I want a modern-day version of the Metaframe Dynaflow HOB

[Robert Keeney]

The Metaframe Dynaflow filters were the best filters ever made for aquariums. Here is why/

They never leak because there is no hole in the bottom. A magnet drove the impeller.

They pump filtered water. The filter is fed by a siphon that puts the water on top of the filter media. The pump pumped the filtered water from the bottom of the media back into the aquarium. I never had an impeller jam or get clogged up with gunk.

They did not kill fry. If fry got sucked into the filter, they would hang out in the water on top of the filter media until you scooped them out. While they were in the filter, they were the best-fed fish in the aquarium.

Unless the siphons were broken when you had a power failure, they would always restart when the power came back on.

Dynaflow filters don't run over. Because it is fed by a siphon, the water level in the filter can never be higher than the water in the aquarium.

You can always tell when the media needs changing. There was no bypass so the flow would get slower the more the media clogged. When it got too slow, you changed or cleaned the media.

You could use any media you like. I use sponges and filter floss in mine. I used sponges well before there were sponge filters in the aquarium trade. A 1/2-inch layer of foam on top to catch the course stuff and filter floss on the bottom to get the rest.

The tubing on the Dynaflow filters was bent tubing for the returns and the siphons. It was a standard-size tubing that you could buy and make siphon tubes. Combine this with the adjustable returns, and you could almost eliminate refiltering the water that just came out of the filter. I don't know of any modern filter that can do this.  

Curved/bent tubing is much easier to clean.

 

[Patrick_G]

@Robert Keeney, welcome to the forum! You'll find lots of kindred spirits in this thread.

 

[gardenman]

The Dynaflos, Aquakings, and Superkings were all great filters that used siphon tubes and were top down filters. Danner/Supreme made the Aquakings and Superkings. The Aquakings and Superkings used an above water motor with the impeller on the end of a long shaft. They moved a ton of water. One will pop up on eBay from time to time, but they're absurdly high priced ($400+). Siphon tube filters were great and need a revival. You could layer in filter material and just peel off a layer as it became soiled. 

[Robert Keeney]

I never heard of Aquakings, and Superkings until I read about them here. However, from your description I think I have seen them. 

I had one of the big Dynaflow filters that had two outlets on it on a large aquarium and loved it.

They used to make some air driven HOBs the worked quite well.

[wileyfish]

 Aquakings, and Superkings came a huge filter boxes. You could buy just box from the parts list they made great mini tanks. Why did I throw them away.

[Brian]

On 5/24/2022 at 4:45 PM, Robert Keeney said:

The Metaframe Dynaflow filters were the best filters ever made for aquariums.

I loved them…..   and we are both showing our age….  

[Robert Keeney]

On 5/24/2022 at 6:32 PM, wileyfish said:

Why did I throw them away.

I gave mine away. My work kept me away from home about six months out of the year for several years. I gave all my aquariums to a friend.

On 5/24/2022 at 7:49 PM, Brian said:

I loved them…..   and we are both showing our age….  

I'll bet you remember Silent Giant air pumps too. 🙂

[Brian]

Yes I do…..   I also remember the metaframe Hush.   And after that the Second Nature Whisper pumps.    Remember those.  

[Robert Keeney]

On 5/24/2022 at 8:31 PM, Brian said:

Yes I do…..   I also remember the metaframe Hush.   And after that the Second Nature Whisper pumps.    Remember those.  

Yes I do. I had a Supreme piston pump for a long time. It was noisy but it might be the best pump I ever owned. It never failed. It blew away in a storm.

 

[nabokovfan87]

For those that wish to see it in action:
 

As far as how to make one (or have one)

I would think you would take something like this..... but then add the siphon tube similar to the video above.
 

 

[gardenman]

Here's a photo of an old Superking. It's missing the horizontal diverter that would go on the outlet tube, but as you can see it had a big filter box, a tray for activated carbon or whatnot and even a venturi inlet on the top to let you add even more oxygen to the tank. Take that little black piece of rubber off the top of the water outlet and it would suck in air as the water was expelled. They were neat filters with insane water flow (400 gallons per hour if I recall correctly.) If I was designing one today, I'd keep it pretty similar just isolate the filtration section from the pump section having a rectangular box to hold the filter media, then the pumping chamber off to the side. That way you wouldn't have to work filter material around the pump shaft. They were a neat filter though. You could just layer filter media in and peel off a layer at a time as it became soiled. You had oil the motors, but that wasn't a big deal. 

[Robert Keeney]

On 5/25/2022 at 10:04 AM, gardenman said:

Here's a photo of an old Superking. It's missing the horizontal diverter that would go on the outlet tube, but as you can see it had a big filter box, a tray for activated carbon or whatnot and even a venturi inlet on the top to let you add even more oxygen to the tank. Take that little black piece of rubber off the top of the water outlet and it would suck in air as the water was expelled. They were neat filters with insane water flow (400 gallons per hour if I recall correctly.) If I was designing one today, I'd keep it pretty similar just isolate the filtration section from the pump section having a rectangular box to hold the filter media, then the pumping chamber off to the side. That way you wouldn't have to work filter material around the pump shaft. They were a neat filter though. You could just layer filter media in and peel off a layer at a time as it became soiled. You had oil the motors, but that wasn't a big deal. 

Ye, I was right. I have seen them, but most likely in a magazine. I don't think I have ever seen one in operation. If I were designing one of these I would also add some way to control the flow rate so it could be used on a smaller tank.