP canisters. If I had to choose just one HOB, I would chose the Aquaclear without question.

I like having two filters on my tanks. On a 46 gallon bowfront I would put an AC 70 on the left side and an Emperor 280 on the right side for 580 gph total. That way you can put the intake tubes in the corners giving more room in the middle for your rock work. I have this setup on one of my 40 gallon breeders. It does a very good job on a heavily stocked tank.

Cam-L · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Location: Canada

Thanks jh82.

Two filter is good option. How about one AC 50 and one Penguins 200?

Dj823cichild · Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Location: Philadelphia, Pa

I suggested the AC 70 but if you have the money go for the 110! Why short change it when you could boost it up even more! You guys have me thinking now lol on upgrading my AC 70 I have that and a Emperor 400 on my 60 gallon tank now.

cjacob316 · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Location: Lafayette, La

after owning both marineland varieties, I would definitely suggest using the emperor, well worth it, the main plsu to the pengun is a bit of a lower price and lower profile intake
_________________
55 Gal Malwai/Victoria 29 Gal Haplochromis sp.44 "Red Tail" fry tank 29 Gal soon to be Tanganyika 1.5 Gal Crowntail Beta