Bill Smith Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I loaded up several of my tanks with the Grech CBG-800. It has big rectangular baskets that are just like the AquaClear ones, but includes a surface skimmer and on-board 5w UV sterilizer. A real multi-tasker! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LY3YMHG $50 is not pricey when you consider the combined features. I remove the carbon containers and cut about 3 layers of Aquarium Co-Op coarse sponge, and layer those in first, topped with the white sponge that comes with it. For polishing, I top it off with a piece of blue & white floss. Turn the water flow down to minimum for the most hang-time with the UV element. I have three of these in my 20-longs! 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandabunny Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I absolutely love my Aquaclear110 and my Aquaclear70. Since using them I've decided I will never switch HOBs. They make it so easy or biofiltration mods. Space is nice in it. And it's not very loud. And it works as good as when I got them 3 yrs ago. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo2o915 Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 On 9/14/2020 at 5:22 PM, Steven Fletcher said: I'm curious on everyone's favorite hang on back filter. Include pros/cons if you can. I currently have 4 tanks, and on my 40 gallon I decided to try out the Marineland Penguin 375 a while ago. I also bought a Penguin Pro 375 for my 55. The pro mostly seems okay, but I am paranoid that the tubing is going to fall off the pump since it doesn't fully click in (which I have read is a common issue). I have 2 more smaller tanks (10 and 20) that have the smaller versions of them. However, at this point, they are driving me insane. A couple don't prime very well no matter how much water I pour in them. My 375 is loud and rattles now. I tried cleaning it out, including the impeller and reseating it to no success. The biowheels, well whatever, they're there lol. I'm currently considering the Seachem Tidal filters, my only drawback I see with those are of course the price and the fact I can't turn off the surface skimmer. I also like HOBs that have decent room for extra media. I use my own filter floss, sponge filter, and Seachem matrix for biological growth. I wouldn't be buying premade filters. I did have an AquaClear on the 20 gallon in the beginning, and I know many people like it and I love the media room, but they never ever re-prime themselves which is why I took it out of service. So with that being said, what is all of your favorites? I love my Aquaclear 110 it’s amazing I’ve been hearing good things about the tidal though 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanR Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I have 3 Aquaclears, a 70 and (2) 20's. The 70 is a little noisy (the top has a rattle), but the 20's are very quiet. I like the Aquaclears becasue they are so easy to modify. For instance, in my 70, I have 2 sponges and Purigen (to take the tannins out) on the inside, but on the 2 20's, I have 1 sponge and a Co-Op pre-filter. Also, "parts" are VERY easy to get for the Aquaclears. I'm setting up another tank in November and I'm torn between the Aquaclear 30 and the Tidal 35. I don't think I've seen a bad review on the Tidal. Depending on the day, I go back and forth. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genuine_red Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Seachem Tidal series. Saw it on Prime Time Aquatics YouTube channel. It has a built-in skimmer AND it's self priming! Super quiet too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Fletcher Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 I REALLY appreciate everyone's input! Thanks guys! However, it looks like I am still stuck deciding between an AquaClear or the Tidal lol. Maybe I will buy one of each and decide which I like. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sykes Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Am I the only one that doesn't like Tidal filters? I admit the self priming is nice, but that's about my only pro. I didn't find it to be as quiet as most people seem to (I had the 75). The basket is very awkwardly shaped so custom media needs a lot of custom sizing. The maintenance alert thingy is more gimmicky than useful. My biggest complaint though is that there's no way to turn off the surface skimmer. WHY?! 2 different dials for adjusting flow, and yet neither allow you to turn off the surface skimmer. You can turn off the underwater intake to get 100% flow through the skimmer, but not vice versa. I tried blocking the skimmer intake entirely (perhaps a little too well) while having the underwater intake wide open, and that made the motor sound like it was going to explode. On the other hand, I have 2 AC 110s and hardly a complaint. Pair with a pre-filter sponge and they're a dream. I do find that they usually self prime as well. Only real con for me is that they're a bit pricey (though that's true for the tidals as well), which is why I'm using primarily sponge filters now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lebowski Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 #1. Fluval AquaClear (never had the rattle) #2. Seachem Tidal #3. The rest of the non-cartridge HOBs #100. Anything that takes a proprietary cartridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 (edited) Has anyone tried the Dymax Slim Flo units, in particular, the symmetrical SF-500? Edited September 19, 2020 by Streetwise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquachris Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 HOB rating for me is Aquaclear followed by the penguin... the little spinning things on the penguin are useless, I toss them out - but I'll use the compartments 🙂 I really want to try a Seachem Tidal... That one really really intrigues me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquachris Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Ugh I can't edit my post... Was going to add: I toss any of the carbons out. I just use my own thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 I have 2 AquaClears on my 75g. They are plugged into smart plugs so I can turn them off through my phone app when I feed the fish. The app has a timer so I just set it for 5 min and they come right back on. The only time I have to prime them is when I do a water change. My other tanks all have aquaclears as well, except for one of the 10s has a nano tank filter I got from the co-op to try out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael's Fish Room Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Aquaclear! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveSamsell Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 I would have to say AquaClear on top, then Seachem Tidal and then followed by Aqueon HOB's. I have 'hot-rodded' a number of filters by several manufactures, but these are my personal favorites. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 (edited) I liked Marineland but Cory talked me into using the aqua clear and I’m sure I would have loved it but...ATTENTION CAT OWNERS😼...beware!!! My cat ruined two of these filters before I figured it out!!😩 she pushed the top of the filter off which in turn broke the suction an therefore burnt up the motor!!! An expensive mishap!!😡 Gotta love the fresh running water loving little beast!!!🙄😁 so needless to say I’m back to my Marineland with a cat proof contraption on top of it cuz the little stinker found a way to get into that as well!!!🙄 Edited September 19, 2020 by Tracey Can’t spell🙄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 I know I really enjoy using the aquaclear sponges in all my other hobs and various other applications. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat_Rigel Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 Aquaclear, hands down. Don't get me started on those stupid Marineland ones, just pieces of junk IMO (I had two break on me in a year before moving to Aquaclear.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regis Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 I use the Seachem Tidal Power Filters (https://www.seachem.com/tidal-filters.php) and love them. Completely silent, easy to maintain, and tons of space to use whatever media, foam, floss, or any other combination you want. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TifNee837 Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 I love my (Marineland) Emperor 400! But I also like the water change feature on the Danner 55 E-Z clean! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADMWNDSR83 Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 (edited) 11 minutes ago, TifNee837 said: I love my (Marineland) Emperor 400! But I also like the water change feature on the Danner 55 E-Z clean! I'm not familiar with the Danner, Where can I find info? NEVER MIND FOUND IT. Edited September 20, 2020 by ADMWNDSR83 Found answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TifNee837 Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 12 minutes ago, ADMWNDSR83 said: I'm not familiar with the Danner, Where can I find info? NEVER MIND FOUND IT. Haha I was just getting ready to reply! I've not gotten the whole "water from bucket back into tank" to work out but the removal of water is amazingly fast! I also don't use the little insert for gravel vacc'ing (I just use a regular siphon for that! - too much craziness to remove all my media just to insert the "bag" for that. But makes it easy for when I'm treating the tank and need to do a water change in between treatments or if I'm not gravel vacc'ing that particular day! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADMWNDSR83 Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 I still think when I move on from my Aquacllear it will be to a tidal, but that is definitely something to look at. Can you use outsourced foam and floss, or do you have to use proprietary media? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Fletcher Posted September 20, 2020 Author Share Posted September 20, 2020 32 minutes ago, TifNee837 said: I love my (Marineland) Emperor 400! But I also like the water change feature on the Danner 55 E-Z clean! Thanks everyone for even more responses. I intend to leave this open so everyone can provide input and hopefully it can help someone else out looking for a filter. Perhaps I should have started a poll lol. So far it seems like I will have to give AquaClear another try. I just looked up the Danner, which I had never heard of it, and that is a really cool concept! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TifNee837 Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 16 minutes ago, ADMWNDSR83 said: I still think when I move on from my Aquacllear it will be to a tidal, but that is definitely something to look at. Can you use outsourced foam and floss, or do you have to use proprietary media? I use sponges (coarse and medium), a media bag with {some} crushed coral, a second media bag with bio rings, and floss 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudreyB Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 I like AquaClear. However, recently, a 6-month old AquaClear 50 starting having a problem. When I unplug it and change out media, the filter would not start. I had to spin the impeller around manually, then plug it in and 99% of the time it will begin working. Otherwise, I have to repeat the process. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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