HOB Filter vs Glass Lilly pipes. Planted tank light recommendations

[Allie Girl]

What’s your preference on either filter and what’s your favorite type/brand ? 
what’s the pros & cons 

if you were to start up a new tank what would be your go too for filters and medium full spectrum lights? 
 

Right now I have a planted 6.7 gallon rimless heavily planted beta fish tank with 3 kuhli loaches, the tank is about 3 years old.  
I had a aqua clear HOB filter for almost the life of the aquarium until it decided to break/stop working so I just popped on my frugal tidal HOB filter I had in my closet as a back up for the aqua clear. I have 4 types of filter sponges and 2 types of filter media in it with a pothos plant.

As of last week I decided to buy a UNS Rimless ultra clear 45U (9 gallon) with a UNS 45U stand. So now I'm shopping around for new  upgraded filters and lights. I will be planning on having carpeting plants with no CO2. I do like the options for being able to customize the filtration  sponges/pads and filter media. 
 

aside from the glass Lilly pipes being a flawless edition to a rimless tank I want to know what I’m signing up for when I get them, cleaning looks a little rough lol. Also has anyone used the metal pipes? What’s your opinion on those as well? 
 

side note: for lights I’m looking at a chihiros a2 max. Opinions? 

[nabokovfan87]

On 8/18/2023 at 6:09 PM, Allie Girl said:

side note: for lights I’m looking at a chihiros a2 max. Opinions? 

ADA has some new lights being released with an app you might be interested in as well, just a note.

Filtration is tough because it's difficult to say what would work for the size of the tank.  I wonder if/what filtration UNS has designed for that specific tank in question.

https://ultumnaturesystems.com/delta-aquarium-canister-filter/

Edited August 19 by nabokovfan87

[_Eric_]

On 8/18/2023 at 8:09 PM, Allie Girl said:

What’s your preference on either filter and what’s your favorite type/brand ? 
what’s the pros & cons 

if you were to start up a new tank what would be your go too for filters and medium full spectrum lights? 
 

Right now I have a planted 6.7 gallon rimless heavily planted beta fish tank with 3 kuhli loaches, the tank is about 3 years old.  
I had a aqua clear HOB filter for almost the life of the aquarium until it decided to break/stop working so I just popped on my frugal tidal HOB filter I had in my closet as a back up for the aqua clear. I have 4 types of filter sponges and 2 types of filter media in it with a pothos plant.

As of last week I decided to buy a UNS Rimless ultra clear 45U (9 gallon) with a UNS 45U stand. So now I'm shopping around for new  upgraded filters and lights. I will be planning on having carpeting plants with no CO2. I do like the options for being able to customize the filtration  sponges/pads and filter media. 
 

aside from the glass Lilly pipes being a flawless edition to a rimless tank I want to know what I’m signing up for when I get them, cleaning looks a little rough lol. Also has anyone used the metal pipes? What’s your opinion on those as well? 
 

side note: for lights I’m looking at a chihiros a2 max. Opinions? 

I have been looking at the Oase internal filters for a 10 gal and 6 gallon I’m looking to set up that will have a low bio load.  They are pretty small and I’m planning to hide behind some hardscape.  I haven’t used before but thought I’d pass along.

[Galabar]

There is also the Sicce Shark ADV (and PRO) internal filter.  However, for a 9 gallon tank, an internal filter (including a sponge filter) might take up valuable real estate.  A HOB with the pump inside the tank might be the best option (Tetra Whisper EX/IQ, Marineland Penguin PRO, Tidal, Marina).  For HOB filters, I would avoid those with pumps outside the tank.  You can search on here for all the trouble folks have with the Aqua Clears.  They works well for some people, but other folks have problems.

For fun, here's how ChatGPT would re-write the above:

Additionally, we have the Sicce Shark ADV (and PRO) internal filter as another viable choice. Nevertheless, when considering a 9-gallon tank, it's important to note that an internal filter, including a sponge filter, could occupy valuable space. In this scenario, opting for a Hang-On-Back (HOB) filter with an internal pump might prove to be the optimal solution. Noteworthy options include the Tetra Whisper EX/IQ, Marineland Penguin PRO, Tidal, and Marina filters. When selecting HOB filters, it's advisable to steer clear of those with external pumps. A cautionary search on this platform will reveal the challenges that some individuals encounter with Aqua Clears. While they work effectively for some, others have reported issues.

AI writes way better than I do. 😅

Although "additionally" and "another" in that first sentence seems redundant...

Edited August 19 by Galabar

[Pepere]

If you really pine for glass lilly pipes the Oase filtosmart 60 might work for you.

 

https://us.oase-livingwater.com/filtosmart-60

 

the set up will cost more than a hang on back.  
 

By and large I am not terribly enamored with hang on backs.  I am less than thrilled with extra power cords in the water.  My heater is controlled by an inkbird, in part so that except for a call for heat the power cord is not energized in the water.

HOB with pump in the tank has an energized cord in the water.  Pumps in the hob risks unit losing prime with power outage. 
 

hobs do not give much ability to optimize flow direction…

 

the oase gives you the option of a hanger to mount on the tank too. So sort of like a hang on back canister filter….

Edited August 19 by Pepere

[Galabar]

Yeah, I canister filter is an option.  However, I would go with one where the canister is easily detachable.  It looks like the FiltoSmart 60 might need the addition of quick disconnects, where as the 100+ versions have built in host disconnects: https://us.oase-livingwater.com/filtosmart

Here's an example of a quick disconnect: 

 

 

Edited August 19 by Galabar

[Galabar]

Here's the one I have: 

 

[RennjiDK]

For HOB, Tidal is best in class (IMO). It's self priming, has a sicce pump, and skims. I wouldn't worry about a canister or media types, as you're not going to max out any filtration with a 9g tank. A simple sponge cut to fit will be fine.

As for lighting, it doesn't really matter without Co2. Don't believe that adding more par is going to result in more growth. Just look for something with a plant spectrum. Kelvin, lumens, and wattage mean absolutely nothing. I would put the $30est 12" light on the tank, and that should get you close.

Edited August 20 by RennjiDK

[Pepere]

On 8/19/2023 at 9:50 PM, RennjiDK said:

For HOB, Tidal is best in class (IMO). It's self priming, has a sicce pump, and skims.

My experience and opinion of the tidal series is dramatically different…

In my experience the skimmer functions as a marketing ploy and nothing else. 
 

The basket has huge built in bypasses that bypasses the bottom sponge prefilter every day it is used.  If water bypasses the prefilter sponge thT sponge isnt doing much prefiltering. 
 

Even using supplied media, the filter clogs to the point it is bypassing by going into overflow over the basket top and activating the bypass indicator within days of putting in to service.

In my mind it was a colossal waste of money….
 

Tidal 35, $41.00 at Amazon,  Oase Filtosmart, 60, 65.00 at Amazon…

I will readily admit, the filtering needs of a 9 gallon are not much.. An air driven sponge filter would easily meet the biological filtration needs.

 

[RennjiDK]

On 8/20/2023 at 2:32 AM, Pepere said:

My experience and opinion of the tidal series is dramatically different…

In my experience the skimmer functions as a marketing ploy and nothing else. 
 

The basket has huge built in bypasses that bypasses the bottom sponge prefilter every day it is used.  If water bypasses the prefilter sponge thT sponge isnt doing much prefiltering. 
 

Even using supplied media, the filter clogs to the point it is bypassing by going into overflow over the basket top and activating the bypass indicator within days of putting in to service.

In my mind it was a colossal waste of money….
 

Tidal 35, $41.00 at Amazon,  Oase Filtosmart, 60, 65.00 at Amazon…

I will readily admit, the filtering needs of a 9 gallon are not much.. An air driven sponge filter would easily meet the biological filtration needs.

 

All filters have pros and cons. HOB's provide the worst filtration next to air driven sponge filters. That's just an issue you're going to have to deal with, if you chose to run one.

I also said in my original post to use a cut to fit sponge. See?

On 8/19/2023 at 9:50 PM, RennjiDK said:

A simple sponge cut to fit will be fine.

This takes care of the bypass issue, once the basket is removed.

For the record, I like having a surface skimmer. It removes a lot of biological waste that would otherwise build on the surface and form a protein film.

[Pepere]

On 8/20/2023 at 11:47 PM, RennjiDK said:

For the record, I like having a surface skimmer. It removes a lot of biological waste that would otherwise build on the surface and form a protein film

Me too, I never found the surface skimmer on the tidal 35 to work though.

I replaced the tidal 35 with a Fluval 207 with a glass lily pipe and skimmer intake and a spray bar on my 29 gallon display tanks and have been much happier with it.

[madmark285]

On 8/20/2023 at 2:32 AM, Pepere said:

Tidal 35, $41.00 at Amazon,  Oase Filtosmart, 60, 65.00 at Amazon…

For $15 more, I would get the Oase. The Tidal becomes more viable on the larger models ie: the Tidal 75 is the same price as the Oase. 

The problem with the surface skimmer on the Tidal 75 I own, the skimmer intake is located right next to the water discharge ramp. So the vast majority of water headed for the skimmer is just pushed away. So it kind of works.

But compared to my overflow box (sump filter) on the 75 gallon tank, I need to use a feeding ring as floating food is quickly sucked into the filter.