Media Volume: Eheim vs. Aqua Clear

[Toby_H]

I must be misunderstanding something, so someone please correct me here…

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3603

Follow that link to Dr Foster & Smith’s page about Eheim 2213, 2215 & 2217... Then click the “More Information” tab directly below the photo.

This lists the “Filter Volume” as follows:
2213 - ¾ Gal
2215 - 1 gal
2217 - 1 ½ Gal
I measured my Aqua Clear 110, and the Media ‘Chamber’ (excluding the intake area) is 10” x 3.75” (tapers from 4” to 3.5”) and when in use the water level is 9” deep…

( 10 x 3.75 x 9 ) / 231 gives us this space in gallons… 1.461 US Gallons…

So the “Media Volume” of the Aqua Clear is 1.46 Gal… if you include the intake area this gives the Aqua Clear a “Filter Volume” of 1.83 Gallons…

Which makes the Aqua Clear hold more media than the Eheim 2217?…

The Aqua Clear also has approx 56 square inches of water-air interface where the Eheim canisters are completely submerged…

I suspect I am missing a critical piece of information as this drastically conflicts with the many many times I’ve read people state that Eheim canisters hold more media than Aqua Clear HOBs…

 

[selki]

2217 has more media capacity if you look at the size of the filters you can see that the 2217 has more space in it... there ya go buddy

 

[ScoobyRacing03]

I have an AC110 and an Eheim 2217 the 2217 is 11" tall by 7" round my 110 while running is at about 7.25" and the filter length is about 10"

 

[Bderick67]

I have an AC110 and an Eheim 2217 the 2217 is 11" tall by 7" round my 110 while running is at about 7.25" and the filter length is about 10"

11" tall by 7" across cylinder would be 1.83 gallons

 

[Bderick67]

I measured my Aqua Clear 110, and the Media ‘Chamber’ (excluding the intake area) is 10” x 3.75” (tapers from 4” to 3.5”) and when in use the water level is 9” deep…

( 10 x 3.75 x 9 ) / 231 gives us this space in gallons… 1.461 US Gallons…

Not sure how your getting 9" of water depth when the overall height of the filter is 9". Of my 6 that are running they are all between 7 and 7.25" of water while running.

 

[Toby_H]

You caught me… I don’t know what I did to make that mistake…

With the sponge on top, my water level is 7.5”… and doing my best to be fair, the plastic insert which is meant to allow water to flow across the bottom to distribute the water move evenly through the media, is .5” off the bottom…

So, 10” x 3.75” x 7” = 1.136 gallons… of literal true media capacity on the AC110...

I’m reading that the 2217 holds 6 liters (1.5 gallons)… and the 2215 holds 4 liters (1 gallon)… which leads me to believe that when Foster & Smith’s site says “Filter Volume”, they mean Media Capacity… and these numbers correspond.

I knew I was doing something wrong for them to have the same volume, thanks for catching the bad measurement Bderick. I’m still sort of surprised at the actual “final” numbers…

The Aqua Clear 110 holds just a hair over 75% the amount of media as the Eheim 2217...

The AC110 has a rated flow rate of almost double the Eheim 2217... Which would translate to just over double the actual flow rate…

The Eheim 2217 costs typically right at double the price of the AC 110...

Comparing Canisters to HOBs is, in a way, comparing apples to oranges, as each design, by design, holds certain Pros and certain Cons over the other… But since both serve the same ultimate function, to filter our aquariums, it’s nice to draw some level of comparison…

 

[rnocera]

I recently bought a 2217 instead of an AC110, even though there was that major price difference. In my eyes, the benefit of the 2217 over an AC110 is flexibility. The 2217 can hold any shape and number of different medias, where the AC110 is a little more limited. I can choose to put 1 layer of mechanical media, or 30 layers of mechanical media. But in truth, the single biggest reason is- my 2217 runs on a tank where the water level is low enough that an AC110 would splash, and would have trouble priming after a power outage. My canister, on the other hand, provides water flow exactly how I want it, and doesn't make any noise. As you said- apples to orange.

But in terms of what's an equally efficient filter for the lowest price? AC110 wins hands down. I think the AC110 is one of the best filters on the market, in terms of value.