Best type of filtration

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
They all have the pros and cons. I prefer HOB's and canisters because they are cheaper to run electrictly. But the newer HOBs are closing in on canisters because they are becoming for flexible media wise but don't contain the same space which limits what they can do. Never done wet/dry or a sump as they can be pricey but they are the best form of filtration

THE GOAT
 
Yeah my 60 gallon is running 2 aquaclear 110 HOBs and it is cheap and runs well, the only issue I have with em is that they are really noisy so for my next setup I'm using either a sump or canister since I've heard they do better and they are relatively quiet
 
The best filter is the one that you, the custodian, are most comfortable maintaining. If by "the best" you are referring to efficiency, I believe you get more for your money with a sump. A sump allows for expansion with minimal change to the overall system. Canisters can be efficient, but to get the same turnover in a given system, a sump just needs a bigger pump. There aren't very many canisters that you can modify with bigger pumps. That being said, a sump on a smaller tank, say under 50g, really isn't going to be much more efficient than a nice canister.
In the end, whatever gets the job done and you are most comfortable with, that's the filter for you. Sump filters and many canisters can be somewhat intimidating to setup and maintain. If the fish you want to keep require certain filtration, like a protein skimmer and you arent comfortable or familiar with its use, maybe an "easier" fish should be considered at first.
Jus ma 2.
 
Thanks everyone! boldtogether, I like your advice on the best filter is the one I'm most comfortable with! I will most likely use a sump in my next setup so thank you again for the good answers, y'all are a great group of people!
 
I believe that for anything 125 and smaller the ac110 is a great filter and easy to use. on most normally stocked 125s you could do 2 110s and thats all the filtration you'd need ,they use way less electricity than cans,are great mech. filters and can hold plenty of bio media.
 
I believe that for anything 125 and smaller the ac110 is a great filter and easy to use. on most normally stocked 125s you could do 2 110s and thats all the filtration you'd need ,they use way less electricity than cans,are great mech. filters and can hold plenty of bio media.
One of my friends was telling me the same thing! Mine has 2 aquatech 30-60's and it runs great
 
It depends on your situation, bioload, and what your trying to achieve with it (ex. mechanical, chemical, biological) Sumps are probably best for biological and most versatile.
 
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