what the quietest hob filter?

[tlindsey]

I use both Marineland on my smaller aquariums and Aquaclear on the larger but have to agree with Aquaclear being quite.

 

[isde02]

Give the aqueon hob filters a try, they were pretty quiet imo.

 

[viejafish]

May be I am over generalizing as I referred to equality among simple HOBs only such as Whisper, Penquin or Aquaclear. I am a hydraulic engineer and will avoid complex Emperor line design. The Penquin line is simpler and quieter to operate. That said, I run my Penquins without the biowheels and use straightly for mechanical only. Aquaclear and Whisper are also simple filters and if you maintain them right, they are quiet.

 

[millerkid519]

I'm no engineer but I am
machinist/millwright/machine builder so looking and figuring stuff out is my daily job.
What makes you think one is simpler then the other? Not being a smart ass by any means

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Which brand HBO is sold at Wal-Mart? I ask because a 55 gallon tank I got used had one with it. The one with two media chambers. I have run it for a bit over five years. Do not know how long it ran before I got it.

The impeller has gotten noisy a couple of times. I have been able to do a "fix" so far. The last time a few weeks ago. I would like to get a replacement impeller if a source exists.

Anyway this HOB has run well and is quiet enough.

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

I'm no engineer but I am
machinist/millwright/machine builder so looking and figuring stuff out is my daily job.
What makes you think one is simpler then the other? Not being a smart ass by any means

If you want to break them down into their basic parts it would go like so:

Aquaclear 110:
1. Intake tube
2. Motor
3. Impeller
4. Filter body
5. Media basket
6. Lid

Emperor 400:
1. Intake tube
3. Motor
4. Impeller
5. Filter body
6. Media basket
7. Lid
8. Second media basket (split left and right for no aparent reason besides suggesting you buy two replacement filter cartridges)
9. Removable housing that routes water up to spray bars
10. Right spray bar
11. Left spray bar
12. 4 "bearings" for bio wheels
13. Left bio wheel
14. Right bio wheel

This also doesn't include a number of orings that can fail and spray bar nozzles that get clogged. Or the fact that the bio wheels can squeal like a stuck pig.

I know this because I unfortunately had an emperor 400 and chose to gut it, cut the cord, and just feed the filter body via an in tank pump. It now works well.

I didn't think it was smart ass and I am happy to explain

 

[pops]

AC pretty dang quiet long as you keep water level up, and great filter to boot, I use nothing else for HoB

 

[Skalper666]

I have tried out a lot of HOB filters over the years off and on, but still always give up and go back to aquaclear. May not be always perfect but it seems to still be the best thing out there. As long as you don't have a lemon it should be quiet if the water level is high.

 

[viejafish]

I have been in the hobby for a very long time and have seen the evolution of HOBs. The first HOBs in the market were the noisy Superking /Supermaster direct motor driven pump type that pump water out of the box and suck water in though siphon tubes. The invention of magnetic motor pump type is a break thought as it is very quiet and super energy efficient. Initial HOBs were marketed for mechanical filtration only. Later, manufacturers discovered that they can make their products more appealing by marketing their unique biologica/chemicall ability by adding biowheels, bio foam and other gadgets. But they don't tell you that all HOB boxes have limited media capacity and whichever gadgets they add on don't make much a difference. The essential function of HOBs is mechanical and not much more. If you really want more biological/chemcial filtration, add a big sump system or a fluidized sand filter. But you really don't need extra bilogical filtration in your HOBs as long as your tank has substrate and good water movement. I have healthy grow out tanks with air stone and substrate only. So I am looking for HOBs that provide good flow and mechanical filtration only and get rid of all unnecessary extra gadgets. I like Penquin because it is a simple HOB after I got rid of the biowheel. Aquaclear, Whisper and other simple HOBs are just as good if you get rid of the unneeded extras. I agree that Emperor is bad because you get stuck with and can't get rid of the extras, and I am sure there are other brands out there that have gadgets that you can do better without.

 

[skjl47]

I have been in the hobby for a very long time and have seen the evolution of HOBs.

Hello; I started around 1959 and witnessed the same. I started out with air bubbler powered HOB's. Still have a couple of survivors.

direct motor driven pump type that pump water out of the box and suck water in though siphon tubes.

hello; Had one of this type. Held a gallon or so of water with a motor the size of a Progresso soup can on top.

But they don't tell you that all HOB boxes have limited media capacity and whichever gadgets they add on don't make much a difference.

Hello; This has been my take also.

But you really don't need extra bilogical filtration in your HOBs as long as your tank has substrate and good water movement.

Hello; Yes.

healthy grow out tanks with air stone and substrate only.

Hello; This as well for me.