HOB vs canister filters?

jcpaisley

jcpaisley

Medium Fish
#1
Sep 19, 2007
70
0
0
Atlanta, GA
#1
We have some friends who got a canister fillter (Magnum, I think) for their 75gal community tank when the HOB quit running, and they love it. I have to admit, their tank has been much clearer with it. I talked to someone else who said they had nothing but problems with the canister and would never use one again because it is more susceptible to harboring bacteria and even mold from being stored underneath in the cabinet; and once that gets in the canister, it's shot. Can I get some thoughts on this? We will likely end up with that 72gal bowfront I mentioned in my other post, any recommendations for the filtration for something that size with one oscar?

Thanks!
Carrie
 

Last edited:
Orion

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#4
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#4
I've never heard that canisters stored under a tank are more likely to get mold and what-not. Sounds like bunk to me. Yes, the canister itself is a sealed unit, but the water in it is constantly exposed to fresh air when it's in the tank. If someone gets mold, sounds like they either had a leak from the canister or water from another source and blamed it on the filter.

I second what's already been said, Rena's rock.
 

jcpaisley

jcpaisley

Medium Fish
#5
Sep 19, 2007
70
0
0
Atlanta, GA
#5
Thank you. Can't remember seeing that brand in the lfs, but I looked online and found a sight that sold them at what looked like a decent price -- xp2 for $134 or xp3 for $174 -- is that good? Would the xp3 be better to get or is there such a thing as overfiltering? Still looking at the 72 gal bf...
Carrie
 

Orion

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#9
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#9
No problem. If you have a Petsmart in your area they will price match their online price with items they have in the store. My last XP3 I bought was selling in the store for around $170, but was on the website for $80. I printed out the page and took it to the closest store and got it for $80 :) Since then I noticed that the price on the website has gone up though lol.

It's can be hard when first starting out to find the online places who aren't going to rip you off. For the standard supplies I normally shop at one of three places:

Pet Supplies, Dog Supplies, Cat Supplies, Pet Meds & Pet Products: Drs. Foster & Smith Pet Supplies
Aquarium Supplies, Pet Supplies and Pond Supplies by That Fish Place - That Pet Place
Big Als Aquarium & Tropical Fish Tank Supply. A range of products including plants, food, heaters filters, books, lighting, and pond supplies. Shipping to US and Canada.

There are dozens if not hundreds out there, so just find the one(s) that you like to do business with.
 

jcpaisley

jcpaisley

Medium Fish
#11
Sep 19, 2007
70
0
0
Atlanta, GA
#11
Getting Ready to order filter

OK, have been surfing the web and comparing. Have decided on the 72g bowfront and the rena xp3 ($90 on bigalsonline right now!).*twirlysmi

Just a couple of questions regarding the filter media. I read on one site, but nowhere else, that the 20/30 foams should be rinsed every 2-4 weeks and replaced every several months. Is this not where the bacteria is colonizing? I thought you never changed out media that housed your colonies. Or am I supposed to buy the ceramic rings (that are not included with the filter) for the bacteria and not change those? Also, I have noticed that the bio-chem zorb is said to treat "up to 55g" (for the 283g bag), so do I need to have 2 bags in the filter for a 72g?

I would like to buy the filter with enough extra filter media to get me through 3 months. From what I have read, that would be at least a 3pk of microfiltration pads, a 2pk of 20 foam, a 2pk of 30 foam, and 1 (or 2) chem zorb bags. Does that sound right? Are there any "extras" I should be considering?

Your advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
 

seastaar88

seastaar88

Superstar Fish
#12
Feb 1, 2004
1,705
1
0
43
middletown, CT
#12
i just use the foam in my rena. havent changed it since january. all i do for maintenence is to swish and squeeze the foam pads in a bucket of tank wastewater (during water changes) every 2 months or so. just to get the gunk out. you'll still keep bacteria on the pads. it's chlorinated water that kills off your beneficial bacteria!
 

Orion

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#15
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#15
seastaar88 said:
no prob. a lot of those "extra things" are typically unnessesary.
Click to expand...
No doubt. I use the quilting padding found in the craft section of Wally World for filter floss. A large bad for $6 can last a very long time with multiple filters running. Way cheaper than the pre-made filter media. I just make sure that it doesn't have any type of anti-mold or bacterial additives in it.
 

Orion

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#18
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#18
When your in a virtual desert of LFS's like I am, online shopping is a Godsend for drygoods. But when I do find something I need, most of the time it's still cheaper to buy online even with shipping due to the humongous markup of items. It's not like this everywhere, but at most of the places around me it is.
 

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