Not all HOB's are created equally. I've found that the Aquaclear HOB design allows for media flexibility along with the ease of maintenance - far better than cartridge based HOB's. The large aquaclear's can compete with canisters for performance with easier maintenance.
It comes down to how much media you need. What I love about HOBs is the ability to clean the media regularly, like every coupe of days regularly. I don't like leaving dirt in the filter for a month. However, my personal choice is a sit on the back sump which is basically just a home made extra long HOB.
I love my hang on the back filters, and it does exactly what I want it to do. Since I only have a 29 gallon, and not to many fish, it's not exactly a problem. To me, the maintenance is straight forward and pretty easy to do. Canister filters in my opinion are best for big aquariums, anything larger than a 55 as more and larger fish can fit in them.
I agree with this. I use canister filters on all of my aquariums larger aquariums (smallest is 65 gallons) but I use dual hang on backs on tanks that are smaller. I like two filters when I use hang on backs so in the event one fails, I still have one running until I can replace the bad one. I do the same with heaters.
Excellent tutorial on filters. Now I’m not sure what I need. I’m putting a 125 Gallon Acrylic Tank together soon. I’m thinking a Canister Filter might be best. I enjoyed watching! Thank you for sharing this video with us.
I had two hang ons for the first year. They are terrible I was having problems with algae and and just weird water issues. I broke down and bought a canister for my 36 Gallon. Impeccable!There amazing!
Awesome video. This is nearly exactly what I was looking for. I would have liked to see more photo examples of both filter setups. Still, great video and very informative. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! I would like to go through setup but I think it makes the video too long and from brand to brand filters can be so different. Maybe I can do a series on setting each type up! I'm glad it was helpful!
I run 2 AC110's on each of my 75 gallon tanks. Combined they filter more than 10x the water capacity/hour. 2 AC110s are also still cheaper than a canister with similar output(I'm pretty sure you could run 3 and still have it cost less up front). There is only 1 intake pipe in the tank from each filter(and they are clear). Since I have 2 separate filters, I can completely clean one, even destroying all the beneficial bacteria without having to worry about ruining my cycle. They are pretty quiet, and provide great flow and surface agitation. I will probably go with a FX6 + something else for my future 180 though, as 3-4 AC110s might get a bit silly. Ohh, and for those not familiar with Aqua Clears; you do not have to buy terrible replacement cartridges for them. Run a double sponge insert with a bag of ceramic media ontop, then just squeeze and rinse out the sponges once in a while.
I like a canister filter more than a hang on the back, BUT at the same time I like a HOB filter too cause I put sponges in the compartments I don't mind the intake in the tank I can hide that with rocks & plants the canister depending on size of it gives MORE power to keeping everything off the floor of the tanks MORE than a HOB filter does.
60 gallon tank I run two penguin 350 rated for 75 gallons each giving me 150 gallons worth of filtration on my 60 gallon. I bought the refillable media cartridges, and filter floss to creat my own filter cartridges for way cheaper than buying the premade ones. Also has slot of storage space for media, I have the cartridges first followed by crushed coral and polishing pad in that order.
I was thinking about getting a 302 sunsun canister for my 20 gallon tank. I have a HOB now but changing filter often because I have dojos and goldfish. What do you think I should do. Realize you haven't seen my tank. I do have a couple of smaller fish also and some plants. Appreciate any advice. Thank you. Great video
307 Wyoming 4E goldfish is a 20 is pretty tight. I would consider putting them into a larger tank. If you do that stick with the HOB. A canister won’t fix the issues having goldfish in that small of an aquarium creates.
Question for anyone about backpack-style filters: Have you ever seen one that was improvised as you would a powerhead filter where you can enlarge or extend the bottle and add different kinds of media? I've seen one that has a clear plastic pedestal to make it stand up and I thought "great an extra chamber" but it's only decorative. But trying to adjust one would break it and cause leaks, that's why I don't use them.
I’ve used an Aquatop Cf500 (similar to SunSun) for over a year now and am not really impressed. The design has a flaw that lets water bypass through the trays, and edges. Of course, water will take the path of least resistance, and the fact that the intake and output pump are right by each other, most of the dirty water just gets re-circulated again. If you don’t believe me, put the output of your canister into the back of a non-functioning Hang on the back filter, and check the HOB filter the next morning. You will be surprised at the amount of debris that still comes out of the canister.
Since I shop smart along with only running a 60gal and a 37gal the HOB works best for me. I paid roughly 50% the cost for both my marineland filters and I pay $6.12 for 6 marineland brand filters from chewy.com so the cost is kept very low. It's about 45 dollars a year for cartidges which is worth the cost since my setup just doesn't allow to hide a canister or put it on the ground anywhere, but if I were to jump above 100 gallons I would go canister.
I also was looking for something quiet had hang on filters. But I purchased a marine land 220 canister and wow not a sound very quiet so happy my 40 gallon is were I sleep 😴 and I don’t hear it at all 😌
To be honest the price is kinda irrelevant. HOB Cartridges are the biggest scam on the market. $15 for just three for my marineland 200. A canister is just more up front but less in the long run
Marineland HOB's are into annuity payments...15 bucks a month to buy their nearly useless cartridges. Get an AquaClear 50/70/110 and you have almost zero new cost. The sponge will last for a few years, max out the bio filtration by adding some Fluval or AquaClear bio rings, put the carbon it comes with in the cabinet for when you medicate your tank. You will spend almost nothing post purchase for at least 2 to 3 years...and your water will be crystal clear.
Tbh just don't buy cartridges,Why even bother?I uses some HOB,that came with cartridges,and I instantly Just throw them away,and just use your own filter,Just put 2 kind of sponge&Some biological media,and u just save a lot of money by doing that,And it's not just the money,The water quality,Is usually also better
great video. how do I switch from hob to canister. I Have a bio wheel and just purchased a Fluval 306 70 gal. I'm assuming I don't want to shut off the hob and just start the canister, but is there a way to change it faster then letting them both run for a couple weeks?
Depending on the media in your filter you could put it into the canister and thus move the bacteria as long at the filter cartridge/other media will fit into the trays.
I have a 75 gallon over stocked with African cichlids l have a marineland emperor 450 HOB filter and a topfin 75 HOB on opposite side with a 350 gph powerhead connected to a sponge filter l also have a big air pump connected to 2 airstones that pump a lot of air l like the idea of a canister filter something like a sunsun 5000 but worried about leaks or flooding house while at work plus with these 3 filters in my 75 gallon with a lot of fish is working so well the water is crystal clear doing a 30 percent water change weekly and monthly gravel vacuuming replaced cartridges with 1 inch thick sponges filters first and 3/4 inch thick filler floss roll that the water passes last when before going back into tank doing filter cleaning l clean one and 2 weeks later l clean the other I've been getting 3 week to a month before cleaning filters my tanks water looks clearer when the filter sponges have some slight dirt in them not completely clean of course not filthy and never clean my sponges in tap water always clean tank water
Tim it would be basically a waste except in certain scenarios. If you needed really high flow, additional room for bio media, or and easy way to add carbon, or some other chemical you want to access easily would be the main reasons I can think of to do it.
I use a 350 penquin works great. I also had a 220 marineland my water always looked a little cloudy. After 2 yrs of using the canister filter the filter stated to leak . I bought a new gasket. Two months later the canister hose came off I had a mess to clean. Fixed the hose two months later the canisters small rings started to leak. I threw the sob in the trash. I bought another penquin 350 set them up . My water is now crystal clean. It's been a year I clean one filter every 3 months and 3 months later clean the other. As far as I am concerned canister filter are pieces of shit.. I even over stock my cichlids . I have not lost a fish in a year . Stick the canister filter where the sun dont shine
A HOB filter is a hassle if you have a covered aquarium. Keeping discus at high water temps, the evaporation rate without a cover would be horrendous with humidity consequences for your home. What is the weight of a HOB that's full of media, water, pump, casing on the back of the glass?
It can work and it can also cause more problems combining them. If you have a heavy fish load or just want the hob to help polish water it can work well.
Great topic! Because of my love for redundancy, AKA backup systems, I prefer HOBs. Since for less than the cost of a 70 Gallon Canister, I can get 2 Aquaclear 70s. So if one was to malfunction, I'd still have the other running.
It’s a good strategy, just be aware it also spreads out the beneficial bacteria so if one goes down you’ll need to move that media to keep the beneficial bacteria alive.
He has shown the pros and cons of each. So decide on that factor. If you talking about bio load then usually the canister holds more. But maintenance is much more hassle than a hob filter. Hob filter impeller and shaft wear down much faster than a canister. You probably change hob impeller shaft much more compare to a canister. For large tanks its more efficient to use canister or sump vs a hob filter. I use both Hob filter as a water polisher for me.
Canister filters are a living nightmare to clean. The "O" ring tends to go bad which can flood your room..seriously. I would never use a canister filter..yes I had one and yes it flooded my room.
You’re entitled to you’re own opinion. I’ve never had an issue cleaning my canisters. The only time my room has been flooded was because of an aqua clear hob. Everyone has different experiences.
I have a eheim 2217. Over 10 yr still good today i always check the oring see its wear and tear. I also have a hob aquaclear 110 and prefer canister way more. You probably never check and ended up badly. The only thing bad about it is the clean up and maintenance. If i had the choice i would want a reef ready tank with a sump. Easy maintenance and can fit much more bio load than an average canister. Those hob overflow is ok but without proper maintenance it could lose siphon.
You must live in a cave that has no plumbing then. If your O ring is going it's down to user error because like all consumables, it has a life span and you should check it's condition once a year.
What happened to have an AquaClear HOB flood your room? Totally want to know this story because I am setting up a 75 in the next two months and torn between 2 AC 70's or a Fluval 406. I have already decided I think, but open to suggestion/correction/your devine knowledge.
@@SyCoYT What size is your tank? Sunsun has a new filter out now - HW3000...I got one and it's probably these overall canister filter in the world now. It costs about $130 on Amazon but this filter has a 800gph flowrate and you may not need something that powerful. For a 30-60 gallon tank, the 304b is great. If you have something smaller, the 303b would be the one to get.
Very straightforward, insightful, and helpful. Thank you for the video!
Not all HOB's are created equally. I've found that the Aquaclear HOB design allows for media flexibility along with the ease of maintenance - far better than cartridge based HOB's. The large aquaclear's can compete with canisters for performance with easier maintenance.
It comes down to how much media you need. What I love about HOBs is the ability to clean the media regularly, like every coupe of days regularly. I don't like leaving dirt in the filter for a month. However, my personal choice is a sit on the back sump which is basically just a home made extra long HOB.
I love my hang on the back filters, and it does exactly what I want it to do. Since I only have a 29 gallon, and not to many fish, it's not exactly a problem. To me, the maintenance is straight forward and pretty easy to do.
Canister filters in my opinion are best for big aquariums, anything larger than a 55 as more and larger fish can fit in them.
I agree with this. I use canister filters on all of my aquariums larger aquariums (smallest is 65 gallons) but I use dual hang on backs on tanks that are smaller. I like two filters when I use hang on backs so in the event one fails, I still have one running until I can replace the bad one. I do the same with heaters.
Excellent tutorial on filters. Now I’m not sure what I need. I’m putting a 125 Gallon Acrylic Tank together soon. I’m thinking a Canister Filter might be best. I enjoyed watching! Thank you for sharing this video with us.
Jose Montalvo you’re welcome. I don’t know you’re experience level but you might consider a sump on that size also.
I had two hang ons for the first year. They are terrible I was having problems with algae and and just weird water issues. I broke down and bought a canister for my 36 Gallon. Impeccable!There amazing!
I love my canister on my 75 gallon. I much prefer them to the hobs I’ve had.
Thanks for the info and your opinions are just fine :)
Awesome video. This is nearly exactly what I was looking for. I would have liked to see more photo examples of both filter setups. Still, great video and very informative. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! I would like to go through setup but I think it makes the video too long and from brand to brand filters can be so different. Maybe I can do a series on setting each type up! I'm glad it was helpful!
I run 2 AC110's on each of my 75 gallon tanks. Combined they filter more than 10x the water capacity/hour. 2 AC110s are also still cheaper than a canister with similar output(I'm pretty sure you could run 3 and still have it cost less up front). There is only 1 intake pipe in the tank from each filter(and they are clear). Since I have 2 separate filters, I can completely clean one, even destroying all the beneficial bacteria without having to worry about ruining my cycle. They are pretty quiet, and provide great flow and surface agitation. I will probably go with a FX6 + something else for my future 180 though, as 3-4 AC110s might get a bit silly. Ohh, and for those not familiar with Aqua Clears; you do not have to buy terrible replacement cartridges for them. Run a double sponge insert with a bag of ceramic media ontop, then just squeeze and rinse out the sponges once in a while.
I like a canister filter more than a hang on the back, BUT at the same time I like a HOB filter too cause I put sponges
in the compartments I don't mind the intake in the tank I can hide that with rocks & plants the canister depending on
size of it gives MORE power to keeping everything off the floor of the tanks MORE than a HOB filter does.
incredible!!!
Dude,great vid! Helped me figure what to get for my tank. Thx👍🏻
Thank you!
60 gallon tank I run two penguin 350 rated for 75 gallons each giving me 150 gallons worth of filtration on my 60 gallon. I bought the refillable media cartridges, and filter floss to creat my own filter cartridges for way cheaper than buying the premade ones. Also has slot of storage space for media, I have the cartridges first followed by crushed coral and polishing pad in that order.
I was thinking about getting a 302 sunsun canister for my 20 gallon tank. I have a HOB now but changing filter often because I have dojos and goldfish. What do you think I should do. Realize you haven't seen my tank. I do have a couple of smaller fish also and some plants. Appreciate any advice. Thank you. Great video
307 Wyoming 4E goldfish is a 20 is pretty tight. I would consider putting them into a larger tank. If you do that stick with the HOB. A canister won’t fix the issues having goldfish in that small of an aquarium creates.
Question for anyone about backpack-style filters: Have you ever seen one that was improvised as you would a powerhead filter where you can enlarge or extend the bottle and add different kinds of media? I've seen one that has a clear plastic pedestal to make it stand up and I thought "great an extra chamber" but it's only decorative. But trying to adjust one would break it and cause leaks, that's why I don't use them.
I’ve used an Aquatop Cf500 (similar to SunSun) for over a year now and am not really impressed. The design has a flaw that lets water bypass through the trays, and edges. Of course, water will take the path of least resistance, and the fact that the intake and output pump are right by each other, most of the dirty water just gets re-circulated again. If you don’t believe me, put the output of your canister into the back of a non-functioning Hang on the back filter, and check the HOB filter the next morning. You will be surprised at the amount of debris that still comes out of the canister.
Great information. Thanks for sharing.
Im not sure what to get, im thinking a 120liter thank but im not sure which one would be best
Since I shop smart along with only running a 60gal and a 37gal the HOB works best for me. I paid roughly 50% the cost for both my marineland filters and I pay $6.12 for 6 marineland brand filters from chewy.com so the cost is kept very low. It's about 45 dollars a year for cartidges which is worth the cost since my setup just doesn't allow to hide a canister or put it on the ground anywhere, but if I were to jump above 100 gallons I would go canister.
Great video. I'm just looking for a filter that's quiet. I think my aquarium is 40 gallon. What do you recommend? Or which canister do you recommend?
I’ve had success with marine land and fluval. I’m running some others but it will be awhile before I can recommend them.
With a 40, I would never hesitate to get an AquaClear 70. The head and shoulders best HOB in the world.
I also was looking for something quiet had hang on filters. But I purchased a marine land 220 canister and wow not a sound very quiet so happy my 40 gallon is were I sleep 😴 and I don’t hear it at all 😌
To be honest the price is kinda irrelevant. HOB Cartridges are the biggest scam on the market. $15 for just three for my marineland 200. A canister is just more up front but less in the long run
Marineland HOB's are into annuity payments...15 bucks a month to buy their nearly useless cartridges. Get an AquaClear 50/70/110 and you have almost zero new cost. The sponge will last for a few years, max out the bio filtration by adding some Fluval or AquaClear bio rings, put the carbon it comes with in the cabinet for when you medicate your tank. You will spend almost nothing post purchase for at least 2 to 3 years...and your water will be crystal clear.
Tbh just don't buy cartridges,Why even bother?I uses some HOB,that came with cartridges,and I instantly Just throw them away,and just use your own filter,Just put 2 kind of sponge&Some biological media,and u just save a lot of money by doing that,And it's not just the money,The water quality,Is usually also better
Good vid man
Ty for this video is very helpful
great video. how do I switch from hob to canister. I Have a bio wheel and just purchased a Fluval 306 70 gal. I'm assuming I don't want to shut off the hob and just start the canister, but is there a way to change it faster then letting them both run for a couple weeks?
Depending on the media in your filter you could put it into the canister and thus move the bacteria as long at the filter cartridge/other media will fit into the trays.
Really informative thanks.
Thank you!
I have a 75 gallon over stocked with African cichlids l have a marineland emperor 450 HOB filter and a topfin 75 HOB on opposite side with a 350 gph powerhead connected to a sponge filter l also have a big air pump connected to 2 airstones that pump a lot of air l like the idea of a canister filter something like a sunsun 5000 but worried about leaks or flooding house while at work plus with these 3 filters in my 75 gallon with a lot of fish is working so well the water is crystal clear doing a 30 percent water change weekly and monthly gravel vacuuming replaced cartridges with 1 inch thick sponges filters first and 3/4 inch thick filler floss roll that the water passes last when before going back into tank doing filter cleaning l clean one and 2 weeks later l clean the other I've been getting 3 week to a month before cleaning filters my tanks water looks clearer when the filter sponges have some slight dirt in them not completely clean of course not filthy and never clean my sponges in tap water always clean tank water
Great comparison thanks for sharing 👍 New subscriber.
Thanks for watching!
What would happen if you use canister and hang in the back at the same time
Tim it would be basically a waste except in certain scenarios. If you needed really high flow, additional room for bio media, or and easy way to add carbon, or some other chemical you want to access easily would be the main reasons I can think of to do it.
@@wvfishkeeper8865 i seen a thing you can add to your tank to add flow
Canister filter leak there terrible flood makers
I use a 350 penquin works great. I also had a 220 marineland my water always looked a little cloudy. After 2 yrs of using the canister filter the filter stated to leak . I bought a new gasket. Two months later the canister hose came off I had a mess to clean. Fixed the hose two months later the canisters small rings started to leak. I threw the sob in the trash. I bought another penquin 350 set them up . My water is now crystal clean. It's been a year I clean one filter every 3 months and 3 months later clean the other. As far as I am concerned canister filter are pieces of shit.. I even over stock my cichlids . I have not lost a fish in a year . Stick the canister filter where the sun dont shine
A HOB filter is a hassle if you have a covered aquarium. Keeping discus at high water temps, the evaporation rate without a cover would be horrendous with humidity consequences for your home. What is the weight of a HOB that's full of media, water, pump, casing on the back of the glass?
That depends on the type of HOB, Some hold a gallon of water which is around 8lbs. They can be fairly heavy when you get into the larger ones.
Canister filters leak and make floods
I see no HOB modification vid in your channel... Where is it?
It’s one of the first videos on the channel called modified hang on back filter.
Maybe best idea is combining 2 of them.
It can work and it can also cause more problems combining them. If you have a heavy fish load or just want the hob to help polish water it can work well.
WV Fishkeeper what problems it can cause?thank you.
That’s a sump dude
Great video. This is a common discussion among aquarists. New sub 😁
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Great topic! Because of my love for redundancy, AKA backup systems, I prefer HOBs. Since for less than the cost of a 70 Gallon Canister, I can get 2 Aquaclear 70s. So if one was to malfunction, I'd still have the other running.
It’s a good strategy, just be aware it also spreads out the beneficial bacteria so if one goes down you’ll need to move that media to keep the beneficial bacteria alive.
Best way to go canister filters leak and read my post are junk
Which is best ?
That depends on your situation and the fish you are keeping.
Canister by far
Get a sump they both suck
He has shown the pros and cons of each. So decide on that factor. If you talking about bio load then usually the canister holds more. But maintenance is much more hassle than a hob filter. Hob filter impeller and shaft wear down much faster than a canister. You probably change hob impeller shaft much more compare to a canister. For large tanks its more efficient to use canister or sump vs a hob filter. I use both Hob filter as a water polisher for me.
@@JohnT2088 thank u
Six months of no filter maintenance ♥️
Which filter are you using?
Aranda Garcia canister with low number of fish (fish load)
Aqua clear is the best (HOB). HOB Aqua clear even works better than a sump pump.
Tomoko Abe you’re dreaming
Cons of a canister filter - the risk of a leak!
Got that right canister filters leak you get floods read my post up earlier . They can shove canister filters
Canister filters are a living nightmare to clean. The "O" ring tends to go bad which can flood your room..seriously. I would never use a canister filter..yes I had one and yes it flooded my room.
You’re entitled to you’re own opinion. I’ve never had an issue cleaning my canisters. The only time my room has been flooded was because of an aqua clear hob. Everyone has different experiences.
I have a eheim 2217. Over 10 yr still good today i always check the oring see its wear and tear. I also have a hob aquaclear 110 and prefer canister way more. You probably never check and ended up badly. The only thing bad about it is the clean up and maintenance. If i had the choice i would want a reef ready tank with a sump. Easy maintenance and can fit much more bio load than an average canister. Those hob overflow is ok but without proper maintenance it could lose siphon.
You must live in a cave that has no plumbing then. If your O ring is going it's down to user error because like all consumables, it has a life span and you should check it's condition once a year.
you obviously never had a 100+ gallon tank...no HOB filter works for massive size tanks unless you have guppies in it.
What happened to have an AquaClear HOB flood your room? Totally want to know this story because I am setting up a 75 in the next two months and torn between 2 AC 70's or a Fluval 406. I have already decided I think, but open to suggestion/correction/your devine knowledge.
True true , any approve 56 canister :)
I’m not familiar with a 56 canister. You’ll have to clarify. Thanks for watching!
Nice video. But I always prefere hangout filter.... Emperor 400......
Thanks for watching! Everyone finds what they like that’s the great thing about this hobby, there are tons of options.
I must be an idiot. I still prefer sponge filters.
I would if canisters didn't cost 5 times as much money..
I GOT BOTH BETTER :)
Polar aura 44 dollars good quality 5 stars on amazon
That's a sunsun filter just rebranded...I got the Polar Aurora 304 which was $75 but is absolutely amazing.
Gurvinder Parmar ik its a sunsun but what model of a sunsun cause imma bout to get one
@@SyCoYT What size is your tank? Sunsun has a new filter out now - HW3000...I got one and it's probably these overall canister filter in the world now. It costs about $130 on Amazon but this filter has a 800gph flowrate and you may not need something that powerful. For a 30-60 gallon tank, the 304b is great. If you have something smaller, the 303b would be the one to get.
Welcome to University of Penn 😂