I'm pro canister filters. Never had any luck with sponge filters. HOB filters work well but I like my 75 sitting as close to the wall as possible. The down side to canister filters is the leak factor and cost (for a good one) MY Cascade 1000 started leaking after 8 good years so I decided to try a internal filter instead of forking over the money for a new one. So far it is working well.
i love sponge filters so much. the view of the bubbles just rising and the fish interacting with the bubbles is fun and relaxing ro watch. and it may make splashing sounds + the pump just having a small ringing and vibrating sound to it, but as a person who cant function and sleep without white noise, i love it so much 😆
Some aquariums even have the internal filter built in like the Juwel Rio's, but they can be covered with 3D background sheets. I don't mind them actually. Like you've said, they won't leak anywhere and the filter medium is customisable. I also run two smaller tanks with Superfish HOB's and it's also very easy to stick plants into the filter medium. Instead of the cartridges they came with, I've put in ceramic medium and filter wool. I hardly have power cuts here. Only one a while back before I set up the HOB's. As for sumps, I've seen some of Jurijs's video's where he services some large fresh water aquariums for his clients which have big sump systems in their own specific rooms where everything is regulated from water change, fertiliser, CO2, everything! That is very awesome!
I tend to like the canister filters the most. The water seems to always be crystal clear with them, especially the ones with a prefilter, which is a major win win, and maintenance is alot less frequent.
Thanks for the video, Matt! I was transferred at the grocery I work at about 8 months ago, from the department I'd held down for years to our pet department. Found out I'd be taking care of the fish our store stocks, and minding their tanks. I've never kept fish and had never really been particularly interested in them besides the odd trip to an aquarium here or there as a kid, so I was going in blind and scared for the fish that I was sure I was going to inadvertently kill (why ask someone who's no experience with fish to take care of just shy of a thousand fish?!). Spent the next months watching as many videos like yours as I could, buying up books on freshwater fish and fishkeeping in general. Went to a few local fish stores to ask about the basic dos and don'ts. Had a bit of a learning curve for the first month and a half or so, but eventually figured stuff out and now I've got people who come in to my store, specifically, to see and buy fish. One particularly nice older gent was shocked to learn that I'd never kept fish before and that this was my first time taking care of them in any capacity. This was flattering enough already, but this man went so far as to tell me that he'd been in the hobby for over 50 years and that, "Your tanks and fish are far and away the clearest and healthiest I've ever seen in a store outside a specialty fish store." Big praise from someone with so much experience! Anyway, since I've apparently done a decent job with the fish at the store and am feeling good about my ability to not commit fish murder and provide a good, spacious, and engaging home, I've been looking to keep my own fish at home now, and I've got most of the particulars decided on. I have not settled on filtration yet tho, and this was just the video I've been looking for! These teaching/informative videos of yours, and the Fish-Files videos are my favorites; they're always dense on pertinent information without getting too bogged down in minutiae, and have been very helpful thus far in my short time getting into the hobby -- just wanted to say thanks and give a quick nod for having made this stuff much more accessible for someone who was completely ignorant about fishkeeping just a little while ago. Cheers!
Good video and agreed on all pros and cons mentioned. There's always some kind of struggle as to figure out what's best for a specific situation, but for an average sized aquarium which is set up for aesthetic purposes an external cannister filter wins every time (for me, at least). In small aquariums I generally can't find the room for something internal, so a HOB is more ideal, and you can sortof get away with less flow.
Thanks for this video!! I've been researching fish-keeping to write a care sheet as my teacher may be getting a class fish tank. I want to learn all there is to know regarding fish keeping, so I've been binge-watching fish-keeping videos and looking through all of the websites I can find. This video was a great summary of each method of filtration.
Have just returned to the hobby as my daughter wanted an aquarium. Matt is awesome incredible knowledgable and easy to listen too. May your channel go from strength to strength.
I have watch u for a while now an ur info has help me out on the real Nitty gritty info that no one adresses much at all thanks for the details u give an I love ur work
Hey Matt! Great vid, thank you 😊 I wonder if you could possibly do a video like this, but about different types of filter media? I’m fairly new to the hobby and knowing the differences, and when and why you’d use them would be amazing! You’re a great teacher 😊
Hey thank you! Whilst making this video I actually thought to myself how good it would be to do a filter media explained video. So I'm planning to do a video covering carbon, biomedia, sponges and the reasoning behind them all.
I love watching your stuff, very calming and informative. I also like that you always seem like someone just told you a dirty joke before rolling camera. 😂. ❤
Great video Matt, your personality really comes across in all your videos as though you are talking personally to the person watching rather than to an audience.
I started off on HOB filters for the first two years but since seeing your video on the Oase Filtosmart 60 I had to get one! I was always weary of external filters but this gave me the confidence to upgrade my other tanks to canisters as well!
I first saw you with MD. And now you have your own channel. I think you did the right thing. Your expertise shines through. I have a reef aquarium, and I run it with 2 external canister filters. One has all the biomedia, the other has the mechanical and charcoal. There is an inline uv, and it's doing fantastic. I do a 10% water change each week absolutely religiously. And have no bother. I mostly keep soft corals and anemones with a few small fish. Thanks for your advice and knowledge, Matt. Will subscribe and keep on watching. 😊
Hi Matt, having just found your channel, an excellent and informative video, thank you! I have been keeping both tropical and marine for many years, and this video gives great and practical advice, we never stop learning. Having just down-sized my freshwater setup from a 180l Juwel to 75l Oase styleline, I have been contemplating filtration options, as I really want to re-use my Oase Biomaster 350 thermo (its a fantastic external unit), I have come to the conclusion that with the inlet and outlet flow dropped down it should be just fine....I hope!
5:55 Absolute facts. The stupid clear plastic tube fell off so the nasty sponge plopped back into the tank splashing water everywhere. It was such a mess....
I did like your video though it left several other types out. I used undergravel filters for years in conjunction with a HOB for polishing the water. I like a matten filter as well they are similar to a sponge filter but they work great. Also a drip filter with a series of media types. Where the wateris pumped up and then allowed to drip through various media then then filtered water runs back to the aquarium. Also you can add a heater or chiller to them. Because it is above the aquarium it can harder to to block it from view but it adds an opportunity to grow pothos out of the top tray. And yes it similar to a sump but generally a sump is either below or beside the aquarium. However a trickle tower filter is generally above the aquarium. And they can filter large volumes of water in a small space. There are HOB filter where the water pump of the filter remains in the tank so it is self priming if the power goes out. It also quieter because the pump is submerged into the tank. To increase circulation with a sponge filter you can add a water circulator to the uptube instead of being air driven. Also you can use a HOB's siphon tube connected to the sponge filter's uptube. Using the shorter portion of the siphon tube and cut it back so the air bubbles push the water across or near the surface thus creating a more directional flow. Example is the Aquarium coop op sponge filter comes with this type of configuration. It also quiets the noise from a sponge filter. Today the options of filtering aquarium water is unlimited with each having a plus and a minus but it you remember this is basic three types mechanical for the particulates, biologic to neutralize biological properties found in a. Aquarium and chemical filter to filter out chemical like harmful chemicals in the water ei. activated charcoal. The most common used is mechanical and biological. Chemical is used if the water has toxic properties in it that needs to be removed for the health of the aquatic life in an aquarium. That is why I like a under gravel it is mechanical making the subsrate the filter of fish waste and biological and adding the HOB filter allow polishing the water of fine particulates and from time to time you can add some activated carbon to remove odors or meds or toxic chemicals from the water. Also you didn't discuss diatomaceous filters as this type of filters can also filter out bacterial pest in the water that cause diseases to the inhabitants. I use them when I had ick break outs. But also works to filter out very fine particulates and polishes the water. I used many versions of each and some for particular purposes but you need the one you don't mind cleaning as if it is a chore you will sometimes put off cleaning it as you should. For me using an ungrounded when it cane time to siphon water off for partial water change I would siphon the water through the lift tube to pull up excess waste that accumulated under the filter. And many people say you can't grow plants with a undergravel I did with great success. And because the substrates was the biological and mechanical filter the plants had an abundant amount of nutrients from the aquatic life waste along with left over fish food which fed the plants. Never in twenty years was their a toxic gas issue coming from the substrate that many claimed was a problem. I don't understand why so many fell out of favor with what filters aquarium for many years prior to most higher tech aquarium filters. It was simple and effective and with many of the battery backup air pumps they would be able to keep working if the power went out. Couple it with a self priming HOB filter and you got the best of both worlds today.
@rickbooher8224 • Good Lord , I love the vast wealth of knowledge and passion but you just have to be able to make the most of the time and everything else. I know I don't mind watching a video from A-Z , but it would have to be a 2 or 3 episode series. I'm sure someone has been all over that one as there are hundreds of videos that have been made for sure . Now Fish Shop Matt has added his , and with a much better understanding of what he needs to do for his UA-cam video to be the best for checking a lot of the boxes, and as long as I have been enjoying the channel I'm 100% positive everything you mentioned he's already used in the 20 years of living with the Fish and running around his former Fish Shop to avoid having to deal with certain types of AFISHIONODO'S 😎
I've used ALL these filters (been in the hobby since the late 70s) I used to basically have a second tank in my sumps lol (cleaning crews , small guys that couldn't be in the main tank,, etc) and yes my heater was in there 😉 Haven't used a sponge since 79. Soooooo much easier/better these days. You have to match your filter type to the kind of tank you're running imo
@@fvvfvbbbb Now I'm just running a nano tank. I'm gone too much now for the house full I had. But I use a whisper in tank (smallest one I could find) and it's still overkill) it's the over the back style but is completely inside the tank. Mainly for flow and to break the surface tension.. plus since *I* like bubbles I have an air line (not stone) buried under everything ending under a couple inches of palm sized rocks .. gives it that random natural methane leak look lol
I got one of those tiny Oase cannister filters for a 40L Betta bowl and it is brilliant. I had some teething problems with the flow at first but once that was sorted it works really well.
Don't think anyone has mentioned that the Seachem Tidal range of hang on back filters are self priming and have the pump in the water. I've got the 35 for a 60l aquarium and that works very well with really decent flow rates. Plus you can pack a lot media into the basket.
I don't recommend the tidal, my 110 has been replaced twice this 3rd one is also loud like 50db loud I've wasted so much money on the tidal, it's trash
😮 you know what? I think that was the problem with my hang on back and replacement! We did get storms and had a power blips, and I didn't even think to check the filter! Ughhh, all the others were working fine, I don't know how I missed seeing the big tank... well, I was probably asleep on one of the outages. A very good point, need to remember to check everything very carefully after storms. It has been a long time since I kept fish the 1st time. 😮😅
Thanks Matt Internals the suckers, bane of a fish keeper's life, some suckers are better than others. Simple and cheap 'one open box' internal filters are often the easiest to add alternative filter material to and clean, compartments, slide-in drawers etc., are a pain, fiddly and snap etc. Dennerle used to suggest two internal filters in most tanks, with one cleaned on day 14 and one cleaned on day 28.Two modest sized internal filters even on a fairly large tank can ensure flow, and cleaning one filter fortnightly means a full month elapses before media disturbance, means good bacteria colonies in the sponges. Oase internal, neat corner design, hides the heater but little media. Some HOB over aerate the water ref. plants and one design is transparent so all the filth etc., and algae growth because light penetrates, is visible though obviously the filter can be hidden behind a tank background sheet and the algae growth in the filter reduces Nitrate. Some manufacturers exploit the whole back wall for a hidden internal, a great system but not readily available on most tanks, Juwel internal filters, large and preinstalled, do work well but a pity they don't exploit the whole back wall to improve aesthetics. Externals work well but can be hard work to lift, clean etc., and they sometimes leak, persistently. As an older fish keeper externals are physically bothersome to work on especially if in tight cupboards but easy to use for CO2 in-line, in-line heater and UV in-line. Externals, leaks may be rare, but one leak in a living room is one leak too many. Sumps are not normally necessary with sensible stocking levels especially in successful planted tanks, holes in the bottom of a tank I find daunting and I am no newcomer to the hobby and you make a good point ref. how low to the ground a sump normally is, a pain for an older fish keeper to work on. Keep up the good work.
Hi matt just finished watching your latest post always good advice! anyway watched another blogger of which you know well and just learned that a favourite fish that you know well BUSTER has died so the fish shop that you worked in are going to re scape his tank it would be great for yourself your previous employer and the fish shop you managed get all together and create a scape together that would be great viewing and good fun for all of you .
I use sump for 2 of my 400 & 600 liters tanks. I also used to have filterless outdoor tank on my patio, which I used windwheel or windmill to power a mini motor for surface agitation lol
I have sponges in all my tanks as backup filters. I can easily attach a battery powered air pump to keep some circulation and surface agitation if there is an extended outage. I also have an oase thermosmart and a tidal hang on back. Love them all. My tanks are now such jungles hiding the filtration isnt an issue.
Thankyou 🎉 Excellent, helpd me a lot I have 1 sponge pump otjer tanks 0 but inky 2 gallons and 5 gallons with African dewarf frogs and sml fish snails all pond style bottom feeders dewarf few plants and sand gravel .
I'm surprised you didn't cover HMF-in my opinion the most underrated filter out there. Incredible biological filtration and probably the lowest maintenance of any filter. Can you as a background and keep equipment like heaters out of sight and enable additional items like crushed coral etc to be added discreetly too. But appreciate you've covered a lot in that video and perhaps HMF isn't that popular in the UK as elsewhere
When I was a teenager I convinced myself I didn't need a filter as they were too expenisve. I did get a long airstone for a wall of bubbles at the back of the tank. I decided it was ugly and buried it the gravel substrate, with the air coming up through the gravel. The tank was very successful. I now realise that I accidently made the gravel act as a filter 😆
I am getting a 68 gallon tank, my buddy and I are going to try experimenting with a Fluval FX6 and a Sump just to see what happens. I know it's overkill, but it will be fun to see how it goes.
there's also a top filter used for fish like arowana in the past. you could say it is sort of a power filter with outside filtration on top of the aquarium but I haven't seen it much nowadays
In my axolotl tank I have an APS canister filter and a sponge filter to pick up any extra slack, I have a chiller attached aswell through a submersible pump. So I have a spray bay pushing the water across the length of the tank, then a pump pulling it out of the other side and pushing it back down. Essentially creating a circular flow, across the sponge filter ensuring enough filtration.
@@FishShopMatt it’s got more than enough filtration for the bio load, it’s 4ftx1.5ftx1.5ft 240l aquaone tank, with around 650l worth of filtration. I want to live plant it but don’t trust them not to rip it apart
Awesome! Yeah my Axolotls do like to tear stuff up. You could just use epiphytes and just tie them to pebbles or bits of wood? Doesn't matter then if you lotls want to move stuff about.
@@FishShopMatt I’m a massive fan of large leaf anubias, it’s just a daunting task to do it for them. Although I know in the end it’s gonna be so much better for them
I have the HOB from scaper same as you and I have cut a plastic scoop out of a bottle to push the flow through the tank rather than down like a waterfall. THOUGHTS?
Great video, very clear overview! Do you have experience and can you make a video about buying tanks second hand? What to look out for, precautions to take, etc..
I use sponges on my smaller tanks and canisters on my bigger tanks. Sponges are so easy to clean and swap around. The canisters let me go a little longer between cleaning for the big tanks and have more room for media.
Watch out with putting a net bag with media directly into the tank next to your sponge filter. I did this in my quarantine tank... I got a group of 6 Mato Grosso Red Cherry Tetra, I now have 5. One of them tried to hide under the bag and somehow got into the bag! He died. I just cut the mesh open and leave the bio media in a pile on the bottom of the tank now. I had no idea fish can get into such tiny mesh like that!
Hey Matt. Love the clips. As a newbie, I bought an aqua-internal filter but can you fully submerge it so the outlet pipe just skims the surface and makes less noise. I have an air stone in my 75L setup too.
I had the worst luck with my aquarium kit filter, it burned out the motor, 2nd one did as well. I finally just went online and looked up a canister 😅 got that, problem solved. The space was too tight from the tank to the wall was maybe not letting air cool the side of the box? The tank can't move forward, so canister underneath, solved it. Plus I like it better than grabing a bucket and pulling the hanging filter and water everywhere. Lots of learning in setting up my 1st tank in like, 20 years 😂 the next tank i build, I think I'm going to be just fine designing and executing it.
What about the pros and the cons of having two filters instead of one? I'm studying to maybe upgrade my aquarium to have discus and for what i've read a second filter is a must in that field of the hobby
Thank you. Yeah every aquarium you saw in this video has a heater somewhere. With most of the tanks with hang on the back filters, the heater is placed near the inlet so you get good water flow over it. With the oase internal that you see in the video that actually has the heater built into the back. Then with a big tank downstairs it's just hidden in the back corner near the filter.
Hey Matt! Im thinking to but a Eheim canister filter(externa filtre) for a 15 gallon. I wanna ask (if you know!) Is The filter tubing large? Can i fit The tubing trough a hole which has 1cm? Do i need The tank to be without a lid?
There are generally two different types of aquarium hosing used in the hobby. 12 mm to 16 mm and then 16 mm to 22 mm. These measurements are internal and external dimensions of the hosing. So you will probably need slightly larger openings to get this piping through.
I bought that tiny oase filter right after your video focused on as my first external filter! It only ended up being $45 and 3 months in Ave I can say it's the perfect beginner external. I'm going to build a 30 gallon long with a canister. Any recommendations?
I have a 2 outlet hygger pump and I just rest it on a small cloth and it's basically silent with the cabinet door closed. My cheap sponge filter is also pretty quiet but my aquarium coop sponge filter is definitely loud. I didn't put the airstone in ot though so maybe that's why.
AIO tanks with back sump filters like a Waterbox or Fluval give you the most freedom and options, in my opinion. 0 cables in the tank, loads of space for your filter media, heater, and even an ATO if you dont want to top off your open top tank every other day.
Hey Matt, thanks for the great summary! I've got a tank I inherated from a friend that I'm trying to decide on setup. Currently its got a partition on the back wall, with what's effectively an internal sump type setup, 3 compartments with sponge and filter media and then a pump in the last one. I'm trying to decide if its a good idea to use it as is, or cut the partition out and use a different filter to increase the internal volume for swim space. Would love to know what your opinion is on that kind of setup (its a 60L cube tank, including the volume of the "sump")
With the way the internal sump filters works, they are brilliant filters. The only real reason I didn't cover them in this video is because you can't buy them as a separate item. I would probably use it if it was me but if you do really want more space in the aquarium you could get rid of it and put a little external on. But it's really up to you both ways will work, it just depends on your plans for the tank.
I use an under gravel filter on a small 40 litre tank. May I ask your thoughts on these? I have 6 astrale killifish, 3 pigmi Corey's and half a dozen shrimp.
They are ok but have a lot more draw backs than most in this video. I always think of undergravel filters as sweeping the mess under a rug. At some point all that waste building up in the bottom of the aquarium will come back and bite you. Also they can be tricky with higher numbers of fish, crystal clear water, sand substrate instead of gravel and also plant soil being used are all factors why people don't use them as much.
My favorite hang in the back filter were the Hagen aquariums all you had to do is fill the water up above the impeller by half an inch to an inch and put the intake pipe into the hang of the back filter and put it into the tank with the intake part in the tank and plug it in and it would run and it would self siphon the impellers moving so fast is pulling all the air out of the tube and pull the water up and in and once that started it would fill up the boxes and overflow back into the tank The simplest thing you could do you could always throw an extra media I know people that like to put in live plants aquatic plants that will come out of the top of the filter which will add a biological filter aspect to it beyond the biofilter media it has a nice effect with adding like some puffos or lucky bamboo i've seen people do that i've seen people put the anubias relative from South America the peace lily You had those in there usually want to put those on the outflow area so the little basket where the water starts to pour back into the tag you don't have to put any dirt just plant them or just stick them in the water wash them all with dirt stick them in the water and it'll be the filter and put your sponge filter and any carbon filter or any other media that you want in there works great Every once in a while you have to pull the plants out and trim off the roots so they don't grow into the sponge or the filter media but it works really well like that.
I have used hang on the back filters as planters before and they do work really well. The thing you need to make sure is that the plant doesn't make the filter overflow when it grows too big, but as long as you keep an eye on it's perfect. Have you seen that fluval have just put out on their social media an image of a hang on the back filter?
hey Matt there are sometimes when you buy a filter that's underpowered what do you think is a good solution to add movements in the tank with say power heads? I know a lot of people use them I know a lot of people else use wave makers for freshwater to add that beautiful ripple effect with certain lights like kessels or multicolored LED lights It gives a beautiful ripple effect And wave makers are great because they generate flow that can be altered and varied throughout the day and throughout the few minutes Be strong and then weak I mean you know people to put some wave makers vertical in the corner of the aquariums which will help move stuff from that corner out and back into the general flow of the aquarium to be sucked up by hanging the back filter or canister filter it's really well planted sometimes those plants can just stagnate the water flow in certain areas And by putting the wave maker in vertically it flushes that stuff out of that corner if it's a dead corner. you think that's a good idea to try if someone is having that problem.
I have sponge filters and hang on back filters. I love my hob filters best because I like to take off the lids and grow pothos and peace lilies out of them ❤❤
I was thinking of buying a round aquarium with the filter stuck in the gravel, is it best way to get rid of the muck, because all the muck goes to the bottom
Hey Matt, I spoke to my LFS and they advised that I should get an FX2 for my 40 gallon high tank. Personally I think it's a little overkill and they might just be trying to make a sale- plus I don't really have the budget for that. Do you think a 307 would suffice? It would save me $100 and I would still get the benefits of an external canister.
The tank at the end of this video is around 200 l and runs on an fx2. To be honest you could probably get away with anything from a 207 and upwards. But obviously the bigger you go the better the filter will be. So a 307 or a 407 should work absolutely perfectly but an fx2 would keep it spotless. It does also depend if you're going to have lots of big messy fish or a load of tiny fish that don't go to the toilet that much.
Who needs Matt in their lives? I do... I'm so pissed off with the hobby, really struggling with filters etc!
This stuff really helps!
I’m an experienced fish keeper with multiple tanks but I still enjoy these videos and could watch them for hours 😅
I do! lol 😂
Same 😂
I love your explanations. Don’t listen to the complainers. You do you better than anyone.
I'm pro canister filters. Never had any luck with sponge filters. HOB filters work well but I like my 75 sitting as close to the wall as possible. The down side to canister filters is the leak factor and cost (for a good one) MY Cascade 1000 started leaking after 8 good years so I decided to try a internal filter instead of forking over the money for a new one. So far it is working well.
i love sponge filters so much. the view of the bubbles just rising and the fish interacting with the bubbles is fun and relaxing ro watch. and it may make splashing sounds + the pump just having a small ringing and vibrating sound to it, but as a person who cant function and sleep without white noise, i love it so much 😆
Me too
Ahh i love niche hobbies. Half hour video on fish tank filters
Hahaha Yeah I watched a half hour explanation of a remote control car gearbox rebuild the other day. Niche hobbies are the weirdest.
I watched a rebuild of a marine diesel engine. 6 episodes. Really recommend it
I watched an hour video on the best lights on a budget for my fish tank 😂
Ikr! Watched a 25 video on Airsoft batteries yesterday. I live an exciting life.
@MHF22 that's cool, I used to play airport a ton but j don't have any good fields around me or any friends who play it so it got boring
Some aquariums even have the internal filter built in like the Juwel Rio's, but they can be covered with 3D background sheets. I don't mind them actually. Like you've said, they won't leak anywhere and the filter medium is customisable. I also run two smaller tanks with Superfish HOB's and it's also very easy to stick plants into the filter medium. Instead of the cartridges they came with, I've put in ceramic medium and filter wool. I hardly have power cuts here. Only one a while back before I set up the HOB's.
As for sumps, I've seen some of Jurijs's video's where he services some large fresh water aquariums for his clients which have big sump systems in their own specific rooms where everything is regulated from water change, fertiliser, CO2, everything! That is very awesome!
I tend to like the canister filters the most. The water seems to always be crystal clear with them, especially the ones with a prefilter, which is a major win win, and maintenance is alot less frequent.
Thanks for the video, Matt! I was transferred at the grocery I work at about 8 months ago, from the department I'd held down for years to our pet department. Found out I'd be taking care of the fish our store stocks, and minding their tanks. I've never kept fish and had never really been particularly interested in them besides the odd trip to an aquarium here or there as a kid, so I was going in blind and scared for the fish that I was sure I was going to inadvertently kill (why ask someone who's no experience with fish to take care of just shy of a thousand fish?!). Spent the next months watching as many videos like yours as I could, buying up books on freshwater fish and fishkeeping in general. Went to a few local fish stores to ask about the basic dos and don'ts. Had a bit of a learning curve for the first month and a half or so, but eventually figured stuff out and now I've got people who come in to my store, specifically, to see and buy fish. One particularly nice older gent was shocked to learn that I'd never kept fish before and that this was my first time taking care of them in any capacity. This was flattering enough already, but this man went so far as to tell me that he'd been in the hobby for over 50 years and that, "Your tanks and fish are far and away the clearest and healthiest I've ever seen in a store outside a specialty fish store." Big praise from someone with so much experience!
Anyway, since I've apparently done a decent job with the fish at the store and am feeling good about my ability to not commit fish murder and provide a good, spacious, and engaging home, I've been looking to keep my own fish at home now, and I've got most of the particulars decided on. I have not settled on filtration yet tho, and this was just the video I've been looking for! These teaching/informative videos of yours, and the Fish-Files videos are my favorites; they're always dense on pertinent information without getting too bogged down in minutiae, and have been very helpful thus far in my short time getting into the hobby -- just wanted to say thanks and give a quick nod for having made this stuff much more accessible for someone who was completely ignorant about fishkeeping just a little while ago. Cheers!
40+ years of fish keeping, breeding here. all your info was spot on.
Good video and agreed on all pros and cons mentioned.
There's always some kind of struggle as to figure out what's best for a specific situation, but for an average sized aquarium which is set up for aesthetic purposes an external cannister filter wins every time (for me, at least).
In small aquariums I generally can't find the room for something internal, so a HOB is more ideal, and you can sortof get away with less flow.
Yeah I'm pretty much with you on that!
Thanks for this video!!
I've been researching fish-keeping to write a care sheet as my teacher may be getting a class fish tank. I want to learn all there is to know regarding fish keeping, so I've been binge-watching fish-keeping videos and looking through all of the websites I can find.
This video was a great summary of each method of filtration.
Have just returned to the hobby as my daughter wanted an aquarium. Matt is awesome incredible knowledgable and easy to listen too. May your channel go from strength to strength.
I have watch u for a while now an ur info has help me out on the real Nitty gritty info that no one adresses much at all thanks for the details u give an I love ur work
Hey Matt! Great vid, thank you 😊
I wonder if you could possibly do a video like this, but about different types of filter media? I’m fairly new to the hobby and knowing the differences, and when and why you’d use them would be amazing! You’re a great teacher 😊
Hey thank you! Whilst making this video I actually thought to myself how good it would be to do a filter media explained video. So I'm planning to do a video covering carbon, biomedia, sponges and the reasoning behind them all.
You are so good at explaining! Thank you!
I am a saltwater reefer and in the past I did use large fluval canister filter and it worked well.
I love watching your stuff, very calming and informative. I also like that you always seem like someone just told you a dirty joke before rolling camera. 😂. ❤
Fabulous vid! I always learn something or am refreshed by your info. Well done.
Lots of great information thank to you
Great video Matt, your personality really comes across in all your videos as though you are talking personally to the person watching rather than to an audience.
Such very important and helpful information! Thank you!
Thank you!
I'm getting a lot of joy and benefints from building internal sump behind fake rock backgrounds! 😄
I started off on HOB filters for the first two years but since seeing your video on the Oase Filtosmart 60 I had to get one!
I was always weary of external filters but this gave me the confidence to upgrade my other tanks to canisters as well!
Awesome informative video Matt. Would love to know your thoughts / advice when it comes to building a filterless aquarium 🙂Like a guide type thing. 🙂
I first saw you with MD. And now you have your own channel.
I think you did the right thing. Your expertise shines through.
I have a reef aquarium, and I run it with 2 external canister filters.
One has all the biomedia, the other has the mechanical and charcoal. There is an inline uv, and it's doing fantastic. I do a 10% water change each week absolutely religiously. And have no bother. I mostly keep soft corals and anemones with a few small fish.
Thanks for your advice and knowledge, Matt. Will subscribe and keep on watching. 😊
Hi Matt, having just found your channel, an excellent and informative video, thank you! I have been keeping both tropical and marine for many years, and this video gives great and practical advice, we never stop learning. Having just down-sized my freshwater setup from a 180l Juwel to 75l Oase styleline, I have been contemplating filtration options, as I really want to re-use my Oase Biomaster 350 thermo (its a fantastic external unit), I have come to the conclusion that with the inlet and outlet flow dropped down it should be just fine....I hope!
i love filter videos, but i like the under gravel filter with a deep substrait for myself personally.
Ein schönes, informatives Video, Matt! 👍
This video was great😊
Videos on fertilizers will be very helpful
5:55 Absolute facts. The stupid clear plastic tube fell off so the nasty sponge plopped back into the tank splashing water everywhere. It was such a mess....
I did like your video though it left several other types out.
I used undergravel filters for years in conjunction with a HOB for polishing the water.
I like a matten filter as well they are similar to a sponge filter but they work great.
Also a drip filter with a series of media types. Where the wateris pumped up and then allowed to drip through various media then then filtered water runs back to the aquarium. Also you can add a heater or chiller to them. Because it is above the aquarium it can harder to to block it from view but it adds an opportunity to grow pothos out of the top tray. And yes it similar to a sump but generally a sump is either below or beside the aquarium. However a trickle tower filter is generally above the aquarium. And they can filter large volumes of water in a small space.
There are HOB filter where the water pump of the filter remains in the tank so it is self priming if the power goes out. It also quieter because the pump is submerged into the tank.
To increase circulation with a sponge filter you can add a water circulator to the uptube instead of being air driven.
Also you can use a HOB's siphon tube connected to the sponge filter's uptube. Using the shorter portion of the siphon tube and cut it back so the air bubbles push the water across or near the surface thus creating a more directional flow. Example is the Aquarium coop op sponge filter comes with this type of configuration. It also quiets the noise from a sponge filter.
Today the options of filtering aquarium water is unlimited with each having a plus and a minus but it you remember this is basic three types mechanical for the particulates, biologic to neutralize biological properties found in a. Aquarium and chemical filter to filter out chemical like harmful chemicals in the water ei. activated charcoal. The most common used is mechanical and biological. Chemical is used if the water has toxic properties in it that needs to be removed for the health of the aquatic life in an aquarium.
That is why I like a under gravel it is mechanical making the subsrate the filter of fish waste and biological and adding the HOB filter allow polishing the water of fine particulates and from time to time you can add some activated carbon to remove odors or meds or toxic chemicals from the water.
Also you didn't discuss diatomaceous filters as this type of filters can also filter out bacterial pest in the water that cause diseases to the inhabitants. I use them when I had ick break outs. But also works to filter out very fine particulates and polishes the water. I used many versions of each and some for particular purposes but you need the one you don't mind cleaning as if it is a chore you will sometimes put off cleaning it as you should.
For me using an ungrounded when it cane time to siphon water off for partial water change I would siphon the water through the lift tube to pull up excess waste that accumulated under the filter.
And many people say you can't grow plants with a undergravel I did with great success. And because the substrates was the biological and mechanical filter the plants had an abundant amount of nutrients from the aquatic life waste along with left over fish food which fed the plants. Never in twenty years was their a toxic gas issue coming from the substrate that many claimed was a problem. I don't understand why so many fell out of favor with what filters aquarium for many years prior to most higher tech aquarium filters. It was simple and effective and with many of the battery backup air pumps they would be able to keep working if the power went out. Couple it with a self priming HOB filter and you got the best of both worlds today.
@rickbooher8224 • Good Lord , I love the vast wealth of knowledge and passion but you just have to be able to make the most of the time and everything else.
I know I don't mind watching a video from A-Z , but it would have to be a 2 or 3 episode series. I'm sure someone has been all over that one as there are hundreds of videos that have been made for sure . Now Fish Shop Matt has added his , and with a much better understanding of what he needs to do for his UA-cam video to be the best for checking a lot of the boxes, and as long as I have been enjoying the channel I'm 100% positive everything you mentioned he's already used in the 20 years of living with the Fish and running around his former Fish Shop to avoid having to deal with certain types of AFISHIONODO'S 😎
i am about to start my 50 gallon build, this is super helpful
I've used ALL these filters (been in the hobby since the late 70s)
I used to basically have a second tank in my sumps lol (cleaning crews , small guys that couldn't be in the main tank,, etc) and yes my heater was in there 😉
Haven't used a sponge since 79.
Soooooo much easier/better these days.
You have to match your filter type to the kind of tank you're running imo
What are you using these days?
@@fvvfvbbbb
Now I'm just running a nano tank. I'm gone too much now for the house full I had.
But I use a whisper in tank (smallest one I could find) and it's still overkill) it's the over the back style but is completely inside the tank. Mainly for flow and to break the surface tension.. plus since *I* like bubbles I have an air line (not stone) buried under everything ending under a couple inches of palm sized rocks .. gives it that random natural methane leak look lol
A Flo and Phil Tration Special, love those guys 😂
Very well explained, great video as always.
Thank you for continuing to share your knowledge with us. 😜✌️💜
An excellent filter review. Thankyou.
I got one of those tiny Oase cannister filters for a 40L Betta bowl and it is brilliant. I had some teething problems with the flow at first but once that was sorted it works really well.
So helpful!🙂💙🐟🐠🐡🐬
A very helpful video! I’ve been looking into a new filter so this was so informative 🌱
Great informative video! Thanks!
Don't think anyone has mentioned that the Seachem Tidal range of hang on back filters are self priming and have the pump in the water. I've got the 35 for a 60l aquarium and that works very well with really decent flow rates. Plus you can pack a lot media into the basket.
I don't recommend the tidal, my 110 has been replaced twice this 3rd one is also loud like 50db loud
I've wasted so much money on the tidal, it's trash
😮 you know what? I think that was the problem with my hang on back and replacement! We did get storms and had a power blips, and I didn't even think to check the filter! Ughhh, all the others were working fine, I don't know how I missed seeing the big tank... well, I was probably asleep on one of the outages. A very good point, need to remember to check everything very carefully after storms. It has been a long time since I kept fish the 1st time. 😮😅
Great run-through of the options! I'll be sending this to new people for sure!
Alot of great infor very handy video
Very interesting and informative. Thanks, Matt
Thanks Matt
Internals the suckers, bane of a fish keeper's life, some suckers are better than others.
Simple and cheap 'one open box' internal filters are often the easiest to add alternative filter material to and clean, compartments, slide-in drawers etc., are a pain, fiddly and snap etc. Dennerle used to suggest two internal filters in most tanks, with one cleaned on day 14 and one cleaned on day 28.Two modest sized internal filters even on a fairly large tank can ensure flow, and cleaning one filter fortnightly means a full month elapses before media disturbance, means good bacteria colonies in the sponges. Oase internal, neat corner design, hides the heater but little media.
Some HOB over aerate the water ref. plants and one design is transparent so all the filth etc., and algae growth because light penetrates, is visible though obviously the filter can be hidden behind a tank background sheet and the algae growth in the filter reduces Nitrate. Some manufacturers exploit the whole back wall for a hidden internal, a great system but not readily available on most tanks, Juwel internal filters, large and preinstalled, do work well but a pity they don't exploit the whole back wall to improve aesthetics.
Externals work well but can be hard work to lift, clean etc., and they sometimes leak, persistently. As an older fish keeper externals are physically bothersome to work on especially if in tight cupboards but easy to use for CO2 in-line, in-line heater and UV in-line. Externals, leaks may be rare, but one leak in a living room is one leak too many.
Sumps are not normally necessary with sensible stocking levels especially in successful planted tanks, holes in the bottom of a tank I find daunting and I am no newcomer to the hobby and you make a good point ref. how low to the ground a sump normally is, a pain for an older fish keeper to work on.
Keep up the good work.
Hi matt just finished watching your latest post always good advice! anyway watched another blogger of which you know well and just learned that a favourite fish that you know well BUSTER has died so the fish shop that you worked in are going to re scape his tank it would be great for yourself your previous employer and the fish shop you managed get all together and create a scape together that would be great viewing and good fun for all of you .
I use sump for 2 of my 400 & 600 liters tanks.
I also used to have filterless outdoor tank on my patio, which I used windwheel or windmill to power a mini motor for surface agitation lol
I have sponges in all my tanks as backup filters. I can easily attach a battery powered air pump to keep some circulation and surface agitation if there is an extended outage. I also have an oase thermosmart and a tidal hang on back. Love them all. My tanks are now such jungles hiding the filtration isnt an issue.
Thankyou 🎉
Excellent, helpd me a lot I have 1 sponge pump otjer tanks 0 but inky 2 gallons and 5 gallons with African dewarf frogs and sml fish snails all pond style bottom feeders dewarf few plants and sand gravel .
Awesome
I have a 7 foot freshwater tank with a sump and it's so quiet. And I clean out the sump once a year so easy.
Great information. Thanks, Matt.
I'm surprised you didn't cover HMF-in my opinion the most underrated filter out there. Incredible biological filtration and probably the lowest maintenance of any filter. Can you as a background and keep equipment like heaters out of sight and enable additional items like crushed coral etc to be added discreetly too.
But appreciate you've covered a lot in that video and perhaps HMF isn't that popular in the UK as elsewhere
When I was a teenager I convinced myself I didn't need a filter as they were too expenisve. I did get a long airstone for a wall of bubbles at the back of the tank. I decided it was ugly and buried it the gravel substrate, with the air coming up through the gravel. The tank was very successful. I now realise that I accidently made the gravel act as a filter 😆
Great video Matt, very informative :)
Of all filters I've tried the external canister filters worked best for me. I wish there were more options for nano tanks.
Matt, thank you very much! Great vid. Where did you buy the hang-on pot for your plant?
Thank you ❤
Hi matt you forgot under gravel filters. Yes I k ow it's not really used anymore but I think it would be helpful.
I am getting a 68 gallon tank, my buddy and I are going to try experimenting with a Fluval FX6 and a Sump just to see what happens. I know it's overkill, but it will be fun to see how it goes.
I still love hang on the backs. Can't afford an external, but someday I will have one.
So many choices… 😂. I have 1 sponge, 2 AIO returns, 2 canisters and 1 sump. Of course I have a shelf full of unused canisters and HOBs too.
I still use an undergravel filter. I've always liked them and not sure why no one else uses them any more.
there's also a top filter used for fish like arowana in the past. you could say it is sort of a power filter with outside filtration on top of the aquarium but I haven't seen it much nowadays
In my axolotl tank I have an APS canister filter and a sponge filter to pick up any extra slack, I have a chiller attached aswell through a submersible pump. So I have a spray bay pushing the water across the length of the tank, then a pump pulling it out of the other side and pushing it back down. Essentially creating a circular flow, across the sponge filter ensuring enough filtration.
Sounds like you've got filtration, absolutely perfect in your axolotl aquarium.
@@FishShopMatt it’s got more than enough filtration for the bio load, it’s 4ftx1.5ftx1.5ft 240l aquaone tank, with around 650l worth of filtration. I want to live plant it but don’t trust them not to rip it apart
Awesome! Yeah my Axolotls do like to tear stuff up. You could just use epiphytes and just tie them to pebbles or bits of wood? Doesn't matter then if you lotls want to move stuff about.
@@FishShopMatt I’m a massive fan of large leaf anubias, it’s just a daunting task to do it for them. Although I know in the end it’s gonna be so much better for them
@@BE_Fish_Tanks do it!!! Hahaha
I have the HOB from scaper same as you and I have cut a plastic scoop out of a bottle to push the flow through the tank rather than down like a waterfall. THOUGHTS?
Yes, I had completely forgotten about this hack. It's a brilliant idea and now I will possibly go and do this to all of my filters upstairs.
Great video, very clear overview! Do you have experience and can you make a video about buying tanks second hand? What to look out for, precautions to take, etc..
I use sponges on my smaller tanks and canisters on my bigger tanks. Sponges are so easy to clean and swap around. The canisters let me go a little longer between cleaning for the big tanks and have more room for media.
Watch out with putting a net bag with media directly into the tank next to your sponge filter. I did this in my quarantine tank... I got a group of 6 Mato Grosso Red Cherry Tetra, I now have 5. One of them tried to hide under the bag and somehow got into the bag! He died. I just cut the mesh open and leave the bio media in a pile on the bottom of the tank now. I had no idea fish can get into such tiny mesh like that!
Hey Matt. Love the clips. As a newbie, I bought an aqua-internal filter but can you fully submerge it so the outlet pipe just skims the surface and makes less noise. I have an air stone in my 75L setup too.
I had the worst luck with my aquarium kit filter, it burned out the motor, 2nd one did as well. I finally just went online and looked up a canister 😅 got that, problem solved. The space was too tight from the tank to the wall was maybe not letting air cool the side of the box? The tank can't move forward, so canister underneath, solved it. Plus I like it better than grabing a bucket and pulling the hanging filter and water everywhere. Lots of learning in setting up my 1st tank in like, 20 years 😂 the next tank i build, I think I'm going to be just fine designing and executing it.
that red fittonia is lit
It has gone crazy red recently
My pond filter is by Oase😊
What about the pros and the cons of having two filters instead of one? I'm studying to maybe upgrade my aquarium to have discus and for what i've read a second filter is a must in that field of the hobby
Nice video! Do you have heaters in your aquariums or are they just very well hidden?
Thank you. Yeah every aquarium you saw in this video has a heater somewhere. With most of the tanks with hang on the back filters, the heater is placed near the inlet so you get good water flow over it. With the oase internal that you see in the video that actually has the heater built into the back. Then with a big tank downstairs it's just hidden in the back corner near the filter.
Hey Matt!
Im thinking to but a Eheim canister filter(externa filtre) for a 15 gallon.
I wanna ask (if you know!)
Is The filter tubing large?
Can i fit The tubing trough a hole which has 1cm?
Do i need The tank to be without a lid?
There are generally two different types of aquarium hosing used in the hobby. 12 mm to 16 mm and then 16 mm to 22 mm. These measurements are internal and external dimensions of the hosing. So you will probably need slightly larger openings to get this piping through.
I bought that tiny oase filter right after your video focused on as my first external filter! It only ended up being $45 and 3 months in Ave I can say it's the perfect beginner external. I'm going to build a 30 gallon long with a canister. Any recommendations?
A major disadvantage of the sponge filter is also the sound
Both the air bubbles and the air pump are very noisy
I have a 2 outlet hygger pump and I just rest it on a small cloth and it's basically silent with the cabinet door closed. My cheap sponge filter is also pretty quiet but my aquarium coop sponge filter is definitely loud. I didn't put the airstone in ot though so maybe that's why.
Agreed you wouldn't want it in your bedroom!
King of DIY does Sump filters but he is a different kind of fish keeper. Fun to watch though
Yeah a corrupt one
AIO tanks with back sump filters like a Waterbox or Fluval give you the most freedom and options, in my opinion. 0 cables in the tank, loads of space for your filter media, heater, and even an ATO if you dont want to top off your open top tank every other day.
Yeah I do agree with you that they do make life easy. I've got some videos coming up that actually use this type of filtration.
I do love my good old HOB, but for some reason I keep coming back to undergravel filters.
I like my hob filters
Hey Matt, thanks for the great summary! I've got a tank I inherated from a friend that I'm trying to decide on setup. Currently its got a partition on the back wall, with what's effectively an internal sump type setup, 3 compartments with sponge and filter media and then a pump in the last one. I'm trying to decide if its a good idea to use it as is, or cut the partition out and use a different filter to increase the internal volume for swim space. Would love to know what your opinion is on that kind of setup (its a 60L cube tank, including the volume of the "sump")
With the way the internal sump filters works, they are brilliant filters. The only real reason I didn't cover them in this video is because you can't buy them as a separate item. I would probably use it if it was me but if you do really want more space in the aquarium you could get rid of it and put a little external on. But it's really up to you both ways will work, it just depends on your plans for the tank.
It was undergravel filters when i first started.
@FishShopMatt
On the second tank, with the in tank power filter, what type of house plant is that you have hanging in there?
Most of my tanks have a sponge and an oversized HOB on them. The others are canisters. I like clear water 😂
Matt, can you do a video on all in one aquarium fertiliser?. I am newish to the freshwater aquarium hobby. I am thinking of buying TNC complete.
Any recommendations on a external filter but I want one with a built in heater I have a 200 litre tank cheers
❤
I use an under gravel filter on a small 40 litre tank. May I ask your thoughts on these? I have 6 astrale killifish, 3 pigmi Corey's and half a dozen shrimp.
How do under gravel filters even work?
They are ok but have a lot more draw backs than most in this video. I always think of undergravel filters as sweeping the mess under a rug. At some point all that waste building up in the bottom of the aquarium will come back and bite you.
Also they can be tricky with higher numbers of fish, crystal clear water, sand substrate instead of gravel and also plant soil being used are all factors why people don't use them as much.
@@FishShopMatt noted. Thanks for the reply 👍🏻
Does anyone have problems with the Superfish HOB filters rattling/buzzing?
My favorite hang in the back filter were the Hagen aquariums all you had to do is fill the water up above the impeller by half an inch to an inch and put the intake pipe into the hang of the back filter and put it into the tank with the intake part in the tank and plug it in and it would run and it would self siphon the impellers moving so fast is pulling all the air out of the tube and pull the water up and in and once that started it would fill up the boxes and overflow back into the tank The simplest thing you could do you could always throw an extra media I know people that like to put in live plants aquatic plants that will come out of the top of the filter which will add a biological filter aspect to it beyond the biofilter media it has a nice effect with adding like some puffos or lucky bamboo i've seen people do that i've seen people put the anubias relative from South America the peace lily You had those in there usually want to put those on the outflow area so the little basket where the water starts to pour back into the tag you don't have to put any dirt just plant them or just stick them in the water wash them all with dirt stick them in the water and it'll be the filter and put your sponge filter and any carbon filter or any other media that you want in there works great Every once in a while you have to pull the plants out and trim off the roots so they don't grow into the sponge or the filter media but it works really well like that.
I have used hang on the back filters as planters before and they do work really well. The thing you need to make sure is that the plant doesn't make the filter overflow when it grows too big, but as long as you keep an eye on it's perfect. Have you seen that fluval have just put out on their social media an image of a hang on the back filter?
hey Matt there are sometimes when you buy a filter that's underpowered what do you think is a good solution to add movements in the tank with say power heads? I know a lot of people use them I know a lot of people else use wave makers for freshwater to add that beautiful ripple effect with certain lights like kessels or multicolored LED lights It gives a beautiful ripple effect And wave makers are great because they generate flow that can be altered and varied throughout the day and throughout the few minutes Be strong and then weak I mean you know people to put some wave makers vertical in the corner of the aquariums which will help move stuff from that corner out and back into the general flow of the aquarium to be sucked up by hanging the back filter or canister filter it's really well planted sometimes those plants can just stagnate the water flow in certain areas And by putting the wave maker in vertically it flushes that stuff out of that corner if it's a dead corner. you think that's a good idea to try if someone is having that problem.
I have sponge filters and hang on back filters. I love my hob filters best because I like to take off the lids and grow pothos and peace lilies out of them ❤❤
Can't wait for the Bonsai
I've started playing around with it already and I think it's going to look cool.
@@FishShopMatt CANT WAIT ! 👀
I was thinking of buying a round aquarium with the filter stuck in the gravel, is it best way to get rid of the muck, because all the muck goes to the bottom
Hey Matt, I spoke to my LFS and they advised that I should get an FX2 for my 40 gallon high tank. Personally I think it's a little overkill and they might just be trying to make a sale- plus I don't really have the budget for that.
Do you think a 307 would suffice? It would save me $100 and I would still get the benefits of an external canister.
The tank at the end of this video is around 200 l and runs on an fx2. To be honest you could probably get away with anything from a 207 and upwards. But obviously the bigger you go the better the filter will be. So a 307 or a 407 should work absolutely perfectly but an fx2 would keep it spotless. It does also depend if you're going to have lots of big messy fish or a load of tiny fish that don't go to the toilet that much.
@@FishShopMattokay cool I’ll just take a little longer to save up. It’s a display tank in the family room so going all out isn’t the worst idea