If you are interested in the filter check out this Amazon affiliate link: amzn.to/2WOxIK7 If you want to save money on filter media check out this Amazon affiliate link for bulk filter floss: amzn.to/2KZ8Qx3 Want to see the Seachem 55 Tidal Review? Check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/PWaSP55QKc8/v-deo.html
I have an inquiry. The small zipper bags that the media comes in with this filter. Would you know where I could purchase these from. I would like to have spares as the mesh bags do get sort of funky, I would like to be able to just swap it out with a clean one and move on.
Beyond the sponge, what filtration media is advised? I'm new to fish as a hobby so know little. If I have a 20 gallon tank and will have 10 or less fresh water fish, beyond sponge or carbon I'm uncertain which media to use, as Seachem has many media that seems to do the same thing. Thanks
I wish i saw this before I bought it yesterday, I just set it up, still have the other filter in to help cycle the new one, buts it's rattling a lot! Any idea why?
These work great. I'm happy with my 35. The only thing they are finicky about is how you pack your filter media. If you do your floss exactly as shown in the video it'll work perfectly. If you put more and pack it in tighter you're going to find the water starts to head to the overflow almost immediately. Even two pieces vertical will do this if you have it set to maximum flow. One piece, vertical, no problem.
I have the Seachem Tidal 75, it’s a versatile filter. I can pack a lot of media in it and it’s so easy to clean. It’s quiet, does a great job in keeping my 65 gallon tank clear. I really like it.
Hi JASON, great job with this video. I have three Tidal 110s that I have been running for 2 years, and I have never had a single issue. I purchased extra coarse blue sponges, and I use 2 of them in each filter along with Pinky floss. Thanks for sharing another wonderful video 👍.
Hi Jason. I use the Seachem 55, 75, and 110's in my fishroom. They are very easy to use and easy to clean. I use the blue course sponge at the bottom, then another small pore sponge on top of that to collect finer particles and then my ceramic rings on top. There are 2 things that I have noticed with these filters.... 1. They make a slurping noise if you have the water level a tad bit low if you have it on low flow. 2. With having hard water, the motor and impeller have to be taken apart about every year and completely cleaned out to get rid of the calcium buildup so the performance of the filter is not impeded. Other than that, I love them!
I just bought the Case bio 250 and love it so far for my 40 gallon breeder. Your video helped me set it up . I also run the Sachem Total 55 on this tank since I bought it a while back for another tank . Quality is top notch and super quiet. Thanks for your great videos. I do understand most of what you say and I'm from the U.S . Happy New Year .
I would like to share my experience with this filter. Firstly it's AMAZING! I have a 110 on my 125 Cichlid tank paired with my FX6 (I like having the HOB in case of filter failure of any of my tanks I have a back up) I also have 2 modified Fluval Spec V's where I use my Tidal 35. I have heavy finned Bettas that get terribly blown around with the stock filter of the Spec's thus my reason to modify. I digress. The Tidal 35 works amazing on my Betta tanks. I love the quick and easy maintenance of them, they are so quiet and the best thing for me and my Bettas is I can turn these down to a near trickle flow at feeding time. I love love love this filter and actually purchasing another 35 from my LFS tomorrow. I can't say enough about this filter. Oh and I love that you don't have to buy anything that is made by the manufacturer that will be obsolete in 90 days! You can use ANY media in the basket. I do like to keep an second blue sponge in the bottom as well as some floss for polishing and then my BioMax on top. You can't go wrong.
Awesome channel. Great presentation and always very information. Videos actually have substance for hobbiests unlike a lot of the more popular channels.
As always very nice, when you go direct to the point, normally we say, you get for what you pay, high quality material can't be cheap, but most of the times people pay for the brand, in this case I believe that we are paying for the material and durability of it, we are not buying Chinese cheap products, that's it!!!!!
I have tidal 35 on a 10 gallon it works well how I handled the water bypassing the media when its in clogged I would put a piece of a fine filter pad there so when it bypasses the media it still gets filterd but it mainly just stops water from bypassing so when media is a little bit dirty the water still goes through 5he media
I like the Seachem filters. I had a large Tetra hanger that was doing a great job for me. Until the power went out, no one was home, and the motor burned out. That is not a problem with the Seachems.
I have used a pair of these Seachem tidal 35 filters for a year now. I have had the Tidal 110 filters for two years. They replaced the Marineland 400 and my Marineland Penguin 100 ( both are a waist of money in my opinion) . These are decent filters. I got them primarily for the self priming feature and the fact that you can use whatever media you want. However this filter clogs very easily and the water will bypass the media. The entire line of the Seachem tidal filters has this issue. I solved this issue by putting a small amount of ceramic rings at the bottom of the bottom of the basket, then a corse foam, then a medium foam and then a layer of Polyfil. The Polyfil will catch everything coming so it will need changing every couple of weeks. The motor and intake area will need to be hosed off every couple of months. These are generally good filters. They are not as quiet as Aquaclear especially if your water level drops or the filter media gets clogged and the water starts to bypass. They would be even better if they where square in shape as the Aquaclear is but they are what they are and they do their job very well. I now have a peace of mind when I’m at work or out of town knowing that they will self prime after a power outage.
I king of like the shape of these because you can keep the tanks closer to the wall. I've solved the clogging issue by running the filter floss vertically!
I just ordered this filter just because of the basket and modification opportunity with the media. I've used the Deep Blue Professional Biomaxx nano and 10 gallon filters for a while and they don't last. The older the filter gets the more the flow decreases. The only complaint I heard about the tidal 35 is that the propellers can have a defect that makes it a rattle. Someone on Amazon suggested using sandpaper to file it down a bit to stop the noise.
I was pretty excited when these came out as I really like the Aqua Clear for its large volume to add additional bio media and ease of customizing the filter. This has a similar design and has room for additional media of choice. The concept of the internal submerged motor seemed like a good idea for ease of priming, but, despite many saying thus happens, I've never had an Aqua Clear (or any other filter) lose siphon in over 40 years. If water level is kept appropriate that shouldnt happen. Once in use, however, this filter did not work as well as the Aqua Clear. There seemed to be an excess of detritus throughout the bio media and passing through the filter. Two things cause this. First, the sponge pre-filter is very course. And two, the fully enclosed basket allows quite a bit of blow-by around it. Overall a good filter but I'm doubtful its worth the additional cost over AquaClear
I placed a plastic mesh at the bottom of mine so the sponge does not get squished into the open holes and limit water intake. No overflow and much better filtration I have found. Full flow and no bypass. I use about 3 inches of course sponge. Half inch of filter floss, a bag of Seachem Matrix and a bag of Seachem Purigen. All fits with no restrictions. Crystal clear water.
I have a Tidal 75. And I think is the best hang on filter I have. Marineland is very poor compared to this one. And I think it can go for almost a month without starting to ask for cleaning. And also, never give up after power shortages where I see most of my other hang ons.
Nice review. I like the fact they removed the blue dial. I agree, no tube for an intake sponge to protect fry/shrimp and prevent food from getting sucked in. My fish peck off the food that gets stuck on the intake sponge. No waste. All food gets eaten.
I like the Seachem Tidal line a lot and currently have the Tidal 75 on a 40g breeder and the Tidal 55 on a 25g. I've had Aquaclears for several years, finding them easy to maintain and I still have 4 running on 20g and 5.5g tanks. But in the past few years I've had issues with the intake tubes not sitting properly and therefore the lids not fitting. I also often have to stick something into the impeller to get it going again, even after cleaning this area. I originally replaced the AC's on my 40g with the Fluval C3 and C4 models and was not happy with those after a time - they became too noisy. So I tried the Tidal 75 as a replacement and have been quite pleased with this. It's quiet, the plastic is a higher quality than the AC's, and I particularly like the auto priming feature. The leveler to properly seat the filter on the tank is also far superior to that on the Aquaclear, which constantly falls off behind the tank. I also find the Tidals pull way more "gunk" out of my tanks that the AC filters. When the AC on the 25g finally got me really annoyed, I replaced this with the Tidal 55. But I was glad to see this review of the Tidal 35 and will probably not choose this as a replacement for my 20g tanks. I do keep smaller fish and use pre-filters on all of my tanks. Not being able to do this is a real disappointment. I was hoping this would be just a mini version of the Tidal 55 and 75.
I have two tidal 55s running on two 40 gallon show tanks and I love them. My only issue is one you mentioned as well, the bright blue parts that I have to try and hide with plants. Thinking about getting a 35 to replace an old filter on a 20 gallon so thanks, you helped me decide. Great video as usual!
I was just looking at the Tidal 55 for my 30 gal on Google. Took a break on UA-cam and this video was in my feed. I ordered the 35 from your affiliate link! I think the 55 with a medium sponge filter is too much. But this 35 will be perfect. Good timing Jason, Thank You!
I run 2 of the tidal 75s and one of the 110s(90 gallon mbuna tank) on my tanks to supplement canister filters as back up and for surface agitation. We have frequent power outages in the little town I'm from so the self priming feature is awesome.
Prime Time Aquatics Just a suggestion if you have an Aquaclear you need to put in service. I had 2 Seachem 110s and they could both wake the dead, they were so loud.
According to Amazon, the 35 comes with an intake tube. The reason I am switching from the Aqua Clear to the Tidal is because although you can control the flow on both, the Aqua Clear doesn't slow down the flow enough for my fish. Mine arrives Friday April 23, 2021.
I have a 75 tidal. Very nice filter indeed quiet and self priming. The blue dials don’t bother me and I love the big media basket. I have a total of three sponges in it. Jason love your topics. Great job!
Super pro tip. To cover the surface skimmer intake, get fishing line and sew a thin spong over it with the fishing line and tie it off and you can put a prefilter spong over bottom intake. Works great for me and I have fry and small fish, I have 6 layers of various sponges and media in it aswell, very modifiable filter.
The surface skimmer on mine is just not pulling the biofilm. It collects dropped leaves, but doesn't touch the biofilm regardless of water level or flow intensity.
No intake tube. I like a HOT filter to have an intake that gets near the bottom to circulate tank temp and also pull some stuff from farther down in the water column.
Although tidal filters are top notch in many categories. Marineland offers many filters which perform far better for the money. If you hot rod the media in the bio wheel it is no contest. I have been using the largest model of each manufacturer for years on my 40B tanks. I rate them in this order, #1 marineland (value) #2 tidal (clydesdale) #3 aquaclear (unreliable, and built of cheap plastic)
I have both the aquaclear and seachem tidal 110. I find the tidal is easier to maintain, more customizable (adjust intake very greatly from a slow trickle to a nice steady output, adjust tube length greatly, adjust surface skimmer, etc.), the tidal has a heater clip, a full media basket for easier maintenance, a drip tray, is self priming, and has an indicator for when it gets clogged, but the aquaclear I find catches more waste, likely because the sponge is a lot finer and the pump is far stronger on the aquaclear as it’s for my pike cichlid, not my axolotl like my seachem. Overall, I’d say seachem if you don’t mind topping off your tank frequently as the surface skimmer makes a loud gurgling sound when it gets too low so every other day I have to add in more water.
Nice review, thanks, it looks like a pretty good little filter , but how do you clean the impeller is the motor detachable or is there anyway of getting to the impeller for maintenance.
Thank you for this video! I just bought a Marineland Penguin 150 for my 20 gallon aquarium and it is way too loud and makes too much of a splash effect on the surface of the water (which is what makes the noise). Ordered a Seachem 35 based on your review with the filter media in your link. I like the surface skimming and the ability to lower flow rate on the filter.
Raise your water level up to where the lower edge of the Spillway is under the Surface of the Water. You'll get better Circulation and better Oxygenation with no splashing water noise.
What's puzzles me is the 35 and 55 use the same amount of power according to the official website, even though the flow rate is 130 vs 250. Must be a typo or something. Anyway, since these filters usually last many years assuming you know how to maintain them. It's totally worth it to go with this one compare to anything else. I mean $20 difference is almost nothing if you use this for years, not to mention this has better quality and so many benefits (e.g. no priming, etc) over the others.
I have a tidal 55 that I love. I think it's even better than the aquaclear it replaced. I love the self priming feature. I keep a sponge pre-filter on it that I ring out in tank water with every weekly water change. I do filter maintenance on it once a month. I HATED the tidal 35. It seemed to clog and bypass every 2 days. I don't think I used it for more than a couple of months before giving up on it. I noticed that you didn't use any bio-rings in yours so hopefully you'll have better luck with having less total media in the basket.
It looks like a good filter. I have heard people say that they are nearly silent, but I hear some noise from that one in the video. Would it quiet down some if it was plumbed up? Thanks for the video.
I should add that I installed a Tidal 75 on my goldfish tank last week and even though I used the adjuster to make sure it was plumb, it made quite a bit of noise for the first day and a half. Which makes sense. The rotating parts needed to wear in. So far it seems like a pretty good filter. The water is clean, the pump is now silent and when unplugged and then plugged back in it got right back to work with no further input from me. I set it on the lowest flow setting and it does not blow my fantails around when they swim in the outfall.
Great video. Will be trying one of these out next time I need a HOB. I've used aquaclear for years and they are good but the smaller models (30/50) leave slot to be desired even on a 20g tank. I think this model is more comparable to an aquaclear 70
I was looking into the filter floss you linked. It is advertised as reusable. Do you reuse or dispose? 8 ft might be too much if it's reusable. But it may still be cheaper than the polypad option from the coop. Just not sure if it's just as good with polishing.
Also, because the intake is not on an extended tube, it will not likely lift and contain the heavy solids from nearer the bottom. So not as good as a mechanical filter, just polish the water mainly.
@@apaulmcdonough2170 correct, to a point. But most add filter floss etc, not for biological purposes. We're talking "bang for your buck", vs "one trick pony". The lack of the extended intake also likely causes the recirculation of the just cleaned water, as the exhaust and intake are so near. An eddy effect, creating dead spots, leaving much of the water rarely "cleaned". All of this does limit it's function and ability.
I have a 25 gallon bowfront, about 20 inches tall, will be heavily planted and I intend to keep a betta and more fish, do I go with a tidal 35 or 55? I also have 4 inches of gravel for my plants, I’m very new to this
I have a hodge podge of filters..mostly aquaclears or the old whisper 60s When one dies..I'll just use some hose or another filter extension tube..and hook a power head up to it.. Did that to a old whisper 60 and a aquaclear "mini" Cheap Ebay powerheads are great for this
I use a tidal 35 on my 20 long. Works great and is very quiet. I found a penguin 100 for 11 bucks and use it as a backup. I ran it for a week after getting it and it actually holds about the same amount of biological media, but it is loud and the biowheel makes it even louder. Not a fan.
Just got a used tank . Less than a year old . He had it set up as a saltwater tank. I'm using it for africans . He gave me a huge seachem filter . Not sure what model . Any advice ? Should I use it ?
Very informative, but my only suggestion would be to breathe, stay silent for 10 seconds or so, so we can actually hear how loud the filter motor and flow noise is. You talked non-stop through that part, but from what I could hear of the unit, it seems annoyingly loud. Like, I wouldn't want that in a bedroom or living room. I need my filter to be virtually silent. Got another recommendation for a 20-gal hob filter that's not huge or loud?
I think it was loud at start up, but the tank was in our bedroom and never heard it running. The other filters I really like are the new Marineland pro series filters because the motor is inside the tank - we have some running in the fish room and can't hear them at all!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks, I'll check out some review videos and see if there's a model for a 20 gallon long that we plan to get soon'ish. To be honest, I'd look into cannister filters but I've never seen one really used.
It impeller sounded quite loud, which is a compliant I’ve heard about the Seachem HOB’s. I’m aware some filters will quieten down after some time. Any comments on how noisy it is (or isn’t)?
I have the 35 for my 10 gallon. No modifications as of yet, but I will be modifying it because it's going to be a betta tank with shrimp, and the intake is too large. My problem is that the flow seems to be too strong, even on the lowest setting and it submerges my red root floaters. Is there something I can do to stop that? Will the modifications (extra sponges at intake, filter floss, etc) slow that flow down even more so its easier on my plants?
It has worked well. The only minor downside that I still wish was corrected is the intake is closer to the surface than I would like. It's run well though.
We had a power failure last night and my aqua clear lost its prime then when the power came back on the motor burned out from running dry and no longer works. I have gold ring danios and my question is this: can they end up in the filter?
Is this quite enough for a bedroom? It sounded a little loud when you first turned it on.. did that noise go down? My aquaclear 50 has an annoyingly loud buzzing noise.
I don't know if "well" is the word I would use - it does it, but I haven't noticed it in a major way. I think the biggest advantage it has over the aquaclear is the internal motor, which makes it much quieter.
I love the filter but I am having some issues with the surface skimmer. It seems that its not working. I noticed that the surface intake is not sucking up the water from the surface and I end up having some bio-film on the surface of my tank. Do you guys have advice on how to fix this because I currently considering buying separate surface skimmer.
Do you think a tidal 55 would be to much for a 29 gallon tank? I was thinking I would like the extra room in the basket and the extension tube which the 35 doesn’t come with. But maybe I am over doing it. I have danios and platys in there right now.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Do prefer a filter with a cartridge or a soldier with some media basket. I have a 5 gallon tank with 3 fish Baloch African Butterfly and angelfish. The filter that came with the tank died when the power went off . I need a new filter . I watch your video on filter Tidal 35 . But never had filter with a basket just cartridge
do you think the lowest flow would be acceptable for a crown tail betta in a 10 gallon? i’ve been looking for a new one and i’m concerned about a disturbing flow for my fish!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Wish I saw this before I bought it. Also a question, can I just set it up and talk all my old filter media out and put it in this new filter and immediately remove the old filter?
If you are interested in the filter check out this Amazon affiliate link: amzn.to/2WOxIK7
If you want to save money on filter media check out this Amazon affiliate link for bulk filter floss: amzn.to/2KZ8Qx3
Want to see the Seachem 55 Tidal Review? Check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/PWaSP55QKc8/v-deo.html
I have an inquiry. The small zipper bags that the media comes in with this filter. Would you know where I could purchase these from. I would like to have spares as the mesh bags do get sort of funky, I would like to be able to just swap it out with a clean one and move on.
Beyond the sponge, what filtration media is advised? I'm new to fish as a hobby so know little. If I have a 20 gallon tank and will have 10 or less fresh water fish, beyond sponge or carbon I'm uncertain which media to use, as Seachem has many media that seems to do the same thing. Thanks
I wish i saw this before I bought it yesterday, I just set it up, still have the other filter in to help cycle the new one, buts it's rattling a lot! Any idea why?
These work great. I'm happy with my 35. The only thing they are finicky about is how you pack your filter media. If you do your floss exactly as shown in the video it'll work perfectly. If you put more and pack it in tighter you're going to find the water starts to head to the overflow almost immediately. Even two pieces vertical will do this if you have it set to maximum flow. One piece, vertical, no problem.
I have the Seachem Tidal 75, it’s a versatile filter. I can pack a lot of media in it and it’s so easy to clean. It’s quiet, does a great job in keeping my 65 gallon tank clear. I really like it.
Glad they are working for you too!
You addressed exactly my concern regarding the intake vis-a-vis fish fry. Thanks!
I was looking for a replacement filter and liked the look of the Seachem Tidal 35, your video has just sealed the deal! Thank you
Hi JASON, great job with this video. I have three Tidal 110s that I have been running for 2 years, and I have never had a single issue. I purchased extra coarse blue sponges, and I use 2 of them in each filter along with Pinky floss. Thanks for sharing another wonderful video 👍.
Hey Denny! Appreciate your long term report!
I’ve switched all my HOB’s to the Tidals. I love the performance and haven’t looked back
I'm really liking them as well!
Thinking of getting the Tidal 35 for my 30 gallons community tank. Currently using the Marineland Penguin 200. Should I get the Tidal 55 instead ?
They are definitely great filters
@@RickieVz1 Did you end up buying it? Did you like it?
@ got it and loved it. Changed to sponge pads.
Hi Jason. I use the Seachem 55, 75, and 110's in my fishroom. They are very easy to use and easy to clean. I use the blue course sponge at the bottom, then another small pore sponge on top of that to collect finer particles and then my ceramic rings on top. There are 2 things that I have noticed with these filters.... 1. They make a slurping noise if you have the water level a tad bit low if you have it on low flow. 2. With having hard water, the motor and impeller have to be taken apart about every year and completely cleaned out to get rid of the calcium buildup so the performance of the filter is not impeded. Other than that, I love them!
Appreciate you sharing! Thank you
I've used them for over a year and think they work well. Couple of tweaks would make them better but overall a good reliable filter.
Thanks for sharing!
I just bought the Case bio 250 and love it so far for my 40 gallon breeder. Your video helped me set it up . I also run the Sachem Total 55 on this tank since I bought it a while back for another tank . Quality is top notch and super quiet. Thanks for your great videos. I do understand most of what you say and I'm from the U.S . Happy New Year .
I would like to share my experience with this filter. Firstly it's AMAZING! I have a 110 on my 125 Cichlid tank paired with my FX6 (I like having the HOB in case of filter failure of any of my tanks I have a back up) I also have 2 modified Fluval Spec V's where I use my Tidal 35. I have heavy finned Bettas that get terribly blown around with the stock filter of the Spec's thus my reason to modify. I digress. The Tidal 35 works amazing on my Betta tanks. I love the quick and easy maintenance of them, they are so quiet and the best thing for me and my Bettas is I can turn these down to a near trickle flow at feeding time. I love love love this filter and actually purchasing another 35 from my LFS tomorrow. I can't say enough about this filter. Oh and I love that you don't have to buy anything that is made by the manufacturer that will be obsolete in 90 days! You can use ANY media in the basket. I do like to keep an second blue sponge in the bottom as well as some floss for polishing and then my BioMax on top. You can't go wrong.
Appreciate you sharing your experience!
I always like vidos of new fish 'gear.' - Always good to know what's out there. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I like the submersible motor on this. No priming can save a lot of time. Thanks for the video.
This video has been very helpful, much appreciated.
Awesome channel. Great presentation and always very information. Videos actually have substance for hobbiests unlike a lot of the more popular channels.
Appreciate you watching!
I like that there is a candy cane in the pencil jug. In June. Can relate
As always very nice, when you go direct to the point, normally we say, you get for what you pay, high quality material can't be cheap, but most of the times people pay for the brand, in this case I believe that we are paying for the material and durability of it, we are not buying Chinese cheap products, that's it!!!!!
I have tidal 35 on a 10 gallon it works well how I handled the water bypassing the media when its in clogged I would put a piece of a fine filter pad there so when it bypasses the media it still gets filterd but it mainly just stops water from bypassing so when media is a little bit dirty the water still goes through 5he media
I like the Seachem filters. I had a large Tetra hanger that was doing a great job for me. Until the power went out, no one was home, and the motor burned out. That is not a problem with the Seachems.
I have used a pair of these Seachem tidal 35 filters for a year now. I have had the Tidal 110 filters for two years. They replaced the Marineland 400 and my Marineland Penguin 100 ( both are a waist of money in my opinion) . These are decent filters. I got them primarily for the self priming feature and the fact that you can use whatever media you want. However this filter clogs very easily and the water will bypass the media. The entire line of the Seachem tidal filters has this issue.
I solved this issue by putting a small amount of ceramic rings at the bottom of the bottom of the basket, then a corse foam, then a medium foam and then a layer of Polyfil. The Polyfil will catch everything coming so it will need changing every couple of weeks. The motor and intake area will need to be hosed off every couple of months.
These are generally good filters. They are not as quiet as Aquaclear especially if your water level drops or the filter media gets clogged and the water starts to bypass.
They would be even better if they where square in shape as the Aquaclear is but they are what they are and they do their job very well. I now have a peace of mind when I’m at work or out of town knowing that they will self prime after a power outage.
I king of like the shape of these because you can keep the tanks closer to the wall. I've solved the clogging issue by running the filter floss vertically!
I just ordered this filter just because of the basket and modification opportunity with the media. I've used the Deep Blue Professional Biomaxx nano and 10 gallon filters for a while and they don't last. The older the filter gets the more the flow decreases. The only complaint I heard about the tidal 35 is that the propellers can have a defect that makes it a rattle. Someone on Amazon suggested using sandpaper to file it down a bit to stop the noise.
Thanks for the information Jason. I’ve never tried this brand of filter before so I appreciate the review.
Thanks man!
I love this filter, my favorite so far. My only 1 negative for me is it could sit a little higher for the skimmer to work better
I use them and I love them. Very nice unboxing and review Jason.
Thank you! Glad you like them.
I was pretty excited when these came out as I really like the Aqua Clear for its large volume to add additional bio media and ease of customizing the filter. This has a similar design and has room for additional media of choice. The concept of the internal submerged motor seemed like a good idea for ease of priming, but, despite many saying thus happens, I've never had an Aqua Clear (or any other filter) lose siphon in over 40 years. If water level is kept appropriate that shouldnt happen.
Once in use, however, this filter did not work as well as the Aqua Clear. There seemed to be an excess of detritus throughout the bio media and passing through the filter. Two things cause this. First, the sponge pre-filter is very course. And two, the fully enclosed basket allows quite a bit of blow-by around it.
Overall a good filter but I'm doubtful its worth the additional cost over AquaClear
Interesting, I didn't have that problem, but I stack filter floss vertically in the media compartment - I wonder if that's why?
I placed a plastic mesh at the bottom of mine so the sponge does not get squished into the open holes and limit water intake. No overflow and much better filtration I have found. Full flow and no bypass. I use about 3 inches of course sponge. Half inch of filter floss, a bag of Seachem Matrix and a bag of Seachem Purigen. All fits with no restrictions. Crystal clear water.
I have a Tidal 75. And I think is the best hang on filter I have. Marineland is very poor compared to this one. And I think it can go for almost a month without starting to ask for cleaning. And also, never give up after power shortages where I see most of my other hang ons.
Nice review. I like the fact they removed the blue dial. I agree, no tube for an intake sponge to protect fry/shrimp and prevent food from getting sucked in. My fish peck off the food that gets stuck on the intake sponge. No waste. All food gets eaten.
I like the Seachem Tidal line a lot and currently have the Tidal 75 on a 40g breeder and the Tidal 55 on a 25g. I've had Aquaclears for several years, finding them easy to maintain and I still have 4 running on 20g and 5.5g tanks. But in the past few years I've had issues with the intake tubes not sitting properly and therefore the lids not fitting. I also often have to stick something into the impeller to get it going again, even after cleaning this area.
I originally replaced the AC's on my 40g with the Fluval C3 and C4 models and was not happy with those after a time - they became too noisy. So I tried the Tidal 75 as a replacement and have been quite pleased with this. It's quiet, the plastic is a higher quality than the AC's, and I particularly like the auto priming feature. The leveler to properly seat the filter on the tank is also far superior to that on the Aquaclear, which constantly falls off behind the tank. I also find the Tidals pull way more "gunk" out of my tanks that the AC filters. When the AC on the 25g finally got me really annoyed, I replaced this with the Tidal 55.
But I was glad to see this review of the Tidal 35 and will probably not choose this as a replacement for my 20g tanks. I do keep smaller fish and use pre-filters on all of my tanks. Not being able to do this is a real disappointment. I was hoping this would be just a mini version of the Tidal 55 and 75.
Appreciate your thoughts given you have used both for a while!
Don't forget that the Seachem filters are manufactured by Sicce. Quality pumps. Have Tidal 55s on a 40 breeder reef and a 36 freshwater.
I have two tidal 55s running on two 40 gallon show tanks and I love them. My only issue is one you mentioned as well, the bright blue parts that I have to try and hide with plants. Thinking about getting a 35 to replace an old filter on a 20 gallon so thanks, you helped me decide. Great video as usual!
Glad they are working for you too!
I was just looking at the Tidal 55 for my 30 gal on Google. Took a break on UA-cam and this video was in my feed. I ordered the 35 from your affiliate link! I think the 55 with a medium sponge filter is too much. But this 35 will be perfect. Good timing Jason, Thank You!
Thank you! Ya, the 35 should be a very good fit. : -)
I love my (sadly discontinued) API Superclean H.O.B. So quiet, so customizable. I have 2 extras I was able to get off eBay.
I use 7 of the tidal 110s in my fish room.
Powerful, quiet and I'm hoping they last. Going in almost 2 years no issues
That's great to hear!
I have Tidal 35 in 63 L aquarium. Great !!! Ideal for sleeping room !!!
I run 2 of the tidal 75s and one of the 110s(90 gallon mbuna tank) on my tanks to supplement canister filters as back up and for surface agitation. We have frequent power outages in the little town I'm from so the self priming feature is awesome.
Good to hear!
Aquaclear: install new impeller shafts. Lubricate impeller with silicone grease. Should start every time after that.
or buy a Seachem or even Marineland, do none of that and still have it work just fine. Haha. It's actual been very quiet so far. : -)
Prime Time Aquatics Just a suggestion if you have an Aquaclear you need to put in service. I had 2 Seachem 110s and they could both wake the dead, they were so loud.
Nice review. If you’re doing a large water change, does the unit need to be unplugged or can the motor safely run dry for a period of time?
I always unplug the HOB's when going below any intake. The pumps get really hot otherwise. This one does too.
According to Amazon, the 35 comes with an intake tube. The reason I am switching from the Aqua Clear to the Tidal is because although you can control the flow on both, the Aqua Clear doesn't slow down the flow enough for my fish. Mine arrives Friday April 23, 2021.
I haven't seen one with an intake tube, unless they changed the design?
I think the extended intake tube on the AquaClear creates more of a bottom draw circulation, just another consideration. Seachem makes good stuff.
Very true!
We have two Tidal 110 on each our two 75 gallons. We like the ease media tub as we use it for experimenting with different media types.
Cool !
I have a 75 tidal. Very nice filter indeed quiet and self priming. The blue dials don’t bother me and I love the big media basket. I have a total of three sponges in it. Jason love your topics. Great job!
Glad to hear they are working well for you!
Super pro tip. To cover the surface skimmer intake, get fishing line and sew a thin spong over it with the fishing line and tie it off and you can put a prefilter spong over bottom intake. Works great for me and I have fry and small fish, I have 6 layers of various sponges and media in it aswell, very modifiable filter.
Nice idea!
The surface skimmer on mine is just not pulling the biofilm. It collects dropped leaves, but doesn't touch the biofilm regardless of water level or flow intensity.
No intake tube. I like a HOT filter to have an intake that gets near the bottom to circulate tank temp and also pull some stuff from farther down in the water column.
Although tidal filters are top notch in many categories. Marineland offers many filters which perform far better for the money. If you hot rod the media in the bio wheel it is no contest. I have been using the largest model of each manufacturer for years on my 40B tanks.
I rate them in this order,
#1 marineland (value)
#2 tidal (clydesdale)
#3 aquaclear (unreliable, and built of cheap plastic)
I've had good luck with the Marineland filters too.
I have both the aquaclear and seachem tidal 110. I find the tidal is easier to maintain, more customizable (adjust intake very greatly from a slow trickle to a nice steady output, adjust tube length greatly, adjust surface skimmer, etc.), the tidal has a heater clip, a full media basket for easier maintenance, a drip tray, is self priming, and has an indicator for when it gets clogged, but the aquaclear I find catches more waste, likely because the sponge is a lot finer and the pump is far stronger on the aquaclear as it’s for my pike cichlid, not my axolotl like my seachem. Overall, I’d say seachem if you don’t mind topping off your tank frequently as the surface skimmer makes a loud gurgling sound when it gets too low so every other day I have to add in more water.
Very good summary!
sounds like you live in the desert or have a leak
Very nice video I always use Hang on filter
Nice review, thanks, it looks like a pretty good little filter , but how do you clean the impeller is the motor detachable or is there anyway of getting to the impeller for maintenance.
The impeller is relatively easy to clean. The internal pump mechanism can be removed to access the impeller.
Thank you for this video! I just bought a Marineland Penguin 150 for my 20 gallon aquarium and it is way too loud and makes too much of a splash effect on the surface of the water (which is what makes the noise). Ordered a Seachem 35 based on your review with the filter media in your link. I like the surface skimming and the ability to lower flow rate on the filter.
Glad to hear you like it!
Raise your water level up to where the lower edge of the Spillway is under the Surface of the Water.
You'll get better Circulation and better Oxygenation with no splashing water noise.
What brand was the canister that went bad? Did the motor give out?
What's puzzles me is the 35 and 55 use the same amount of power according to the official website, even though the flow rate is 130 vs 250. Must be a typo or something. Anyway, since these filters usually last many years assuming you know how to maintain them. It's totally worth it to go with this one compare to anything else. I mean $20 difference is almost nothing if you use this for years, not to mention this has better quality and so many benefits (e.g. no priming, etc) over the others.
Ya it’s probably a typo.
Great filters
That biological media that comes with Tidal is the best biological media in the market. Seachem Matrix.
Aquariologia ..Some say it’s just very expensive pumice , I wouldn’t be surprised.
Haha you know nothing about the media. Matrix id the most expensive pumice:). K1 is the best media. Proven scientifically.
I have a tidal 55 that I love. I think it's even better than the aquaclear it replaced. I love the self priming feature. I keep a sponge pre-filter on it that I ring out in tank water with every weekly water change. I do filter maintenance on it once a month. I HATED the tidal 35. It seemed to clog and bypass every 2 days. I don't think I used it for more than a couple of months before giving up on it. I noticed that you didn't use any bio-rings in yours so hopefully you'll have better luck with having less total media in the basket.
Ya, I generally just use a coarse sponge and some filter floss.
It looks like a good filter. I have heard people say that they are nearly silent, but I hear some noise from that one in the video. Would it quiet down some if it was plumbed up?
Thanks for the video.
I’m curious too. I’m new to aquariums…what do you mean by plumbed up?
@@dotoloa made level and square horizontally and vertically.
I should add that I installed a Tidal 75 on my goldfish tank last week and even though I used the adjuster to make sure it was plumb, it made quite a bit of noise for the first day and a half. Which makes sense. The rotating parts needed to wear in. So far it seems like a pretty good filter. The water is clean, the pump is now silent and when unplugged and then plugged back in it got right back to work with no further input from me. I set it on the lowest flow setting and it does not blow my fantails around when they swim in the outfall.
I have a 110 on I 55 works really good
Good to hear!
Great video. Will be trying one of these out next time I need a HOB. I've used aquaclear for years and they are good but the smaller models (30/50) leave slot to be desired even on a 20g tank. I think this model is more comparable to an aquaclear 70
They've been working well so far!
I was looking into the filter floss you linked. It is advertised as reusable. Do you reuse or dispose? 8 ft might be too much if it's reusable. But it may still be cheaper than the polypad option from the coop. Just not sure if it's just as good with polishing.
I rinse it if it isn't too heavily soiled. If it's solid brown I replace it.
What do you think about the arwana fish
I think they are very cool. I personally will probably never get one because I would want it in an 8ft tank with at least a 3ft width.
Jason I'm still waiting for a chance to buy one of your shirts.
Steve's Aquatics Hi there! It’s in the works (within a month) - hang in there and thanks for the interest! 😀👕
Easy for the skimmer. Just silicone a small piece of mesh screen over the slits. Removable too.
Nice idea!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Actually just cut it a little longer and flex it and put it in the outside slits.
Also, because the intake is not on an extended tube, it will not likely lift and contain the heavy solids from nearer the bottom. So not as good as a mechanical filter, just polish the water mainly.
Good point. I'll have to report on that when I do the long term review. : -)
Siphon the Solids when doing Water Changes.
The Filter filters *the Water.*
*NO HOB* is intended to "Vacuum the Bottom".
@@apaulmcdonough2170 correct, to a point. But most add filter floss etc, not for biological purposes. We're talking "bang for your buck", vs "one trick pony". The lack of the extended intake also likely causes the recirculation of the just cleaned water, as the exhaust and intake are so near. An eddy effect, creating dead spots, leaving much of the water rarely "cleaned". All of this does limit it's function and ability.
I have a 25 gallon bowfront, about 20 inches tall, will be heavily planted and I intend to keep a betta and more fish, do I go with a tidal 35 or 55? I also have 4 inches of gravel for my plants, I’m very new to this
I would do the 55 and turn the flow down. The 35 intake might be too short.
The blue dials are a marketing gimmick. Once you see them from across the room you know it's a Seachem Tidal filter. Very easy to spot in videos also.
I have a hodge podge of filters..mostly aquaclears or the old whisper 60s
When one dies..I'll just use some hose or another filter extension tube..and hook a power head up to it..
Did that to a old whisper 60 and a aquaclear "mini"
Cheap Ebay powerheads are great for this
Cool idea!
Seachem tidals are excellent
I use a tidal 35 on my 20 long. Works great and is very quiet. I found a penguin 100 for 11 bucks and use it as a backup. I ran it for a week after getting it and it actually holds about the same amount of biological media, but it is loud and the biowheel makes it even louder. Not a fan.
Great video 👍
I can’t find the link for the filter floss. Please help or tell me which one it is on Amazon. Thanks
Great video as always, good information unfortunately not being able to use an intake filter sponge is gonna be a deal breaker for me lol
Ya, I could see that being the case.
You could put some mesh around the intake?
Just got a used tank . Less than a year old . He had it set up as a saltwater tank. I'm using it for africans . He gave me a huge seachem filter . Not sure what model . Any advice ? Should I use it ?
Sure - probably better suited for freshwater than salt water anyway!
is there anything i should note before buying this for a 20 gallon tank for a single beta?
I might go with a filter that has a longer intake like the Marineland pro 125?
Very informative, but my only suggestion would be to breathe, stay silent for 10 seconds or so, so we can actually hear how loud the filter motor and flow noise is. You talked non-stop through that part, but from what I could hear of the unit, it seems annoyingly loud. Like, I wouldn't want that in a bedroom or living room. I need my filter to be virtually silent. Got another recommendation for a 20-gal hob filter that's not huge or loud?
I think it was loud at start up, but the tank was in our bedroom and never heard it running. The other filters I really like are the new Marineland pro series filters because the motor is inside the tank - we have some running in the fish room and can't hear them at all!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks, I'll check out some review videos and see if there's a model for a 20 gallon long that we plan to get soon'ish. To be honest, I'd look into cannister filters but I've never seen one really used.
Just subscribed broski!!
BettaBeGood Jr Appreciate you being here!
It impeller sounded quite loud, which is a compliant I’ve heard about the Seachem HOB’s. I’m aware some filters will quieten down after some time. Any comments on how noisy it is (or isn’t)?
So far it has been very quiet. No complaints.
What would I need the Seachem Matrix for? I thought all you needed was the floss.
I run just floss and some spornge in my HOBs.
I have the 35 for my 10 gallon. No modifications as of yet, but I will be modifying it because it's going to be a betta tank with shrimp, and the intake is too large.
My problem is that the flow seems to be too strong, even on the lowest setting and it submerges my red root floaters. Is there something I can do to stop that? Will the modifications (extra sponges at intake, filter floss, etc) slow that flow down even more so its easier on my plants?
Intake sponge may help
Given how long you've had this filter, have you noticed anything about it that I should keep in mind before buying it?
It has worked well. The only minor downside that I still wish was corrected is the intake is closer to the surface than I would like. It's run well though.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Awesome. Thank you.
We had a power failure last night and my aqua clear lost its prime then when the power came back on the motor burned out from running dry and no longer works. I have gold ring danios and my question is this: can they end up in the filter?
I've seen fish get into a filter, but it is usually rare.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.
Hey Jason it’s Leo I’m a friend of Eli
Cool!
For a 30 gal medium planted low tech aquarium you recommend tidal 35 or 55?
The 55 because the 30 doesn't have an intake tube.
Is this quite enough for a bedroom? It sounded a little loud when you first turned it on.. did that noise go down? My aquaclear 50 has an annoyingly loud buzzing noise.
Once the water is running through the filter it is very quiet. The trick with these is to make sure the water level in the tank is high.
How Does this filter work on a 29 gallon? (thanks for the help)
Not the best because of the lack of an intake tube. These filters are ok for 20 longs and maybe the standard 20 gallon?
Where’s the intake? How does the filter draws water in? Through the skimmer only?
Ya, the intake is built in so it doesn't go very far down.
Would you recommend this filter for a 6 G cube with using the low flow setting? Looking into this filter vs Aquaclear 20 for the nano tank.
It might look too big relative to the size of the tank. The Aquatop Forza 5-15 might work?
Hello primetime do you think we can add intake tube to this tidal 35? Thanks
It would be tough based on the design.
Does it do surface skimming well? One of the most important reasons that I want to switch from AC
I don't know if "well" is the word I would use - it does it, but I haven't noticed it in a major way. I think the biggest advantage it has over the aquaclear is the internal motor, which makes it much quieter.
I love the filter but I am having some issues with the surface skimmer. It seems that its not working. I noticed that the surface intake is not sucking up the water from the surface and I end up having some bio-film on the surface of my tank. Do you guys have advice on how to fix this because I currently considering buying separate surface skimmer.
Hi, does the water for the tank has to UpTo the top? Or at least 4 inches dow, from the top?
We fills ours close to the top.
Do you think this would look intrusive on a 16 gallon rimless aquarium? It's 24 inches long, like a standard 20 high, but it's a little bit shorter.
It will definitely stand out above the tank. It's probably one of the more less intrusive inside the tank.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I could just throw the filter inside the tank?
Do you think a tidal 55 would be to much for a 29 gallon tank? I was thinking I would like the extra room in the basket and the extension tube which the 35 doesn’t come with. But maybe I am over doing it. I have danios and platys in there right now.
You can adjust the flow down enough to make it work.
It looks like it sits pretty high over the rim of the tank. At least higher than others I have seen or am I nuts?
I would say it's about the same. I don't have lids on the tank so it might appear a little higher than normal.
When you put the floss in the back, do you keep that void in front, or do you fill it with something else?
I usually just add enough floss to fill the back.
I heard this filter has an overflow issue if you dont clean often?
With the way we place the media we don’t have those issues.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks
How do you prevent tiny fish fry and shrimplets from getting inside the filter for a tidal 35?
You would have to gel super glue a little piece of sponge to the intake.
Which type of test strips should I use
Tetra and API both work ok.
What should you add to filter basket .I have always used HOB with cartridge that does not come with the filter. Do i need to add carbon.
I usually just use filter floss and sponge. ua-cam.com/video/Q0HPVg7ywFA/v-deo.html
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Do prefer a filter with a cartridge or a soldier with some media basket. I have a 5 gallon tank with 3 fish Baloch African Butterfly and angelfish. The filter that came with the tank died when the power went off . I need a new filter . I watch your video on filter Tidal 35 . But never had filter with a basket just cartridge
do you think the lowest flow would be acceptable for a crown tail betta in a 10 gallon? i’ve been looking for a new one and i’m concerned about a disturbing flow for my fish!
This might be a better option for your 10 gallon betta tank: ua-cam.com/video/iFN_kqN1e4U/v-deo.html
I just got this on the box it says to fill with water before running?
You can, but if the tank is full it won’t matter.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Wish I saw this before I bought it. Also a question, can I just set it up and talk all my old filter media out and put it in this new filter and immediately remove the old filter?