Which filter?

[bikehead90]

My filter has been making noise, and I fear it may be time for a new one (already). I've been looking into what to get, but wanted some of your guys' advice. The way I have my tank set up is a 50g corner, with 7 African cichlids and a feather fin catfish. I also just started planting it, so I've got four plants so far. The filter I'm running is the Mainland 200. What I was thinking of getting is the AquaClear 70. I've got a few questions about it though. Is it powerful enough? My tank is tall (21" from the top of the water, to the top of the substrate), and the intake tube looks rather short. I've seen the "extension tube" and that looks like the one you get in the box. With the extension tube, would it be deep enough to get the bottom water?

[Regalblue]

I'd go with an AC110. It's not like you can overfilter & then you'll have a jump on things if you decide to upgrade your tank in the future.

[Ron]

I'm always inclined to pick the largest available filter among a series if possible, as it's normally the best "bang for the buck".

FWIW, the Emperor 400 would also be one to consider perhaps. I've always liked them better than the ACs. The reusable sponge of the AC is nice - for the Emp400s, I'd use the gray media baskets and fill them with filter floss (from a fabric store - cheaper than the LFS) rather than buy cartridges.

[bikehead90]

How are the AquaClear filters? The biggest issue I have is the short intake tube. Would it be deep enough to adequately filter the whole tank?

[bikehead90]

FWIW, the Emperor 400 would also be one to consider perhaps. I've always liked them better than the ACs. The reusable sponge of the AC is nice - for the Emp400s, I'd use the gray media baskets and fill them with filter floss (from a fabric store - cheaper than the LFS) rather than buy cartridges.

I was considering the Emp400, but because I have a diamond tank, the available area to put a filter is limited.  Currently I have a 14" or 15" opening, and that's it. I do like the biowheels though.

[Ron]

How are the AquaClear filters? The biggest issue I have is the short intake tube. Would it be deep enough to adequately filter the whole tank?

They sell extensions for the AC filter intakes, so you could extend it down.

[Cat(fish)lady]

I'd go with an AC110. It's not like you can overfilter & then you'll have a jump on things if you decide to upgrade your tank in the future.

I second ACs. I have them in all of my tanks! I love them!
I've never had problems with them.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

[FWIW, the Emperor 400 would also be one to consider perhaps. I've always liked them better than the ACs. The reusable sponge of the AC is nice - for the Emp400s, I'd use the gray media baskets and fill them with filter floss (from a fabric store - cheaper than the LFS) rather than buy cartridges.
[/quote]

I do a combo of each (best of both) - Emperor 400 and buy a replacement AC 100 sponge and some Matrix.  Put a good amount Matrix on the bottom of each reservoir and then cut the sponge to fit each.  Do not use any of the cartridges. Clean up is super easy, just rinse out the sponge. 

Good luck with your search, Also as Ron stated, the more filtration the better.   

[Super Turtleman]

[FWIW, the Emperor 400 would also be one to consider perhaps. I've always liked them better than the ACs. The reusable sponge of the AC is nice - for the Emp400s, I'd use the gray media baskets and fill them with filter floss (from a fabric store - cheaper than the LFS) rather than buy cartridges.

I do a combo of each (best of both) - Emperor 400 and buy a replacement AC 100 sponge and some Matrix.  Put a good amount Matrix on the bottom of each reservoir and then cut the sponge to fit each.  Do not use any of the cartridges. Clean up is super easy, just rinse out the sponge. 

Good luck with your search, Also as Ron stated, the more filtration the better.   
[/quote]

I like this idea. I usually have an AC 110 and an Emperor 400 on a tank. Gonna add some sponge and Matrix to the 400/350s tho...

[cranialdisturbance]

The AC extension tubes are stackable so you can make the intake as long as you like.  You can also cut them to a custom length if you gently use a pipe cutter.

[mightieskeeper]

Hot Mag 250 is another great option for limited space filter.

[Cat(fish)lady]

The AC extension tubes are stackable so you can make the intake as long as you like.  You can also cut them to a custom length if you gently use a pipe cutter.

I couldn't find anywhere local to get an extra extension tube. An extra under gravel uplift tube worked really well! Haha

Been using my AC110 for a couple of years that way now!

[disenga]

I was part of a heated filtration discussion on a FB cichlid breeders group yesterday.  A member offered some info on his friend's set up:  20 x 125g tanks, each with 2 x sponge filters running off a central air pump. If you have or have ever been in, a larger-scale fish room you know that this is a common scheme, but the negative responses to his post were overwhelming.  He was being called names from moron to troll.  Other common replies centered on the "you can never have too much filtration" and "the more filtration, the better" themes.  Eventually it got so bad that the moderators removed the thread.

I defended the guy based on my own experience. I run all Hydrosponges, no power filters. My ammonia and nitrite levels are all below my test kit's minimum detection limits.  As such, I believe there is no point in adding any more bio-filtration. Sure, I could add more mechanical filtration if I wanted to clear out some of the inert waste bi-products more quickly, but that addition would be for purely aesthetic purposes and would not improve the water quality for the fish.

Apparently I'm either wrong, or this concept seems to be more difficult to grasp than I would have imagined.  I'd like to know what people here think.

[Ron]

I was part of a heated filtration discussion on a FB cichlid breeders group yesterday.  A member offered some info on his friend's set up:  20 x 125g tanks, each with 2 x sponge filters running off a central air pump. If you have or have ever been in, a larger-scale fish room you know that this is a common scheme, but the negative responses to his post were overwhelming.  He was being called names from moron to troll.  Other common replies centered on the "you can never have too much filtration" and "the more filtration, the better" themes.  Eventually it got so bad that the moderators removed the thread.

I defended the guy based on my own experience. I run all Hydrosponges, no power filters. My ammonia and nitrite levels are all below my test kit's minimum detection limits.  As such, I believe there is no point in adding any more bio-filtration. Sure, I could add more mechanical filtration if I wanted to clear out some of the inert waste bi-products more quickly, but that addition would be for purely aesthetic purposes and would not improve the water quality for the fish.

Apparently I'm either wrong, or this concept seems to be more difficult for a lot of people to grasp than I would have imagined.  I'd like to know what people here think.

If the tank parameters measure too low to register a value on the test kit, I see no problem with the existing filtration, whatever it may be.

The stocking density has also been left out of the details, so how someone could argue that it is either enough or not enough filtration with a well constructed argument is beyond me.

I would argue that no matter the size, all tanks are best off with at least 2 sponge filters when running sponges, simply because you can alternate cleaning.

I've noticed, in the cichlid world, *monster fish* world, and koi world, it's often the case that the more filtration the better it must be, but off course those who understand the concepts realize there's often a point of no additional return.