Power Filters

[Lakea]

I plan on upgrading my power filter on my 55g. I decided to just get a power filter. I thought about canister filters, but they are slightly out of my price range atm.

I planned on getting an Emperor 400, that is what we have on the 70g and I think it does a good job. But there is also the Penguin 350 and the Aquaclear 70, I don't have experience with either brands. So I am just looking for opinions. Thanks!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I like the Aquaclears, its all i use. Big square box lots of room for foam/media. And pushes a lot of water.

 

[tom91970]

The price of a canister filter put limitations on what I could get, too (then again, I had to have the extra money for my CO2 system).

I have the Aquaclear 70 on my 55g tank. It seems to do a decent job, though the far left side does not seem to get as much circulation as the right end. With a center brace I am pretty limited to where I can put it.

My tank is heavily planted and I never see any pieces of leaves floating around, just that which is stuck to the intake filter. So, I guess it is drawing water from all parts of the tank.

I have an AC 20 on my 14g and a AC 30 on my 29g. Aquaclears are my #1 choice when it comes to HOB filters. My tanks usually look crystal clear and they are so quite you rarely hear them.

 

[Lakea]

I can get an Aquaclear 70 for about $40 compared to the $80 I would be paying for the Emperor. So I will probably pick up a powerhead too.

About how big is an aquaclear, width and length wise? Like from the tank out, not the part that hangs over the tank, if that makes sense. I have to figure out if I can fit it behind my tank.

I can just imagine how fun it would be to take down the tank and re-level everything just to move it a few inches from the wall.

Thanks!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

You will need close to 4" of space behind the tank for the 70. If i were you i'd look making it 4.5-5" because 4" would probably be rubbing the wall.

AquaClear 70 Aquarium Power Filter | Power Aquarium Filters | Filters | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com

 

[Lakea]

Awesome, thanks for the site. I might have to move the tank like 1/2 in, I think I might be just under 4 inches, hmm.

 

[Big Vine]

For what it's worth, 4.25" gives me just enough clearance for the AquaClear 110 filters I have on the back of my 75 gal. tank.
BV

 

[Lakea]

Well I went out and got the filter. I actually had like five inches behind the tank, so no problem with that. The lip on my tank was a bit big however so it sits a little high, I'll try to work something out. It does move a lot of water and is a lot quieter than the emperor 400 on my 70g.