Fluval aquaclear, Marineland, or Aqueon?

Which of these 3 brands would you choose to filter a tall 50gallon?

We are looking for best filtration to help with nitrates and for something that is also quiet. We have the Aqueon 75 and it's certainly not quiet, but I'm also pretty sure it's a good 3 or more years old.

We are only looking at HOB filters at this time.

Thank you in advance!

(We currently use a Top Fin HOB for our 20 and I really like it, but not sure the quality is the greatest when you go up in size. Seems like the reviews aren't the greatest for the 75.)

 

Top Fin is the only HOB i have ever had just die on me, think it was the 20 in fact! Both my HOBs are the aqua-tech ones they carry at walmart. Made by Marineland, basically they are Marineland HIBs minus the bio-wheel. Even the cartridges are the same sizes. Not sure if they go up that high for sizes though...

 

Which of these 3 brands would you choose to filter a tall 50gallon?

We are looking for best filtration to help with nitrates and for something that is also quiet. We have the Aqueon 75 and it's certainly not quiet, but I'm also pretty sure it's a good 3 or more years old.

We are only looking at HOB filters at this time.

Thank you in advance!

(We currently use a Top Fin HOB for our 20 and I really like it, but not sure the quality is the greatest when you go up in size. Seems like the reviews aren't the greatest for the 75.)

Aquaclears are perfect, but will not start after a power outage. They have a big space for filter media. They are pretty reputable. My Marineland is extremely quiet and keeps my water crystal clean, but the bio-wheel never spins for me no matter what I try. This is not good because the bb grows on it. I don't know anything about the aqueons. There is also a seachem tidals, which I really really want. Check out Kg tropicals, he has excellent reviews of all 4 filters.

 

Aquaclears are perfect, but will not start after a power outage. They have a big space for filter media. They are pretty reputable. My Marineland is extremely quiet and keeps my water crystal clean, but the bio-wheel never spins for me no matter what I try. This is not good because the bb grows on it. I don't know anything about the aqueons. There is also a seachem prime, which I really really want. Check out Kg tropicals, he has excellent reviews of all 4 filters.

Assuming you mean the seachem tidals, not seachem prime! Yeah, wouldn't mind giving those a try, my problem with them is the intake doesn't seem to go down very far...

 

Aquaclears are perfect, but will not start after a power outage.

This isn’t true, or at least isn’t always true. I have 2 AquaClear 110s on my 75. Both started right up after a power outage a couple months ago.

I’ve had the AquaClear filters and a Seachem Tidal. IMO, the AquaClears provide better filtration but the Tidals don’t run as loud.

 

Aquaclears are perfect, but will not start after a power outage. They have a big space for filter media. They are pretty reputable. My Marineland is extremely quiet and keeps my water crystal clean, but the bio-wheel never spins for me no matter what I try. This is not good because the bb grows on it. I don't know anything about the aqueons. There is also a seachem tidals, which I really really want. Check out Kg tropicals, he has excellent reviews of all 4 filters.

When you say it won't start after a power outage, do you just mean it needs to be primed?

 

I swear by marineland

 

This isn’t true, or at least isn’t always true. I have 2 AquaClear 110s on my 75. Both started right up after a power outage a couple months ago.

I’ve had the AquaClear filters and a Seachem Tidal. IMO, the AquaClears provide better filtration but the Tidals don’t run as loud.

Is the aqua clear that loud though? Even if it's not as quiet as the other. I can't hear my aqueon up the hall in my room, but it's got a humming sound in the room it's in. If it were in my room I'd not be able to sleep.

 

When you say it won't start after a power outage, do you just mean it needs to be primed?

yes

 

Which of these 3 brands would you choose to filter a tall 50gallon?

We are looking for best filtration to help with nitrates and for something that is also quiet. We have the Aqueon 75 and it's certainly not quiet, but I'm also pretty sure it's a good 3 or more years old.

We are only looking at HOB filters at this time.

Thank you in advance!

(We currently use a Top Fin HOB for our 20 and I really like it, but not sure the quality is the greatest when you go up in size. Seems like the reviews aren't the greatest for the 75.)

I'm not aware of any filter that will help with nitrates.

When you say it won't start after a power outage, do you just mean it needs to be primed?

No. Occasionally (not every time, and not every filter) they won't start back up after a power outage or being unplugged, but it's not from losing the prime. The impeller gets tuck and won't start turning. When that happens I remove the lid, move the intake over to expose the impeller (the adjustment used to reduce flow during normal operation), take a small wooden skewer, and use the tip to give it a nudge, then move the intake back. That has always worked for me.

 

ForceTen recently informed me that Aquaclear has actually specifically addressed the issue with their filters occasionally not starting up after power outages. Basically, if you do the correct maintenance on the filters, it won’t and should not happen. PM me or Force if you want to know the details, I won’t flood this thread with them since that’s not the main subject.

I love aquaclears, they have a ton of room for media, are quiet, and really reliable.

If you want your filter to help with nitrates, 2 things are important: 1) you go with a filter that can house the sufficient amount of biological media for your tank size and stocking, and 2) you only use enough sponge paired with fine filter floss to do the sufficient amount of mechanical filtration and then fill the rest of the filter with as much biological media as possible (also the right type of biological media is important).

Here is a link to a reputable guy in the UK who gives filter size guidance for your tank in order to have your filter process nitrates and have a full cycle:

.
He also explains the best way to set up the filter with your sponges and biological media.

 

If you want your filter to help with nitrates, 2 things are important: 1) you go with a filter that can house the sufficient amount of biological media for your tank size and stocking, and 2) you only use enough sponge paired with fine filter floss to do the sufficient amount of mechanical filtration and then fill the rest of the filter with as much biological media as possible (also the right type of biological media is important).

Here is a link to a reputable guy in the UK who gives filter size guidance for your tank in order to have your filter process nitrates and have a full cycle:

.
He also explains the best way to set up the filter with your sponges and biological media.

Please explain how a filter will help with nitrates. I'll agree that filter media will house the bacteria that remove ammonia and nitrites, but as far as I know the only ways to remove nitrates is with water changes or live plants.

 

Please explain how a filter will help with nitrates. I'll agree that filter media will house the bacteria that remove ammonia and nitrites, but as far as I know the only ways to remove nitrates is with water changes or live plants.

. There are also filters that are made to specifically house anaerobic bacteria in a way that isn’t harmful to your tank which can work. Lava rocks can house bacteria which process nitrates, so adding those to the tank and giving them a sufficient amount of time to be colonized also can help reduce nitrates: 0 Nitrates Is So Easy, Why Does No One Do It? 180 Gallon Tank - | Advanced Freshwater Aquarium Topics Forum | 382099.

 

Marineland is the best for the price. Get a 350 for around $30. Check both petsmart and petcos online prices. The stores will match those prices. As to the wheel spinning. There’s no real proof that it actually does anything. If it did you’d think others would have copied it. It’s been around 20+yrs and still no copies . But still a great filter. Replace cartridges with sponge and they will last for years. Next the seachem tidals are also great hob filters with very big media baskets. They work great.
As to getting fed of nitrate it’s all a scam. Only way to get rid of nitrate is water changes. Change water weekly at 50% and you won’t have to worry about nitrates. Unless it’s already in your tap water!

 

Marineland is the best for the price. Get a 350 for around $30. Check both petsmart and petcos online prices. The stores will match those prices. As to the wheel spinning. There’s no real proof that it actually does anything. If it did you’d think others would have copied it. It’s been around 20+yrs and still no copies . But still a great filter. Replace cartridges with sponge and they will last for years. Next the seachem tidals are also great hob filters with very big media baskets. They work great.
As to getting fed of nitrate it’s all a scam. Only way to get rid of nitrate is water changes. Change water weekly at 50% and you won’t have to worry about nitrates. Unless it’s already in your tap water!

Just want to make clear that I’m not proposing to not do maintenance! I always do 50% weekly water changes and in general weekly/bi weekly water changes depending on the stocking are definitely necessary and crucial.

 

ForceTen recently informed me that Aquaclear has actually specifically addressed the issue with their filters occasionally not starting up after power outages. Basically, if you do the correct maintenance on the filters, it won’t and should not happen. PM me or Force if you want to know the details, I won’t flood this thread with them since that’s not the main subject.

I love aquaclears, they have a ton of room for media, are quiet, and really reliable.

If you want your filter to help with nitrates, 2 things are important: 1) you go with a filter that can house the sufficient amount of biological media for your tank size and stocking, and 2) you only use enough sponge paired with fine filter floss to do the sufficient amount of mechanical filtration and then fill the rest of the filter with as much biological media as possible (also the right type of biological media is important).

Here is a link to a reputable guy in the UK who gives filter size guidance for your tank in order to have your filter process nitrates and have a full cycle:

.
He also explains the best way to set up the filter with your sponges and biological media.

Thank you so much! We did end up getting the aqua clear so this is super helpful!

 

No. Occasionally (not every time, and not every filter) they won't start back up after a power outage or being unplugged, but it's not from losing the prime. The impeller gets tuck and won't start turning. When that happens I remove the lid, move the intake over to expose the impeller (the adjustment used to reduce flow during normal operation), take a small wooden skewer, and use the tip to give it a nudge, then move the intake back. That has always worked for me.

You can fix this in 5 minutes and not have to touch the impeller again.
Remove the motor from the filter. Remove the impeller and attached rotor. Against a hard surface push the shaft (stainless steel rod) inward until it bottoms out.
What happens is when removing the impeller and rotor to clean, over time this pulls up on the rod and it will then sit to high. This will in turn allow the impeller to strike the gray cap. If the shaft is pushed all the way in the impeller cannot strike the cap and it cannot get hung up.
So check the shaft. Push it all the way in.

Thank you so much! We did end up getting the aqua clear so this is super helpful!

I like them too. They work well and they are not expensive.

Aquaclears are perfect, but will not start after a power outage.

Thats not true.

This isn’t true, or at least isn’t always true. I have 2 AquaClear 110s on my 75. Both started right up after a power outage a couple months ago.
I’ve had the AquaClear filters and a Seachem Tidal. IMO, the AquaClears provide better filtration but the Tidals don’t run as loud.

AquaClear filters will run as silent as you want them to run. You must make sure the filters SS shaft is pushed all the way in and not bent.
My only noise issue with AC is the lids. They rattle.

Is the aqua clear that loud though? Even if it's not as quiet as the other. I can't hear my aqueon up the hall in my room, but it's got a humming sound in the room it's in. If it were in my room I'd not be able to sleep.

No louder than the others. Keep the motor, rotor, shaft and impeller clean and make sure the shaft is pushed in all the way. This will quiet down a noisy filter.