*What's your favorite kind of filter?* Also, if you've ever wanted to try making your own filter, here's our DIY bucket filter tutorial: th-cam.com/video/4BZ6zyQIf60/w-d-xo.html
@@mobiussquadron When you create a video, you upload it to TH-cam days in advance to do all of the work like tags, links, descriptions, etc. During this time, you can create a comment and pin it before it is published.
I made a Hamberg Filter for my 4ft long tank. It works great and the small pump inside it sends water, via a plastic pipe, to the other end of my tank. It's been running for about 6 months with no water changes or cleaning. Should I get it out and give it a clean? Or leave well alone?
i've been out of the hobby for years and years, but i have been binging aquarium channel vids for a few weeks because i intend to jump back into it. i didn't really need a further breakdown on filters personally in order to understand them, but this is easily the best one on the subject i have watched.
Irene always kills it with the presentation. Even when you already know something, she reinforces what you know with tips from her own experiences and says something you never thought of. Love it
I have a Marineland Magnum 330 filter, an old one, that still works great, hardly any noise at all. But now getting hard to find parts for it since some things are just now wearing out. But have been very happy with it for past 20 yrs.
The information on the channel is so helpful. I have only had a small aquarium for the past few years, but now I've got a bigger one and there is still so much to learn.
Best video explaining filters so far .... ha ha all these guys out here making these videos don't explain nothing just reviewing no knowledge... like I already read the instructions I don't need them to repeat it ... so thankx girl 🤗
@@plantedlife Kind of, with it being a "box" so you can stack layers of whatever media you want in it, but it's different because it's inside the tank, not outside the tank. I prefer Lee's Triple-Flow Corner Filter if you are going the box filter route.
I've found them to be excellent. Low cost, low maintenance & very efficient. Contrary to what I've read, my plants are thriving with that, Finn lighting & Easy Green. 👍
@@vblackwell3347 I have UG in everything but my fry tank. Even my dirted tank has ~1/4 of the tank with UG under rocks. Easy circulation, and easy to season, not to mention least amount of work. And yes, plants **love** UG!
I LUV my ugf. It may seen antiquated, but I'm not. An Aquarium Coop video sold me on them. It's perfect for my Betta in his (yes) Heavily Planted 20 gal tank & it works perfectly. Try one.
@@Cgraseck I had two Bio-Wheel HOBs on my bedroom tank and I wound up replacing with a Marineland Magniflow 360. In my opinion - the Bio-Wheel filters have nearly silent motors but made a lot of water sounds. The Canister filter made no water noise but pretty loud motor. I recently went to a Fluval Performance 407 and its much quieter.
@@Ser_Arthur_Dayne I never had a Fluvial canister leak on me, but I'm sure that it can happen. That is the reason that I don't use any canisters anymore. I currently run 19 aquariums and not one has a canister filter. I can't afford a flood. Cheers, Chris
@@Cgraseck I hear you -to be 100% honest, it was a Marineland that leaked. When I bought it about 2 years ago, on Amazon, I was concerned that it could have been a return. There were definite water spots in and on the filter itself and it seemed like the parts package could have been repacked. I wrote Marineland an email and asked them if they could note this in "my file" so if I had warranty issues past the warranty date, they'd know that maybe I had received a lemon. They sent me another new filter for free and let me keep the old one. Told me "dispose of it as you see fit." - Well I'm not just gonna toss it. It worked great for about a year, and started leaking one day after maintenance. I bought a replacement o-ring gasket and it worked for another year - when it started leaking again. I replaced *all the o-rings* and it started leaking worse than before. I have tile floor but still. Anyway , Marineland can't really do anything for me, they already replaced it. I decided to just go with the Fluval that everyone raves about. So far so great. But I realize canister filters are not for everyone. To be 100% honest, I have had *TREMENDOUS SUCCESS* with Bio-Wheels over my 40 years of life. I just didn't like the splashing sound in my bedroom.
Delighted with this video! Thank you for this heartwarming content, Mr Justin expressed the same love and respect I have for all the creatures I care for in our home! Wonderful!
My little trick to make sure you do the maintenance on your filters is to do it the first week of the month. This way it's easy to remember! It works perfectly for my aquariums :D
When I started fish keeping, no one used filters. Fish were kept mostly in bowls or small 5 to 10 gallon tanks. You took all the fish and decor out, put the gravel in a bucket and ran water through it until it was clean, but it back, set up the tank and put the fish back in. Of course we were only keeping the hardiest of fish, like guppies and goldfish. Then they started using box filers with an air pump. It had charcoal and filter floss. It took most of the floating debris out, but not much more. Then under gravel filters became standard. You could use air pumps or power heads to pull the water through the gravel to turn it into a biological filter. That lasted for several decades. Eventually, canister and hang on back filters became common. Now sponge filters have became all the rage, but to me they seem like only slightly more advanced than the old corner box filter, just with better biological filtration. Now I see that many of the advanced aquarium keepers are using a refugium, a second thank, who's only purpose is for biological filtration. I personally prefer a large hang on back filter with bio wheels. Things never stop changing.
Great filter vid, covers options nicely! So far sponge filters and plants meet my needs, with few smaller tanks. I love the design and I'm eagerly waiting for Aquarium Coop filters to come to Canada, but as Cory explains, the numbers don't really add up yet.
Honestly I prefer a combination of sponge and under gravel filters. With proper circulation the sponge catches the majority of the particles floating in the water so you have a very limited buildup of ditritus in the gravel.
@@haitch04 My most stable tank ive ever had set up was a very heavily planted tank with a ugf. I had no issues with roots after 3 years when i tore it down. I had a triple layer of filter floss on the grates , then a layer of crushed black lava rock then black gravel ontop of that,
I have two 5 gallon tanks. I use the nano sponges and the nano air pump from Aquariumcoop. I also have a few live plants in each tank. My fish are male Bettas. They each have their own tank. I enjoy them everyday. 🐟🐠
I use sponge filters in conjunction with Ziss ZBS200 filters in my breeding tanks, works really well and canister filters in my display tanks, and tidal 35’s on my small display tanks 👍
If you use an under gravel filter and prepare it like a plenum [I think that's the correct term] does that represent a 4th alternative or must it still be supplemented by one of the three systems in this vid? My situation: I can only have one tank and it needs to be quiet.
I love your videos, even as an experienced aquarist I find your simple explanation of a subject so easy to understand. I agree, the sponge filter is my favourite too. I use 2 and clean each at different intervals. My tank is heavily planted so instead of using Air, they are driven by small power heads. HOB filters are great but can be a problem to use with a tight fitting lid unless this is cut out to accommodate. Great for open top tanks. The best filters are cannister types insofar as the have a number of different chambers that can be aerobic and anaerobic so are best at complete de-nitrification, however as you point out, the cost and the absolute pain of cleaning can be a problem for some. Thanks for sharing.
what ever happened to under gravel filters?? i have been out of the hobby for a long time. but when i was in all my tanks had them. i worked in a fish t=store and all the tanks had a good old under gravel filter. well all but the 240 and 500 gallon tanks had canister filters
I dont like canister filters because they tend to lie about their tank size they can filtrate. When you do the math they say they can filter a 400 gallon tank but the math says it can only filter a 250 gallon tank and still properly turn the water over in the tank. I try to get a filter that is rated 2x my tank size for optimum filtration since i like bigger messy fish. I have a small pond filter on my 75 gallon tank and a 12 foot rated pool filter on my 125 gallon, just fill the pool pump with bio balls for beneficial bacteria to grow. The filter cartridges arent expensive, and since many people dont like activated charcoal anyway you dont have to worry about it with just a paper filter that almost also works as a water polisher since its straining through a paper filter
One more filter... undergravel! I made my own using a small pond pump, so everything is silent. The entire substrate is the mechanical and the biological filtration and it works really well, in addition to it being in a heavily planted tank.
I started with one for my African cichlid tank many years ago. Bio load was ultimately more than it could handle, but I really liked the idea behind it and wanted to try again one day.
@@jawjagrrl yeah, I have heard cichlids produce quite a load! Mine are mostly nano fish, one betta, and one gold algae eater from Indonesia. I do have it double stocked but the load is fine. I use Dr. Tim's bacteria and they process everything very well.
She failed to mention the BOTTOM filter. I run two 55 gal. tanks and have bottom filters on both. They run off of two powerhead submersible pumps. These pumps circulate the water through the substrate {sand / gravel} which traps all the debris.
I had to get rid of my tanks about 4 or 5 years ago when our house got flooded (not caused by the fish tanks), but I’ve been looking forward to getting back to having tanks in the next couple months. I had tanks for about 25 years and have been watching lots of videos recently getting ideas and deciding what direction I want to go in and how many tanks I want to set up. I have to say that this was one of the best most informative videos I’ve seen anywhere pertaining to filtration, especially for someone new to the hobby. Great content!
Call me old fashioned...I still like to use under gravel filters in my tanks. Back when I started in the hobby we had those clear plastic box filters that used charcoal and glass wool in them. Under gravel filters were a blessing compared to the box filters. HOB filters slowly appeared but the first ones still needed an air pump and you started the up flow by filling the tube with water in the tank, putting your thumb over the end and quickly hanging it into the filter box and hoping it would siphon!
Completely agree with you. An under gravel filter takes advantage of something that is already there anyway, the substrate. As long as you do regular water changes and stir things up a bit, they do not become clogged and really are one of the best filters in my opinion for clear water and stable tank conditions.
I rigged up a combo undergravel and hang on back filter for mine. I made the undergravel part by making a grid out of PVC pipes from my local hardware store. I drilled tiny holes in the bottom of the pipes only. I power it with the siphon of my Aqueon hang-on-back filter. There are no aquarium stores near me so I had to order some black silicone tubing that was big enough to connect the two. The water that pours out is crystal clear. The only problem is sometimes when I disturb the gravel I get a tiny piece of sand sucked into my outside filter. This jams the impeller. I have to unplug it, disassemble it and clean the sand out.
@Daytona 6263 I uderstand that, but my point is that it's not representative of the most common internal filter. Most are completely submerged. If you're giving examples of all filters, it would make sense to use the most common example of each.
I thought I needed a canister when I set up my 125. Within 6 months I had abandoned it for a pair of Seachem Tidals. Ten minutes of maintenance per week gives excellent water quality.
Bought 2 big kick arse canister filters when setting up my 75 gallon planted tank a few years ago. After getting sick of cleaning up the puddles when they kept leaking they got thrown in the bin and i put in a couple of sponge filters as a short term fix. Well over a year later I still haven't changed them out as they are working perfectly.
What canisters did you buy? I keep hearing people talking about leaks, thankfully I haven't had this issue yet with any of my 5 canisters. My 406 fluval did leak briefly but I just replaces the o ring and it was fixed.
@@kyesniper Thy were Sun Sun's. 304B's from memory. Work well but there is an issue with them leaking up through the lid and out into the cabinet and all over the floor ... I redid seals and gooped them up but eventually just binned them. I wouldn't have expected this issue with quality brands, just that Sun Suns aren't a quality brand.
Hands down the best and easiest to digest video I've seen about the different types of filter. I would like opinions though. I'm planning on getting a 53 gallon aquarium for 2 figure 8 puffers as well as around 8-10 bumblebee gobies. Since they're messy eaters I've seen it's best to over filter than not. So from your experience what filter would you recommend? I'm willing to spend a little more now to prevent issues down the line. All suggestions and opinions are welcome :)
hey irene , sorry if the spelling is not correct ... i noticed that you dont use CO2 in your planted aquariums ... is there a reason for that ? i myself was against using it for sometime until i got some DIY kits to my aquariums .... the boost you get in plant filtration is amazing ... you should try it ! my 15 gallon heavily planted aquarium with 2 filters : a dual sponge filter and a motorized waterfall filter are now handling over 50 guppy frys with their parents !! ... before that i had only 9 guppies in that tank ... ofcourse you will have to find the appropriate light/filtelizer/CO2 balance to keep it well shaped
My problem with HOB is that in case of power outage the water drains from it and it cannot auto restart without manually adding water. So if a power outage is long enough and you are not home when it comes back there is a chance that HOB motor burns AND all bacteria dies out...
I know people like to poop on Canisters because Cory hates them, but since I have a single tank and its inside my bedroom, canister is PERFECT. No bubbling noise, and really good flow. HOB on a 55 left dead spots as 55g is long but thin. The only noise it makes is a very light humming and it actually helps me sleep with the grey noise. I find it to be a great solution for the one main display tank you have, but of course makes less sense if you run several tanks.
I don't poop on canisters because Cory doesn't like them. For me, it's because it takes me 2 hours to clean a canister and get it back to running and 5 minutes to clean a sponge filter.
@@retsaoter It depends what you're looking for in the system. To me each type were meant for different users. Cory has lots lots tanks and therefore canisters are a waste of money, and I agree. It takes a long time to wash and imagine him having several of them... it would be a nightmare.
@@kyfarmAnd that's a totally fair argument. But in my opinion each filter systems target different users. Personally the only place I can have my tank is in the bedroom and having a canister is much more useful to have than a sponge filter as it's much quieter and I don't need several HOBs. and I only have one tank so it's not that big of a deal. I will clean it once every couple of months. Pretty much the same time it would take to clean my HOB (over the same period of time). I also enjoy clear water so I always cringe when having to move my sponge filter :(
@@MatchuCT sorry to hurt your feelings. You can use whatever filter system you like. I don't pay your bills. What I said was a carefully crafted response directly to the assumption of Cory's influence not an attack on canister filters. If your personal identity is defined by canister filters there may be larger problems in your life.
❤Hi Irene! I love your Content. You’re the first channel I followed when I started fish keeping- so I guess you can say - you’ve taught me everything I know.. which I’m sorry to say, in 9 months isn’t very much 😅 but WAY more than if I didn’t find you. My fish thank you! ❤ I’m setting up a 55 gallon planted ( dirt and sand) tank for my female guppies (because there’s a million now😊-) I am trying to figure out what kind of filter to use- they are messy fish so I am worried that sponge filters won’t do it. I honestly don’t see much junk in my sponge filters as my HOB. So I’m worried I’m doing something wrong.
Great job on the video especially for beginners, for larger tanks I prefer a sump, there’s just so much room for biological material and you can have a refugium for plants and a spot to put a fish or two if they are being picked on.
You forgot to add the best over all filter of all time which is the slow moving plenem or and the bcb baskets which converts nitrates and phosphates as well as ur ammonia n nitrite nothing comes close to a bcb or a plenem
Unfortunately, mattenfilters were not mentioned. Yes, it's a form of sponge filter but it's huge and hides itself by becoming the background wall of the tank.
how to i keep my floating plants from getting pushed down and then getting caught in the filter? Edit: so i went to check on my fish this morning and one was sucked into part of the filter, she’s still alive but no fins.. and then i lost 2 of my shrimp that got stuck. i am going to change to something else
Loved this video , very informative , BUT , I still don't know which way to go. My wife and I have had multiple aquariums for years , we are about to downsize , I think. We have 7 aquariums , 2 75's , 1-55 , 1-36 , 1-30 , 1-26 and 1-20. They are all saltwater. We are getting rid of the 75s and instead mixing them into a 125gl which we have had before. We have always used HOB filters. I hate those things myself. What I would like to know is which would be better....... sponge filters for the 125 or canister filter ? I know it may be a preference kind of thing but I would like some input. Thanks to anyone who comments. God Bless !!! Jesus Is The Way , The Truth and The Life !!!
Thank you for the great advice. I am new to the hobby and this was a nice intro. I feel more confident about trying fish for the first time. Keeping them healthy was my biggest concern and this helped answer alot of questions. Many thanks
In my next aquarium, I am going to try a sponge filter!! I started with a HOB that came in my kit. I got tired of buying cartridges or feeling frustrated when my local pet store kept running out of them. I got a larger quieter HOB next after watching a video of Cory customizing it with foam and bio rings. I used that forever on that aquarium. When I got a larger aquarium, I tried a canister filter. I used a Fluval 207. I’ve been using it for about three years. I service it about once a month. I added a pre-filter sponge on the intake which Cory recommended in a video. It has a valve when I go to service it to keep water from flowing out when I disconnect the tubes. It’s never leaked or had a flooding issue. I just bring a bucket of tank water to my back porch, remove the media and rinse it in the bucket, and stick it back in the canister and hook it all back up again. It takes less than ten minutes and it’s running on an overstocked 29 gallon and I don’t have any issues with water quality or ammonia spikes which is so handy (it’s also a really heavily planted tank). I like that with both the HOB and Cannister I can customize it to achieve a certain goal. For example, in a nano aquarium I have, I wanted to naturally lower my pH and create more tannins in the water. I added some leaf litter to the aquarium and I added peat moss to the HOB filter. I added fine filter floss in another aquarium to get crystal clear water. It’s kind of fun to experiment with and see the effect on my fish, plants, or water parameters. I am really excited to try a sponge filter because I’ve seen a bazillion aquarium co-op videos promoting sponges and I just never did it since I already had a happy filter system working on my aquariums. I’m hoping to start another one in the fall and really looking forward to enjoying a sponge and trying something new. There seem to be so many great benefits!
Idk but sponge filters don’t work for me they don’t clean and my water was cloudy ans then I switched filters to a hang on the back and my water was clear within a day or so
I've become a big fan of Lee's Triple Flow Corner Filter. They're cheap, customizable, easy maintenance, and include an air stone. I add a small one to my tanks as an auxiliary filter and stuff it full of filter fiber. It makes an easy water polisher.
About 15 dollors for the large one.. perfect for your 40 GAL TANK... fill it with filter floss and a lil coral rocks at the bottom to weigh it down. Water will be amazingly clear with this type of slow pass filter.. so much better then canister or HOB filters for clear water.. Just hide it behind a decoration in your tank like a rock.. @@dingringdong7150
I have a white hair type algae that has overtaken my aquarium and WILL NOT go away! How do I get rid of this? It has even blanketed my gravel. PLEASE anyone HELP!!!
I have an overhead sump system on one of my tanks & had the same swelling issue with sponge🤦 I had bio sponge loaded into the first chamber where the water flowed in & woke up one morning & thought my tank was cracked somewhere.. water EVERYWHERE !! I broke the whole thing down & swapped tanks just for it to do it again a month later.. that's when I figured out it was the damn sponge getting clogged
Yeah, I'm done with canister filters. You're more likely to change out your media when it's easily accessible, not when you have to disconnect hoses, shut everything off, blah, blah... I had a leak on a canister filter that would not seal even with a new gasket because there was a chip in the plastic casing, so I threw it out and never looked back with easy-to-maintain HOB filters...
First, I like the information. But two things, first didn't much care for the cop-out ending "just depends" isn't much of a commitment to all that great information. Also the two videos you referenced at the end are not showing up as cards at the end of the video, it's actually showing a card for how to properly vacuum gravel a tank.
Box filters! Plastic box filters. They provide much better mechanical filtration than sponge filters, they're cheaper, you can see when they need to be cleaned, and they don't require an airstone so they don't clog. They're also known to last decades and have 0 working parts. Test it for yourself if you have a big tank. Put a box filter on one half of your aquarium with some marbles and polyester stuffing in it, and put a sponge filter on the other half. The longer you let them run the clearer it is how ineffective sponge filters are. The sponge filter will keep your water clear and biologically filtered, but it isn't going to do any work for you, and you'll need to start keeping a cleaning schedule. It's too bad these have gone so far out of style they weren't even mentioned.
*What's your favorite kind of filter?* Also, if you've ever wanted to try making your own filter, here's our DIY bucket filter tutorial: th-cam.com/video/4BZ6zyQIf60/w-d-xo.html
how was this pinned a week ago when the video was uploaded today?
I'm really enjoying the aquarium co-op sponge filters ..... 😜
@@mobiussquadron When you create a video, you upload it to TH-cam days in advance to do all of the work like tags, links, descriptions, etc. During this time, you can create a comment and pin it before it is published.
I made a Hamberg Filter for my 4ft long tank.
It works great and the small pump inside it sends water, via a plastic pipe, to the other end of my tank.
It's been running for about 6 months with no water changes or cleaning.
Should I get it out and give it a clean?
Or leave well alone?
Sponge Filters 🙂👍
i've been out of the hobby for years and years, but i have been binging aquarium channel vids for a few weeks because i intend to jump back into it. i didn't really need a further breakdown on filters personally in order to understand them, but this is easily the best one on the subject i have watched.
When I use filters, I go for sponge filters and box filters for the win. Another clear, concise explanation of various filter options.
👍❤️👍
Irene always manages to make fishkeeping easy to understand. I wish I had professors like you!
Irene always kills it with the presentation. Even when you already know something, she reinforces what you know with tips from her own experiences and says something you never thought of. Love it
I agree. I've been keeping fish for 10+ years and yet I still find this video entertaining.
I agree I really like the way she presents information, combines it with her opinion and experience and gives a personable atmosphere.
I have a Marineland Magnum 330 filter, an old one, that still works great, hardly any noise at all. But now getting hard to find parts for it since some things are just now wearing out. But have been very happy with it for past 20 yrs.
The information on the channel is so helpful. I have only had a small aquarium for the past few years, but now I've got a bigger one and there is still so much to learn.
Best video explaining filters so far .... ha ha all these guys out here making these videos don't explain nothing just reviewing no knowledge... like I already read the instructions I don't need them to repeat it ... so thankx girl 🤗
Just replaced my marineland disposable filter with aquarium co-op coarse sponge and fine sponge filter and my tank is crystal clear 😇
You shoulf post a video of your tank on youtube
@@hulloitsbunawhale9329 i agree
How can I lessen the water flow on an aqueon hob filter for my 10gal tank?
@@hulloitsbunawhale9329 posted!
Nice lol I love Sponge Filter they are inexpensive and work well 😀
Nobody ever talks about the good ol' box filter anymore.
Is it the one that's like a HOB filter that runs on air like sponge filter?
@@plantedlife Kind of, with it being a "box" so you can stack layers of whatever media you want in it, but it's different because it's inside the tank, not outside the tank. I prefer Lee's Triple-Flow Corner Filter if you are going the box filter route.
What about under gravel filters
I've found them to be excellent. Low cost, low maintenance & very efficient. Contrary to what I've read, my plants are thriving with that, Finn lighting & Easy Green. 👍
@@vblackwell3347 I have UG in everything but my fry tank.
Even my dirted tank has ~1/4 of the tank with UG under rocks.
Easy circulation, and easy to season, not to mention least amount of work.
And yes, plants **love** UG!
Omg I love when she makes videos too! Love you guys god bless aquarium co-op!!
I thought this was girl talks fish before she sid "I'm Irene from Aquarium Co-Op"
I LUV my ugf. It may seen antiquated, but I'm not. An Aquarium Coop video sold me on them. It's perfect for my Betta in his (yes) Heavily Planted 20 gal tank & it works perfectly. Try one.
I have used them for 40 some years.
Even my dirted aquarium has about a quarter of the tank with UG filter. Plants, fish, and snails are all thrilled.
Been using UG for over 4 decades.
Just added one to my 55 gallon and a ten gallon tank. I had them many years ago and they always worked great.
Your exceptional descriptions are so helpful! My fish are happier and healthier because of your videos.
The other con for canister filter is that they can leak.
I would say that this is the
major problem with them. They can also be noisy.
@@Cgraseck I had two Bio-Wheel HOBs on my bedroom tank and I wound up replacing with a Marineland Magniflow 360. In my opinion - the Bio-Wheel filters have nearly silent motors but made a lot of water sounds. The Canister filter made no water noise but pretty loud motor. I recently went to a Fluval Performance 407 and its much quieter.
@@Ser_Arthur_Dayne I never had a Fluvial canister leak on me, but I'm sure that it can happen. That is the reason that I don't use any canisters anymore. I currently run 19 aquariums and not one has a canister filter. I can't afford a flood.
Cheers,
Chris
@@Cgraseck I hear you -to be 100% honest, it was a Marineland that leaked. When I bought it about 2 years ago, on Amazon, I was concerned that it could have been a return. There were definite water spots in and on the filter itself and it seemed like the parts package could have been repacked. I wrote Marineland an email and asked them if they could note this in "my file" so if I had warranty issues past the warranty date, they'd know that maybe I had received a lemon. They sent me another new filter for free and let me keep the old one. Told me "dispose of it as you see fit." - Well I'm not just gonna toss it. It worked great for about a year, and started leaking one day after maintenance. I bought a replacement o-ring gasket and it worked for another year - when it started leaking again. I replaced *all the o-rings* and it started leaking worse than before. I have tile floor but still. Anyway , Marineland can't really do anything for me, they already replaced it. I decided to just go with the Fluval that everyone raves about. So far so great. But I realize canister filters are not for everyone. To be 100% honest, I have had *TREMENDOUS SUCCESS* with Bio-Wheels over my 40 years of life. I just didn't like the splashing sound in my bedroom.
Delighted with this video! Thank you for this heartwarming content, Mr Justin expressed the same love and respect I have for all the creatures I care for in our home! Wonderful!
I just bought an AC50 for a 29gal. Curious if it’s best hanging on back or side for best circulation around tank? Good video thank you
My little trick to make sure you do the maintenance on your filters is to do it the first week of the month. This way it's easy to remember! It works perfectly for my aquariums :D
Im getting the double sponge filter, so ill just be doing that during water changes
I'm a relatively new fish keeper and I just took my filter out and added a ton more plants any advice?
When I started fish keeping, no one used filters. Fish were kept mostly in bowls or small 5 to 10 gallon tanks. You took all the fish and decor out, put the gravel in a bucket and ran water through it until it was clean, but it back, set up the tank and put the fish back in. Of course we were only keeping the hardiest of fish, like guppies and goldfish. Then they started using box filers with an air pump. It had charcoal and filter floss. It took most of the floating debris out, but not much more. Then under gravel filters became standard. You could use air pumps or power heads to pull the water through the gravel to turn it into a biological filter. That lasted for several decades. Eventually, canister and hang on back filters became common. Now sponge filters have became all the rage, but to me they seem like only slightly more advanced than the old corner box filter, just with better biological filtration. Now I see that many of the advanced aquarium keepers are using a refugium, a second thank, who's only purpose is for biological filtration. I personally prefer a large hang on back filter with bio wheels. Things never stop changing.
This was such a great educational video❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Great filter vid, covers options nicely! So far sponge filters and plants meet my needs, with few smaller tanks. I love the design and I'm eagerly waiting for Aquarium Coop filters to come to Canada, but as Cory explains, the numbers don't really add up yet.
You didn't mention undergravel filters...WHY?
It's unfair to refer to AC problems as HOB problems. AC are overly complicated filters that have issues no other HOB have.
Honestly I prefer a combination of sponge and under gravel filters. With proper circulation the sponge catches the majority of the particles floating in the water so you have a very limited buildup of ditritus in the gravel.
So its better with that plastic on or off on sponge filter?
Absolutely 💯
It does sound good on aquariuns with larger gravel grains on the sunstrate!
Under gravel is fine unless you have a planted tank.
@@haitch04 My most stable tank ive ever had set up was a very heavily planted tank with a ugf. I had no issues with roots after 3 years when i tore it down. I had a triple layer of filter floss on the grates , then a layer of crushed black lava rock then black gravel ontop of that,
Beautiful. The tank is too😁
I have two 5 gallon tanks. I use the nano sponges and the nano air pump from Aquariumcoop. I also have a few live plants in each tank. My fish are male Bettas. They each have their own tank. I enjoy them everyday. 🐟🐠
Plant filters are the best filters
👍 Aquarium Co-Op sponge filter is my favorite. I have canisters but I hate cleaning them. Hang on back with pump in the tank are my 2nd favorite.
External hangon back filter would be a better choice
What HOB canister is presented, I like that one and would like to buy?
What about size of tank determines how big the filter . And whether you have a planted tank or sand and rock . Please give suggestions .
I use sponge filters in conjunction with Ziss ZBS200 filters in my breeding tanks, works really well and canister filters in my display tanks, and tidal 35’s on my small display tanks 👍
Is that the Ziss moving bed filter Irene referenced?
@@traumahealingandprevention yes the same, maybe a different model but the same if that makes sense
@Gen M best HOB you can get, in my opinion, I use the 35 and 110, couldn’t be happier 👍
Great info! Love the tank in this video. Is it 20 gallons? Also, what brand of tank stand is it on? Thanks :)
What are some kinds of plants you would recommend?
No love for the sump crowd? Ouch
You forgot about one of the best filters there is the sump filter.
A sump is simply a diy canister filter
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An actual sump isnt really a beginners type of filtration. Which is generally who these videos are aimed at.
And the Hamburg Matten filter, basically an undergravel filter standing on its edge 😆
This actual a new thing for me i knever know exsisted. Its on the airpump, so it has double function. Good video!
Hi Irene!! Hope you’re doing well there. Great video!
Hi and thank you!
I just cut a hole in a large cylinder of sponge and use it to cover the intake for my mini spray bar.
If you use an under gravel filter and prepare it like a plenum [I think that's the correct term] does that represent a 4th alternative or must it still be supplemented by one of the three systems in this vid? My situation: I can only have one tank and it needs to be quiet.
I only have one tank, a 15 (54l) gallon. I use an internal filter an Ehiem pickup 60 and it is completly quiet. You cant hear it at all.
I love your videos, even as an experienced aquarist I find your simple explanation of a subject so easy to understand.
I agree, the sponge filter is my favourite too. I use 2 and clean each at different intervals. My tank is heavily planted so instead of using Air, they are driven by small power heads.
HOB filters are great but can be a problem to use with a tight fitting lid unless this is cut out to accommodate. Great for open top tanks.
The best filters are cannister types insofar as the have a number of different chambers that can be aerobic and anaerobic so are best at complete de-nitrification, however as you point out, the cost and the absolute pain of cleaning can be a problem for some. Thanks for sharing.
what ever happened to under gravel filters?? i have been out of the hobby for a long time. but when i was in all my tanks had them. i worked in a fish t=store and all the tanks had a good old under gravel filter. well all but the 240 and 500 gallon tanks had canister filters
Under gravel and box filters?
I dont like canister filters because they tend to lie about their tank size they can filtrate. When you do the math they say they can filter a 400 gallon tank but the math says it can only filter a 250 gallon tank and still properly turn the water over in the tank. I try to get a filter that is rated 2x my tank size for optimum filtration since i like bigger messy fish. I have a small pond filter on my 75 gallon tank and a 12 foot rated pool filter on my 125 gallon, just fill the pool pump with bio balls for beneficial bacteria to grow. The filter cartridges arent expensive, and since many people dont like activated charcoal anyway you dont have to worry about it with just a paper filter that almost also works as a water polisher since its straining through a paper filter
One more filter... undergravel! I made my own using a small pond pump, so everything is silent. The entire substrate is the mechanical and the biological filtration and it works really well, in addition to it being in a heavily planted tank.
I started with one for my African cichlid tank many years ago. Bio load was ultimately more than it could handle, but I really liked the idea behind it and wanted to try again one day.
@@jawjagrrl yeah, I have heard cichlids produce quite a load! Mine are mostly nano fish, one betta, and one gold algae eater from Indonesia. I do have it double stocked but the load is fine. I use Dr. Tim's bacteria and they process everything very well.
Also, what about a sump!
Yes I just followed your channel also. I was just looking up filter videos and just in time you posted this
Great video, thank you -
Your are missing the matten corner filter and internal sumps which are also worth exploring.
You Are a Very Good, Informative as well as Entertaining Host. You've Helped Me Keep 9 Tanks Healthy. Thanks.
9:18 it looks like it overflowed when you put the media back in
Helps to un plug it first.
Could I run a 29 gallon with a sponge filter? Medium sized?
internals are good too, when the power flashes off, it restarts without priming
nice video anyway! very informatic.
I use Sponge Filtration for most of my fish room except for like my predator fish since they can be messy 😆
She failed to mention the BOTTOM filter. I run two 55 gal. tanks and have bottom filters on both. They run off of two powerhead submersible pumps. These pumps circulate the water through the substrate {sand / gravel} which traps all the debris.
some hang on back filter is so bad
How about an under gravel filter with power head ?
I had to get rid of my tanks about 4 or 5 years ago when our house got flooded (not caused by the fish tanks), but I’ve been looking forward to getting back to having tanks in the next couple months. I had tanks for about 25 years and have been watching lots of videos recently getting ideas and deciding what direction I want to go in and how many tanks I want to set up. I have to say that this was one of the best most informative videos I’ve seen anywhere pertaining to filtration, especially for someone new to the hobby. Great content!
Call me old fashioned...I still like to use under gravel filters in my tanks. Back when I started in the hobby we had those clear plastic box filters that used charcoal and glass wool in them. Under gravel filters were a blessing compared to the box filters. HOB filters slowly appeared but the first ones still needed an air pump and you started the up flow by filling the tube with water in the tank, putting your thumb over the end and quickly hanging it into the filter box and hoping it would siphon!
Completely agree with you. An under gravel filter takes advantage of something that is already there anyway, the substrate. As long as you do regular water changes and stir things up a bit, they do not become clogged and really are one of the best filters in my opinion for clear water and stable tank conditions.
I rigged up a combo undergravel and hang on back filter for mine. I made the undergravel part by making a grid out of PVC pipes from my local hardware store. I drilled tiny holes in the bottom of the pipes only. I power it with the siphon of my Aqueon hang-on-back filter. There are no aquarium stores near me so I had to order some black silicone tubing that was big enough to connect the two. The water that pours out is crystal clear.
The only problem is sometimes when I disturb the gravel I get a tiny piece of sand sucked into my outside filter. This jams the impeller. I have to unplug it, disassemble it and clean the sand out.
Hi, I am new to this hobby, and you have taught me so much valuable tips in this video. Thank you so much!
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Love an internal filter and canister. Don't get the love of hob. And sponge filters I can't find one I can attach an airtime to in Australia
What about sump filtration?
if your "internal filter" is hanging out of the top, is it an internal filter?
@Daytona 6263 but it's not a good example of an internal filter. Most internal filters are completely submerged.
@Daytona 6263 I uderstand that, but my point is that it's not representative of the most common internal filter. Most are completely submerged. If you're giving examples of all filters, it would make sense to use the most common example of each.
Having you work with aquarium coop makes the best possible info for many of us who are on the learning curve with fish keeping
Canisters are nice, but I ditched them long ago, switched over to sponge filters and hob, same results, and way easier to clean.
I thought I needed a canister when I set up my 125. Within 6 months I had abandoned it for a pair of Seachem Tidals. Ten minutes of maintenance per week gives excellent water quality.
@@sardineRN I run those plus a sponge in my 125, 180 & 240, always crystal clear
Bought 2 big kick arse canister filters when setting up my 75 gallon planted tank a few years ago. After getting sick of cleaning up the puddles when they kept leaking they got thrown in the bin and i put in a couple of sponge filters as a short term fix. Well over a year later I still haven't changed them out as they are working perfectly.
What canisters did you buy? I keep hearing people talking about leaks, thankfully I haven't had this issue yet with any of my 5 canisters. My 406 fluval did leak briefly but I just replaces the o ring and it was fixed.
@@kyesniper Thy were Sun Sun's. 304B's from memory. Work well but there is an issue with them leaking up through the lid and out into the cabinet and all over the floor ... I redid seals and gooped them up but eventually just binned them. I wouldn't have expected this issue with quality brands, just that Sun Suns aren't a quality brand.
Amazing my friend
Why spongefilter in a fluval flex with a pump?
Video was helpful/useful for me
Hands down the best and easiest to digest video I've seen about the different types of filter.
I would like opinions though. I'm planning on getting a 53 gallon aquarium for 2 figure 8 puffers as well as around 8-10 bumblebee gobies. Since they're messy eaters I've seen it's best to over filter than not. So from your experience what filter would you recommend? I'm willing to spend a little more now to prevent issues down the line.
All suggestions and opinions are welcome :)
hey irene , sorry if the spelling is not correct ... i noticed that you dont use CO2 in your planted aquariums ... is there a reason for that ? i myself was against using it for sometime until i got some DIY kits to my aquariums .... the boost you get in plant filtration is amazing ... you should try it !
my 15 gallon heavily planted aquarium with 2 filters : a dual sponge filter and a motorized waterfall filter are now handling over 50 guppy frys with their parents !! ... before that i had only 9 guppies in that tank ... ofcourse you will have to find the appropriate light/filtelizer/CO2 balance to keep it well shaped
BOX FILTERS... BOX FILTERS.... those are the best because you can add in your media of choice.. it clears the water best.
Do HOB filters provide enough water movement alone or no?
It does, but not as efficient as sponge filters.
You forgot about sumps.
My problem with HOB is that in case of power outage the water drains from it and it cannot auto restart without manually adding water. So if a power outage is long enough and you are not home when it comes back there is a chance that HOB motor burns AND all bacteria dies out...
@Gen M Mine is Tetra Whisper...
@Gen M praying for no power outages :)
Sumps all day long 🤙🏼
No Cory no likey
I know people like to poop on Canisters because Cory hates them, but since I have a single tank and its inside my bedroom, canister is PERFECT. No bubbling noise, and really good flow. HOB on a 55 left dead spots as 55g is long but thin. The only noise it makes is a very light humming and it actually helps me sleep with the grey noise. I find it to be a great solution for the one main display tank you have, but of course makes less sense if you run several tanks.
I don't poop on canisters because Cory doesn't like them. For me, it's because it takes me 2 hours to clean a canister and get it back to running and 5 minutes to clean a sponge filter.
Cory doesn't hate them. He just says they are expensive and complex for hobbyist. What Cory hates is inefficient systems.
@@retsaoter It depends what you're looking for in the system. To me each type were meant for different users. Cory has lots lots tanks and therefore canisters are a waste of money, and I agree. It takes a long time to wash and imagine him having several of them... it would be a nightmare.
@@kyfarmAnd that's a totally fair argument. But in my opinion each filter systems target different users. Personally the only place I can have my tank is in the bedroom and having a canister is much more useful to have than a sponge filter as it's much quieter and I don't need several HOBs. and I only have one tank so it's not that big of a deal. I will clean it once every couple of months. Pretty much the same time it would take to clean my HOB (over the same period of time). I also enjoy clear water so I always cringe when having to move my sponge filter :(
@@MatchuCT sorry to hurt your feelings. You can use whatever filter system you like. I don't pay your bills. What I said was a carefully crafted response directly to the assumption of Cory's influence not an attack on canister filters. If your personal identity is defined by canister filters there may be larger problems in your life.
❤Hi Irene! I love your Content. You’re the first channel I followed when I started fish keeping- so I guess you can say - you’ve taught me everything I know.. which I’m sorry to say, in 9 months isn’t very much 😅 but WAY more than if I didn’t find you. My fish thank you! ❤
I’m setting up a 55 gallon planted ( dirt and sand) tank for my female guppies (because there’s a million now😊-) I am trying to figure out what kind of filter to use- they are messy fish so I am worried that sponge filters won’t do it. I honestly don’t see much junk in my sponge filters as my HOB. So I’m worried I’m doing something wrong.
Great job on the video especially for beginners, for larger tanks I prefer a sump, there’s just so much room for biological material and you can have a refugium for plants and a spot to put a fish or two if they are being picked on.
You forgot to add the best over all filter of all time which is the slow moving plenem or and the bcb baskets which converts nitrates and phosphates as well as ur ammonia n nitrite nothing comes close to a bcb or a plenem
Me with an all in one filter system walled off from the majority of the tank space with mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration
If u want the best for ur fish u get a plenem it grows plants like mad and u won't ever get algae issues it gives u everything and a lot more
new subscriber here!! a sponge filter and some plants will take care of your tank for ever
Unfortunately, mattenfilters were not mentioned. Yes, it's a form of sponge filter but it's huge and hides itself by becoming the background wall of the tank.
Right! And you can grow algae in them to keep the front algae free.
Right! And you can grow algae in them to keep the front algae free.
how to i keep my floating plants from getting pushed down and then getting caught in the filter?
Edit: so i went to check on my fish this morning and one was sucked into part of the filter, she’s still alive but no fins.. and then i lost 2 of my shrimp that got stuck. i am going to change to something else
Just a small correction. Plants will do chemical filtration, it just depends on the species. Some can even remove heavy metals from the water.
Loved this video , very informative , BUT , I still don't know which way to go. My wife and I have had multiple aquariums for years , we are about to downsize , I think. We have 7 aquariums , 2 75's , 1-55 , 1-36 , 1-30 , 1-26 and 1-20. They are all saltwater. We are getting rid of the 75s and instead mixing them into a 125gl which we have had before. We have always used HOB filters. I hate those things myself. What I would like to know is which would be better....... sponge filters for the 125 or canister filter ? I know it may be a preference kind of thing but I would like some input.
Thanks to anyone who comments.
God Bless !!!
Jesus Is The Way , The Truth and The Life !!!
Thank you for the great advice. I am new to the hobby and this was a nice intro. I feel more confident about trying fish for the first time. Keeping them healthy was my biggest concern and this helped answer alot of questions. Many thanks
In my next aquarium, I am going to try a sponge filter!! I started with a HOB that came in my kit. I got tired of buying cartridges or feeling frustrated when my local pet store kept running out of them. I got a larger quieter HOB next after watching a video of Cory customizing it with foam and bio rings. I used that forever on that aquarium. When I got a larger aquarium, I tried a canister filter. I used a Fluval 207. I’ve been using it for about three years. I service it about once a month. I added a pre-filter sponge on the intake which Cory recommended in a video. It has a valve when I go to service it to keep water from flowing out when I disconnect the tubes. It’s never leaked or had a flooding issue. I just bring a bucket of tank water to my back porch, remove the media and rinse it in the bucket, and stick it back in the canister and hook it all back up again. It takes less than ten minutes and it’s running on an overstocked 29 gallon and I don’t have any issues with water quality or ammonia spikes which is so handy (it’s also a really heavily planted tank). I like that with both the HOB and Cannister I can customize it to achieve a certain goal. For example, in a nano aquarium I have, I wanted to naturally lower my pH and create more tannins in the water. I added some leaf litter to the aquarium and I added peat moss to the HOB filter. I added fine filter floss in another aquarium to get crystal clear water. It’s kind of fun to experiment with and see the effect on my fish, plants, or water parameters. I am really excited to try a sponge filter because I’ve seen a bazillion aquarium co-op videos promoting sponges and I just never did it since I already had a happy filter system working on my aquariums. I’m hoping to start another one in the fall and really looking forward to enjoying a sponge and trying something new. There seem to be so many great benefits!
Great share! Thanks Aquarium Co-op! - Little Bobby
Idk but sponge filters don’t work for me they don’t clean and my water was cloudy ans then I switched filters to a hang on the back and my water was clear within a day or so
I've become a big fan of Lee's Triple Flow Corner Filter. They're cheap, customizable, easy maintenance, and include an air stone. I add a small one to my tanks as an auxiliary filter and stuff it full of filter fiber. It makes an easy water polisher.
How much is it and is it good for 40 Gallon
About 15 dollors for the large one.. perfect for your 40 GAL TANK... fill it with filter floss and a lil coral rocks at the bottom to weigh it down. Water will be amazingly clear with this type of slow pass filter.. so much better then canister or HOB filters for clear water.. Just hide it behind a decoration in your tank like a rock.. @@dingringdong7150
I have a white hair type algae that has overtaken my aquarium and WILL NOT go away! How do I get rid of this? It has even blanketed my gravel. PLEASE anyone HELP!!!
I have an overhead sump system on one of my tanks & had the same swelling issue with sponge🤦 I had bio sponge loaded into the first chamber where the water flowed in & woke up one morning & thought my tank was cracked somewhere.. water EVERYWHERE !! I broke the whole thing down & swapped tanks just for it to do it again a month later.. that's when I figured out it was the damn sponge getting clogged
Yeah, I'm done with canister filters. You're more likely to change out your media when it's easily accessible, not when you have to disconnect hoses, shut everything off, blah, blah... I had a leak on a canister filter that would not seal even with a new gasket because there was a chip in the plastic casing, so I threw it out and never looked back with easy-to-maintain HOB filters...
First, I like the information. But two things, first didn't much care for the cop-out ending "just depends" isn't much of a commitment to all that great information. Also the two videos you referenced at the end are not showing up as cards at the end of the video, it's actually showing a card for how to properly vacuum gravel a tank.
No mention of undergravel filters or combinations. Any reason? I use HOB combined with UGF's.
Box filters! Plastic box filters. They provide much better mechanical filtration than sponge filters, they're cheaper, you can see when they need to be cleaned, and they don't require an airstone so they don't clog. They're also known to last decades and have 0 working parts. Test it for yourself if you have a big tank. Put a box filter on one half of your aquarium with some marbles and polyester stuffing in it, and put a sponge filter on the other half. The longer you let them run the clearer it is how ineffective sponge filters are.
The sponge filter will keep your water clear and biologically filtered, but it isn't going to do any work for you, and you'll need to start keeping a cleaning schedule. It's too bad these have gone so far out of style they weren't even mentioned.