Are All filters Created Equal?

[hawkerw]

I know many of you have your specific brands for which you may prefer or are loyal. As a add on post to "Filter Life" I thought this may be a more appropriate question. I'm just trying to figure how long I can expect a average filter to last under common use? In the other thread the point was well made that a HOB filter given proper care should last as long as it is cared for. I just wonder with the brands out there today most are very similiar, carry about the same warranties, use similiar technology (with some high tech exceptions) and it seems many are built in the same place. With the need for different sizes according to the application of the aquarium. Would you not say that most canisters anyway given proper care should preform for a good long time? I would imagine that if a product is that bad in todays market they would disappear quite quickly? With a few differerent options they all proform basically the same do they not? Most are just trays that you fill with various media and with a few exceptions the water enters and leaves close to the same way? If I have say "brand a" and "brand b" with very close specs are they not going to proform about the same? I hope the point of this post makes sense. After all look at sponge filters many people swear by them and they are all the same pricinipal. I'm beginning to think its more about proper housekeeping and maintainence then it is what filter you run? I seem to have to rationalize things it's not ment to drive you folks crazy but back in my day all this technology just wasn't a option.

 

[Fat Homer]

Some brands have better QC than others... a lot of bigger brands tend to QC their products a lot more closely to say cheaper knock off brands...

So while performance wise i'm sure they will work similar, and could quite easily last as long as the next, its more about how well the filter was actually put together that i always think will make the difference...

Also, some smaller brands can be a real P.I.T.A to find spare parts for, especially if the authorized dealer in that country doesn't import them...

 

[virgil2090]

I would also add that some cheaper equipment will waste a lot of electricity

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[joe jaskot]

No, all filters are not created equal. They may all work on the same principle, but some work better than others. Many new products are introduced to the aquarium hobby all the time. But time alone is the true test of a product. If it is still around and being sold for years, it passes the test. Eheim, fluval, and rena have all passed the test of time. These manufacturers are always tweaking their filters and improving the product.

 

[BellycrawlerJaws]

Agreed with all above. Aqua clear filters (By Hagen) not only are arguably the best HOBs out there, they also have the best volume for filter media. I've had every size model they offer and only had issues with the 50 model. My 2 ac110s are true workhorses. One has been running for close to 15 years between my tanks and the previous owner (it's still labeled aqua clear 500).

So yes, some are much better than others


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[lp85253]

I have had GREAT results with aquaclear filters...AND powerheads that I hook up to sponge filters I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW people out there snickering at ANOTHER one of my hob+sponge filter rants...but when it comes down to performance PER $ ...these setups cant be beat....a 'BIG' tank can be run just as easily more economiclyand at way less start up expense .....2 ac110's and a couple of big sponge filters (even run on air...but preferably run on powerheads )can do the same job as2 fx5's and at a FRACTION OF THE COST.... and no canister explosions...'microbubbles ...air in can.....cant prime or just plain broken down...sponge filters cant break down and ac's wont(without user error... and fixes are CHEAP) and even aqueon hobs (the 55/75 )at about half the price of ac's will with the help of SPONGE filters ...do a GREAT job on big tanks

 

[lp85253]

I know many of you have your specific brands for which you may prefer or are loyal. As a add on post to "Filter Life" I thought this may be a more appropriate question. I'm just trying to figure how long I can expect a average filter to last under common use? In the other thread the point was well made that a HOB filter given proper care should last as long as it is cared for. I just wonder with the brands out there today most are very similiar, carry about the same warranties, use similiar technology (with some high tech exceptions) and it seems many are built in the same place. With the need for different sizes according to the application of the aquarium. Would you not say that most canisters anyway given proper care should preform for a good long time? I would imagine that if a product is that bad in todays market they would disappear quite quickly? With a few differerent options they all proform basically the same do they not? Most are just trays that you fill with various media and with a few exceptions the water enters and leaves close to the same way? If I have say "brand a" and "brand b" with very close specs are they not going to proform about the same? I hope the point of this post makes sense. After all look at sponge filters many people swear by them and they are all the same pricinipal. I'm beginning to think its more about proper housekeeping and maintainence then it is what filter you run? I seem to have to rationalize things it's not ment to drive you folks crazy but back in my day all this technology just wasn't a option.

you make a great point IT IS ....WAY more about the overall setup and maintanence than big fancy filters,,,,good BASIC filtration and good TANK MAINT. (w/c's +gravel vac's)...will do the trick...and YOU GET TO BE THE DIFFERENCE INSTEAD OF A HIGH DOLLAR FILTER.....while w/c's are still neccesarry with big ,fancy filters ,lots of fishkeepers tend to let w/c's' go' because their water "looks good",,,,meanwhile they have hi nitrates ...while the lo budget guy tends to use maintainence as his main tool(this is , of course ,good)....I KNOW THIS IS an oversimplification ...but it is an observation I HAVE made reading posts on here through the past few years...

 

[hawkerw]

You know I am very Bull headed. I by far have had a harder time with choosing a filter then any car I've ever shopped for. Fish unlike dogs or cats can't be thrown in a carrier and rushed to the vet if you could find one that has a clue about them....heck up here a vet could treat a moose before he could advise you on cycling a Fish Tank. I know this will rattle some chains but watch Purigen I had a very qualified person tell me to dump the Purigen as it messes with your water and back it up with some very interesting articles. Well guess what I got rid of the Purigen and within a day it's started a cycle. So now I'm going back to the old school even more. Gravel vaccums, water changes, and filter cleaning, no more fancy toy's that play with the water. I would love to be a filter reviewer to realy see just how the quality is with the major brands of filters. One of the Admin's made a great point in a thread earlier when he said it's more about the companies making good profits while making the products cheaper(Bottom Line). Please folks don't take this wrong as I have nothing against China but if you where to start from scratch parts in all one in China the other in the United States what do you think the price differance would be. You know living up here makes you realize that money is just something invented by humans yet a very large portion of the worlds population spends it's time killing themselves for something that realy dosn't exist. Sorry, this has nothing to do with filters I guess my question is if they are all being built as cheaply as possible then how do you tell the best of the worst? I know I need a Pill .

 

[hawkerw]

MAYBE I should send my Resume to Consumer Reports do a section on pet supply reviews? Put some real numbers to the Crazy marketing numbers these companies are using. OK now I'll.