20 Gallon Tank Best HOB filter suggestions?

[Yourlocalfishkeeper]

Had a wind storm hit my area a few days ago, and the power went out. After priming my cascade 100 hob filter, it still wouldn’t pump water. I gave it 1 hour, then unplugged it and went to bed. The next day, I made sure it was still full of water and plugged it in, but it never kicked back on. Today, I cleaned it out thoroughly, made it look almost brand new (not the media) hoping cleaning the impeller would solve it. Nope, filter still isn’t working 8 hours later. I have a sponge filter in the tank as well, so I’m not in a rush to buy a filter. I’d still like to have a hob filter so I can customize my filtration and add carbon if necessary.

I do have a budget. The filter has to be less than $40, but preferably in the $20-$30 range. Tanks in my bedroom, so I’d preferably have a quiet filter. What’s the best hob filter in your opinion, and also what filter would work best for me?

 

[BlockHead1981]

Canister filter for a bedroom tank for the least amount of noise. I won't run HOBs on a tank in my bedroom. But if I had to pick......Aquaclear. You can get them to run pretty quiet with some Vasoline and a little luck.

 

[Fishfur]

Personally, having run a lot of different filters on tanks in my own bedroom, AquaClear or the Tidal will be the quietest. Neither of them typically makes any sound if water levels are adequate, other than water sounds but they are very soft and muted unless water levels are lower.

Another possible choice is an internal powered canister such as the ones made by Nicrew. They come in several sizes and are dead quiet. The water sounds can be eliminated altogether with sim of the output and use of the spray bar at a very low level.

 

[Yourlocalfishkeeper]

I don’t mind water sounds. My air pump is pretty loud, and whenever I turn my ceiling fan on, it’s fairly loud as well. I just don’t want one that’ll be super loud and rattling all throughout the night. The tidals would probably be my top choice if it weren’t for the price. $40 for the 35 isn’t bad, but it’s a little out of my budget since I can get the others for cheaper. Thanks for the suggestions on aqua clears. Do you have any experience with the other filters I mentioned?

 

[Fishfur]

The Aqueon is not bad in terms of function but every single one of them that I had died prematurely. No more Aqueons for me.

The Whispers are also not bad if you mean the ones that go inside the tank. They work well enough and are not difficult to clean.

 

[Yourlocalfishkeeper]

The Aqueon is not bad in terms of function but every single one of them that I had died prematurely. No more Aqueons for me.

The Whispers are also not bad if you mean the ones that go inside the tank. They work well enough and are not difficult to clean.

All the filters I’m talking about are hobs. I’ve used the internal filter on a grow out tank and it worked well, but it wouldn’t work after we stopped using it for a year. I’m not interested in another internal filter, they take up too much space, especially since I already have a sponge filter inside the tank.


i want one that’ll last me till I get into college at least. I’m a freshman in HS so like 3 more years.

 

[Fishfur]

All the filters I’m talking about are hobs. I’ve used the internal filter on a grow out tank and it worked well, but it wouldn’t work after we stopped using it for a year. I’m not interested in another internal filter, they take up too much space, especially since I already have a sponge filter inside the tank.

I don’t think I ever used the HOB Whisper. If I did it was a very very long time ago.

It gets hard to keep track - it’s been a lot of years and a lot of gear. I prefer the AquaClear over all others. Be nice if you could find a used one - way cheaper.

 

[Yourlocalfishkeeper]

I don’t think I ever used the HOB Whisper. If I did it was a very very long time ago.

It gets hard to keep track - it’s been a lot of years and a lot of gear. I prefer the AquaClear over all others. Be nice if you could find a used one - way cheaper.

I’ll look on eBay and Craigslist. I already have a ton of filter media and used filter media from the filter than broke, so I could do that. Although, the Aquaclear 30 is on sale rn for $30 and the Fluval C2 is $33. What about the c2? It’s the same brand, I heard that the c series filters are upgraded of the aqua clears.

 

[Fishfur]

I’ll look on eBay and Craigslist. I already have a ton of filter media and used filter media from the filter than broke, so I could do that. Although, the Aquaclear 30 is on sale rn for $30 and the Fluval C2 is $33. What about the c2? It’s the same brand, I heard that the c series filters are upgraded of the aqua clears.

I have no personal experience with the Fluval versions but from what I have read they are not terribly different than the original. I’m not sure the upgrades make them worth more than the original.

 

[Sewerrat]

Any name brand hob with an internal motor will self prime when power comes back on and be on the quieter side.

 

[Fishfur]

Any name brand hob with an internal motor will self prime when power comes back on and be on the quieter side.

I have to disagree - they should all do that but they don’t, or at least not always.

Most of my Aquaclears will restart after a power failure if there is still enough water inside them but this fails to happen often enough that one can’t rely on it.

I have a lot of them and it has happened to a number of them, of any size. The only model I don’t have is the 110.

 

[Sewerrat]

I have to disagree - they should all do that but they don’t, or at least not always.

Most of my Aquaclears will restart after a power failure if there is still enough water inside them but this fails to happen often enough that one can’t rely on it.

I have a lot of them and it has happened to a number of them, of any size. The only model I don’t have is the 110.

Aqua clears have the motor on the back not inside the tank rarely restart which makes them close to useless imo but I live in a wooded area and lose power every month or so.

 

[Fishfur]

Aqua clears have the motor on the back not inside the tank rarely restart which makes them close to useless imo but I live in a wooded area and lose power every month or so.

It is their one major failing, I would agree. But they restart more often than not and it is not a perfect world. No doubt it would be insufferable if it was perfect. .

The Tidals always restart but are not forgiving if you slack off topping up. I also find the media box on them a royal pain - more so than the ACs. Perhaps it comes down to what one is most used to?

 

[Yourlocalfishkeeper]

Any name brand hob with an internal motor will self prime when power comes back on and be on the quieter side.

Do you know any besides Aqueon and Tidal?



Self Priming is not necessarily a feature I need, but it would be good to have peace of mind if I’m away knowing that my filter won’t burn out if my power goes out.

 

[Yourlocalfishkeeper]

The Fluval C2 is the one I’m really looking at getting. However, before I make my decision, I’d like to go over some other filters.
Marineland PRO penguin 125
Aqua tech 20-40 gallon HOB filter
Aqueon LED Pro

Any experience with these? I don’t want one that dies prematurely.

 

[Fishfur]

The Fluval C2 is the one I’m really looking at getting. However, before I make my decision, I’d like to go over some other filters.
Marineland PRO penguin 125
Aqua tech 20-40 gallon HOB filter
Aqueon LED Pro

Any experience with these? I don’t want one that dies prematurely.

Unfortunately, I have no experience with any of those.

 

[fishywoo]

Love my aquaclears, but I also haven't tried much of anything else.

For me if the power goes out the water drains out of the filter. I have to lift the intake tube to release the suction of the water then fill the basket with more water to keep the media wet*. As long as I do that it will start running fine once the power goes back on. Luckily that hasn't happened in awhile. I'm not sure if that's supposed to happen or not, I just learned to live it and aside from that they keep working. Any bump in the road so far I've been able to fix by cleaning/blindly tinkering.

 

[86 ssinit]

Ok I use the tidals. I just like them. Big media basket not too noisy and restart after power outages. Next is the marineland penguin’s. I used these before the tidals and still have a few laying around. The 250’s and 350s work great and are cheap. The bio-wheel doesn’t mater. No real proof it’s doing anything. But the filter comes with a lot of space for media. Remove the cartridge it comes with and replace with sponge and you will never need to replace it. Bought online from petsmart they were very cheap.