What;s your experience with submersible filters and sponge filters?

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So I'm likely never getting a big tank 0ver 90 gallons (but a guy can dream right?) I see that hang on back filters are not made for tanks over 110 gallons. Canister filters are so expensive but I saw these:

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Have any of you used filters like this? Or do you just have multpile hang on back and/or sponge filters?

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Been a few years since I shopped for a filter. Am not familiar with the specific type you linked. A modern version of the old inside the tank type filter. difference apparently being the method of moving the water. A pump rather than air bubbles. I can see how such will move a lot of water.
I may be wrong but first impression is they will make their money on the replaceable filter units. Maybe like the ink jet printer which does not cost too much because the profit comes from the ink cartridges. I would check on the cost of those filter units. If they can be refilled with filter media the deal might be practical. If the units are throw away then cost may become too much.

When i first saw the thread I thought you were asking about UGF (under gravel filter). I have been using them over 60 years. Have a couple running in tanks currently. I have also used sponge filters. An issue with them is the detritus remains inside the tanks. The UGF is a bit more of a problem to clean but can be done. The sponge filter can be cleaned easier, just remove and squeeze out the junk in a bucket of water then replace. I clean the UGF the same way i clean any tank. That being I use a siphon. I use a store bought siphon which has around and inch and a half big tube which attaches to a small flexible tube. I jam the big tube into the gravel and let the siphon pull detritus into a bucket or few. Becomes part of a WC (water change) anyway.

I do not get the following.

I see that hang on back filters are not made for tanks over 110 gallons

I have used HOB's (hang on back) filters on tanks much bigger than they are rated for. The point of the HOB is to move water thru the filter media (both biological & mechanical). I ran one on a125 for a number of years. I guess the notion is the gallons per hour rating is not high enough. A thing is I started out over 60 years ago when most all filter were run by air bubbles. Compared to those even the small impeller powered HOB's are very much better. I am not all that pleased at being so old but at times experience comes in handy. Experience in that I ran tanks with what is considered primitive equipment now days. You have a modern problem of sorts, not an equipment problem. Modern in the sense there is not a reasonable priced option to use an HOB simply because of the rating. In my experience a HOB will move water thru the filter media. get the biggest one you can stand to pay for and use it.

The fault in my reply may lie in this. If you plan to overstock a big tank, or tend to overfeed or have messy eater fish then the HOB may not keep up. You will have to do some of the water quality work the old fashioned way with more WC and maybe more hours of using a siphon.

Good luck