Re: Looking for a good power filter

[Larry Blanchard]

On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:42:01 +0000, Andy Pastuszak wrote:

> I am setting up my 47 gallon corner tank again and would like to
> simplify things a bit. I have a Fluval 404 canister filter I used with
> the tank 2 years ago when I last had it set up. I am debating
> switching to a power filter to replace it, just because maintenance is
> much easier on these.
>

Aquaclear is still the best of the HOB filters. I've got them on two
tanks. But I've got a Rena XP1 canister filter on another tank and I find
it easier, or at least as easy, to maintain. And the outlet bar does a
much better job of circulating the water than the Aquaclears do.

Both require a major cleaning every other month. But with the small
sponges in the Aquaclears, I have to rinse them out every other week. The
larger sponges in the Rena only get rinsed out once a month and I'm
beginning to think that's overkill as they're never very dirty. I may go
to every other month on those as well.

My experience is based on heavily planted tanks. If yours are not my
experience may not be applicable.

[Andy Pastuszak]

On 2008-07-03 12:46:15 -0400, Larry Blanchard > said:
>>
>
> Aquaclear is still the best of the HOB filters. I've got them on two
> tanks. But I've got a Rena XP1 canister filter on another tank and I find
> it easier, or at least as easy, to maintain. And the outlet bar does a
> much better job of circulating the water than the Aquaclears do.
>
> Both require a major cleaning every other month. But with the small
> sponges in the Aquaclears, I have to rinse them out every other week. The
> larger sponges in the Rena only get rinsed out once a month and I'm
> beginning to think that's overkill as they're never very dirty. I may go
> to every other month on those as well.
>
> My experience is based on heavily planted tanks. If yours are not my
> experience may not be applicable.

My goal is to have a heavily planted tank with Freshwater Angelfish.
So your experience would definitely apply!

Andy

[Larry Blanchard]

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:15:13 +0000, Andy Pastuszak wrote:

> On 2008-07-03 12:46:15 -0400, Larry Blanchard > said:
>>>
>>
>> Aquaclear is still the best of the HOB filters. I've got them on two
>> tanks. But I've got a Rena XP1 canister filter on another tank and I find
>> it easier, or at least as easy, to maintain. And the outlet bar does a
>> much better job of circulating the water than the Aquaclears do.
>>
> My goal is to have a heavily planted tank with Freshwater Angelfish.
> So your experience would definitely apply!
>

My memory may be faulty on this, but I seem to remember reading that
angelfish don't like a lot of turbulence. If that's so, the Aquaclears
may be a better choice for that tank. But the plants would benefit from
the increased circulation of a spray bar. So I guess there's no simple
answer.

[Andy Pastuszak]

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:50:15 -0700, Larry Blanchard wrote:

> My memory may be faulty on this, but I seem to remember reading that
> angelfish don't like a lot of turbulence. If that's so, the Aquaclears
> may be a better choice for that tank. But the plants would benefit from
> the increased circulation of a spray bar. So I guess there's no simple
> answer.

I'll have to do some reading. The Fluval 304 is up and running now.
Took a while to get all the air our of the canister, but now everything
seems OK.

I don't have a spray bar for it, and none of the local pet stores I have
called have it in stock. So, I am going to have to order it on-line and
wait a few days for it to come in.

Now I just a new impeller for the Aquaclear to make it nice and quiet.



--
Andy

[KurtG[_9_]]

On Jul 5, 12:22*pm, Andy Pastuszak > wrote:
> On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:50:15 -0700, Larry Blanchard wrote:
> > My memory may be faulty on this, but I seem to remember reading that
> > angelfish don't like a lot of turbulence. *If that's so, the Aquaclears
> > may be a better choice for that tank. *But the plants would benefit from
> > the increased circulation of a spray bar. *So I guess there's no simple
> > answer.
>
> I'll have to do some reading. *The Fluval 304 is up and running now. *
> Took a while to get all the air our of the canister, but now everything
> seems OK.
>
> I don't have a spray bar for it, and none of the local pet stores I have
> called have it in stock. *So, I am going to have to order it on-line and
> wait a few days for it to come in.
>
> Now I just a new impeller for the Aquaclear to make it nice and quiet.
>
> --
> Andy

Check the impeller shaft for wear also. Its not uncommon for tiny
piece of substrate to get in between the impeller bore and shaft and
wear rings and grooves on the shaft. You can easily replace the shaft
if necessay as it just pulls out with a pair of pliers and pushes back
in easy.

[Andy[_3_]]

On Jul 5, 8:27*pm, KurtG > wrote:

>
> Check the impeller shaft for wear also. Its not uncommon for tiny
> piece of substrate to get in between the impeller bore and shaft and
> wear rings and grooves on the shaft. *You can easily replace the shaft
> if necessay as it just pulls out with a pair of pliers and pushes back
> in easy.

Ok, just need to buy the parts.

[KurtG[_9_]]

On Jul 7, 12:40*pm, Andy > wrote:
> On Jul 5, 8:27*pm, KurtG > wrote:
>
>
>
> > Check the impeller shaft for wear also. Its not uncommon for tiny
> > piece of substrate to get in between the impeller bore and shaft and
> > wear rings and grooves on the shaft. *You can easily replace the shaft
> > if necessay as it just pulls out with a pair of pliers and pushes back
> > in easy.
>
> Ok, just need to buy the parts.

Check out the Maxi-Jet line of powerheads. They have quite reasonable
flow and head rates and are very dependable and cheap. Or the Danner
line of Mag Drive or small POndmaster by Danner which also have very
respectable head and pressure values, better than the typical pumps
found in use with factory made filters of any brand. The Maxi Jet and
Danner brands are all submersible and the Maxi-'s are smaller than the
average coffee cup is and rated at 1200 GPH and put little to no
latent heat back into a aquarium which is also a plus in a lot of
cases. Both are pretty darn cheap to buy as well. I use a lot of the
Maxi-Jet 1200 and 900 sized powerheads for pushing water to sumps etc
on my various setups and the smaller 400 and 600 Maxi and the even
smaller 404 etc for current making in the tanks, or pulling water out
for water changes. Just a nice small all around dependable pump that
works as advertised for a long time. Stay away from the Aqua Clear and
Hydor powerheads. Aqua Clar may make a gread HOB filter but their line
of powerheads suck in regards to longevity of use and flow and head
rates.