Opinions are useful, but an Eheim for a 29 gal tank isn't the best
answer. It depends much on what kind of fish and the bio load.

My 2cents

I've got a number of different filters I've accululated by buying used
tanks over the years, and I'm using all of them. The worst for me
is an undergravel filter - but for a planted display tank, and not heavily
loaded with fish - it may be a good solution!

Box filters are fine for a smaller tank where you have a vibrator pump
and you don't want to add an expense of a power filter.

Old Whispers for 10-20 gal tanks are junk, clogging up too quick and
have too little water flow.

Hot Magnum and Magnum 350 are good and easy to clean, the Eheim
is a bear to clean and I don't see it moving more water than the
Magnums.

For a number of tanks used in a breeding setup (as I have), foam
filters will NOT suck up tiny fry or brine shrimp and are excellent
bacteria housing. Not good for detritus though.

My favorite power filter, and the only one I'd buy are the aquaclear 300.
Rated at 300 gph (& they do move water!) I've never had one clog up.
and you can slightly adjust the flow if used on a smaller tank.
(& they're currently on sale for $20 in the latest Drs Foster & Smith)

DO NOT discard your filter material when it gets dirty! Wash it out
and return it .. I have filter floss (fabric store - quilt batting!) that
is stillin use for over 5 years. Some older foam is breaking up and
a friend says his big CA cichlids chew them to pieces! ..

Bob

I've been 15 years in the hobby and what I can say is that today, most
filters on the market are very expensive, very complex for nothing and
not very efficient. The marketing hype around most new models is really
getting out of hand.

I don't really recomment filters like the magnum. If you want to go for
powerfiltration, get Eheim, trust me. The best filtration systems
remain the classic German-made Eheim cannisters (Fluvals are toys with
by-passes), good old undergravels and yes, plain sponge filters (air or
powerhead operated ones). Hang-on-the-tank Aquaclears and similar
filters with biowheels are IMHO a major waste of money as they have
by-passes and are poor biological filters. I don't know about the
emperor but if it is built like aquaclears and penguins, its the last
thing I would buy.

Remember that a tank that is properly taken care of doesn't need extreme
filtration except for coldwater, messy species or very large tanks.

Cheers

Dan Norgard wrote:
Does anyone have an opinion of the Emporer 280 vs the Magnum HOT system?
The filter that came with my 29g is getting tired and I think a new one,
perhaps with a bio-wheel sounds good.
Thanks,

Dan