*What's your favorite kind of filter?* Also, if you've ever wanted to try making your own filter, here's our DIY bucket filter tutorial: ua-cam.com/video/4BZ6zyQIf60/v-deo.html
@@mobiussquadron When you create a video, you upload it to UA-cam days in advance to do all of the work like tags, links, descriptions, etc. During this time, you can create a comment and pin it before it is published.
I made a Hamberg Filter for my 4ft long tank. It works great and the small pump inside it sends water, via a plastic pipe, to the other end of my tank. It's been running for about 6 months with no water changes or cleaning. Should I get it out and give it a clean? Or leave well alone?
Irene always kills it with the presentation. Even when you already know something, she reinforces what you know with tips from her own experiences and says something you never thought of. Love it
i've been out of the hobby for years and years, but i have been binging aquarium channel vids for a few weeks because i intend to jump back into it. i didn't really need a further breakdown on filters personally in order to understand them, but this is easily the best one on the subject i have watched.
I had to get rid of my tanks about 4 or 5 years ago when our house got flooded (not caused by the fish tanks), but I’ve been looking forward to getting back to having tanks in the next couple months. I had tanks for about 25 years and have been watching lots of videos recently getting ideas and deciding what direction I want to go in and how many tanks I want to set up. I have to say that this was one of the best most informative videos I’ve seen anywhere pertaining to filtration, especially for someone new to the hobby. Great content!
My little trick to make sure you do the maintenance on your filters is to do it the first week of the month. This way it's easy to remember! It works perfectly for my aquariums :D
I love your videos, even as an experienced aquarist I find your simple explanation of a subject so easy to understand. I agree, the sponge filter is my favourite too. I use 2 and clean each at different intervals. My tank is heavily planted so instead of using Air, they are driven by small power heads. HOB filters are great but can be a problem to use with a tight fitting lid unless this is cut out to accommodate. Great for open top tanks. The best filters are cannister types insofar as the have a number of different chambers that can be aerobic and anaerobic so are best at complete de-nitrification, however as you point out, the cost and the absolute pain of cleaning can be a problem for some. Thanks for sharing.
I use sponge filters in conjunction with Ziss ZBS200 filters in my breeding tanks, works really well and canister filters in my display tanks, and tidal 35’s on my small display tanks 👍
Irene, You're very easy to listen to - you convey information clearly, succinctly, without any annoying distractions- I'm glad you're part of the Co-Op team💕👍
Best video explaining filters so far .... ha ha all these guys out here making these videos don't explain nothing just reviewing no knowledge... like I already read the instructions I don't need them to repeat it ... so thankx girl 🤗
Great job on the video especially for beginners, for larger tanks I prefer a sump, there’s just so much room for biological material and you can have a refugium for plants and a spot to put a fish or two if they are being picked on.
I like Irene. I think she makes fish keeping approachable for beginners. There’s not a lot of hobbyist like her. She explains things very well and touches on subjects that were hard for her or what methods she prefers. It’s easy to get discouraged when you click on a video and the host has all these massive tanks with expensive equipment. Making it seem like you need that stuff to be successful in the hobby. Which is far from the truth. In my opinion, you need 3 things to be successful in this hobby. 1) Dedication 2) Willingness to always learn new things 3) Patience She touches on all these many times. I definitely believe that if you’re new to the hobby or just starting off, her channel is definitely worth a subscribe.
I LUV my ugf. It may seen antiquated, but I'm not. An Aquarium Coop video sold me on them. It's perfect for my Betta in his (yes) Heavily Planted 20 gal tank & it works perfectly. Try one.
The information on the channel is so helpful. I have only had a small aquarium for the past few years, but now I've got a bigger one and there is still so much to learn.
I have a Marineland Magnum 330 filter, an old one, that still works great, hardly any noise at all. But now getting hard to find parts for it since some things are just now wearing out. But have been very happy with it for past 20 yrs.
I have two 5 gallon tanks. I use the nano sponges and the nano air pump from Aquariumcoop. I also have a few live plants in each tank. My fish are male Bettas. They each have their own tank. I enjoy them everyday. 🐟🐠
@@plantedlife Kind of, with it being a "box" so you can stack layers of whatever media you want in it, but it's different because it's inside the tank, not outside the tank. I prefer Lee's Triple-Flow Corner Filter if you are going the box filter route.
Great filter vid, covers options nicely! So far sponge filters and plants meet my needs, with few smaller tanks. I love the design and I'm eagerly waiting for Aquarium Coop filters to come to Canada, but as Cory explains, the numbers don't really add up yet.
I've become a big fan of Lee's Triple Flow Corner Filter. They're cheap, customizable, easy maintenance, and include an air stone. I add a small one to my tanks as an auxiliary filter and stuff it full of filter fiber. It makes an easy water polisher.
About 15 dollors for the large one.. perfect for your 40 GAL TANK... fill it with filter floss and a lil coral rocks at the bottom to weigh it down. Water will be amazingly clear with this type of slow pass filter.. so much better then canister or HOB filters for clear water.. Just hide it behind a decoration in your tank like a rock.. @@dingringdong7150
When I had aquariums , 3 different filters were used , per tank - a bit overkill but it worked . 3 under gravel filters , 1 small internal corner filter , that had wool , activated charchol , wool , in it , plus one which hung off the outside , sucking up water , to run over the same materials as the corner filter . When the filters got past full - the under gravel ones - , I used a length of garden hose , attached to a liter sized plastic bottle with the base cut out , sucked up the muck really good , and helped mum's flower garden to grow . It also saved having to reset the tank , which was an all day job , as the gravel was sterilized , along with any feature stones or wood . The plants grew very well after the sucking out , and the fish stayed out of the way , as they could sense the water flow , and see what was going on . It also helped my parents PTSD to remain low key , which was great . As plants grew to excess and fish bred to excess , they went out to the supplier and swapped for something different . The longest time the tank was set , was a bit over 2 & half years , with any water needs , coming from grandparents rain water tank , or tap water which had been left to stand for 72 hours , to allow most of the chlorine to escape . I'm thinking of starting up another tank , which has an internal power filter , which will do for the size of the tank . The gravel , I'm spoiled for choice , with rounded pebbles that are just the right size for the timid fish to burrow into , or sharper gravel that's come down spring fed streams , which run thru rotten rock - due to tectonic plate activity . . It will beat the pants off tv , easily . The earthquakes I'll just have to hope they aren't so strong , that the water slops over , despite not filling it right up , and having a lid on it . Fun fact : if you're in an area that has earthquakes , watch the fish , as just before the big shake starts , all the fish , sink to the bottom , untill it's all over . Best Whishes to all and I trust your aquariums help keep your mind in the best of Health . Namaste 🙏👍❤️👌🤔
Irene, that was the BEST comparison of filters I've ever seen. Thank you so much. (I actually bought a Marineland canister filter for half price. And I have been afraid to try it. lol. But I am going to be brave soon. I bought a 75 gallon tank and am setting up a goldfish tank. Now I need to choose a 2nd filter to keep the water crystal clear.)
Honestly I prefer a combination of sponge and under gravel filters. With proper circulation the sponge catches the majority of the particles floating in the water so you have a very limited buildup of ditritus in the gravel.
@@haitch04 My most stable tank ive ever had set up was a very heavily planted tank with a ugf. I had no issues with roots after 3 years when i tore it down. I had a triple layer of filter floss on the grates , then a layer of crushed black lava rock then black gravel ontop of that,
Awsome explanation! With the plants at the end, I thought I wonder if they all need a substrate. 2 seconds later you answered it very well, thank you kindly.
In my next aquarium, I am going to try a sponge filter!! I started with a HOB that came in my kit. I got tired of buying cartridges or feeling frustrated when my local pet store kept running out of them. I got a larger quieter HOB next after watching a video of Cory customizing it with foam and bio rings. I used that forever on that aquarium. When I got a larger aquarium, I tried a canister filter. I used a Fluval 207. I’ve been using it for about three years. I service it about once a month. I added a pre-filter sponge on the intake which Cory recommended in a video. It has a valve when I go to service it to keep water from flowing out when I disconnect the tubes. It’s never leaked or had a flooding issue. I just bring a bucket of tank water to my back porch, remove the media and rinse it in the bucket, and stick it back in the canister and hook it all back up again. It takes less than ten minutes and it’s running on an overstocked 29 gallon and I don’t have any issues with water quality or ammonia spikes which is so handy (it’s also a really heavily planted tank). I like that with both the HOB and Cannister I can customize it to achieve a certain goal. For example, in a nano aquarium I have, I wanted to naturally lower my pH and create more tannins in the water. I added some leaf litter to the aquarium and I added peat moss to the HOB filter. I added fine filter floss in another aquarium to get crystal clear water. It’s kind of fun to experiment with and see the effect on my fish, plants, or water parameters. I am really excited to try a sponge filter because I’ve seen a bazillion aquarium co-op videos promoting sponges and I just never did it since I already had a happy filter system working on my aquariums. I’m hoping to start another one in the fall and really looking forward to enjoying a sponge and trying something new. There seem to be so many great benefits!
Thank you for the great advice. I am new to the hobby and this was a nice intro. I feel more confident about trying fish for the first time. Keeping them healthy was my biggest concern and this helped answer alot of questions. Many thanks
I have a system that works for me. The only time there is noise, is when my tank level gets too low, it is a good early warning system. I use a sponge filter and an HOB on most of my smaller tanks. Thanks Irene, always good info!
I've found them to be excellent. Low cost, low maintenance & very efficient. Contrary to what I've read, my plants are thriving with that, Finn lighting & Easy Green. 👍
@@vblackwell3347 I have UG in everything but my fry tank. Even my dirted tank has ~1/4 of the tank with UG under rocks. Easy circulation, and easy to season, not to mention least amount of work. And yes, plants **love** UG!
Call me old fashioned...I still like to use under gravel filters in my tanks. Back when I started in the hobby we had those clear plastic box filters that used charcoal and glass wool in them. Under gravel filters were a blessing compared to the box filters. HOB filters slowly appeared but the first ones still needed an air pump and you started the up flow by filling the tube with water in the tank, putting your thumb over the end and quickly hanging it into the filter box and hoping it would siphon!
Completely agree with you. An under gravel filter takes advantage of something that is already there anyway, the substrate. As long as you do regular water changes and stir things up a bit, they do not become clogged and really are one of the best filters in my opinion for clear water and stable tank conditions.
I rigged up a combo undergravel and hang on back filter for mine. I made the undergravel part by making a grid out of PVC pipes from my local hardware store. I drilled tiny holes in the bottom of the pipes only. I power it with the siphon of my Aqueon hang-on-back filter. There are no aquarium stores near me so I had to order some black silicone tubing that was big enough to connect the two. The water that pours out is crystal clear. The only problem is sometimes when I disturb the gravel I get a tiny piece of sand sucked into my outside filter. This jams the impeller. I have to unplug it, disassemble it and clean the sand out.
excellent video, thank you. I use all that you mentioned, HOB, sponge, and lots of plants & I feel that health of my tank got much better after putting in the plants.
I've had my betta tank now for a little less than a year. I bought most of my equipment from a guy on craigslist. My filter is a top fin internal filter which I've used since the start. I've always wanted to switch to a sponge filter and this video has helped me make my choice, which is obviously yes 💙 thank you for this video I learned so much and my anxiety about filtration is basically gone now. Also as of today Tuesday July 6th, I ordered the co-op brand sponge filter! I'm so excited to receive it!!
Recently had to replace my 60-gal bedroom tank's failed canister filter - and decided to go with a very-highly-recommended Fluval Performance 407 ... *Extremely* impressed. It's physically smaller than my previous but much more efficient... it is MUCH QUIETER than any other I've used, and has a controllable flow rod that allows you to physically reduce the output if you desire. Plus, it comes with a 5 year warranty. I'm only a month into it but extremely happy so far.
I recently set up a 60 litre/15.8 gallon tank. It came with an internal filter. After having watched this video I will most likely replace it for a sponge filter. Good informative video. Thanks.
Excellent job. I have a 10 gallon (tall) tank. Since its rectangular vs the tradition square tank, it appears larger. In setting up the tank, I first planted bulbs (90%) and live plants (10%). The bulbs quickly grew and are healthy plants. I used a small amount of fertilizer tablets and have a sand bottom. I have not used sand before so it was more or less a test on my end. I have several filters on the tank. First, I use a mechanical 'back of the tank' filter that I have rigged to improve the actual filtering of the water (extra sponges, etc..). I also use the sponge at the intake to improve the capacity of the filter as well as provide more space for healthy bacteria. Second, I have a sponge filter (in the tank) with the air stone. I introduced this after I stocked the tank. I was having some algae bloom issues so I added 2 snails (who have done an amazing job) and the in tank sponge filter and I noticed an overnight change. I still get some algae on the right side of the tank but being I have snails, they manage it nicely. I also noticed that the snails were keeping the leaves of the plants algae free. Lastly, I have a filter bag full of filter cylinders (they are from Fluval and look like little coral barrels that are very porous). This allows for additional healthy bacteria. I have this rigged so that when the water comes out of the back of the tank filter, the clean water runs through the filter bag. As to the fish, you could argue I overstocked it a bit and I would agree if I only had one of the filters going. With the added filter, my water stays crystal clear and water conditions have been perfect (along with the weekly water change- 10%). My fish.......7 zebra danios, 2 black mollies, 6 red tetras, 2 albino cats, 1 gray cat and 2 snails. In my opinion the live plants have been the difference maker. I have also never had much luck with snails but these 2 guys go all day. They are extremely active and healthy looking. On the water conditions, my ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are perfect, the ph stays around 6.9-7 which is more or less a good neutral rating. The water is a little on the hard side but the fish seem to be okay with it. Occasionally I will run the water through a filter bag with peat in it. I do not run it for too long as I do not want a big dip in the ph. It seems to help with water hardness/ aka it softens it up a notch. On the water change topic, I do not use treated tap water. I simply do not trust our water and the chlorine smell is very strong. I get a brand of spring water that I use every time. I test it just to be safe and have never had any issues. I treat it as a precaution. I also use a bacteria supplement at each water change. Since my back of the tank filter has a replaceable cotton filter with activated carbon, I change that weekly so I always add the bacteria supplement in the housing with the new filter. Sponges get cleaned with tank water I have removed during cleaning OR with treated spring water. One thing I have learned is that creating an environment for fish and other live organisms is fun but also a responsibility. I am always trying to improve and conduct small tests to see if I get better results. As an example, I used to use distilled water. Goldfish do not seem to care but when I set up the tropical tank with live plants, I knew distilled water was probably not going to be the best option as everything is taken out, including minerals that my plants need. So far so good and after 4 months running, I only lost 2 fish and that was 2 days after I purchased them (likely shock or possibly sick). Everyone else has been active and no signs of illness.
@@charulsharma8216 I assume when you say power filter, you are talking about the power head which many used on the tubes with the under gravel filter. Right now I just use the sponge filter (Tetris) with an air stone and it is creating a good pull of water through the sponge. I try to minimize artificial things being seen so I kept it simple. I could also read your question as do I use both a back of the tank filter and sponge filter in the same tank and the answer is yes. Because its a smaller tank I upgraded the back of the tank filter and then added the simple sponge filter in hopes that it would help with the algae bloom I was experiencing(plus the 2 snails being added). I know enough to avoid a lot of natural light so something else was going on. The sponge filter made a huge improvement overnight. I now get enough algae for my snails and bottom feeders but its not over the top and I have had no algae blooms. I know this worked because I did not change any other variable in the tank. Note I did not use an anti-algae agent. This seemed to me to be counter productive and possibly damaging to my 2 snails. I know its not supposed to harm the live plants but I preferred to try to handle it in a non chemical way. Thanks for the question. Its a great hobby (have had tanks since I was 5.....so on and off for 50 years).
For a larger tank with bigger fish, I think there is something to be said in the freshwater hobby about sump set ups. I use HOB on all my smaller tanks but have found that a sump on a large tanks is much easier to clean than a canister.
Nicely done Irene. I would have taken the time to bash the canister for randomly leaking and being noisy until all the air is worked out of them. Cheers, Chris
Thanks so much. Your video is so helpful. Such great information, and easy to really understand. Great video . Grateful. …thinking HOB … but love the first ones you showed inside your tank
Delighted with this video! Thank you for this heartwarming content, Mr Justin expressed the same love and respect I have for all the creatures I care for in our home! Wonderful!
Bought 2 big kick arse canister filters when setting up my 75 gallon planted tank a few years ago. After getting sick of cleaning up the puddles when they kept leaking they got thrown in the bin and i put in a couple of sponge filters as a short term fix. Well over a year later I still haven't changed them out as they are working perfectly.
What canisters did you buy? I keep hearing people talking about leaks, thankfully I haven't had this issue yet with any of my 5 canisters. My 406 fluval did leak briefly but I just replaces the o ring and it was fixed.
@@kyesniper Thy were Sun Sun's. 304B's from memory. Work well but there is an issue with them leaking up through the lid and out into the cabinet and all over the floor ... I redid seals and gooped them up but eventually just binned them. I wouldn't have expected this issue with quality brands, just that Sun Suns aren't a quality brand.
hey irene , sorry if the spelling is not correct ... i noticed that you dont use CO2 in your planted aquariums ... is there a reason for that ? i myself was against using it for sometime until i got some DIY kits to my aquariums .... the boost you get in plant filtration is amazing ... you should try it ! my 15 gallon heavily planted aquarium with 2 filters : a dual sponge filter and a motorized waterfall filter are now handling over 50 guppy frys with their parents !! ... before that i had only 9 guppies in that tank ... ofcourse you will have to find the appropriate light/filtelizer/CO2 balance to keep it well shaped
Great video. But there’s an “old school” filter that is always forgotten. The under gravel filter. I’ve run these for decades and swear by them. Lately I also pair it with a sponge filter. This combo works amazing.
If you use an under gravel filter and prepare it like a plenum [I think that's the correct term] does that represent a 4th alternative or must it still be supplemented by one of the three systems in this vid? My situation: I can only have one tank and it needs to be quiet.
Awesome upload, super helpful explanation of filtration as well as pros and cons for each one. The only one I didn't hear about is the undergravel filter but still a great upload.
I thought I needed a canister when I set up my 125. Within 6 months I had abandoned it for a pair of Seachem Tidals. Ten minutes of maintenance per week gives excellent water quality.
I know people like to poop on Canisters because Cory hates them, but since I have a single tank and its inside my bedroom, canister is PERFECT. No bubbling noise, and really good flow. HOB on a 55 left dead spots as 55g is long but thin. The only noise it makes is a very light humming and it actually helps me sleep with the grey noise. I find it to be a great solution for the one main display tank you have, but of course makes less sense if you run several tanks.
I don't poop on canisters because Cory doesn't like them. For me, it's because it takes me 2 hours to clean a canister and get it back to running and 5 minutes to clean a sponge filter.
@@retsaoter It depends what you're looking for in the system. To me each type were meant for different users. Cory has lots lots tanks and therefore canisters are a waste of money, and I agree. It takes a long time to wash and imagine him having several of them... it would be a nightmare.
@@kyfarmAnd that's a totally fair argument. But in my opinion each filter systems target different users. Personally the only place I can have my tank is in the bedroom and having a canister is much more useful to have than a sponge filter as it's much quieter and I don't need several HOBs. and I only have one tank so it's not that big of a deal. I will clean it once every couple of months. Pretty much the same time it would take to clean my HOB (over the same period of time). I also enjoy clear water so I always cringe when having to move my sponge filter :(
@@MatchuCT sorry to hurt your feelings. You can use whatever filter system you like. I don't pay your bills. What I said was a carefully crafted response directly to the assumption of Cory's influence not an attack on canister filters. If your personal identity is defined by canister filters there may be larger problems in your life.
❤Hi Irene! I love your Content. You’re the first channel I followed when I started fish keeping- so I guess you can say - you’ve taught me everything I know.. which I’m sorry to say, in 9 months isn’t very much 😅 but WAY more than if I didn’t find you. My fish thank you! ❤ I’m setting up a 55 gallon planted ( dirt and sand) tank for my female guppies (because there’s a million now😊-) I am trying to figure out what kind of filter to use- they are messy fish so I am worried that sponge filters won’t do it. I honestly don’t see much junk in my sponge filters as my HOB. So I’m worried I’m doing something wrong.
I like the hangonback filter or Hamburg matten filters, the main problem with the hangonback is you have problems with factory fitted lids as they need to be modified to make them fit.
I use a canister filter with a wide coarse sponge on the intake tube. This way you don't have to clean out the canister filter as often, or ever, depending on your intake filter choice and cleaning regimes.
My favorite the Oase canister filter has an easy to pull out section for the mechanical filtration so you only have to open the canister to clean up the biological media once a year The big pro of the fluidized bed is that the media is constantly rubbing against each other keeping the gunk from building up on them so they never need to be cleaned. .
When I started fish keeping, no one used filters. Fish were kept mostly in bowls or small 5 to 10 gallon tanks. You took all the fish and decor out, put the gravel in a bucket and ran water through it until it was clean, but it back, set up the tank and put the fish back in. Of course we were only keeping the hardiest of fish, like guppies and goldfish. Then they started using box filers with an air pump. It had charcoal and filter floss. It took most of the floating debris out, but not much more. Then under gravel filters became standard. You could use air pumps or power heads to pull the water through the gravel to turn it into a biological filter. That lasted for several decades. Eventually, canister and hang on back filters became common. Now sponge filters have became all the rage, but to me they seem like only slightly more advanced than the old corner box filter, just with better biological filtration. Now I see that many of the advanced aquarium keepers are using a refugium, a second thank, who's only purpose is for biological filtration. I personally prefer a large hang on back filter with bio wheels. Things never stop changing.
what ever happened to under gravel filters?? i have been out of the hobby for a long time. but when i was in all my tanks had them. i worked in a fish t=store and all the tanks had a good old under gravel filter. well all but the 240 and 500 gallon tanks had canister filters
Hi… Love your explanations. I have a heavily planted tank. It has been months I am having it. The BB are well established. I am currently using a sponge filter together with HOB. Shall I continue to use both or I can take the HOB off? My electric bill shot up tremendously recently…
My favorite affordable, starter, filter is probably the biggest chambered hang on the back even if it's oversized. Take out the carbon cartridge, and just add filter floss that you can clean in aquarium water each month. Although I currently use a DIY sump.
@@Cgraseck I had two Bio-Wheel HOBs on my bedroom tank and I wound up replacing with a Marineland Magniflow 360. In my opinion - the Bio-Wheel filters have nearly silent motors but made a lot of water sounds. The Canister filter made no water noise but pretty loud motor. I recently went to a Fluval Performance 407 and its much quieter.
@@Ser_Arthur_Dayne I never had a Fluvial canister leak on me, but I'm sure that it can happen. That is the reason that I don't use any canisters anymore. I currently run 19 aquariums and not one has a canister filter. I can't afford a flood. Cheers, Chris
@@Cgraseck I hear you -to be 100% honest, it was a Marineland that leaked. When I bought it about 2 years ago, on Amazon, I was concerned that it could have been a return. There were definite water spots in and on the filter itself and it seemed like the parts package could have been repacked. I wrote Marineland an email and asked them if they could note this in "my file" so if I had warranty issues past the warranty date, they'd know that maybe I had received a lemon. They sent me another new filter for free and let me keep the old one. Told me "dispose of it as you see fit." - Well I'm not just gonna toss it. It worked great for about a year, and started leaking one day after maintenance. I bought a replacement o-ring gasket and it worked for another year - when it started leaking again. I replaced *all the o-rings* and it started leaking worse than before. I have tile floor but still. Anyway , Marineland can't really do anything for me, they already replaced it. I decided to just go with the Fluval that everyone raves about. So far so great. But I realize canister filters are not for everyone. To be 100% honest, I have had *TREMENDOUS SUCCESS* with Bio-Wheels over my 40 years of life. I just didn't like the splashing sound in my bedroom.
I also noticed that water was dispersed over the back of the unit too, as you raised and lowered the filter media basket. Surely making the unit taller would help with this problem.
One more filter... undergravel! I made my own using a small pond pump, so everything is silent. The entire substrate is the mechanical and the biological filtration and it works really well, in addition to it being in a heavily planted tank.
I started with one for my African cichlid tank many years ago. Bio load was ultimately more than it could handle, but I really liked the idea behind it and wanted to try again one day.
@@jawjagrrl yeah, I have heard cichlids produce quite a load! Mine are mostly nano fish, one betta, and one gold algae eater from Indonesia. I do have it double stocked but the load is fine. I use Dr. Tim's bacteria and they process everything very well.
I dont like canister filters because they tend to lie about their tank size they can filtrate. When you do the math they say they can filter a 400 gallon tank but the math says it can only filter a 250 gallon tank and still properly turn the water over in the tank. I try to get a filter that is rated 2x my tank size for optimum filtration since i like bigger messy fish. I have a small pond filter on my 75 gallon tank and a 12 foot rated pool filter on my 125 gallon, just fill the pool pump with bio balls for beneficial bacteria to grow. The filter cartridges arent expensive, and since many people dont like activated charcoal anyway you dont have to worry about it with just a paper filter that almost also works as a water polisher since its straining through a paper filter
*What's your favorite kind of filter?* Also, if you've ever wanted to try making your own filter, here's our DIY bucket filter tutorial: ua-cam.com/video/4BZ6zyQIf60/v-deo.html
how was this pinned a week ago when the video was uploaded today?
I'm really enjoying the aquarium co-op sponge filters ..... 😜
@@mobiussquadron When you create a video, you upload it to UA-cam days in advance to do all of the work like tags, links, descriptions, etc. During this time, you can create a comment and pin it before it is published.
I made a Hamberg Filter for my 4ft long tank.
It works great and the small pump inside it sends water, via a plastic pipe, to the other end of my tank.
It's been running for about 6 months with no water changes or cleaning.
Should I get it out and give it a clean?
Or leave well alone?
Sponge Filters 🙂👍
Irene always kills it with the presentation. Even when you already know something, she reinforces what you know with tips from her own experiences and says something you never thought of. Love it
I agree. I've been keeping fish for 10+ years and yet I still find this video entertaining.
I agree I really like the way she presents information, combines it with her opinion and experience and gives a personable atmosphere.
i've been out of the hobby for years and years, but i have been binging aquarium channel vids for a few weeks because i intend to jump back into it. i didn't really need a further breakdown on filters personally in order to understand them, but this is easily the best one on the subject i have watched.
I had to get rid of my tanks about 4 or 5 years ago when our house got flooded (not caused by the fish tanks), but I’ve been looking forward to getting back to having tanks in the next couple months. I had tanks for about 25 years and have been watching lots of videos recently getting ideas and deciding what direction I want to go in and how many tanks I want to set up. I have to say that this was one of the best most informative videos I’ve seen anywhere pertaining to filtration, especially for someone new to the hobby. Great content!
Having you work with aquarium coop makes the best possible info for many of us who are on the learning curve with fish keeping
Just replaced my marineland disposable filter with aquarium co-op coarse sponge and fine sponge filter and my tank is crystal clear 😇
You shoulf post a video of your tank on youtube
@@hulloitsbunawhale9329 i agree
How can I lessen the water flow on an aqueon hob filter for my 10gal tank?
@@hulloitsbunawhale9329 posted!
Nice lol I love Sponge Filter they are inexpensive and work well 😀
Your exceptional descriptions are so helpful! My fish are happier and healthier because of your videos.
My little trick to make sure you do the maintenance on your filters is to do it the first week of the month. This way it's easy to remember! It works perfectly for my aquariums :D
Im getting the double sponge filter, so ill just be doing that during water changes
👍 Aquarium Co-Op sponge filter is my favorite. I have canisters but I hate cleaning them. Hang on back with pump in the tank are my 2nd favorite.
Irene always manages to make fishkeeping easy to understand. I wish I had professors like you!
I love your videos, even as an experienced aquarist I find your simple explanation of a subject so easy to understand.
I agree, the sponge filter is my favourite too. I use 2 and clean each at different intervals. My tank is heavily planted so instead of using Air, they are driven by small power heads.
HOB filters are great but can be a problem to use with a tight fitting lid unless this is cut out to accommodate. Great for open top tanks.
The best filters are cannister types insofar as the have a number of different chambers that can be aerobic and anaerobic so are best at complete de-nitrification, however as you point out, the cost and the absolute pain of cleaning can be a problem for some. Thanks for sharing.
When I use filters, I go for sponge filters and box filters for the win. Another clear, concise explanation of various filter options.
👍❤️👍
I use sponge filters in conjunction with Ziss ZBS200 filters in my breeding tanks, works really well and canister filters in my display tanks, and tidal 35’s on my small display tanks 👍
Is that the Ziss moving bed filter Irene referenced?
@@traumahealingandprevention yes the same, maybe a different model but the same if that makes sense
@Gen M best HOB you can get, in my opinion, I use the 35 and 110, couldn’t be happier 👍
Irene, You're very easy to listen to - you convey information clearly, succinctly, without any annoying distractions- I'm glad you're part of the Co-Op team💕👍
Best video explaining filters so far .... ha ha all these guys out here making these videos don't explain nothing just reviewing no knowledge... like I already read the instructions I don't need them to repeat it ... so thankx girl 🤗
Great job on the video especially for beginners, for larger tanks I prefer a sump, there’s just so much room for biological material and you can have a refugium for plants and a spot to put a fish or two if they are being picked on.
I like Irene. I think she makes fish keeping approachable for beginners. There’s not a lot of hobbyist like her. She explains things very well and touches on subjects that were hard for her or what methods she prefers.
It’s easy to get discouraged when you click on a video and the host has all these massive tanks with expensive equipment. Making it seem like you need that stuff to be successful in the hobby.
Which is far from the truth. In my opinion, you need 3 things to be successful in this hobby.
1) Dedication
2) Willingness to always learn new things
3) Patience
She touches on all these many times. I definitely believe that if you’re new to the hobby or just starting off, her channel is definitely worth a subscribe.
Yep, Irene balances out my videos for sure. I tell her she reaches people I never will.
I LUV my ugf. It may seen antiquated, but I'm not. An Aquarium Coop video sold me on them. It's perfect for my Betta in his (yes) Heavily Planted 20 gal tank & it works perfectly. Try one.
I have used them for 40 some years.
Even my dirted aquarium has about a quarter of the tank with UG filter. Plants, fish, and snails are all thrilled.
Been using UG for over 4 decades.
Just added one to my 55 gallon and a ten gallon tank. I had them many years ago and they always worked great.
The information on the channel is so helpful. I have only had a small aquarium for the past few years, but now I've got a bigger one and there is still so much to learn.
I have a Marineland Magnum 330 filter, an old one, that still works great, hardly any noise at all. But now getting hard to find parts for it since some things are just now wearing out. But have been very happy with it for past 20 yrs.
I have two 5 gallon tanks. I use the nano sponges and the nano air pump from Aquariumcoop. I also have a few live plants in each tank. My fish are male Bettas. They each have their own tank. I enjoy them everyday. 🐟🐠
Nobody ever talks about the good ol' box filter anymore.
Is it the one that's like a HOB filter that runs on air like sponge filter?
@@plantedlife Kind of, with it being a "box" so you can stack layers of whatever media you want in it, but it's different because it's inside the tank, not outside the tank. I prefer Lee's Triple-Flow Corner Filter if you are going the box filter route.
Great filter vid, covers options nicely! So far sponge filters and plants meet my needs, with few smaller tanks. I love the design and I'm eagerly waiting for Aquarium Coop filters to come to Canada, but as Cory explains, the numbers don't really add up yet.
I've become a big fan of Lee's Triple Flow Corner Filter. They're cheap, customizable, easy maintenance, and include an air stone. I add a small one to my tanks as an auxiliary filter and stuff it full of filter fiber. It makes an easy water polisher.
How much is it and is it good for 40 Gallon
About 15 dollors for the large one.. perfect for your 40 GAL TANK... fill it with filter floss and a lil coral rocks at the bottom to weigh it down. Water will be amazingly clear with this type of slow pass filter.. so much better then canister or HOB filters for clear water.. Just hide it behind a decoration in your tank like a rock.. @@dingringdong7150
When I had aquariums , 3 different filters were used , per tank - a bit overkill but it worked . 3 under gravel filters , 1 small internal corner filter , that had wool , activated charchol , wool , in it , plus one which hung off the outside , sucking up water , to run over the same materials as the corner filter .
When the filters got past full - the under gravel ones - , I used a length of garden hose , attached to a liter sized plastic bottle with the base cut out , sucked up the muck really good , and helped mum's flower garden to grow . It also saved having to reset the tank , which was an all day job , as the gravel was sterilized , along with any feature stones or wood . The plants grew very well after the sucking out , and the fish stayed out of the way , as they could sense the water flow , and see what was going on . It also helped my parents PTSD to remain low key , which was great . As plants grew to excess and fish bred to excess , they went out to the supplier and swapped for something different .
The longest time the tank was set , was a bit over 2 & half years , with any water needs , coming from grandparents rain water tank , or tap water which had been left to stand for 72 hours , to allow most of the chlorine to escape .
I'm thinking of starting up another tank , which has an internal power filter , which will do for the size of the tank . The gravel , I'm spoiled for choice , with rounded pebbles that are just the right size for the timid fish to burrow into , or sharper gravel that's come down spring fed streams , which run thru rotten rock - due to tectonic plate activity . . It will beat the pants off tv , easily . The earthquakes I'll just have to hope they aren't so strong , that the water slops over , despite not filling it right up , and having a lid on it .
Fun fact : if you're in an area that has earthquakes , watch the fish , as just before the big shake starts , all the fish , sink to the bottom , untill it's all over .
Best Whishes to all and I trust your aquariums help keep your mind in the best of Health .
Namaste 🙏👍❤️👌🤔
Irene, that was the BEST comparison of filters I've ever seen. Thank you so much. (I actually bought a Marineland canister filter for half price. And I have been afraid to try it. lol. But I am going to be brave soon. I bought a 75 gallon tank and am setting up a goldfish tank. Now I need to choose a 2nd filter to keep the water crystal clear.)
Honestly I prefer a combination of sponge and under gravel filters. With proper circulation the sponge catches the majority of the particles floating in the water so you have a very limited buildup of ditritus in the gravel.
So its better with that plastic on or off on sponge filter?
Absolutely 💯
It does sound good on aquariuns with larger gravel grains on the sunstrate!
Under gravel is fine unless you have a planted tank.
@@haitch04 My most stable tank ive ever had set up was a very heavily planted tank with a ugf. I had no issues with roots after 3 years when i tore it down. I had a triple layer of filter floss on the grates , then a layer of crushed black lava rock then black gravel ontop of that,
Awsome explanation! With the plants at the end, I thought I wonder if they all need a substrate. 2 seconds later you answered it very well, thank you kindly.
I wish I had this video a few years ago. So clearly explained the types of filtration and filters
Yes I just followed your channel also. I was just looking up filter videos and just in time you posted this
Hi, I am new to this hobby, and you have taught me so much valuable tips in this video. Thank you so much!
👍
In my next aquarium, I am going to try a sponge filter!! I started with a HOB that came in my kit. I got tired of buying cartridges or feeling frustrated when my local pet store kept running out of them. I got a larger quieter HOB next after watching a video of Cory customizing it with foam and bio rings. I used that forever on that aquarium. When I got a larger aquarium, I tried a canister filter. I used a Fluval 207. I’ve been using it for about three years. I service it about once a month. I added a pre-filter sponge on the intake which Cory recommended in a video. It has a valve when I go to service it to keep water from flowing out when I disconnect the tubes. It’s never leaked or had a flooding issue. I just bring a bucket of tank water to my back porch, remove the media and rinse it in the bucket, and stick it back in the canister and hook it all back up again. It takes less than ten minutes and it’s running on an overstocked 29 gallon and I don’t have any issues with water quality or ammonia spikes which is so handy (it’s also a really heavily planted tank). I like that with both the HOB and Cannister I can customize it to achieve a certain goal. For example, in a nano aquarium I have, I wanted to naturally lower my pH and create more tannins in the water. I added some leaf litter to the aquarium and I added peat moss to the HOB filter. I added fine filter floss in another aquarium to get crystal clear water. It’s kind of fun to experiment with and see the effect on my fish, plants, or water parameters. I am really excited to try a sponge filter because I’ve seen a bazillion aquarium co-op videos promoting sponges and I just never did it since I already had a happy filter system working on my aquariums. I’m hoping to start another one in the fall and really looking forward to enjoying a sponge and trying something new. There seem to be so many great benefits!
Thank you for the great advice. I am new to the hobby and this was a nice intro. I feel more confident about trying fish for the first time. Keeping them healthy was my biggest concern and this helped answer alot of questions. Many thanks
In my opinion these are the best fish keeping videos out there. I always find out exactly what I need to know!!
You Are a Very Good, Informative as well as Entertaining Host. You've Helped Me Keep 9 Tanks Healthy. Thanks.
I have a system that works for me. The only time there is noise, is when my tank level gets too low, it is a good early warning system. I use a sponge filter and an HOB on most of my smaller tanks. Thanks Irene, always good info!
What about under gravel filters
I've found them to be excellent. Low cost, low maintenance & very efficient. Contrary to what I've read, my plants are thriving with that, Finn lighting & Easy Green. 👍
@@vblackwell3347 I have UG in everything but my fry tank.
Even my dirted tank has ~1/4 of the tank with UG under rocks.
Easy circulation, and easy to season, not to mention least amount of work.
And yes, plants **love** UG!
Omg I love when she makes videos too! Love you guys god bless aquarium co-op!!
Call me old fashioned...I still like to use under gravel filters in my tanks. Back when I started in the hobby we had those clear plastic box filters that used charcoal and glass wool in them. Under gravel filters were a blessing compared to the box filters. HOB filters slowly appeared but the first ones still needed an air pump and you started the up flow by filling the tube with water in the tank, putting your thumb over the end and quickly hanging it into the filter box and hoping it would siphon!
Completely agree with you. An under gravel filter takes advantage of something that is already there anyway, the substrate. As long as you do regular water changes and stir things up a bit, they do not become clogged and really are one of the best filters in my opinion for clear water and stable tank conditions.
I rigged up a combo undergravel and hang on back filter for mine. I made the undergravel part by making a grid out of PVC pipes from my local hardware store. I drilled tiny holes in the bottom of the pipes only. I power it with the siphon of my Aqueon hang-on-back filter. There are no aquarium stores near me so I had to order some black silicone tubing that was big enough to connect the two. The water that pours out is crystal clear.
The only problem is sometimes when I disturb the gravel I get a tiny piece of sand sucked into my outside filter. This jams the impeller. I have to unplug it, disassemble it and clean the sand out.
Corey n the gang! You guys rock!
excellent video, thank you. I use all that you mentioned, HOB, sponge, and lots of plants & I feel that health of my tank got much better after putting in the plants.
I've had my betta tank now for a little less than a year. I bought most of my equipment from a guy on craigslist. My filter is a top fin internal filter which I've used since the start. I've always wanted to switch to a sponge filter and this video has helped me make my choice, which is obviously yes 💙 thank you for this video I learned so much and my anxiety about filtration is basically gone now. Also as of today Tuesday July 6th, I ordered the co-op brand sponge filter! I'm so excited to receive it!!
Recently had to replace my 60-gal bedroom tank's failed canister filter - and decided to go with a very-highly-recommended Fluval Performance 407 ... *Extremely* impressed. It's physically smaller than my previous but much more efficient... it is MUCH QUIETER than any other I've used, and has a controllable flow rod that allows you to physically reduce the output if you desire. Plus, it comes with a 5 year warranty. I'm only a month into it but extremely happy so far.
I recently set up a 60 litre/15.8 gallon tank. It came with an internal filter. After having watched this video I will most likely replace it for a sponge filter. Good informative video. Thanks.
I love my Hydor! Does a wonderful job on 46g, planted tank; filter cleaning day isn't bad, for a canister filter.
Excellent job. I have a 10 gallon (tall) tank. Since its rectangular vs the tradition square tank, it appears larger. In setting up the tank, I first planted bulbs (90%) and live plants (10%). The bulbs quickly grew and are healthy plants. I used a small amount of fertilizer tablets and have a sand bottom. I have not used sand before so it was more or less a test on my end. I have several filters on the tank. First, I use a mechanical 'back of the tank' filter that I have rigged to improve the actual filtering of the water (extra sponges, etc..). I also use the sponge at the intake to improve the capacity of the filter as well as provide more space for healthy bacteria. Second, I have a sponge filter (in the tank) with the air stone. I introduced this after I stocked the tank. I was having some algae bloom issues so I added 2 snails (who have done an amazing job) and the in tank sponge filter and I noticed an overnight change. I still get some algae on the right side of the tank but being I have snails, they manage it nicely. I also noticed that the snails were keeping the leaves of the plants algae free. Lastly, I have a filter bag full of filter cylinders (they are from Fluval and look like little coral barrels that are very porous). This allows for additional healthy bacteria. I have this rigged so that when the water comes out of the back of the tank filter, the clean water runs through the filter bag. As to the fish, you could argue I overstocked it a bit and I would agree if I only had one of the filters going. With the added filter, my water stays crystal clear and water conditions have been perfect (along with the weekly water change- 10%). My fish.......7 zebra danios, 2 black mollies, 6 red tetras, 2 albino cats, 1 gray cat and 2 snails. In my opinion the live plants have been the difference maker. I have also never had much luck with snails but these 2 guys go all day. They are extremely active and healthy looking. On the water conditions, my ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are perfect, the ph stays around 6.9-7 which is more or less a good neutral rating. The water is a little on the hard side but the fish seem to be okay with it. Occasionally I will run the water through a filter bag with peat in it. I do not run it for too long as I do not want a big dip in the ph. It seems to help with water hardness/ aka it softens it up a notch. On the water change topic, I do not use treated tap water. I simply do not trust our water and the chlorine smell is very strong. I get a brand of spring water that I use every time. I test it just to be safe and have never had any issues. I treat it as a precaution. I also use a bacteria supplement at each water change. Since my back of the tank filter has a replaceable cotton filter with activated carbon, I change that weekly so I always add the bacteria supplement in the housing with the new filter. Sponges get cleaned with tank water I have removed during cleaning OR with treated spring water. One thing I have learned is that creating an environment for fish and other live organisms is fun but also a responsibility. I am always trying to improve and conduct small tests to see if I get better results. As an example, I used to use distilled water. Goldfish do not seem to care but when I set up the tropical tank with live plants, I knew distilled water was probably not going to be the best option as everything is taken out, including minerals that my plants need. So far so good and after 4 months running, I only lost 2 fish and that was 2 days after I purchased them (likely shock or possibly sick). Everyone else has been active and no signs of illness.
Do you set a power filter and sponge filter with airstone together in tank?
@@charulsharma8216 I assume when you say power filter, you are talking about the power head which many used on the tubes with the under gravel filter. Right now I just use the sponge filter (Tetris) with an air stone and it is creating a good pull of water through the sponge. I try to minimize artificial things being seen so I kept it simple. I could also read your question as do I use both a back of the tank filter and sponge filter in the same tank and the answer is yes. Because its a smaller tank I upgraded the back of the tank filter and then added the simple sponge filter in hopes that it would help with the algae bloom I was experiencing(plus the 2 snails being added). I know enough to avoid a lot of natural light so something else was going on. The sponge filter made a huge improvement overnight. I now get enough algae for my snails and bottom feeders but its not over the top and I have had no algae blooms. I know this worked because I did not change any other variable in the tank. Note I did not use an anti-algae agent. This seemed to me to be counter productive and possibly damaging to my 2 snails. I know its not supposed to harm the live plants but I preferred to try to handle it in a non chemical way. Thanks for the question. Its a great hobby (have had tanks since I was 5.....so on and off for 50 years).
@@roberttaylor4999 thank you so much for your reply.
Video was helpful/useful for me
new subscriber here!! a sponge filter and some plants will take care of your tank for ever
Great share! Thanks Aquarium Co-op! - Little Bobby
Hi Irene!! Hope you’re doing well there. Great video!
Hi and thank you!
I love the way you explain things, Irene, easy for beginners like me to understand!
For a larger tank with bigger fish, I think there is something to be said in the freshwater hobby about sump set ups. I use HOB on all my smaller tanks but have found that a sump on a large tanks is much easier to clean than a canister.
Hi Irene. You have a beautiful voice .
And even you have good knowledge about aquarium fishes and your videos help me alot .
Awesome video! I like the tools in a toolbox analogy!
Nicely done Irene. I would have taken the time to bash the canister for randomly leaking and being noisy until all the air is worked out of them.
Cheers,
Chris
Canister filter is the move. Longer time between maintenance and better control of flow are the main reasons I use them.
Love an internal filter and canister. Don't get the love of hob. And sponge filters I can't find one I can attach an airtime to in Australia
Thanks so much. Your video is so helpful. Such great information, and easy to really understand. Great video . Grateful.
…thinking HOB … but love the first ones you showed inside your tank
Delighted with this video! Thank you for this heartwarming content, Mr Justin expressed the same love and respect I have for all the creatures I care for in our home! Wonderful!
Bought 2 big kick arse canister filters when setting up my 75 gallon planted tank a few years ago. After getting sick of cleaning up the puddles when they kept leaking they got thrown in the bin and i put in a couple of sponge filters as a short term fix. Well over a year later I still haven't changed them out as they are working perfectly.
What canisters did you buy? I keep hearing people talking about leaks, thankfully I haven't had this issue yet with any of my 5 canisters. My 406 fluval did leak briefly but I just replaces the o ring and it was fixed.
@@kyesniper Thy were Sun Sun's. 304B's from memory. Work well but there is an issue with them leaking up through the lid and out into the cabinet and all over the floor ... I redid seals and gooped them up but eventually just binned them. I wouldn't have expected this issue with quality brands, just that Sun Suns aren't a quality brand.
hey irene , sorry if the spelling is not correct ... i noticed that you dont use CO2 in your planted aquariums ... is there a reason for that ? i myself was against using it for sometime until i got some DIY kits to my aquariums .... the boost you get in plant filtration is amazing ... you should try it !
my 15 gallon heavily planted aquarium with 2 filters : a dual sponge filter and a motorized waterfall filter are now handling over 50 guppy frys with their parents !! ... before that i had only 9 guppies in that tank ... ofcourse you will have to find the appropriate light/filtelizer/CO2 balance to keep it well shaped
Your are missing the matten corner filter and internal sumps which are also worth exploring.
Great video.
But there’s an “old school” filter that is always forgotten. The under gravel filter. I’ve run these for decades and swear by them. Lately I also pair it with a sponge filter.
This combo works amazing.
The best video with full information. Thks Irene.
This was such a great educational video❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I just cut a hole in a large cylinder of sponge and use it to cover the intake for my mini spray bar.
If you use an under gravel filter and prepare it like a plenum [I think that's the correct term] does that represent a 4th alternative or must it still be supplemented by one of the three systems in this vid? My situation: I can only have one tank and it needs to be quiet.
I only have one tank, a 15 (54l) gallon. I use an internal filter an Ehiem pickup 60 and it is completly quiet. You cant hear it at all.
Under gravel and box filters?
Awesome upload, super helpful explanation of filtration as well as pros and cons for each one. The only one I didn't hear about is the undergravel filter but still a great upload.
Canisters are nice, but I ditched them long ago, switched over to sponge filters and hob, same results, and way easier to clean.
I thought I needed a canister when I set up my 125. Within 6 months I had abandoned it for a pair of Seachem Tidals. Ten minutes of maintenance per week gives excellent water quality.
@@sardineRN I run those plus a sponge in my 125, 180 & 240, always crystal clear
Nice job, Irene!
This was the most helpful video ever! Seriously, thank you!
I know people like to poop on Canisters because Cory hates them, but since I have a single tank and its inside my bedroom, canister is PERFECT. No bubbling noise, and really good flow. HOB on a 55 left dead spots as 55g is long but thin. The only noise it makes is a very light humming and it actually helps me sleep with the grey noise. I find it to be a great solution for the one main display tank you have, but of course makes less sense if you run several tanks.
I don't poop on canisters because Cory doesn't like them. For me, it's because it takes me 2 hours to clean a canister and get it back to running and 5 minutes to clean a sponge filter.
Cory doesn't hate them. He just says they are expensive and complex for hobbyist. What Cory hates is inefficient systems.
@@retsaoter It depends what you're looking for in the system. To me each type were meant for different users. Cory has lots lots tanks and therefore canisters are a waste of money, and I agree. It takes a long time to wash and imagine him having several of them... it would be a nightmare.
@@kyfarmAnd that's a totally fair argument. But in my opinion each filter systems target different users. Personally the only place I can have my tank is in the bedroom and having a canister is much more useful to have than a sponge filter as it's much quieter and I don't need several HOBs. and I only have one tank so it's not that big of a deal. I will clean it once every couple of months. Pretty much the same time it would take to clean my HOB (over the same period of time). I also enjoy clear water so I always cringe when having to move my sponge filter :(
@@MatchuCT sorry to hurt your feelings. You can use whatever filter system you like. I don't pay your bills. What I said was a carefully crafted response directly to the assumption of Cory's influence not an attack on canister filters. If your personal identity is defined by canister filters there may be larger problems in your life.
❤Hi Irene! I love your Content. You’re the first channel I followed when I started fish keeping- so I guess you can say - you’ve taught me everything I know.. which I’m sorry to say, in 9 months isn’t very much 😅 but WAY more than if I didn’t find you. My fish thank you! ❤
I’m setting up a 55 gallon planted ( dirt and sand) tank for my female guppies (because there’s a million now😊-) I am trying to figure out what kind of filter to use- they are messy fish so I am worried that sponge filters won’t do it. I honestly don’t see much junk in my sponge filters as my HOB. So I’m worried I’m doing something wrong.
Great video so detailed on what it is I use in tank filters my self
Adding an air stone to the filter is a great tip!
I like the hangonback filter or Hamburg matten filters, the main problem with the hangonback is you have problems with factory fitted lids as they need to be modified to make them fit.
Could I run a 29 gallon with a sponge filter? Medium sized?
I just bought an AC50 for a 29gal. Curious if it’s best hanging on back or side for best circulation around tank? Good video thank you
How about an under gravel filter with power head ?
How often you suggest to change mechanical filtration?
What about sump filtration?
I use a canister filter with a wide coarse sponge on the intake tube. This way you don't have to clean out the canister filter as often, or ever, depending on your intake filter choice and cleaning regimes.
My favorite the Oase canister filter has an easy to pull out section for the mechanical filtration so you only have to open the canister to clean up the biological media once a year The big pro of the fluidized bed is that the media is constantly rubbing against each other keeping the gunk from building up on them so they never need to be cleaned. .
Awesome video! I would’ve loved this when I first got in the hobby.
When I started fish keeping, no one used filters. Fish were kept mostly in bowls or small 5 to 10 gallon tanks. You took all the fish and decor out, put the gravel in a bucket and ran water through it until it was clean, but it back, set up the tank and put the fish back in. Of course we were only keeping the hardiest of fish, like guppies and goldfish. Then they started using box filers with an air pump. It had charcoal and filter floss. It took most of the floating debris out, but not much more. Then under gravel filters became standard. You could use air pumps or power heads to pull the water through the gravel to turn it into a biological filter. That lasted for several decades. Eventually, canister and hang on back filters became common. Now sponge filters have became all the rage, but to me they seem like only slightly more advanced than the old corner box filter, just with better biological filtration. Now I see that many of the advanced aquarium keepers are using a refugium, a second thank, who's only purpose is for biological filtration. I personally prefer a large hang on back filter with bio wheels. Things never stop changing.
Very good video.
what ever happened to under gravel filters?? i have been out of the hobby for a long time. but when i was in all my tanks had them. i worked in a fish t=store and all the tanks had a good old under gravel filter. well all but the 240 and 500 gallon tanks had canister filters
Hi… Love your explanations. I have a heavily planted tank. It has been months I am having it. The BB are well established. I am currently using a sponge filter together with HOB. Shall I continue to use both or I can take the HOB off? My electric bill shot up tremendously recently…
My favorite affordable, starter, filter is probably the biggest chambered hang on the back even if it's oversized. Take out the carbon cartridge, and just add filter floss that you can clean in aquarium water each month. Although I currently use a DIY sump.
The other con for canister filter is that they can leak.
I would say that this is the
major problem with them. They can also be noisy.
@@Cgraseck I had two Bio-Wheel HOBs on my bedroom tank and I wound up replacing with a Marineland Magniflow 360. In my opinion - the Bio-Wheel filters have nearly silent motors but made a lot of water sounds. The Canister filter made no water noise but pretty loud motor. I recently went to a Fluval Performance 407 and its much quieter.
@@Ser_Arthur_Dayne I never had a Fluvial canister leak on me, but I'm sure that it can happen. That is the reason that I don't use any canisters anymore. I currently run 19 aquariums and not one has a canister filter. I can't afford a flood.
Cheers,
Chris
@@Cgraseck I hear you -to be 100% honest, it was a Marineland that leaked. When I bought it about 2 years ago, on Amazon, I was concerned that it could have been a return. There were definite water spots in and on the filter itself and it seemed like the parts package could have been repacked. I wrote Marineland an email and asked them if they could note this in "my file" so if I had warranty issues past the warranty date, they'd know that maybe I had received a lemon. They sent me another new filter for free and let me keep the old one. Told me "dispose of it as you see fit." - Well I'm not just gonna toss it. It worked great for about a year, and started leaking one day after maintenance. I bought a replacement o-ring gasket and it worked for another year - when it started leaking again. I replaced *all the o-rings* and it started leaking worse than before. I have tile floor but still. Anyway , Marineland can't really do anything for me, they already replaced it. I decided to just go with the Fluval that everyone raves about. So far so great. But I realize canister filters are not for everyone. To be 100% honest, I have had *TREMENDOUS SUCCESS* with Bio-Wheels over my 40 years of life. I just didn't like the splashing sound in my bedroom.
Looking forward to more Irene!!! Love her videos!
I also noticed that water was dispersed over the back of the unit too, as you raised and lowered the filter media basket. Surely making the unit taller would help with this problem.
One more filter... undergravel! I made my own using a small pond pump, so everything is silent. The entire substrate is the mechanical and the biological filtration and it works really well, in addition to it being in a heavily planted tank.
I started with one for my African cichlid tank many years ago. Bio load was ultimately more than it could handle, but I really liked the idea behind it and wanted to try again one day.
@@jawjagrrl yeah, I have heard cichlids produce quite a load! Mine are mostly nano fish, one betta, and one gold algae eater from Indonesia. I do have it double stocked but the load is fine. I use Dr. Tim's bacteria and they process everything very well.
Also, what about a sump!
Plant filters are the best filters
I dont like canister filters because they tend to lie about their tank size they can filtrate. When you do the math they say they can filter a 400 gallon tank but the math says it can only filter a 250 gallon tank and still properly turn the water over in the tank. I try to get a filter that is rated 2x my tank size for optimum filtration since i like bigger messy fish. I have a small pond filter on my 75 gallon tank and a 12 foot rated pool filter on my 125 gallon, just fill the pool pump with bio balls for beneficial bacteria to grow. The filter cartridges arent expensive, and since many people dont like activated charcoal anyway you dont have to worry about it with just a paper filter that almost also works as a water polisher since its straining through a paper filter
Very well explained Great video
Man those tanks from Ada are very impressive
Which one is the quietest? I'm really annoyed by the air pump.
Might have to look to add a sponge filter to my 55.