HOB capacity

[nzafi]

If you want to see my whole system, I have a320l tank with a2264, I have 1HOB as previously described and another 2 chamber filter with a1 micron cartridge and 1l macropore running a off shoot from my 2264 with a40w uv.

That is what you call monster for 320 tank

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Thank you for the offer and you can post your setup for others to get perspective. These days I have an 18 month old daughter, travel weekly for work, and work long hours. To stay in the hobby it is all about simplicity and doing things as quickly as possible. This means no time for DIY or to play/test things, and unfortunately spending more money than DIY solutions.

My simple goal is to move to a HOB filter because they are much easier to clean than a cannister, it saves me a lot of time to order a HOB on amazon and have it delivered versus spending hours building something, and then I am looking to move to a 125-180g tank that will probably help with nitrates (i.e. overall load) and then use purigen.

Thank you so much for the offer though.

 

[xraycer]

Thank you for the offer and you can post your setup for others to get perspective. These days I have an 18 month old daughter, travel weekly for work, and work long hours. To stay in the hobby it is all about simplicity and doing things as quickly as possible. This means no time for DIY or to play/test things, and unfortunately spending more money than DIY solutions.

My simple goal is to move to a HOB filter because they are much easier to clean than a cannister, it saves me a lot of time to order a HOB on amazon and have it delivered versus spending hours building something, and then I am looking to move to a 125-180g tank that will probably help with nitrates (i.e. overall load) and then use purigen.

If your main criteria is speed, you can't beat the Emperors. It takes only seconds to swap out all 4 filter pads (based on 2 units). I actually rinse out the old filter pads and reuse them, so you don't need to dispose of them after 1 use. There's actually a bit of room for a packet of Purigen or a pouch of ceramic media behind each filter pad. Two 400s on a 75gal is more than adequate.

 

[mudbuttjones]

If your main criteria is speed, you can't beat the Emperors. It takes only seconds to swap out all 4 filter pads (based on 2 units). I actually rinse out the old filter pads and reuse them, so you don't need to dispose of them after 1 use. There's actually a bit of room for a packet of Purigen or a pouch of ceramic media behind each filter pad. Two 400s on a 75gal is more than adequate.

I agree. I also have some whisper 60's I like them alot. Easy to switch. The bio foam that goes in front of the cartridge should never really need to be replaced and should do a good job holding established beneficial bacteria.

The whisper obviously isnt in the same league as the ac110, but they can be had for $25-$30, cartridges are dirt cheap, and the unit it self has proven to be very quiet. Not dead silent, but less audible than other hob's I've had in the past

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[nzafi]

You think the emperor is quicker maintenance that AC110? I was planning on not using the insert for the Emperor if I went that path. I have tons of biomax so I was going to use that with some foam blocks.

 

[mudbuttjones]

You think the emperor is quicker maintenance that AC110? I was planning on not using the insert for the Emperor if I went that path. I have tons of biomax so I was going to use that with some foam blocks.

I think the ac110 is probably the most labor intensive hob to clean just because it holds so much media. It's still easier than dealing with a canister, but its not a disposable cartridge - one, two, done deal kind of thing.

Whatever you decide on make sure you've got some good mechanical filtration. A HOB jammed full of biomax is great for bio but makes for a mess to clean and unpolished water.

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[CanadianKeeper]

I think the ac110 is probably the most labor intensive hob to clean just because it holds so much media. It's still easier than dealing with a canister, but its not a disposable cartridge - one, two, done deal kind of thing.

Whatever you decide on make sure you've got some good mechanical filtration. A HOB jammed full of biomax is great for bio but makes for a mess to clean and unpolished water.

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kidding right? The AC110 is the easiest thing ever... It has a big tray that the sponge, bioballs (in a bag they provide) and carbon bag all sit in... Pull it up and out. Drop in bucket, take to sink. Grab some tank water to wash over you bio and then blast the sponge and carbon in the sink... I run 2 on a 125 and have 0 issues with water quality. I changed from a canister to the two ac110's for easy cleaning.

 

[Redearsunfish]

The AC110 is a beast when used as a double sponge polisher with secondary BB value add.

The ideal situation is one AC110 double sponge, coupled with (what I do) a emperor 400 jammed full of biomax to the brim on both sides of the media basket.

 

[nzafi]

The AC110 is a beast when used as a double sponge polisher with secondary BB value add.

The ideal situation is one AC110 double sponge, coupled with (what I do) a emperor 400 jammed full of biomax to the brim on both sides of the media basket.

When you do a configuration like this do you experience a lot of debris build up in the emperor 400? I was thinking of going this way, but was worried about that.

 

[nzafi]

Why wouldnt you just do 2 AC110s and have one as pure mechanical and the other bio? The capacity is suppose to be the same.

 

[xraycer]

Both of these hob will work great. Those Penguin Bio-Wheels do a great job at bio filtration. You don't need as much bio media as you think, a quick water parameter test will let you know this. Pretty much everything in your tank that gets wet will contribute to bio filtration(glass, substrate, decor, etc). Major difference is, how fast you can change the mechanical media. With the ACs, it'll take you about 3 mins, and that's if you were pushing it to get it done as fast as you can. With the Emperor filter pad cartridge, you can swap it out in mere seconds with hardly any effort in regards to speed/time.

As already been stated many times already, either of these hob will be absolutely fine for a 75.