HOB vs Canister

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BigZig

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 1, 2017
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I'e been reading quite a bit here recently, but this is my first post. I would consider myself a beginner who is trying to take the step up to intermediate.

I am currently piecing together a 75 gallon build. It will be the new home for my JD and convict as well as some other undecided stock. My question right now is how much of a benefit will I receive from a canister? I know the canisters hold more media, and a generally well hidden. The big hang up I am having with them is the fact I can purchase 2 dang good HOBs for half the price of a canister rated right at 100 gallons. Is there something else I am missing?

Also, while I'm here.... Any suggestions on lighting? I'
Going to give a planted tank a shot, but I plan on just a few basic, low maintenance carpet plants and maybe another larger plant or two in the back.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
 
I’ll go with 2 HOBs for a 75 which are cheaper, simpler and easier to clean than canister. Canister is for lazy people who want to procrastinate cleaning by sweeping dirt underneath the rug.

For lighting, led is the way to go. Led is getting cheaper and bring out the color of the fish better.

As a beginner, learn how to keep fish first before keeping plant which is more difficult. Keeping large cichlid with plants is even harder because cichlid dig and destroy. Lastly, There are no easy carpet plants, which are about the most challenging plants to grow.
 
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Thank you for the replies. As far as plants go, as of now I'm planning on giving it a shot, but if they don' take off then I'm not going to be too upset.

I still have quite a bit more reading to do before I make my final decisions on stocking while I build my stand and let the tank cycle.
 
I was in your shoes. I had HOB on a 75g, and then upgraded to a FX5 for the tank. Eventually I regretted it and went back to HOB even though I upgraded to a 180g. If you cut the sponges in a AC110 they will hold close to the same amount of media as a FX5, and they are much easier to maintain. I hated cleaning my FX5.

HOB are an eye sore and I am looking forward to the day I get rid of them. If you are handy or can spend the money, I would look into a sump. It will give you the clean appearance, easier maintenance than HOB or canister, and it will give you more water volume.
 
nzafi said:
I was in your shoes. I had HOB on a 75g, and then upgraded to a FX5 for the tank. Eventually I regretted it and went back to HOB even though I upgraded to a 180g. If you cut the sponges in a AC110 they will hold close to the same amount of media as a FX5, and they are much easier to maintain. I hated cleaning my FX5.

HOB are an eye sore and I am looking forward to the day I get rid of them. If you are handy or can spend the money, I would look into a sump. It will give you the clean appearance, easier maintenance than HOB or canister, and it will give you more water volume.
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At this point a sump is out of my league. Lol. I'm not confident enough to cut the glass and set it all up.

I really dont mind the HOB on my current tank. The water fall sound is soothing too me. Plus i know immediately when it has gotten unplugged or the power goes out.

Unless somebody talks me out of it I think I am going to run 2 Emperor 400s. Should be more than enough filtration for my "tiny" tank with the room for extra media.
 
I prefer AC110s because they hold more media and easier to configure in my opinion but whatever you like. I am not handy at all, but I will tell you that I easily drilled my 180g tank to setup an auto drip. Still running the HOB becuase I am hoping to upgrade soon so didnt want to spend the money on sump setup.
 
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I agree with the above advice. As you are somewhat new, there are a few things to consider. An HOB is easier to take care of and properly sized, it can easily handle a 75 gallon. It's also much easier to determine a time to clean it since it's something you can tell visually with an HOB.

I also agree that 2 are better, especially since it will allow you a little more safety in regards to cleaning. If you clean one too much (or incorrectly), you will lose much of it's bacteria, but the other will still be fine, so it's not the sort of disaster you'd have if you only had one HOB. Just be sure to keep the cleaning schedules far apart (don't clean both at or near the same time), and when cleaning the pads or sponges, just gently swish them in a small bucket of tank water (not tap water.)

As for the sounds, I never minded the HOB splashing sounds. Pretty nice, actually.
 
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