Why are Canisters More Money than HOB?
- Thread starter Darth Scohin
- Start date
　Austin;3549793; said:
Based on ample personal experience... I completely disagree...
　
I have a 125 gal tank that is very overstocked and it's base filtration needs are easily met by two AC110s (nothing more). I confess the water is not kept "crystal clear" with this simple filtration, but the ammonia/nitrite are kept at zero, there are no dead spots, a large % of the waste is collected into the filters...
　
An AC110 has an actual media volume of 4 liters or 1 gallon... which is higher than many canister filters that cost a good bit more...
　
HOB style filters also offer a surface to air interchange to allow for oxygenation of the water. Canisters do not...
　
　
But canisters do have their advantages too...
　
They can be kept below the tank allowing the rim of the tank to look less cluttered... and the tank to be pushed closer to the wall...
　
They can use "inline" equipment such as inline heaters and UV lights...
　
The are less limited in volume. While the vast majority of canisters are in the 1 gallon range, there are some that are considerably larger. I wouldn't feel comfortable having a 5 gal HOB hanging off of my tank, but I have used a 5 gal canister (pressurized pond filter).
　
　
I do not wish to suggest canisters are not a good form of filtration, as they are... yet I cannot sit idly by while people discredit HOBs ;-)
HOB's do an adequate job, but canisters are the next generation. it's all about performance and progression. I have both but i know my canister can out perform my HOB filters.
. like i said, mid-ranged tanks, i don't see the point in putting only HOB's on tanks over 150-200. like i also said, IMO...Two approaches to filtration are:
Move the water slowly through a lot of media, allowing a long contact time for biological action to take place. This is how Eheim Classic and many other canister's work.
Move the water quickly through a small amount of media, repeat as many times as necessary to achieve desired water quality. This is how most HOB's work.
The only canister I actually have experience with are Eheim 2213, which is rated to flow just a little over 100 gph, or about the same as the smallest Penguin or Whisper HOB.
However, it can handle a tank MUCH larger than those because it holds much more media. The 2213 is rated for tanks up to 66 gallons, and people frequently use them for tanks in the 20-30 gallon range, which would be impossible with the smallest Penguin or Whisper.
There is a great deal more material in a canister, and it has sealing surfaces which must be water-tight under a small positive pressure. Most HOB's have few sealing surfaces below water level, so don't have to be as water-tight (the seal around the motor is an exception on some).
Move the water slowly through a lot of media, allowing a long contact time for biological action to take place. This is how Eheim Classic and many other canister's work.
Move the water quickly through a small amount of media, repeat as many times as necessary to achieve desired water quality. This is how most HOB's work.
The only canister I actually have experience with are Eheim 2213, which is rated to flow just a little over 100 gph, or about the same as the smallest Penguin or Whisper HOB.
However, it can handle a tank MUCH larger than those because it holds much more media. The 2213 is rated for tanks up to 66 gallons, and people frequently use them for tanks in the 20-30 gallon range, which would be impossible with the smallest Penguin or Whisper.
There is a great deal more material in a canister, and it has sealing surfaces which must be water-tight under a small positive pressure. Most HOB's have few sealing surfaces below water level, so don't have to be as water-tight (the seal around the motor is an exception on some).
i have a fluval 205 and two hob 380gph whisper filters on a 55 gal with oscar and two j.d. is the good enouph?
　ron521;3550422; said:
At the risk of steering this conversation on a bit of a tangent I think this (common) belief is risking misleading some people
　
A 100 gph canister nor a 100 gph HOB will offer a 66 gallon tank sufficient water movement to offer a Cichlid tank healthy mechanical filtration. While thorough mechanical filtration isnt necessarily needed, people should be warned or informed of the whole story here
　
Dead spots are another health risk to an aquarium. If the 66 gallon tank were for the most part bare. With a thin layer of substrate and maybe some fake plants, then dead spots will not be much of a risk with either style (canister or HOB). But if the tank had extensive rock work creating caves for Cichlids to use, then either style 100 gph filter puts that tank at risk of dead spots.
　
As for bio filtration, if there are dead spots, proper Bio Filtration will not be served. There has been an ongoing debate on the importance of Bio Media and the potential for there to be plenty of surface area in the aquarium to support a healthy bacterial colony.
　
So there are some situations where a 100 gph canister could provide a 66 gal healthy bio filtration, and a few where it couldnt. There are also some situations where a 100 gph HOBs could offer a 66 gal healthy bio filtration
　
Althuogh we should keep in mind it is useless to state up to XX gallon tank. As the stock of a tank has more to do with its filtration needs than the overall volume.
X212 Volt Man;3549796; said:
Ive been a long time canister guy mostly fluvals. They are great and hold a good amount of media. But for mid sized tanks a few AC110's can be serviced quicker easier and cleaner and they actually hold quite a bit of media and media options similar to a canister. Im not saying sell your eheims and FX5's . But ive had good experience with AC110's just my experience currently
The AC line of HOBS are the only ones i would ever use.. some would agree they are the best of the best when it come to HOBS.. with that being said, u are limited to only AC HOBS, but with canisters u have lots of great options... i run 2 AC 110s, 1 AC 20, Eheim 2028 and Fluval FX5.. i prefer the 2028 and FX5.. the reason to this is not only because they hold more media but because their the only filters that keep my water crystal clear 100% of the time. the AC tends to muck up the tanks clarity at some point or another.. for example water changes.. i run 2 AC 110s on 56 gallon tank for the record, i love them to death and the only problem i have with them is what i just mentioned.
the money i paid for my FX5 and 2028 is not a big deal. i say this because i am so satisfied with my purchase; my water parameters and clarity could not get any better. on top of that its 100% consistent!
the money i paid for my FX5 and 2028 is not a big deal. i say this because i am so satisfied with my purchase; my water parameters and clarity could not get any better. on top of that its 100% consistent!
