best hang on filter
- Thread starter cornbread_5
- Start date
they both have their strengths and weakness.
Emporers has the bio wheels that allow the bb to get O2 from the atmosphere and not be limited to the O2 in the water BUT the catridges really suck and fall apart pretty quick.
Aquaclears have Biomax for bb but is submerged and limited O2 from the water BUT sponges last forever and is much more quiet the the Emps.
personally I would run both on a single tank and double the sponges on the Aquaclear.
Emporers has the bio wheels that allow the bb to get O2 from the atmosphere and not be limited to the O2 in the water BUT the catridges really suck and fall apart pretty quick.
Aquaclears have Biomax for bb but is submerged and limited O2 from the water BUT sponges last forever and is much more quiet the the Emps.
personally I would run both on a single tank and double the sponges on the Aquaclear.
Aqua Clear's last a loooong time. I have had the same 2 Aqua Clear 200's running for about 15 years. The flexibility of what you can do with them is great. If you want 2 foam blocks instead of 1, have at it. If you want a bag of charcoal and an anti-ammonia bag as well, you can.
They are like Burger King...Have it your way!
They are like Burger King...Have it your way!
I love ACs but ive had problems with the impeller shafts getting worn and breaking off and when that happens say good bye cause you will have to buy a whole new motor. If they could do without those shafts i would think more highly of them. However the shafts i believe contribute to why they are so quiet. If anyone has any info on that let me know.
Although I don't have a Emperor 400, I have both Penguin 330 and 350, and 4 AC110's.... the AC110's are MUCH quieter than the Biowheel filters.... and easier to maintain (sponges last forever).... another vote for the AC110 here...
Burt
Burt
I have always had bad luck with ACs. Several have stopped working on me (one was my fault because sand got in the impeller). I recently set up a 10 gallon, and the AC I have on it is making a grinding noise.
My vote is for Emperor 400. I have 2 Emperor 400s on my 125 (along with 2 XP3s) and 2 Emperor 280s on my 55, and they have always been very reliable.
My vote is for Emperor 400. I have 2 Emperor 400s on my 125 (along with 2 XP3s) and 2 Emperor 280s on my 55, and they have always been very reliable.
I have 3 Emperor 400's so my vote goes to them. Haven't had any problems with them at all. They do have 2 slots where you can put whatever media you want in them and 2 for filter cartridges but I supposed you could use whatever you wanted making a total of 4 spots for media. And I've not had any problems with the filter cartridges falling apart. I've used them for months, and just rinse them in tank water when I do water changes. And you can find refills online for cheap.
I have almost exclusively used Emperors and Penguin filters over the years mainly because I thought that the bio wheel was the best feature of them all.I also have a cabinet drawer full of various parts from the many models that I have. Ive had impellers die on an Emp.280 as well as a 400 and sometimes when I unplug one for water changes,it has to be fiddled with in order to get it resarted.They can be touchy filters which is causing me to consider trying the Aquaclear filters.
