Second HOB filter recommendations

Hello,
I have a 55G aquarium and right now it has a Marineland emperor bio-wheel 400 on it and whatever the basic package filter that comes with the aqueon kits is. My question is does anyone have a suggestion for a HOB filter to replace the basic one? I don't know if I want another Marineland emperor bio-wheel HOB or if I want to go a different route. I do not want an internal filter as I do not care for how they look. Thank you

 

Hello,
I have a 55G aquarium and right now it has a Marineland emperor bio-wheel 400 on it and whatever the basic package filter that comes with the aqueon kits is. My question is does anyone have a suggestion for a HOB filter to replace the basic one? I don't know if I want another Marineland emperor bio-wheel HOB or if I want to go a different route. I do not want an internal filter as I do not care for how they look. Thank you

The aqua clear 110 is a good one I’m using one on my 55 to back up the fx4

 

I have 2x Marineland 400's on a 65 gal. & 2x AC's 110's on a 120. Both combinations work just fine.

 

What is your 55g stocked with?

I would go with another Emperor 400 or an Aquaclear 110. I have am AC110 and can recommend them.

Here is an interesting video on some DIY mods for an Emperor 400.

Also, the Ken's Fish website has the new Emperor 450 Pro for $64. Marineland released all new updated versions of the Penguin and Emperor filters.

 

What is your 55g stocked with?

I would go with another Emperor 400 or an Aquaclear 110. I have am AC110 and can recommend them.

Here is an interesting video on some DIY mods for an Emperor 400.

Also, the Ken's Fish website has the new Emperor 450 Pro for $64. Marineland released all new updated versions of the Penguin and Emperor filters.

My 55 has about 25 adult guppies m/f mix and a whole bunch of fry 6 panda corys and 2 rubber lip plecos

 

Hello BigB,
I have used Marineland's Emperor 400 for many years and its always been a work horse in my tanks. I ran one in my 55 planted and I never had an issue. Now this said, if you don't want to run a second emperor, you could look into a Aquaclear 110 they are rated from tanks of 60-110 gallons with a flow rate of 500 GPH; and if this filter does not convince you, I would also recommend Fluval's C4 HOB its rated for tanks from 40 to 70 gallons with a flow rating of 264 GPH. They offer you basically the same capabilities of the Emperor just in their very perspective manner. Overall, these are all outstanding filters which should fit your needs easily. In my 55 I ran the Emperor 400 and Marineland's old H.O.T. Magnum which they don't even make anymore. And my water in the tank was always crystal clear. In one of the pictures you can clearly see the intake tube for my Emperor andin the other one you can see my Magnum behind the Amazon Sword.

 

Hello BigB,
I have used Marineland's Emperor 400 for many years and its always been a work horse in my tanks. I ran one in my 55 planted and I never had an issue. Now this said, if you don't want to run a second emperor, you could look into a Aquaclear 110 they are rated from tanks of 60-110 gallons with a flow rate of 500 GPH; and if this filter does not convince you, I would also recommend Fluval's C4 HOB its rated for tanks from 40 to 70 gallons with a flow rating of 264 GPH. They offer you basically the same capabilities of the Emperor just in their very perspective manner. Overall, these are all outstanding filters which should fit your needs easily. In my 55 I ran the Emperor 400 and Marineland's old H.O.T. Magnum which they don't even make anymore. And my water in the tank was always crystal clear. In one of the pictures you can clearly see the intake tube for my Emperor andin the other one you can see my Magnum behind the Amazon Sword.

What lid do you use for your tank? The lids I currently have on my tank are an extremely tight fit with the Marineland. I have been looking for one that fits better since when I have to do anything it is a nightmare to take off/put back.
I was debating on getting the Marineland emperor pro 450 since it has more options for customization with the media and a prefilter opton, but it is bigger then the 400 and I don't want the same problem.

 

What is your 55g stocked with?

I would go with another Emperor 400 or an Aquaclear 110. I have am AC110 and can recommend them.

Here is an interesting video on some DIY mods for an Emperor 400.

Also, the Ken's Fish website has the new Emperor 450 Pro for $64. Marineland released all new updated versions of the Penguin and Emperor filters.

What lid would I use for the emperor 450? The ones I have now are already tight for the 400.

 

I would recommend to check out Amazon. There is a company called H2pro, do a search for the glass canopies on a 55 gallon tank and the ones your looking for will come up.

 

I would recommend to check out Amazon. There is a company called H2pro, do a search for the glass canopies on a 55 gallon tank and the ones your looking for will come up.

Unfortunately I have to be careful with the gaps in the back, I have a crayfish in the tank and would rather her not escape lol my wife would kill me if she found it in the house.

 

The back part of the canopies comes with a plastic sleeve that you can cut should you need to. But if you don’t need to, you don’t need to cut them. I cut mine because of my filter, but you can cut only the part needed for your filter and skirt the rest. I chose not to do that on mine, but that is a possibility.

 

The back part of the canopies comes with a plastic sleeve that you can cut should you need to. But if you don’t need to, you don’t need to cut them. I cut mine because of my filter, but you can cut only the part needed for your filter and skirt the rest. I chose not to do that on mine, but that is a possibility.

Good to know thank you.

 

BigB322 , Could you post some pics of the filter and lid you have now?

Without knowing what you have now, other options would the Aqueon Versa-Top hinged glass lid.

They have a plastic lip on the back part that is supposed to be trimmed to fit filters, air line tubing, etc.

 

BigB322 , Could you post some pics of the filter and lid you have now?

Without knowing what you have now, other options would the Aqueon Versa-Top hinged glass lid.

They have a plastic lip on the back part that is supposed to be trimmed to fit filters, air line tubing, etc.

I will when I get home. I actually got one of the Aqueon Versa-Tops half off and figured I'd try it. I'll post picks as well as results of the Versa-Top.

 

just dont go with the aqeon quiet flows, they are not quiet and i have many problems with them not taking in water when i turn them on because the i have to take off the intake, jiggle the impeller, put the intake back on, and then turn the power on and hope for the best(i have two of these) T_T

 

AC 110 is the best HOB I've ever used. Very nice filter and great GPH for a HOB

 

If it has to be a HOB and not a canister, I would go with a Seachem tidal 110 or 75. I am using a Aquaclear 110, and I like aqua clear, but I don’t like the 110. Sponge is to big, when the bottom of the sponge get clogged up the basket starts to float to the top. Annoying!!!

seachem tidal also works as a surface skimmer, the polishing pad option is amazing and thin, there is way more room for bio media, and the sponge is only as big as it needs to be. it converted me away from aquaclear.

 

If it has to be a HOB and not a canister, I would go with a Seachem tidal 110 or 75. I am using a Aquaclear 110, and I like aqua clear, but I don’t like the 110. Sponge is to big, when the bottom of the sponge get clogged up the basket starts to float to the top. Annoying!!!

seachem tidal also works as a surface skimmer, the polishing pad option is amazing and thin, there is way more room for bio media, and the sponge is only as big as it needs to be. it converted me away from aquaclear.

You can just cut the sponge in half, that's what I did

 

You can just cut the sponge in half, that's what I did

never though about that. Butttt, I shouldn’t have to. To me that’s a flaw, hence the switch to Seachem Tidal.

 

!poogs! , I use a sponge pre-filter on the intake tube on our AC110.

It catches all the large muck, which keeps the main foam block in the media basket a lot cleaner.

The main foam block never clogs or makes the media basket rise due to restricted flow.

It's a lot easier to remove the pre-filter sponge off, rinse it off, and put it back on.

This extends the normal cleaning interval of the media in the main basket as well. You would be amazed how much muck it collects !

I use the ATI "Filter Max III".

 

!poogs! , I use a sponge pre-filter on the intake tube on our AC110.

It catches all the large muck, which keeps the main foam block in the media basket a lot cleaner.

The main foam block never clogs or makes the media basket rise due to restricted flow.

It's a lot easier to remove the pre-filter sponge off, rinse it off, and put it back on.

This extends the normal cleaning interval of the media in the main basket as well. You would be amazed how much muck it collects !

I use the ATI "Filter Max III".

I agree with you. I do the same in my fry tanks with smaller filters.

It still comes down to, I shouldn’t have to do that On a filter out of the box new, and the 110 design is flawed.