Best Hang On Back Filter?

If money were no object and a canister filter isn't an option what is the BEST HOB filter? Durability, reliability, low maintenance, simplicity and most of all functionality (it does what it's supposed to do) are all the features of the canister filter that I think make it the best choice for the hobbyist BUT if for whatever reason it wasn't available, what HOB would you choose and why?

I'll hang up and listen.

 

AquaClear. It's praised for its system of pushing water up through the filter media rather than it running down or across, and has plenty of space for customizing your filter media (although it does come with a great starter pack). None of those silly pre-made slide-in packs. Adjustable water flow/power. Super easy to set up. Very simple components make it easy to clean or fix. Very long-lasting and reliable.

 

Seachem Tidal

 

Thank you for the reply, what would you need to fix on the AquaClear? What breaks when they do break?

IF I bought that Seachem Tidal unit, what would be the first thing I would need to do and how long would it be before that happened? Clean it? Unclog something?

 

Thank you for the reply, what would you need to fix on the AquaClear? What breaks when they do break?

I haven't ever had to fix my AquaClear, but I have had to fix another one of my filters before that I've had for longer - sometimes the pump will get so much gunk in it that it stops spinning and you need to take it out, clean it off, and put it back in. Hopefully this won't be an issue with my AquaClear, but if it ever is, easy fix!

 

I love my fluval c2, very customizable, great filtration, and sleek looking.

 

I've got almost every Aquaclear now, 110, 20, 2x 50, 2x 70.
I get a good deal at LFS but I also think they are the best.
Takes 1 minute to clean the smaller ones and I'm also running sponge on all intakes.
The pump also comes off quick to clean if needed with 1 turn.
I would like to try the Seachem tital's as their design has some nice new features but price wise the 55 is 20$ more than the AC50.
The 110 is same price as AC110 but I'm not sure if it has the same media capacity

 

IF I bought that Seachem Tidal unit, what would be the first thing I would need to do and how long would it be before that happened? Clean it? Unclog something?

Seachem Tidal Review... check it out

 

This question is for anyone, how often do you find that your HOB needs to be cleaned and is it because flow becomes reduced/restricted?

 

I had a Marineland 350 and I thought it was good. The bio wheels is junk but the HOB itself did a nice job. I thought it was a good machine for its price.

The only thing I cleaned was the filter floss.

 

This question is for anyone, how often do you find that your HOB needs to be cleaned and is it because flow becomes reduced/restricted?

I've only needed to clean one of my HOB filters once in the past ten months - right around nine months of use, I needed to clean the pump. Keep in mind this is one of my smaller filters that isn't the greatest, it's just what keeps my 10 gallon going. Yes, the flow visibly becomes reduced over a few days and will eventually stop entirely if not fixed. (Nothing is broken, though - it just means it needs to be cleaned)

 

I clean my HOB once a month. Since I have a makeshift intake cover for the betta it gets junk caught in in real easy, for that I just take off the cover, swish it around, and put it back on. Love Fluval ACs as well, when I worked at PetSmart it was the main filter I recommended.

 

The reason I'm asking all the questions, and I really do appreciate all of the responses so far, is that I have a 55 with an Eheim on it and then I have 2 Betta tanks that are less than 4 gallons. The Betta tanks came with their own little built in filtration systems, tiny things that sit in the tank and use their own proprietary Top Fin cartridges.
Well, I'm getting ready to upgrade the Betta's homes and I'm going to be putting them in standard 10 gallon tanks. I don't think I need a canister for them, hardly, but I don't want to be messing with the filters. I don't want something that is going to leak or overflow. I want something I can put on the tank and pretty much forget it's there.
I'm seriously considering using a sponge filter for these guys as they don't create much mess. I have one that has been maturing in my 55 for a month or longer now, a double sponge jobber and I figure I can pull one sponge off and get one of the new tanks started with that.
Only thing is, they take up space in the tank and don't look so good aesthetically. The HOB's don't look much better, imho, but what ya gonna do? Lol, you have to have filtration.
So with some idea of what fish is going to be in these 2 tanks, which AquaClear or Seachem model would be best? Or is there some brand that hasn't been discussed that is as good or better quality?

 

For just a betta you and the fish would probably be happiest with the small double sponges.
here are links to the best prices I found in 4 packs.
the sponges come right off without removing the whole thing so they are quick and easy to squeeze clean.

10gallon size


20 gallon size

 

I like the IDEA of sponge filters, I just don't care for the space they take up. I have backdrops for the tanks so for the most part the HOB would be hidden, I guess. I'm not real sure how big they are vertically as far as sticking up above the top of the tank rim.
Another quick question that just occurred to m - I worry probably too much about flooding my floor since I've already done that once - are the HOB's designed so that they can't pump your tank dry and emptying it out onto the floor?

 

Ac20 would be the way to go with a sponge prefilter on the intake. I run an ac110 without a prefilter on my big betta tank and only ever sucked one up when I took the whole end off to get the gunk off it. Cleaning is simply squeezing out the sponge every month or two and a tear down once a year. Whole tear down and clean takes less then half an hour .

 

I just got 3 tanks for my bettas, taking them out of split 5.3 gallons, and giving them their own 5.5 gallons each. The splits had built in filters, so got new ones for the betta tanks.

I bought each of them an Azoo Palm filter hang on the back and a corner sponge media filter.





To this, I have stuffed in a Purigen packet.

And then I have one of these in each tank.





I really liked the layers of media, the sponges, the ceramic media, etc.

I have these attached to a 4 port air pump.

So far so good.

 

Ac20 would be the way to go with a sponge prefilter on the intake. I run an ac110 without a prefilter on my big betta tank and only ever sucked one up when I took the whole end off to get the gunk off it. Cleaning is simply squeezing out the sponge every month or two and a tear down once a year. Whole tear down and clean takes less then half an hour .

You guys have me leaning towards the AquaClear. I have a few questions that come to mind - 1) How high above the tank does it sit? 2)How much room does it take up behind the tank. 3) How easy is it to get off of the back of the tank? 4)How much room do you need to lift the intake out of the tank?(headroom).

Thanks again to all!

 

You guys have me leaning towards the AquaClear. I have a few questions that come to mind - 1) How high above the tank does it sit? 2)How much room does it take up behind the tank. 3) How easy is it to get off of the back of the tank? 4)How much room do you need to lift the intake out of the tank?(headroom).

Thanks again to all!

I do not have the answers to these questions, but 2 reasons I do not like the AquaClears?

The leveling foot comes off all the time and I have lost it and have had to stuff something behind it to level out the filter.

The baskets on these filters rise up pushing off the lid a lot for me anyway. People here have told me they call them elevator baskets. I have had to sit heavy things on the filter to keep the cover on to stop the basket rising out and or I tape the lid on. I prefer my SeaChem tidals. Do not need SeaChem Tidals for 5.5 gallon betta tanks though so went with what I posted above.

 

You guys have me leaning towards the AquaClear. I have a few questions that come to mind - 1) How high above the tank does it sit? 2)How much room does it take up behind the tank. 3) How easy is it to get off of the back of the tank? 4)How much room do you need to lift the intake out of the tank?(headroom).

Thanks again to all!

My ac20: about 1.5" above tank rim, 3" depth behind tank, intake pops right out and lift up the case, about 2"

The baskets on these filters rise up pushing off the lid a lot for me anyway. People here have told me they call them elevator baskets. I have had to sit heavy things on the filter to keep the cover on to stop the basket rising out and or I tape the lid on. I prefer my SeaChem tidals. Do not need SeaChem Tidals for 5.5 gallon betta tanks though so went with what I posted above.

Haven't had this happen on any of the 6 various size AC filters I have. The sponge is also a snug fit on the bottom. Not sure why this happens for some people

 

Haven't had this happen on any of the 6 various size AC filters I have. The sponge is also a snug fit on the bottom. Not sure why this happens for some people

I find the sponge is too thick and the holes in the sponges too small and if it fills up with BB, there is no air/water getting through the sponge causing it to want to float. I have the 20's, 30's, 50's and 70's, and It happens on all of them for me.

Wanted to also add they do not self-prime. Some say they do in the bigger models or if is a short time period they were off, the vacuum is not lost. I have not found this.

One other thing I do not like is the intake. It's a pain sometimes getting it right and I have had at least one that had washers come out and I have no idea where to put them back in and so the filter leaked all over the floor before I realized the washers came out, finding them in the bucket of old tank water and not knowing what they came from.

I guess that is why there is so much choice with filters. I really do not like the AquaClears. To each their own I guess.

I prefer the Tidals but the Tidals biggest flaw to me is they have surface skimmers so if you have floating plants they will always be sucking up your plants and if the water level gets too low (like if you keep mystery snails and want to provide space up top for them), and/or the skimmer gets blocked with plants/gunk, the skimmer makes loud sucking sounds.

 

I find the sponge is too thick and the holes in the sponges too small and if it fills up with BB, there is no air/water getting through the sponge causing it to want to float. I have the 20's, 30's, 50's and 70's, and It happens on all of them for me.

Wanted to also add they do not self-prime. Some say they do in the bigger models or if is a short time period they were off, the vacuum is not lost. I have not found this.

One other thing I do not like is the intake. It's a pain sometimes getting it right and I have had at least one that had washers come out and I have no idea where to put them back in and so the filter leaked all over the floor before I realized the washers came out, finding them in the bucket of old tank water and not knowing what they came from.

How old is your sponge and how often do you clean it?

The only washer I can think of sat on the bottom of the intake tube on the filter side, kind of a guide for when you change the flow rate.
Is that what your talking about?
I don't see any way this filter leaks unless it overflows from being clogged and unlevel so water doesn't go out the overflow.

 

How old is your sponge and how often do you clean it?

The only washer I can think of sat on the bottom of the intake tube on the filter side, kind of a guide for when you change the flow rate.
Is that what your talking about?
I don't see any way this filter leaks unless it overflows from being clogged and unlevel so water doesn't go out the overflow.

I used to wash out my sponge every water change, once a week. Squeeze and squeeze and squeeze.

Yes, the washers there, but I didn't know they had washers, this was a 20 AC, and when it leaked all over the floor, I tried to put these back in and could not figure out where they went or how they stayed in. So, packed it up and never used it again. This washer issue has not happened in the bigger ones.

I also put Purigen in my filters, so they generally have the sponge, the carbon, until I take that out, the ceramic media and my Purigen packs, and that kind of overfills the filter, until I take out the carbon packs.

I also tried the filters w/o the basket to see if that stops the elevator phenomenon, and it did not.

I have a 20 now in my 10G puffer tank (bought a new 20 AC) in addition to a canister, and it popped off the filter cover. I have to go dig it out from behind the tank rack and tape it on I guess.

 

I used to wash out my sponge every water change, once a week. Squeeze and squeeze and squeeze.

I think most of your issues are from overloading it.
Do you have any water coming out the overflow?
How old is the sponge?
My sponge is only 4-5 months old and i've only cleaned it once, I cleaned one on the intake twice.

 

Well got the 40G in January, so since then, so 7 months old, and I cleaned it every week probably more than most because most just say swish it around in old tank water. I used to squeeze it out quite a few times. I am not using any besides the 20 right now in the puffer tank. On my 40G I have a canister and a 75G SeaChem Tidal. Before I got the canister, I had two AC70's on it and both elevated out. Just do not like them. I do not know what could be over-stuffing them, the Purigen tiny packet? I don't know.

 

This is the conversation I was hoping for, good or bad I want to know the down and dirty before I spend the money. I'd hate to buy something and then be disappointed or have something unexpected happen. Thanks for the replies and discussion!

I just got 3 tanks for my bettas, taking them out of split 5.3 gallons, and giving them their own 5.5 gallons each. The splits had built in filters, so got new ones for the betta tanks.

I bought each of them an Azoo Palm filter hang on the back and a corner sponge media filter.

View attachment 468593


To this, I have stuffed in a Purigen packet.

And then I have one of these in each tank.

View attachment 468594


I really liked the layers of media, the sponges, the ceramic media, etc.

I have these attached to a 4 port air pump.

So far so good.

I agree, those look pretty sweet. I'm thinking that with just having the one Betta in 10 gallons even just a little bit of biomedia will do the trick. I'll be interested to see what the water quality is like after a week or so. It'd be nice to not have to change the water every week. The little tanks, it was a must do.

 

So the 20AC I had on my puffer tank just had to be taken off. A quarter of my tank was on the floor and could not figure out why. It is all coming from the filter area. I pulled it off and am holding it up in the air to see where it is dripping and it seems to be coming from the connection of the main component and the part where the intake tube is. So, off it came, stuffed the media into my 40 gallon tank's Tidal 75 so it stays alive, and now I have to find another filter for the 10G pufferfish. Won't be buying any more AC filters.

 

I've never heard of someone having so many issues with ACs, I've had mine running for about a year now with no issues at all except for the occasional clogging. Just a plain old sponge shoved into the basket, that's it.

 

The more I read in this thread the more I'm liking my sponge filter. It's a bit bulky but it does what it's supposed to do, at least in a low bioload situation. I expect in a few weeks it will be out of sight, hidden by the Wisteria.

 

I've never heard of someone having so many issues with ACs, I've had mine running for about a year now with no issues at all except for the occasional clogging. Just a plain old sponge shoved into the basket, that's it.

Yup, I am making it all up. Most people love them. I have nothing but problems with mine. It was a new filter too, like in a closet for about 3 months, maybe I broke it in the closet.

Might try the Marineland ones next. I have a canister on this tank but wanted a bit of extra filtration so that is why I put the AC20 on it.

 

Honestly, those tiny canisters really get me going. I only have a 20 gallon but I want one just because it looks really cute lol

You have like an AC curse on you lol what did you do to Fluval?!

 

Yup, I am making it all up. Most people love them. I have nothing but problems with mine. It was a new filter too, like in a closet for about 3 months, maybe I broke it in the closet.

Might try the Marineland ones next. I have a canister on this tank but wanted a bit of extra filtration so that is why I put the AC20 on it.

I don't know what canister you have but I can't imagine any 10 gallon tank needing more than that. The canisters are so far superior to any HOB or internal filter it's not even a contest.

 

Honestly, those tiny canisters really get me going. I only have a 20 gallon but I want one just because it looks really cute lol

You have like an AC curse on you lol what did you do to Fluval?!

Was looking at the Fluval C3 but I do not know if I can put my own media in it and it has pufferfish in the tank and I wonder how strong the flow is.

 

Azoos are nice, but they’re noisy.

 

I don't know what canister you have but I can't imagine any 10 gallon tank needing more than that. The canisters are so far superior to any HOB or internal filter it's not even a contest.

I don't know, I had an ammonia issue last week no idea why so that is why I stuck the AC on it. I have been monitoring it, and I had no idea why I had an ammonia issue last week because the canister was seeded and running 3 weeks. So, only think I can figure out is the shells to the bladder snails. They are hard to pick out so a lot get left in and maybe there are is still some meat left in them. Figured an extra filter would help. I am brand new to canisters, didn't even clean it out yet. It has been about a month. But cannot have ammonia in my puffer tank. So, in addition to water changes, I figured another filter would help with more media seeded from the 40G.

 

Azoos are nice, but they’re noisy.

Sounds like my exwife.

 

Azoos are nice, but they’re noisy.

I have Azoos on my 3 betta tanks under the puffer tank and I don't hear them at all, but that might because my air conditioner is loud.

 

Honestly, those tiny canisters really get me going. I only have a 20 gallon but I want one just because it looks really cute lol

You have like an AC curse on you lol what did you do to Fluval?!

I have a canister on a 5.5g and a 20g. Get one. I rarely worry about filter maintenance.

 

I don't know, I had an ammonia issue last week no idea why so that is why I stuck the AC on it. I have been monitoring it, and I had no idea why I had an ammonia issue last week because the canister was seeded and running 3 weeks. So, only think I can figure out is the shells to the bladder snails. They are hard to pick out so a lot get left in and maybe there are is still some meat left in them. Figured an extra filter would help. I am brand new to canisters, didn't even clean it out yet. It has been about a month. But cannot have ammonia in my puffer tank. So, in addition to water changes, I figured another filter would help with more media seeded from the 40G.

This is my thread so it's okay to derail it because I'm curious about the uptick in ammonia you had. How much and how long did it last?

 

This is my thread so it's okay to derail it because I'm curious about the uptick in ammonia you had. How much and how long did it last?

I'm so sorry. I did post a thread last week but nobody answered it. So, I did what I thought was best.

It is still going on. I haven't checked it in like 2 days, but doing water changes and dosing prime. But, it was really high and it freaked me out. Like 2 PPM.

There are 3 puffers, a bunch of plants, a hidey hole, gravel, and I feed bladder snails. Nothing new. The ammonia scared me, did test like 3 times, thought maybe I counted drops wrong, used the wrong drops. I don't know.