10 Hacks to Make the PERFECT Hang-on-Back Filter
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- Hang-on-back (HOB) filters are one of the first filters I used in the fish keeping hobby because they are extremely customizable yet affordable. I decided to ask my audience to see what kind of cool hacks you all have for optimizing a hang-on-back filter so that it’s super-efficient and easy to use.
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🛒 MATERIALS I USED
(As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from the links below. Also, I work for Aquarium Co-Op but do not receive commissions from their links.)
▶ AquaClear 50 filter: amzn.to/3DpjJjP
▶ Seachem Purigen (for reusable chemical filtration): amzn.to/3DnoB8V
▶ Fine poly pad (for crystal clear water): www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Pre-filter sponge: www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/fa...
▶ Soap dish with suction cup (preferably with no metal to avoid rust)
▶ Flat mini heater
▶ Wi-Fi timer: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Airline tubing: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ SuperLube: amzn.to/3FvWc2r
▶ Surface skimmer overflow box: oceanboxdesigns.com/product/m...
📚 RESOURCES
▶ All the HOB filter hacks suggested by my audience: • Post
▶ Bill Smith’s rubber band idea: forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/...
🦐 EXTRAS
▶ Instagram: / girltalksfish
▶ Merch store: girltalksfish.creator-spring.com
EDITOR: Angela Guererro at www.angelaguererro.com/
ATTRIBUTION
Music from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra... (if you use my referral link, I get 1 month free 😀)
Diamond icon by VideoPlasty from commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
SuperLube from www.theoringstore.com/store/i...
Cartoon_wink_magic_sparkle.save from freesound.org/people/MLaudio/...
AC70 Surface Skimmer Overflow Box from Oceanbox Designs at oceanboxdesigns.com/product/a...
0:00 Should I change from sponge to HOB filter?
0:51 Hack 1: Use reusable filter media
2:34 Hack 2: Add a pre-filter sponge
3:25 Hack 3: Grow a pothos plant
4:17 Hack 4: Minimize any vibrations
4:47 Hack 5: Baffle the flow
5:51 Hack 6: Add a mini heater
6:23 Hack 7: Use a WiFi timer
7:18 Hack 8: Make an airline tubing ring
8:15 Hack 9: Clean your impeller
8:46 Hack 10: Install a surface skimmer overflow box
9:53 Differences between HOB vs. sponge filters
#girltalksfish #fishtank #aquariumfilter
*Which filter hack was your favorite one?* Also, if you have more questions about filtration, check out my favorite filter videos here: th-cam.com/video/BS7gIHUkhuo/w-d-xo.html
I LOVE floating plants and I hate how they always get pushed down with HOB filters. I’m for sure doing the ring with the suction cup ASAP! Great video!
Wifi timer is a great idea! I’m also very curious about the protein skimmer
Love your videos, you’ve help me improve my bettas life so much. From a small cylinder tank to a filtered, heated, and planted ten gallon tank.
All of them, I was just about to ditch my HOB filter. Thank you so much.
ive burned two motors just because ididnt know that 😢
Between you and Chris over at FFT you've probably saved so many fish from unneeded deaths. Thank you for all your hard work and keep up these awesome videos!
Kg tropicals?
Ive been using these tricks for over a year now and its saved me a tremendous amount of money. The filters are easily better than what you buy to replace. Thanks again Girl talks Fish!
Oh my gosh, I have watched many Co-Op videos, other fish keeper videos, and rich people videos lol.... This is by far the most amazing video I have seen so far. All of your suggestions really help the poor man like me, really have great ideas to keep my fish and I happy! Bless your heart Girl!
This was one of THE BEST hack videos for HOB’s I’ve ever seen. I love them and still use them. Never thought about plants in the filter or the soap dish to calm the s0und of the running water. 10/10 would recommend all these hacks. NICE!
This video is wonderful!
The rubber band on the filter lid is the best hack I have seen in a while! Thanks for the great idea!
So many great ideas!! I've been fishkeeping for almost 20 years, I'm constantly searching aquarium tips, newest knowledge, diy hacks etc. I've never seen some of these tips, A+++ content :D
The nine dislikes are the companies that make you get filter cartridges for money.
Fish newb here... I just bought the Marineland Portrait 5 Gallon tank and am researching options to modify it. I've watched TONS of TH-cam videos from various people on all the topics - fish, tank size, filtration, media, etc. And I am SO impressed with Irene's straight forward, well informed opinions and insights! So refreshing! I really appreciate it. Keep up the great work! (yes, I subscribed). Thank you!
Hello GTF! Thank you for mentioning our surface skimmer add-on! One important note for anyone thinking of using it, make sure you have a way to constantly monitoring your water level and automatically topping off evaporation, for me it is critical to be using an Automatic Top-off System to keep the salinity (salt) level on point in a reef tank. Otherwise you'll run into problems where the intake will start sucking air in (struggling to pull water in) as the water level dropped inside the overflow box. Love your channel and keep up with the great work!
Thank you so much for the word of warning! That definitely makes a lot of sense.
This video came out at the perfect time! My mom had been struggling with her HOB filter, and I bet this video will help! Tysm!! 💛😁
The rubber band trick is genius!
Or chewing gum … works perfect
Great info! Love the longer format. ❤️
Glad Irene is part of Aquarium Co-op team....
Hi Irene, I use both HOB and sponge filters in my tanks. One thing I would suggest is using a piece of of Poly Bio filter pad under your bio ringers or whatever you use. It's suppose to be great stuff. Anyway I use it in all my filters because I'd rather safe than sorry.
Hi ! I've been watching your videos for a bit (ok binge watched over the past weeks, lol) and I love that you also share the tips from the community ! The aquaclear has always been my favorite hob filter but the sounds it made were too much.... The rubber band for the cover, i'm definitely adopting the idea !!
Thanks for making such a comprehensive video! In my previous betta tank I used a sponge filter but in my new setup I'm going to try a hang-on-back filter so I can add more mechanical and biological filtraion. I got a lot great tips from you and will definitely be implenting most of them in my new tank :)
AWESOME VIDEO!!! TONS of really good information! Thank you!!! 😁
I just LOVE watching your content i always learn things i never think of!!
Thank you so much! I actually learn a lot myself when I start researching a topic for a video or when I ask my viewers for advice.
Nice one! Thanks irene and to all those who provided the innovative solutions :)
Another great video keep them coming!!
I love your videos and all the input from everyone. Thanks
I followed your hang on back filter with plants/filter floss in the filter, the tank is so crystal clear 100% ... Thankyou 😁
I have been using aqua clear hob since the late 90's & love them. I have 2 different kinds of sponges, bio max & aquarium floss. I absolutely love the hang on back filters.
PERFECT timing, I'm upgrading to a hang on back this weekend
holy cow! soap dish!?!? I didn't think about that!
Thank you. I always learn so much from you.
Thank you so much for making this video! I’ve been researching a lot and just the sheer amount of helpful knowledge is awesome thank you. Side not I love what you, Cory and the whole co op team put out. You are just so likable and really good at getting your point across, Cory just has this natural sarcastic funniness and who doesn’t love Dean the master. Sending good vibes from New York, I hope one day I can come to the store and meet you awesome people. Seems like such an awesome place to work. You hiring? Lol
Very helpful 👍 Thank you for the tips!
This is one of the most helpful videos I've ever watched!
Some of these hacks I never would have thought of! Thanks!
I actually cut a hole with a hole saw on my ac70 lid. Then insert the pothos plants thru the hole. Half of the roots grow into the filter and the other half into the tank. For Aquaclear filters, I highly recommend adding spacers to make the back of the filter tilt into the tank. This way the water won’t leak out the back if it overflows.
Thanks for these videos. I have been learning a lot!
So many great ideas. Thank you.
Excellent, informative video--lots of great information!
Thorough explanation, thanks! I was given a used hang on back just like yours when I started up a new tank a few years ago, if I'd watched this then I might have used it. But compared to the sponge filters I decided to use instead, the hang on back seems bulky, overly complex, inconvenient and potentially troublesome. After a few years of looking at the options, I believe I would go with a cannister filter if I went with mechanical filtering in the next tank I build. But likely I will go with sponge filters again.
very useful and practical tips finally after looking around so many different videos in youtube. 🙆🏼♂️
AMAZING TIPS! Thank you so much 🙂
Wow! This is amazing 🤩
Thanks girl 🎬🐟🌿🌊🧫
Weird like M.E.! My favorite aquarium hobby hack predates even the amazing AquaClear HOT filters. Who remembers the first acrylic box filters? Fiberglass media (ugh)? Charcoal? Cut to the chase, and just use bio-active gravel substrate as the media. Thanks, Lee Finley!
Great advice! Thanks
Thanks for showing this easy method
I love the soap box idea for the baffling the flow. I’ve done the water bottle thing and hated the way it looks. Thanks for the great idea.
Very helpful, thank you!
Great HOB filter tricks. HOBs are so versatile.
👍❤👍
i love the aqua clear ive got a 110 on my 55gal tank , it lets me just pick what media i want to use based on what i need at the time. most of the time i use the factory bottom sponge and poly-fil in a filter bag or sheets of filter floss , the customization options are really nice over the Tetra Wisper i used on my small tanks
Great video. I’d also add (if it hasn’t been mentioned) that you can buy coarse filter sheets like the one the co-op sells to fill out the HoB filter.
this is exactly what i was looking for!
A well earned like. Love the crowdsourcing.
Thank you so much. The info on the hang on the back filter was great. As was the floating plants idea. My floating plants are always getting stuck around the filter. I'm going to make a ring right now. Thank you so much.
Really good video definitely some things I didn’t think of
Thx for sharing the great tips 👍
Plant crazy and I love fish…..I never knew I could do that to a filter. Thank you!
These are great tips. I will try them out for sure.
thanks for this video! I will use these ideas!
Awesome ideas !!
Irene great helps--you are a good communicator.
Thank you , nice a simple
Your such a fish keeping icon!
Those were great tips!
I had a couple aquaclears and one broke. I tried to use my spare top fin, it came with the kit but I only used it a little while. It was too small so I went to get another aquaclear.
They were out of the size I needed but had a "top fin pro" which looked similar but was also less expensive. I actually like it better! The basket is easier to get in and out, it comes with a sponge for the intake, and you can even put floss or something in a chamber that the water comes out of!
Anyway, great tips, thanks for sharing.
I knew most of this but I didn't know about the surface skimmer that's pretty cool I might have to try that
Thank you for the video!
good ideas and the skimmer is a new one thanks.
SUPER helpful hacks!
The skimmer idea is new to me and sounds really good. Thanks for sharing these awesome "hacks".
My pleasure! Yeah, I find that I end up learning several new things myself when I research topics for a video or ask the audience for advice. 🤯
Agreed, i might make one out of plastic bottle with some suction cup behind it.
Great tips thank you
I use a small piece of plastic mosquito screen mesh on top of the aquarium floss for additional filtration, and I also wrapped a piece of it on the filter intake. Instead of the pre-filter sponge. Thank u! Cheers! 🥂
Thanks, I wish I could see this video when I started my hobby, I am using a bio sponge at my outflow to reduce the waterfall, will try the kitchen drain thing to reduce the water flow more:)
Congratulations!!! 👍Good job and nice ideas. Greetings from Álvaro Obregón, Ciudad de México.🤜🤛 🐟🐠🐟🐠🐟🐠
First and this video is exactly what i need right now since I'm new to HOB filters. Thanks Irene!💚
Love those AquaClear HOBs. They're more like small square cannister filters. I ran the sponge, a bag of crushed coral, polishing pads and a bag with some bio media in the AquaClear 70 I ran on my 30g cichlid tank. Had another that I ran on a 30g goldfish tank without the coral. Absolutely love the versatility. I'd usually only clean one of the bio media per water change since the crushed coral would also serve to house some biologicals and it'd keep the tank perfect.
Thanks for all the help the noise thing
Among the tricks I've seen done with/for the AquaClear HOBs, one for flow control that stands-out in my mind is how the impeller for the models 20-70 can be interchanged, as each has a higher or lower floe rate, respectively.
Also: inTank has a laser-cut acrylic basket for each of the AquaClear series that makes servicing and arranging one much easier than the factory-included basket.
This is a great tip great work mam
Excelente video. Muchas gracias.
Excellent ✌🏿👍🏿....i used eheim intake & made a 90 degree elbow to move input 9-10 " away from return flow
The only problem I have with hang-on-back is loud noise especially when water level gets low..hack 4 sounds really a good
solution, I might try it sometime. Thanks for sharing those ideas!
Are external filters quieter? I just want something as silent as possible whilst maintaining some level of a clean aesthetic
You can just use a canister filter to achieve that.
UGF with a power head makes no noise.
Don’t let your tank water get so low. Thats an easy fix.
Hey Irene, this is a great video, very nice work!!!
Thank you so much, Dean! That means a lot, especially coming from you.😁
Thanks Irene. These are great tips. I will be implementing the rubber band trick today. So clever. I love what Aquaclear filters do, but they have some quirks that I cannot stand.
Thank you!!!
OMG1 thank you so much for this video. You just save my pocket. I went to petsmart today and they told me that I have to change everything in the fluvial filter every single month. What was very wired is that their carbon replacement itself only one unit was $19.99. That is why you just save my pocket, Bank account etcccc. I already subscribed and gave you a like 👍🙏 By the way you have a very pleasent voice and good diction.
Kind regards,
Angie
Great info!!!!!
You've liked, you've commented (or at least you are taking time to read one)....if you haven't created an Aquarium Reference/Tips folder for yourself yet, now is the time and this video should definitely make the cut! It's so helpful to create your own reference library. THIS VIDEO IS ONE TO SAVE for sure. Totally accurate info, easy to understand, and has creative ways to change things up- loved the airline tube floating plant DIY idea- I can't believe I ever spent $$ on this floating rings that look and work just as well. Thank you Girl Talks Fish!:)
I’ve seen this before and just watched it again. Great tips thank you! I was wondering if you remember the soap dish you used? I’ve been searching and is hard to find that type, clear, with no metal.
awesome
I have actually used just a single disposable filter media pad for 4 years now! I’ve only ever had one problem with this, which was that one time ick broke out in the aquarium and I found ick all over my filter media!
Hang on backs are my favorite. They will give you necessary aeration and not take up any space in the water column
For Hack #5 you can cut and trim the impeller blades on the motor to reduce flow. Remember it's not how much you cut but how much you don't cut. A small change will make a large difference.
Hob filters are excellent planting beds!
Just pop the top, throw some aquarium plants in, and shine a light on it! Most common stem plants, such as ludwigia, bacopa, monte carlo, and pearlweed will do great.
One of mine has a huge mat of hydrocotyle triparta and baby tears growing out of it.
It serves as a resting place for my betta, filter baffle, extra biological filtration, and beautiful decoration all in one.
thank you aunty...got lots of information
Five Star Video!
Thank you!
🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Great job
Loved it 🎉🎉🎉
hello, great video about the aqua clear! i have a ac50 myself for my 29 community, just wanted to reccomend putting that filter floss in before you put ceramic or any biological media, the floss should really clean up the water so you wont have to worry about the tiny pores getting clogged with detritus as much, making your filter a bit more efficient. but otherwise it shouldnt matter much and is still a really great home for plently of bacteria.
I love your videos and wish you made more.
Good info!!
I use Pure-Flo Fine Filter Pad with 100 Microns 18"x30" by Coralife. Really works wonders on my water column looking crystal clear. It also can be cut to fit any mechanical filter application. They come in thin sheets so they wont add any extra bulk to my hang on back filter. Thanks so much for these amazing videos!
Woah, it looks like it's machine washable and reusable! I'll definitely have to check this out; thanks for the recommend.
@@GirlTalksFish Oh absolutely! I'm glad you like my tip and thanks again ☺
Thanks for video Joanna
I have a 5 in 1 Aqua Miracle filter and I want to use the Purigen 100 ml bag thanks for sharing the layering technique.I will give it a try . 👍🏼😁
Great video
I have a marineland filter that pushes all my duckweed down, which makes it get stuck to my prefilter sponge. I’m going to buy some suction cups and thicker vinyl tubing and try to make that guard for the outlet. Thanks for the tips!