What filter brand do you use?
- Thread starter The Masked Shadow
- Start date
Except my smallest tanks I only use HMF or cartridge filters. Which I run with Eheim and Tunze pumps.
In the small tanks I use Eheim pickup 45 because they are silent and easy to clean though their suction cups suck because after a while they don't suck anymore.
In the small tanks I use Eheim pickup 45 because they are silent and easy to clean though their suction cups suck because after a while they don't suck anymore.
I make my own filter/refugium/sumps out of another tank, using a commercial water pump such as Sicce, Mag-flow or Laguuna, and some media.
And the most important filtration component, live plants (aquatic and terrestrial, and semi terrestrial).
The media can be anything from lava rock to Porrett Foam, because beneficial bacteria don't give a rats arse about the composition of the surface area or media they live on.
I find most commercial filters to be inadequate, have wimpy flow rates, and are vastly overrated, and do nothing to effect nitrate. (accept add to it)
The 125 gal sump below is the filter for my 180 gal main tank.
a closer view of the refugium
And as you can see, I break the "rule" about where to place the sump, and oft touted "rule", I don't use compartments.
I find these "rules" arbitrary and of no real relevance, just as I find most commercial filter no more than plastic toys.
And the most important filtration component, live plants (aquatic and terrestrial, and semi terrestrial).
The media can be anything from lava rock to Porrett Foam, because beneficial bacteria don't give a rats arse about the composition of the surface area or media they live on.
I find most commercial filters to be inadequate, have wimpy flow rates, and are vastly overrated, and do nothing to effect nitrate. (accept add to it)
The 125 gal sump below is the filter for my 180 gal main tank.
a closer view of the refugium
And as you can see, I break the "rule" about where to place the sump, and oft touted "rule", I don't use compartments.
I find these "rules" arbitrary and of no real relevance, just as I find most commercial filter no more than plastic toys.
Last edited:
Currently: Eheim and Hydor canisters, a Seachem-Sicce, Aquaclears that came with a multiple used tank purchase. I like the Aquaclears better than I expected, after sorting things out and selling extra tanks and equipment it's possible I keep one as a plant refugium.
The Hydors are nice units, well made, quiet and durable for me, but I understand they've been bought by another company, so who knows now. Eheim classics last forever, of course, I have two over 20 years old, but if I have a favorite it's Eheim Pro 2, though I say that not having an FX (yet).
Used to do fluidized bed units, which I liked as a compact way to do bio. Got away from them over time, but for no particular reason. They're underrated imo.
The Hydors are nice units, well made, quiet and durable for me, but I understand they've been bought by another company, so who knows now. Eheim classics last forever, of course, I have two over 20 years old, but if I have a favorite it's Eheim Pro 2, though I say that not having an FX (yet).
Used to do fluidized bed units, which I liked as a compact way to do bio. Got away from them over time, but for no particular reason. They're underrated imo.
Eheim canister filters on the 75G and 220G, Aquaclear power filters of various sizes for quick/extra filter capacity and air driven Poret Mattenfilters on tanks under 40G.