Canister filter vs HOB

A neighbor has an opened box Hydor professional 250 for sale (from a pallet they bought) for $65. Is there any big advantage to that over my hob for my 29 gallon?

I have an Aqueon 50 and a sponge filter and while quieter would be nice, being able to go 10 days between cleanings would be outstanding. But that's not how it works, is it?

 

Huge savings, and so much nicer to have a canister. You can go 2-3 weeks between cleanings, better flow, more media area, and not as much equipment in the tank

 

Ohhhh ok

 

And more water volume, better customablity and gives you the option to add things like inline heaters which further removes objects from the display.

 

So you guys are voting canister. Do you know anything about that brand? $65 is too much to spend if it's junk.

 

So you guys are voting canister. Do you know anything about that brand? $65 is too much to spend if it's junk.

Hydor is a great entry level canister IMO... its commonly known as fluval.

 

Hydor is a great entry level canister IMO... its commonly known as fluval.

Oh THAT I recognize.

 

If you do decide to get that canister make sure that you have the room for the canister. For instance, I wanted to get a canister for my tank but the problem was that the stand that it sat on doesn't have enough height clearance for the canister itself. I didn't want the canister to be sitting out on the side, again space restrictions but it's also not so good looking. Luckily I got a new tank that allows the canister to be inside the stand itself.

Benefit of a canister is that you don't have to clean it...I've had my Fx4 for almost a year and maybe cleaned it...twice? When you do clean a canister it can be a hassle. Pull the hose out, carefully open the thing, clean, carry it back to the tank, close it, prime it and so on...a HOB is just pull the plug and empty the contents and clean, that's it.

 

If you do decide to get that canister make sure that you have the room for the canister. For instance, I wanted to get a canister for my tank but the problem was that the stand that it sat on doesn't have enough height clearance for the canister itself. I didn't want the canister to be sitting out on the side, again space restrictions but it's also not so good looking. Luckily I got a new tank that allows the canister to be inside the stand itself.

Benefit of a canister is that you don't have to clean it...I've had my Fx4 for almost a year and maybe cleaned it...twice? When you do clean a canister it can be a hassle. Pull the hose out, carefully open the thing, clean, carry it back to the tank, close it, prime it and so on...a HOB is just pull the plug and empty the contents and clean, that's it.

I respectfully disagree. I've had ehiem, marineland, fluval, aquatop, sun sun canister filters at different times. Currently I have the aquatop forza fz6 and an ehiem 2217 on my 112g. cleaning is really easy. Both (as well as most canisters these days) have some sort of valves to cut off water flow to the canister body. This makes it extremely easy to take the filter out, clean or whatever, put everything back in, and open the valves back up. Water starts flowing again and all done. Unless you completely remove your canister from the tank. Hoses and everything. Then you shouldn't have to prime it more than once, which is the first time you set it up. Although cleaning the hoses from time to time may not be a bad idea. Only exception I've had to this is marineland. those canisters are a pain to get back up and running. Then add the fact that you can go much longer periods of time without cleaning a canister, were as with a hob you have to clean much more often.

 

So you guys are voting canister. Do you know anything about that brand? $65 is too much to spend if it's junk.

That is a very good quality canister filter. Definitely on the higher end.

Benefit of a canister is that you don't have to clean it...I've had my Fx4 for almost a year and maybe cleaned it...twice? When you do clean a canister it can be a hassle. Pull the hose out, carefully open the thing, clean, carry it back to the tank, close it, prime it and so on...a HOB is just pull the plug and empty the contents and clean, that's it.

I would definitely clean it more often then twice a year, but if you have low stockings you can clean it once every 2-3 months. Also, cleaning a canister isn't a hassle. It can be when your first learning, but I can clean my canister in about the same time it would take me to clean my two HOBs that I had on the tank. Most canisters, I know this one does, have a shutoff valve in the hoses, so you can shut that, unscrew it, pull it out of the stand, empty it in a bucket, give the media a rinse/replace floss or anything, put media in, put on the top, and screw it in. Then its as simple as opening the valves and it fills itself right up.

 

Thanks for all the input! I bought it, I may be back when I have to figure out how to put it together

 

Awesome. You will love it. So much quiter and I never realised how UGLY those HOBs are haha

 

I have found whit my hydor 150 if you don't put the tray in right you can get a little bit of leaking. Think this is due to the no pass through design which make all water pass through your media. May be worth, at least while you are getting use to setting it up running it in a plastic tub or pot just to be on the safe side.

An other thing which I'm not a fan of is the way the pipes attach to the filter. Then you want to take the tubbing off you will need to put a cloth around it as you will get a bit of water spill.

Other then that good filters, the inline heaters are also good.

Got your self a bargain providing it works payed 130 pound for my filter (150) and and heater.

Hydor is a great entry level canister IMO... its commonly known as fluval.

Could be wrong but pretty sure hydor is an Australian company and doesn't make any thing fluval.

Edit: fluval is hagen not hydor.

 

Could be wrong but pretty sure hydor is an Australian company and doesn't make any thing fluval.

Edit: fluval is hagen not hydor.

I have seen pretty good reviews though. Fingers crossed!

 

I have seen pretty good reviews though. Fingers crossed!

They are good filters, chose mine over a fluval 306.

 

Could be wrong but pretty sure hydor is an Australian company and doesn't make any thing fluval.

Edit: fluval is hagen not hydor.

It's not Aussie, but yeah your right... somehow lapse of judgement - brainfart - and I read hagen.... Idk how it happened, but sorry OP.
Do know that hydor (as well) is another good entry level filter that has tonnes of reviews.

 

It's not Aussie, but yeah your right... somehow lapse of judgement - brainfart - and I read hagen.... Idk how it happened, but sorry OP.
Do know that hydor (as well) is another good entry level filter that has tonnes of reviews.

Had a look see on their site seem to be Italian, not that it overly matters. Guess it's just nice to know.

 

Update: this was a pallet sale of Amazon returns. Upon final inspection, my neighbor realized that this was in rough shape- it was returned wet who knows how long ago. She's giving it to me for $10. Any suggestions? I figure the tubing can be cleaned and maybe the filter media can be replaced.

 

I would give it a really good cleaning, mabye run some vinegar water through the tubes+pump part. Sounds like a steal though!

 

I would give it a really good cleaning, mabye run some vinegar water through the tubes+pump part. Sounds like a steal though!

For $10 I'm willing to dig out my hazmat suit

 

Hello everyone!

I suppose this question is probably asked a lot, so I apologize...

I just purchased a 75 gallon tank and have been weighing my options on filtration. I have always had smaller tanks throughout my years of keeping fish, and because of that I have always used HOB filters. I have heard that any tank over 55 gallons should ideally be filtered with a canister.

I am really wondering what some of you think. Are canisters worth the extra cash? Do they make that big of a difference in filtration? Does anyone recommend any brands? On the other hand, are there any benefits of using an HOB instead? I would prefer something that isn’t extremely expensive, although I am willing to pay for great filtration!

Also, could anyone briefly describe how maintenance is on canister filters? I have heard they are “difficult” in the sense that they are harder to maintain. Any information or opinions on this would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

 

I started a 75 g freshwater few months back with a SunSun 304b canister and emperor 400 HoB. Given the amount of media I can pack into canister and the fact that I have to clean it once in 2-3 months I would today just put a canister and a sponge filter (sponge for aeration and polishing) - I would not put HoB at all.
SunSun's are not that expensive compared to HoBs and a lot cheaper than top of line Fluval's - I am sure it would last as long as well.

 

Hello everyone!

I suppose this question is probably asked a lot, so I apologize...

I just purchased a 75 gallon tank and have been weighing my options on filtration. I have always had smaller tanks throughout my years of keeping fish, and because of that I have always used HOB filters. I have heard that any tank over 55 gallons should ideally be filtered with a canister.

I am really wondering what some of you think. Are canisters worth the extra cash? Do they make that big of a difference in filtration? Does anyone recommend any brands? On the other hand, are there any benefits of using an HOB instead? I would prefer something that isn’t extremely expensive, although I am willing to pay for great filtration!

Also, could anyone briefly describe how maintenance is on canister filters? I have heard they are “difficult” in the sense that they are harder to maintain. Any information or opinions on this would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

When comparing the filtration capability of a canister filter and a hob there is virtually no contest...in terms of biological filtration you are given so much versatility and storage for media in a canister filter as opposed to a hob....in terms of maintenance an established canister filter can run for months while I usually replace my carbon pads in my hob every 3 weeks to maintain good water quality....id say the main disadvantage of canisters is they aren't as good for chemical and water polishing....at least from what I've found....on all of my large tanks (55 75 150 and soon a 180)...I have a fluval canister filter....best brand by far from my experience...and a hob or 2....I completely fill the fluval canisters with biomedia and mechanical sponges and I save my carbon for the hobs...this allows me to run the canister for months without changing it and I can swap my carbon out ever 3 or 4 weeks as said above with the hobs....best set up I ever stumbled upon and I applied it to all my tanks...honestly cleaning a canister is easier in my opinion....it is larger but at least with fluvals it can easily be taken apart....fluvals are a somewhat larger investment but I've had a 305 running continuously for over 5 years and I've only had it's propeller blade break....which I replaced for 8 dollars...it's worth the investment and it benefits the tank immensely

 

I have an aquaclear 110 on my 75 its served me well for 15+ years. Have never had a need to go beyond that. I prefer the simplicity of the hob filters.

 

I have both, I have a FX4 for my 90g and I have two HOB for my 55g.

The benefits of the canister are:
It holds much more storage for biological filtration as well as mechanical filtration.
It can turn the water over quite quickly and it can create the wave effects, thus all the poop and food will circulate and eventually end up in the intake valve.
Maintenance is easy, you don't need to do much with it, like maybe once a quarter you would do something with it.
It's quite.
It is worth the money you pay for...

The downside to canisters are:
Maintenance is terrible thing as well. To unplug the canister, than the hoses, then you need to lift that thing up to a sink and open it...fill it prime it (FX doesn't require priming). Lug it back to the tank, stuff it into the cabin of your tank hook it all up.
Cost...you need to shop around and find a good deal. Lots of people like SunSun, others don't. I got my FX4 at Petsmart, it's originally like $300 but there was a sale that knocked it down to $200 and there was an extra like 20-30% off for items over $200...
Risk of leakage.
You pay what you get.
Make sure that you measure your tank stand and see if it will allow a canister to fit.

HOB benefits:
Cost effective.
Easy to Maintain.
Can agitate water fine.
If the system goes down, you just buy a new one, cost like $40 bucks.
Easy to restart if you shut it down.
It's simple

HOB downside:
It can be loud...white noise loud.
Doesn't hold as much filtration.
It doesn't carry enough power at times in which you need two.

 

I agree with the consensus. A canister filter offers more capacity and greater flexibility than HOB filters. Canisters are also much more quiet. I have a 55G freshwater community tank. I recently upgraded an AC110 & Fluval C4 to a Fluval FX4. The FX4 is a beast. Despite what you may read, the FX series have more than enough space for bio media. If you live near a Petsmart, the FX series go on sale quite often. I purchased my FX4 for $199. I would also suggest spending the money for a Fluval or Eheim etc. The quality of the Chinese knockoffs makes for an annoying maintenance routine.

 

Wow thank you to everyone who contributed! A lot of great information! I will be sure to inform you all of my decision in the coming days.

 

Your 75 would stay real clean with 2 sunsun 304B's or a Fluval FX 6.

 

I had a 406 on my 75 gallon when I set it up 3 months ago. Then a month later, I saw the FX4 on sale at Petsmart for $199 so I jumped on it . The plan was to run them both for a couple of months and then just run the FX4 but I'm thinking of leaving both on there. I have a ton of EBA babies ~1" in size along with their parents, 3 plecos (2.5" to 4") and 3 SAEs (2").

The FX4 is fairly easy to clean. There's a maintenance valve at the bottom that you can use to do weekly water changes (drain and fill) and drain the canister to make it lighter if you need to take it out to clean. I have a 206, 306 and 406 and those are easy to maintain.

 

Use both canisters, that way you can clean one, wait a few weeks and clean the other. Also if one of the filters fail the other will be enough to keep your fish alive.

 

Some things to keep in mind. Canister filters are not small. Make sure you have space for one. Especially if you plan to put it under a stand. I was barely able to fit my Cascade 1000 under the tank, as my stand tops out at 20" in height and the canister filter was 16" plus a couple of inches of hose sticking up.

Canister filter has a lot of surface area where leaks can occur. Basically anywhere where the powerhead clamps on to the base of the filter. HOB filters can only leak at the area where the motor attaches to the filter basket. A much smaller area. I actually had a leak on one of my aquaclear filters. It was a slow drip leak and I noticed it before the water got on the carpet. There are also HOB filters like the Tetra Whisper EX with the motor mounted upfront on the part of the filter that hangs over the aquarium. So there is virtually no chance of a leak.

With a canister filter you won't hear the waterfall sound created with HOB when water level goes down a couple of inches due to evaporation. Some people love the sound and others hate it.

 

Use both canisters, that way you can clean one, wait a few weeks and clean the other. Also if one of the filters fail the other will be enough to keep your fish alive.

Can't agree enough with this.

 

14x turnover rate is a bit overkill but the tank seems to be doing great so I don't thing I'll change anything. Maybe swap the 306 on my 40 gallon with the 406.

 

What about canister filter vs hang on filter for a large tank? The pet stores are recommending the canister. Since people in these stores are after sales I thought I might ask others in here what their experiences are? I’ve had a hang on filter for years for my 30 gallon. What are your opinions?

What is the best filter type for a 75 Gallon tank canister or hang on and why? I’m about to have a large investment into a tank and I’d like to know what you think is best for someone on a budget and also best for goldfish health. The fish are 10 years old, thanks!

 

What about canister filter vs hang on filter for a large tank? The pet stores are recommending the canister. Since people in these stores are after sales I thought I might ask others in here what their experiences are? I’ve had a hang on filter for years for my 30 gallon. What are your opinions?

I started with a 406 but picked up a FX4 on sale at Petsmart for $200 with the plan that it would replace the 406. I ended up keeping and running both. I would say a FX4 alone is a good choice for 5 large goldfish in a 75g. It has a utility valve to help with water changes. I use 25' of 1/2" tubing from Home Depot to empty and fill my 75g. Much easier than using buckets. I have a 32g Rubbermaid Brute trash can I fill and treat before pumping it into the tank.

 

What is the best filter type for a 75 Gallon tank canister or hang on and why? I’m about to have a large investment into a tank and I’d like to know what you think is best for someone on a budget and also best for goldfish health. The fish are 10 years old, thanks!

Hello Fish...

There isn't a best filter, really. None of them do a very good job of keeping the tank water clean. So, for my Goldfish, I use a couple of dual sponge filters. They do a fair job of keeping the tank water clean, but most important for Goldfish is this filter creates a lot of surface movement, which mixes oxygen into the tank water. You should be in the habit of changing out at least 75 percent of the tank water every week. The large water change is the true filter, because it removes the old, toxic water and you replace it with pure, treated tap water.

Sponge filters are inexpensive and work. The type that hangs on the back and pushes water down and creates a strong current. This isn't the best for Goldfish. Canister filters are expensive and much more difficult to clean. Plus, with HOBs and Canisters, there's media to buy. Go with a couple of dual sponge filters and be a good water changer.

Old

 

Where do I buy sponge filters? I’ve not heard of them.

Going along with this comment, I use the aqueon water changer that allows you to both empty and fill the tank directly from the facet . I make sure to turn off filter media so it doesn’t kill my bacteria and throw in the tap water conditioner while the water from the sink flows in. Is this okay?

 

As long as you dose for the full tank, you're fine.

I read some issues with filling directly from the tap so I like having the trash can to treat and check temps (test if necessary too).

 

What about canister filter vs hang on filter for a large tank? The pet stores are recommending the canister. Since people in these stores are after sales I thought I might ask others in here what their experiences are? I’ve had a hang on filter for years for my 30 gallon. What are your opinions?

You definitely can just go with a hang on back. People even go with just sponge filters. It all depends on which you prefer and what you'll maintain. A common problem with canisters is people get lazy cleaning them and they can be easy to ignore.

I filtered my 125g for years with two HOB. I've since added an Aquaclear 110 and some sponge filters.

The point is you don't need a canister. You can buy whatever you'd like including a canister if you prefer it.

I recommend not buying the filters from an LFS, at least without price checking, unless you really want to give them the extra business. In terms of cost, Amazon is almost certainly going to be cheaper. I also discovered a place in IL that does price matching plus 10% and returns like 5% with their rewards program: aquacave.com.

I have no affiliation with them except that I ordered some stuff from them after price matching.

If you get the bigger Aquaclear, the 110, Amazon may be better. Cory of Aquarium Coop says that one doesn't ship well. I got mine from Amazon as I hadn't found out about Aquacave yet. It came nestled inside a larger box with no issues. Reputable places should make it right concerning damage in shipping but just thought I'd mention it.

 

Also, here's a recent thread discussing sponge filters

Sponge Filters Any Good?