External filter vs hang on filter

[Redearsunfish]

Use canister as BIO-ONLY (with Prefilter on Intake) and use HOB as Mechanical. Best of both worlds, alternate cleaning schedules. Mechanical HOB -(clean once every 2 weeks or once a month), Bio Canister- once every 3 months (clean prefilter weekly at water change and replace on intake).

Great stuff! I agree.

 

[mudbuttjones]

I don't think HOB's are junk. If your speaking from just a mechanical standpoint- Whisper, Aqueon, and Marineland make an economical product that functions well. We're talking like $25-$35. If it runs silently for two years then you got your money's worth. Then You can decide to throw it away or buy a new impeller assembly. We live in a disposable society and everything we buy is cheap junk made overseas you can't expect something that costs $30 to last a decade. I agree media and cartridges are ludicrous, but thats your own fault for not cutting squares of poly pads for next to nothing. I did it with my Aqueon filters and when I run out of whisper cartridges I'll wrap quilt poly padding aroubd the black plastic insert and jam it back inside the filter

Compare that to the cost of a namebrand canister...

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[Redearsunfish]

I don't think HOB's are junk. If your speaking from just a mechanical standpoint- Whisper, Aqueon, and Marineland make an economical product that functions well. We're talking like $25-$35. If it runs silently for two years then you got your money's worth. Then You can decide to throw it away or buy a new impeller assembly. We live in a disposable society and everything we buy is cheap junk made overseas you can't expect something that costs $30 to last a decade. I agree media and cartridges are ludicrous, but thats your own fault for not cutting squares of poly pads for next to nothing. I did it with my Aqueon filters and when I run out of whisper cartridges I'll wrap quilt poly padding aroubd the black plastic insert and jam it back inside the filter

Compare that to the cost of a namebrand canister...

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Valid points, all.

 

[minivan]

you run it in a tank with sand?

No just gravel on the bottom.