Canister vs Hang on Back

[Bobby2415]

I have a 90 gallon tank right now with an FX4 canister and a Penn Plax Cascade 1000 canister running on it. I was thinking of replacing the Cascade because it’s starting to get a little noisy for my liking (rattling). I was thinking of replacing with a hang on back. Never used one before and thought the water movement would be beneficial. Any thoughts or recommendations on hang on backs? Or should I just keep the Cascade?

 

[DMD123]

Ive owned the Cascade line of canisters and they are okay, budget filters with a ton of bypass. Better suited for bio than mechanical but with the bypass the filter acts as mechanical, lol. If you stuff filter floss around the bottom tray between the tray and inside filter housing and then do the same when you put the top tray in place it does a decent job.

All that said my preference is an Aquaclear 110 hob because it is just a breeze to clean out. The maintenance compared to a canister is so much easier.

 

[tlindsey]

I have a 90 gallon tank right now with an FX4 canister and a Penn Plax Cascade 1000 canister running on it. I was thinking of replacing the Cascade because it’s starting to get a little noisy for my liking (rattling). I was thinking of replacing with a hang on back. Never used one before and thought the water movement would be beneficial. Any thoughts or recommendations on hang on backs? Or should I just keep the Cascade?

The Fluval 110 formally Aquaclear.

 

[Bobby2415]

You guys have any experience with the Marineland Penguin 350? Looks like it’s about $22 cheaper, has pretty good reviews, and is 350gph opposed to 300gph on the AquaClear 110.

 

[tlindsey]

You guys have any experience with the Marineland Penguin 350? Looks like it’s about $22 cheaper, has pretty good reviews, and is 350gph opposed to 300gph on the AquaClear 110.

I have a Marineland Penquin and the way it is constructed and to maintain doesn't compare to the versatility and ease of maintaining a Aquaclear Filter imo.

 

[DMD123]

You guys have any experience with the Marineland Penguin 350? Looks like it’s about $22 cheaper, has pretty good reviews, and is 350gph opposed to 300gph on the AquaClear 110.

In the long run it will cost you more to own the Penguin with the replacement cartridge cost. You might get a rinse or two out of the cartridge but they do fall apart. The Aquaclear sponge can get rinsed in tankwater and get used over and over for a long time before needing replacement. You might be able to mod the Penguin with different sponge/media and it might be cheaper then.

 

[tlindsey]

In the long run it will cost you more to own the Penguin with the replacement cartridge cost. You might get a rinse or two out of the cartridge but they do fall apart. The Aquaclear sponge can get rinsed in tankwater and get used over and over for a long time before needing replacement. You might be able to mod the Penguin with different sponge/media and it might be cheaper then.

Absolute fact.

 

[Bobby2415]

Sounds like general consensus is that the AquaClear is worth the extra money. I appreciate everyone’s input!

 

[Jexnell]

I had 2x FX4s on a 125, switched to ACs just for the ease of maintenance. With a little care they can run forever it seems.
I have 2 that have been running nearly 4 years now. Only thing I changed was the shaft, a $9 part on Amazon due to Oscar's love of spitting sand at the intake.


Edit atm I have four AC110S running on 2 tanks

 

[Bobby2415]

As far as actual gph on hang on backs, is it going to be kind of the same principle as with canisters? (Cut the advertised gph in half to get actual gph)