Ummmm, any hatred towards the Green and Gold will easily make me not like your polys or pearsei very quickly!
Pros/Cons of Various Filtration
- Thread starter arodiscus
- Start date
Definitely. However, it takes me maybe 2 minutes to clean my mountain of bio media and change our filter socks on my sump versus much longer and messier to clean out each individual HOB and canister. I have two AquaClear 110s and two Sunsun 304b canisters on my 150g and I HATE cleaning them, which honestly makes them get cleaned less than they probably should be...
I used to run one in a 30 long. My biggest problem with it was that the gunk would build up underneath no matter how much you vacuum and clean. Eventually it becomes a nitrate factory and you have to do a complete tear down to fix it. Rinse and repeat... It is also a source of confusion if you have any other issues. You can trouble shoot everything else to find your problem, but you’re blind as to what’s going on under there. So guess how you find out. That’s right! Also, the buildup restricts flow and exacerbates the problem. IMO it’s more trouble than it’s worth. I don’t have the room for a sump, or the know how for that matter. I run an Eheim pro 2 and Rena filstar 2 canisters underneath in my cabinet. Both have quick disconnects and are easy to clean. The only sound coming from my setup is the water movement at the surface for gas exchange. Until I have a proper aquarium room where I can set up a sump system, I’m quite happy with the current setup.
I don't recommend traditional UGF alone for delicate fish. Too much maintenance in-tank required, which stresses the fish.
Also UGF needs reverse pressure on occasion to blow out all the mulm. Unless you run reversed all the time.
Before I started reversing them 100% I had a powerhead with a reverse flow setting. It worked, but not enough for me.
I would take the powerhead off and dissassemble it to clean, and at that time I would stick a hose in the pipe and blow the gravel up hard. Then I'd siphon the water off 80%+ & reassemble everything.
I had a heavily stocked tank (five big silver dollars and a big pleco in a 30 tall) so I did this on a regular basis. But I never bought one filter, sock, sponge or pad for that tank over the first 15 years running that tank.
BUT I WAS NOT RAISING DELICATE FISH!
I was raising the hardiest fish I could find.
AFAIK no big fish sellers use UGF as they once did, because of labor to clean tanks. They use central carbon filtration and change that. That would have been too expensive back in the days of cheap labor.
BTW I have been keeping fish 48 of my 60+ years, and my mom sold fish at the dimestore when I was a kid. UGF was all they had.
Also UGF needs reverse pressure on occasion to blow out all the mulm. Unless you run reversed all the time.
Before I started reversing them 100% I had a powerhead with a reverse flow setting. It worked, but not enough for me.
I would take the powerhead off and dissassemble it to clean, and at that time I would stick a hose in the pipe and blow the gravel up hard. Then I'd siphon the water off 80%+ & reassemble everything.
I had a heavily stocked tank (five big silver dollars and a big pleco in a 30 tall) so I did this on a regular basis. But I never bought one filter, sock, sponge or pad for that tank over the first 15 years running that tank.
BUT I WAS NOT RAISING DELICATE FISH!
I was raising the hardiest fish I could find.
AFAIK no big fish sellers use UGF as they once did, because of labor to clean tanks. They use central carbon filtration and change that. That would have been too expensive back in the days of cheap labor.
BTW I have been keeping fish 48 of my 60+ years, and my mom sold fish at the dimestore when I was a kid. UGF was all they had.
I think that canister filters require less frequent maintenance than HOB filters, but I think that canisters are harder to clean than HOBs.
I don’t get that at all. I pull up the lever to disconnect the hoses, open it up and rinse the bio balls and ceramics. Pull the sponges from the bottom and rinse them. Admittedly, the sponges are gross and they take a bit of wringing to get clean but, it’s not hard by any means. The whole process for both only takes 15 to 20 minutes tops. I guess that’s why there are different types still on the market. Different strokes for different folks!
It's not that hard, but it takes longer than cleaning HOB filters, and it requires more steps
I guess that’s the beauty of variety! We’re both happy and neither of us are wrong. This is a great hobby. 
It's not that hard, but it takes longer than cleaning HOB filters, and it requires more steps
Agreed. I'll never buy a can again. Sumps if not then aquaclears
I'm lazy, I have Eheim canisters that I haven't cleaned in years running on tanks.
