Canister or Powerfilter?

I

Iceburg98

New Member
I'm still planning out my future 29g tank, and decided i want more filtration than just a skimmer...

So i was debating between a fluval canister, or an Aquaclear powerfilter.

I think i might go with the powerfilter since it has a wider flow area, and fewer potential problems.

I've heard that the fluvals aren't very reliable since the impellers often go out, and the gaskets need replacing. I've also heard that they can be a pain to change out the media.

Has anyone had any experience with these? And do you think i'd be better off with the AC?
 
I

incysor

New Member
Personally I prefer the AC, cause you can make it a HOB fuge if feel like it. However being able to change/add media like phosban, carbon, denitrator etc... is a nice feature.

Price may be an option. AC500s can be had for less than $35. I don't know of a cannister filter that's durable that can be found that cheaply....Although if someone knows were to find them, post it. :smile:

B
 
I

Iceburg98

New Member
Yeah - that's what i was thinking - the ACs allow you to change media too - i was most likely going to run it with just filter pads primarily for flow and to remove particles - i can also add phosban and carbon when i need it...

Just wondering if there was any real redeeming features of a canister that make it worth twice the money?

P.S. the guy at my LFS said that he thinks the future of aquariums is going to be people running a few powerfilters across the backs of their tanks, and not doing powerheads anymore for water movement - he said you get better flow out of a PF, which is one of the reasons i wanted to go that route...
 
I

incysor

New Member
:roll:
The guy sounds like a typical LFS moron. HOB power filters are fine for smaller tanks, and I know that some people use them on mid-size tanks, but anything over a 55-75g tank and they just aren't gonna do you any good. And even on those size tanks they're not good for waterflow, only filtration. You get any tank that's much deeper than a standard 10g tank and you're likely to need a ph in it.
There are lots of applications where a powerfilter doesn't really fit the back of a tank well, and a canister filter and small ph are a better solution. I think this guy was either high, or stupid. Hmmm...Maybe I'm being too harsh. One of my pet-peeves are the folks in the LFS that act like they know that they're some type of authority on aquariums/fish, but that don't know what the heck they're talking about.

B
 
I

Iceburg98

New Member
so in a 29 wit ha skimmer and powerfilter, would you still recommend a PH?

the only advantage that i can see of adding a PH would be to direct the waterflow towards the bottom of the tank, but don't most shrooms and corals that tend to be near the bottom of the tank prefer a slightly lower flow anyway?
 
I

incysor

New Member
Yep I'd still have a PH. In my wife's 10g she's got the AC500 on the back and a rio 50.

But you can add the PH at any time, so I'd just set it up, let it run and as you start to add corals you can decide if there's enough flow in the tank or not.

B
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top