Power filter for 20 gallon tank?

The 60Hz buzzing sound came from the impeller and magnetic drive assy,
of course. And the filter box acted as a resonator, amplifying the
sound.
I tried AquaClear and Aquaclear Jr. filters, and both made similar
noise.

I find the constant splashing sound of the water spilling back into the
tank
annoying, too. Maybe I should consider other options like a canister
filter.
Or I could get lucky and find an old Aquamaster on eBay or at a yard
sale...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

I wasn't accusing anyone of being a salesman.
*I* was the salesman. But FWIW, and honest one.

In the store we used many of the products we sold,
so I knew which ones worked and which didn't.

In fact I spent much of my time dispelling the misleading
claims of advertisers, and discouraging the purchase of
products that didn't suit the customer's needs.

Thanks to advertising and other misinformation,
talking a customer out of purchasing a bad item
can be harder than selling it to them...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

wrote:
The 60Hz buzzing sound came from the impeller and magnetic drive assy,
of course. And the filter box acted as a resonator, amplifying the
sound.
I tried AquaClear and Aquaclear Jr. filters, and both made similar
noise.

I find the constant splashing sound of the water spilling back into the
tank
annoying, too. Maybe I should consider other options like a canister
filter.
Or I could get lucky and find an old Aquamaster on eBay or at a yard
sale...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

I had no idea the older models buzzed.
I used sponge filters back then, and by the time I started using HOB's,
they didn't make any noises like that so I couldn't figure out what you
were talking about, LOL.
Sorry for the confusion. = )

wrote:

In fact I spent much of my time dispelling the misleading
claims of advertisers, and discouraging the purchase of
products that didn't suit the customer's needs.

Thanks to advertising and other misinformation,
talking a customer out of purchasing a bad item
can be harder than selling it to them...

-Chris-

Amen to that! Been there, done that.

Carl

marineland are worthy
Penguin 330, it's gonna be way overkill but hey at least ya can get rid of
the undergravel filter.
Cheap filter media is more expensive than stuff you can just rinse too.




wrote in message
oups.com...
After being out of the hobby for 20 years I plan to set up a 20 gallon
freshwater tropical aquarium soon. I am an experienced aquarist, having
been in the hobby for 20 years.
For ten years I worked at Ed's Tropical Aquarium, a pet store in
Lynbrook, New York.

I want to keep it simple, and easy enough for my 10 year old daughter
Elizabeth
to help maintain. I plan on using an UGF with powerhead, and a power
filter.
Sadly gone now is my favorite line, the Supreme Aquamasters, made right
here
on Long Island. So I guess I am stuck with the more modern cartridge
models.

Can any of them use bulk floss, carbon, and other inexpensive filter
media?

And which brands are quietest? We sold Whisper, Hagen, and Marineland,
all of which buzzed loudly. Are the TetraTec or Eheim Liberty models
quiet?

Recommendations, please...

TIA,
Christopher Platt

Again... not a fan of the UGF myself. I do not use them away from work.
They are too much of a hassle than they are worth IMHO.

rodger that.
would rather use an airpowered sponge filter or fbf meself.
too many tanks to clean to stuff around pulling out plates!

swarvegorilla wrote:
Again... not a fan of the UGF myself. I do not use them away from work.
They are too much of a hassle than they are worth IMHO.

rodger that.
would rather use an airpowered sponge filter or fbf meself.
too many tanks to clean to stuff around pulling out plates!

I will add to this mention that I find sponge pre-filters are a useful
addition to any HOB filter as they improve bio filtration and preserve
bio colonies when the cartrdge or other filter media is changed. They
are simple to attach to your penguin or any other HOB filter.

Carl

"carlrs" wrote in message
oups.com...

swarvegorilla wrote:
Again... not a fan of the UGF myself. I do not use them away from work.
They are too much of a hassle than they are worth IMHO.

rodger that.
would rather use an airpowered sponge filter or fbf meself.
too many tanks to clean to stuff around pulling out plates!

I will add to this mention that I find sponge pre-filters are a useful
addition to any HOB filter as they improve bio filtration and preserve
bio colonies when the cartrdge or other filter media is changed. They
are simple to attach to your penguin or any other HOB filter.

Carl


True..... just remember to clean them first if you notice a slow in filter
flow.
I like using a nice sized block of coarse foam.
No sense stripping down the whole filter if all that needs a rinse in
aquarium water is the prefilter sponge.
Also doubles in the advent of a blackout as a battery powered air sponge
filter with a few quick mods.

ehlpful bunch eh?

I found a nice new, old stock Supreme Aquamaster
PMEA power filter on eBay, and won the auction.
I paid about $5.00 more than what I sold them for,
but it will be worth every penny IMO.

So while you guys laugh at me fussing with
bulk filter floss and activated carbon in a nylon bag,
I can laugh at you spending all that money
on those expensive filter cartridges.

I have a great record of success with undergravel filters.
Despite your objections, my next step is to find a nice
Nektonics-style one piece UGF plate and power head.

Which brand and model small power head is quietest?

So here's to happy endings!
And new beginnings...

Cheers,
Chris

wrote:
I found a nice new, old stock Supreme Aquamaster
PMEA power filter on eBay, and won the auction.
I paid about $5.00 more than what I sold them for,
but it will be worth every penny IMO.

So while you guys laugh at me fussing with
bulk filter floss and activated carbon in a nylon bag,
I can laugh at you spending all that money
on those expensive filter cartridges.

I have a great record of success with undergravel filters.
Despite your objections, my next step is to find a nice
Nektonics-style one piece UGF plate and power head.

Which brand and model small power head is quietest?

So here's to happy endings!
And new beginnings...

Cheers,
Chris

I do not think UGF are bad, as I have used them for years, especially
in store set ups, They just have a problem with build up under the
plates, which can be 'blown out". They are also not very good for
planted aquariums which are popular than the were 20 years ago.
As for your Nektonics UGF, They are by far the best, Their design does
not allow as much bio muck and has higher flow rates with the same air
pumps or power heads (I have clocked the flow out of the discharge
using a pitcher and and stop watch).
As for price there are reliable HOB filters available for under $20
usd, but your filter is certainly a good deal!
As for the a good quiet power head, I have gone all the generations of
power heads in our aquarium service business, using many in very harsh
envirements. We went from the Hagen and Marineland in the 80s to the
Rios in the early 90s, to the Via Aquas and now the ReSun. I have found
the Via Aqua and even more so with the new generation ReSun to be the
most reliable and with best designed impellers for quiet operation.

Carl