Thats how I run my tanks now...most all of them have 2 110's or 70's. You dont have to worry if your wheel is still spinning on the ac's and also cost of the filter pad replacement. The BW you have to buy new stuff...the filter pad doesnt last long and you have to use it. The ac's you can reuse the sponge until it falls apart and I only run carbon ever now and then...so you dont even need to buy that...so 0 cost of maintenance with Aquaclears...not biowheels.
best hang on back filter
- Thread starter willy j
- Start date
bitteraspects;3881967; said:
And lets say your cleaning your one filter and you brake something...or drop it...and how many people run sand in there tank and one speck might get in the intake and jam your one filter. There are tons of what ifs, BUT on this size tank having 2 smaller filters (AC70) on a tank for the same price or a couple dollars more as one big one (AC110) is a no brainier for me. Not to mention you have 2 points of poo intake rather than one...thats a big deal to me. I have a lot of $ invested in my fish to leave there well beaing in the hands of the crapy lfs for them to have a replacemnt part....or be ready to shell out big bicks to buy a new one at said lfs. Redundancy is always a good thing no matter what...all depends on benefits/costs to see if its worth it...and in this case I say yes
RAWfish;3881480; said:I'm surprised that most aren't recommending two AC70's over a single AC110. He would get slightly higher turnover and any filter maintenance can be staggered to avoid too much BB disturbance at one time. Thoughts on this?
I'm one to talk though.... I have a single AC50 on my 26g
Not too shabby of an idea.
NOLAGT;3881992; said:And lets say your cleaning your one filter and you[/r] brake something...or drop it...and how many people run sand in there tank and one speck might get in the intake and jam your one filter. There are tons of what ifs, BUT on this size tank having 2 smaller filters (AC70) on a tank for the same price or a couple dollars more as one big one (AC110) is a no brainier for me. Not to mention you have 2 points of poo intake rather than one...thats a big deal to me. I have a lot of $ invested in my fish to leave there well beaing in the hands of the crapy lfs for them to have a replacemnt part....or be ready to shell out big bicks to buy a new one at said lfs. Redundancy is always a good thing no matter what...all depends on benefits/costs to see if its worth it...and in this case I say yes
If YOU break it. It YOU drop it (how do you drop a filter?), or YOU use a sand substrate but do t take the proper precautions of raising the intake or using a foam pre-filter, then YOU are to blame. It still has absolutely nothing to fo with the filter. Smd the chances of YOU reaking one, are still just as likely as YOU breaking both of them.
As far as the intake goes. The AC110 has a higher flowtate which (for lack of better terms) mead more "suction" at the intake. I.e. More "poo" removal.
Sure, more filtration is always better, but Redundancy is no replacement for common sense and proper equipment maintenence.
bitteraspects;3882115; said:
So I guess then your right...redundancy is not needed fort he perfect human...so for the rest of us foolish people (yes I have dropped filters and broke them...and had sand lock one up) redundancy isn't a bad thing. And no one ever said that we are talking about things that only you can do to it...no telling what could happenl...its insurance...never needed until u need it...then its nice to have.
And for your suction idea...200 more gph isnt going to make the intake of the single 110 reach the rest of a 4' 55 like 2 70's...im sorry thats just not how it would work. You would have to stick a powerhead in the tank...to blow poo and the water around to hit the single intake/filter...and then you got the cost of a powerhead and it doesnt filter...cool.
Regardless of any redundancy argument...on ebay you can get a 110 for 75$ or 2 70's for 80$...anyway you want to cut it...its still a better deal to have 2 70's on a 4' 55 IMO
willy j;3880691; said:
I also concur with AC as one of the better HOB choices. My recent poll posting shows a greater majority use AC + canisters, but I dislike canisters myself.
Canisters Too pricey for the simple needs of aquarium filtration regardless of all the raves & supporters, all the fandangle bells & whistles you get. + some have probs with their intake/return tubes clogging with crud which backwashes into tank when you prime/pump. so where is the ease of maintenance there + location is important. HOB is exactly what it is, hang on back.
& not to forget many have parts issues. impellers I seem to recall the most common.
The AC's are one of the best performance HOB's, waterflow & for ease of maintenance at their price points - what you save on a top of the line AC vs many canisters you can put to other fish stuff & fish!
So my suggestion is place 2 AC110's in tanks 55g & >, but 2nd AC DIY by extending intake tube with PVC & form a tee at bottom. That's what I did for my 72g BF & results have been dramatic - sucks up a ton of heavy poop! (vs. standing pat on the intake tubes given which only goes only to midlevel & catches only lighter floating debris).
good luck.
p.s. www.kensfish.com & www.bigalsonline.com where you get selection value & low shipping costs espec with kens. my ken's posting shows many are fans of his also.
i use emperor and ac110. They are both good filters. The ac is very quiet , but i like the spinning wheel idea lol. So i just buy them both.
robmcd;3882302; said:
I have an emperor 400 as well - love it. Never have any issues with it, easy to clean, etc etc... Granted it is the only HOB filter I have ever owned (and the first one at that) - but like I said, I have never had any issues with it and I would def. buy another one
