help me pick out a filter! :) please

[clownbaby]

My air pump broke (hooray) and I am currently running my sponge filter on my old air pump that is really only for 5 - 10 gallons. My tank is 30 gallons. Even if my air pump was still going I would like to have more filtration capacity. So I've been looking at new filters. I saved up 75 dollars for plants but I think instead I'll use it for a nice new filter. 

With that...

• I do not care about noise. As long as it's not like a firework show we are all good
• at least 40 gallon filtration capacity, as I want to have more than enough
• External or internal. I don't care
• primarily hoping for biological filtration and mechanical filtration
• prefer slow to medium flow, minimal as possible since I will still be running air stones and don't want too much movement 

Here are the filters I am considering. If you have input on these or perhaps a different filter altogether, I would appreciate it! 

• Marineland Penguin PRO 275
• Marineland Magnum 200 Internal Canister 
• Fluval AquaClear 50
• Sicce Shark ADV 600 Internal
• Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO 50

Also perhaps considering Zoo Med Turtle Clean 40, since I see no reason it couldn't be used for fish aquariums? 

Any recommendations, advice, or insight appreciated!

[Chris]

My opinion would be to stick with sponge filters and get yourself a small filter for mechanical filtration if you feel it's necessary. Petsmart sells small internal filters for cheap that I've used as very effective water polishers - just pull the included filter media out of the cartridge and replace with filter floss. Combine that with a sponge filter for bio filtration.

If you're set on one of the filters you listed, the Aquaclear is where it's at. I've not used the new design, but the old ones are fantastic and the new ones have been praised decently well.

The Turtle Clean filter would work, but really isn't advisable IMO. There are better filters out there for the money (even if this was a turtle tank).

[AllFishNoBrakes]

On 10/14/2024 at 7:17 PM, clownbaby said:

primarily hoping for biological filtration and mechanical filtration

Your sponge, gravel, plants, and hardscape should provide adequate biological filtration. With that being said, I would focus on water polishing, or mechanical filtration.

I really like internal filters for doing this. I have internal filters in a lot of my tanks, in addition to the sponge with easy flow kit. I like that I can stuff them with Poly Fil or fine filter pad and really get some water polishing going on. In addition, I like that most of them also have a sponge filter in them. It’s just additional biological filtration, and it helps catch the larger particles before it hits the polishing pad or poly fil. 
 

Personally, I really like the Nicrew line of internal filters. I take out the carbon and replace it with poly fil or multiple layers stacked of fine filter pad. And then I use the spraybar. The nice thing about the spraybar is you can point it up or down or adjust the angle of the spraybar and get the flow in any direction you want. If you ever upgrade to co2, you then have the opportunity to use the filter and spraybar to keep your co2 bubbles suspended longer so the co2 can dissolve into the water more efficiently.
 

Here’s some pics, as I have a couple of them and in a couple different sizes:

Here’s the smallest version 

Smallest version inside a tank. Spraybar is pointed up for additional surface agitation and so I’m not just blowing my plants around. 

Bigger size up in a 20 gallon long. Spraybar is pointed down so the co2 rises from the diffuser, and then gets pushed back down and across the tank for even distribution. 

This is a different brand, but same thought. In a 29 gallon tank. Co2 rises, and then gets pushed down and across the tank. 
 

Personally, I think these internal filters are better at mechanical filtration than my HOB’s. I also like that I can polish water, get more flow, and point that flow wherever I want it. 
 

If I had to choose one of the filters you suggested, it would definitely be one of the internals. However, I will always want a spraybar, and I think you can save some of that money you saved up for the filter and still get some plants!

I have sponge filters, sponge filters with easy flow kits, HOB’s, internal filters, canister filters, and even tanks with no filters, and I really like these internal filters. Specifically the Nicrew brand has been good to me. Just my $0.02, if it’s even worth that much, lol. 

Edited 21 hours ago by AllFishNoBrakes

[MattyM]

On tanks that size I like the sponge/HOB option - I'm an AquaClear guy, so that's what I've used. In the HOB I would use the sponge and biomedia that comes with it,  then filter floss and a bag or purigen for water polishing. From bottom to top: sponge, floss/polishing pad, biomedia, purigen.

[TOtrees]

For me, choice of a second/secondary filter is all about user convenience. You want mechanical filtration? How easy/fast is it to clean out the filter, when it gets clogged (assuming it does its job 🙂)? Or will it run for a long time between cleanings (can you say canister)? Doesn't matter how good it is at filtration, if cleaning is such a chore that you don't do it (or don't do it often enough), you're not getting the benefit you wanted. 

For that ease of use, you want a HOB not internal. 

Here's my curveball... Low flow and good mechanical filtration are sort of opposite ends of the filtration spectrum. If you want good mechanical filtration, you want enough water movement to continually resuspend physical particles, so they eventually get picked up by the filter. If you don't have enough movement of water, then no matter how efficient your HOB is, the debris won't go into it. 

As always I have to caveat my cranky old man writing style to say I'm not trying to rain on your plans, I'm making sure you know the down-sides before you jump in. 🙂 (smiley face means I'm nice and it fixes everything. always. don't argue)

Edited 5 hours ago by TOtrees