Canister Filter vs. HOB

[fishhog]

Ok, I am thinking about adding a canister filter to my 55 gallon. Currently, I have a HOB but I am thinking about taking it to the next level. What are the pros and cons of a canister filter compared to a HOB. I guess my main worry is something happening to the supply line on the canister filter and flooding the my upstairs apartment. Is this a legitimate concern? I'll hang up and listen.

Thanks!

[jklntx]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

From an Online source..ahh the wonders of Google..

Hanging power filters are an excellent way to help keep smaller freshwater aquariums clean. They keep the water polished and clear, and are very easy to maintain. We do not recommend hanging power filters for saltwater aquariums or large freshwater aquariums. We feel that the relatively small amount of filter material they hold offers little benefit to marine or large freshwater tanks. Canister filters are far superior but more expensive than their hanging power filter cousins. They last longer, hold a lot more filter material, use stronger pumps, and most operate with little or no noise production.

[Tiapan]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

i agree, having used almost nothing but HOB for many years, i have been extremely happy with the cannister filter once i put it on one of my tanks. works great and does a wonderful job, just dont get people to start talking about which canister they like.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

IMO....IME....

Canister... Pros. large surface area for beneficial bacteria and holds a lot of media.
               Cons. Not as easy to clean as a HOB and more expensive.

HOB...      Pros.Easy to maintain and cheap
              Cons.Sometimes limiting with space...not a strong bio-type filter.


If you wanna talk about what's the best........Wet/Dry-sump filters!

[Tiapan]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

yeah wet drys are not bad (just make a lot of noise

[jklntx]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

I've run a penguin 160 and eheim 2215 on a 55. Little overkill but water is always crystal clear. But then I do 20% water change per week as well.

[wvgdiscus]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

I never here my wet\dry.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

Yeah I don't hear mine neither if I wanted to silence it but I think the trickling water aids the stress....hell some people pay like $60 for those stupid table water fountains and let's not get started on the stupid CD's.

I have a spare wet/dry that's rated for a 75g that I plan to run on my 30g....probably add some sort of HOB or canister to it as well.....that will be freaking awesome!

[Tiapan]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

i like some sound but not too much, of course if i kep the water levels where they should be in any of my tanks then i probably wouldnt hear a thing

[Zulaab]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

You may want to talk to Mike at Mike's Tropical fish, he can get the Odyssea CFS4 Canister Filter at a very good price and for aquariums up to about 75Gal you cannot beat these for the price of a Canister.   There are some pro and con's with them but for the same output you are going to spend close to double that for an Eheim.  Give him a shout i am sure he can hook you up.

[rrocket2002]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

I'd use a canister and also continue to use your HOB.  You can never overdue filtration IMO.  

Raul

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

I'd use a canister and also continue to use your HOB.  You can never overdue filtration IMO.  

Raul

+1 and it can double as a ready made filter when you want to set up another tank.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

I use HOB in my fishroom where can change out the filtermedia of a bunch of tanks in a row quickly.  All the HOB's use the same size so I can walk down the row with a bucket, pull the old wet filter media, drop it in the bucket, pop in a clean one and when I get to the end of the row, I take the bucket to the sink and clean or replace the dirty filter pads.  Then on to the next row and so on.

But I did like the canaster on my 140 show tank in the livingroom.
It was hidden underneath and operated without any noise or problems for a long time.  But when it was time to to clean the canaster, is was a major production.  I usually took the canaster out the back door and spent the best part of an hour tearing it down, cleaning all the parts, replacing the filter material. reassembling everything and checking for leaks.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

Canisters are super quiet.  Good for inside the home, and especially in the living room or bedroom.

HOB's are quick down and dirty, they work good but have limitations of space, and typically are a much stronger mechanical filter than a bio filter.

Wet Dry's once setup right are awesome.  IF you dont like the sand, used standpipes.  They really reduce the noise.

[RonR.]

Re: Canister Filter vs. HOB

When I had my 75g several years ago, I used an HOB and it was pretty effective and simple to clean.  I think I spent under $60 for it.

I have 2 2217 eheims on my 180g........the same ones I bought mail order in 1988 from That Fish Place.  The cannisters are a closed system so as long as your rubber seals on your cannister are secure..........no leaks.  After I clean each one (I alternate every 3 mos) and return to the tank I check it for a few minutes to make sure all is okay.  No problems.  If your intake hose is not tight you will get air and either the filter will not pump or you'll hear alot of noise.  If your output/return hose is not tight you could have some problems.  My intakes and output jet sprays are hard plastic and I made sure the plastic hose is secure.........for added insurance I used zip ties to tighten them down further.

The cannister holds alot of media.  Mine take about 15 minutes to clean every 3 mos.  I clean mine down to the impellors.  I have sand in my 180.  If any gets sucked up in the intake, it enters thru the bottom of the cannister.  Water exits back to the tank thru the top of the cannister and has to pass thru lots of media.  I usually find a teaspoon of sand in the bottom of the cannister when I clean it.  I guess my sand is heavy enough not to make it the 16"+ from the bottom to the top of the cannister plus I have a cotton/floss type media at the very top of each cannister that keeps the small and large stuff in the filter.

All this said, I know my next large tank will have a wet/dry. :)