Best Filter for a 30 gallons

Daniel1 · 09-09-2006, 11:11 PM

hi im planning on getting a 30 gallons tank but im confused about the filter...which one should i buy?.....a canister filter such as a Rena filstar xp1 or a hob such as Empero 280?............what are the advantages of canisters?...obviousy canister are more expensive...but are they worth it?...what should i do?
Thanks a lot
Daniel

rba · 09-10-2006, 01:22 AM

I like canisters because the intake and output can be placed almost anywhere you want. Also they can hold a LOT of media. The down side is with most it's hard to tell when it needs cleaning and if the power goes out they go anaerobic FAST.

I like big HOTBs because I can just stuff them with AquaClear foam and it is easy to see when the water flow slows and lifting out the media and rinsing it only takes minutes.

There is no single correct answer.

I would decide what kind of tank it will be, what fish, fake or live plants, soft water with lowish pH or hard water high pH... Then match the fiter to your needs. If you want a live planted tank with a school of small tetras and a few corys a HOTB will be fine IMO.

Puffer Pita · 09-10-2006, 07:10 AM

The Rena canisters are definitely worth it.

**JustOneMore20** · 09-10-2006, 08:37 AM

On a 30g you could go either way. I have a 29g tank with an Aquaclear 50 HOB and it does the job. You could get the XP1, but it only has 1 media basket. They do a great job of keeping the water clean and you don't have a big filter on the tank....it sits out of the way.

Personally I'd go with a HOB so that you can put alot of media in it (not sure if you can in Emporers). The XP1 with only 1 media basket won't give you too much room for all the media you need. I'd get the XP2 instead, but it might be overkill on a 30g.

In the end, its up to you. If you want to pay for a cannister, then go for it. I love my XP3. It is super quiet and easy to clean.

Daniel1 · 09-10-2006, 09:34 AM

so you think i should go with a HOB?

Daniel1 · 09-10-2006, 09:36 AM

im planing on having some schooling fish....some bottom dwellers ...some fake and some real plants...and i also want to pass the fish i have in my 10 gals tank..which are 4 white skirt tetra...4 platies and 2 blindcave....according to my bioload..should i go canister or HOB...i know HOBs are cheaper...but are they as reliable as Canisters?

**JustOneMore20** · 09-10-2006, 11:56 AM

IMO HOB filters like Emporer and Aquaclear are very reliable. I've never had Emporer filters, but have heard good things about them. All my Aquaclear filters (I have 3) have been going strong since I got them.

Its up to you what to get. I can't decide for you.

With the XP cannisters, you'll have to buy some biological filtration like some bio-balls, bio-stars, or ceramic rings. That is extra costs. If you do go with a cannister, I'd get the XP2 instead of the XP1 because you have more room for media.

Puffer Pita · 09-10-2006, 12:24 PM

XPs come with all necessary media.

emc7 · 09-10-2006, 01:16 PM

Canisters are quieter, but a hang on back is easier to tell when in need cleaning

**JustOneMore20** · 09-10-2006, 03:43 PM

My XP3s did not come with biological media. They come with foam pads, microfiltration pad and some chemical media. You have to buy the biological.

Puffer Pita · 09-10-2006, 07:25 PM

Pretty much anything with any sort of surface is a biological media. I know someone who sticks nylon kitchen scrubbies in his filters for biological media. The foam pads make an excellent biological media, IMO, but I'm also of the opinion that filter media only needs to be changed when its completely worn out and falling apart, too. Bio-balls, star, etc., are unnecessary IMO.

09-09-2006, 11:11 PM	#1
Daniel1 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 17 Posts: 62	Best Filter for a 30 gallons hi im planning on getting a 30 gallons tank but im confused about the filter...which one should i buy?.....a canister filter such as a Rena filstar xp1 or a hob such as Empero 280?............what are the advantages of canisters?...obviousy canister are more expensive...but are they worth it?...what should i do? Thanks a lot Daniel

09-10-2006, 07:10 AM	#3
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,677	The Rena canisters are definitely worth it. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

09-10-2006, 08:37 AM	#4
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,479	On a 30g you could go either way. I have a 29g tank with an Aquaclear 50 HOB and it does the job. You could get the XP1, but it only has 1 media basket. They do a great job of keeping the water clean and you don't have a big filter on the tank....it sits out of the way. Personally I'd go with a HOB so that you can put alot of media in it (not sure if you can in Emporers). The XP1 with only 1 media basket won't give you too much room for all the media you need. I'd get the XP2 instead, but it might be overkill on a 30g. In the end, its up to you. If you want to pay for a cannister, then go for it. I love my XP3. It is super quiet and easy to clean. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

09-10-2006, 11:56 AM	#7
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,479	IMO HOB filters like Emporer and Aquaclear are very reliable. I've never had Emporer filters, but have heard good things about them. All my Aquaclear filters (I have 3) have been going strong since I got them. Its up to you what to get. I can't decide for you. With the XP cannisters, you'll have to buy some biological filtration like some bio-balls, bio-stars, or ceramic rings. That is extra costs. If you do go with a cannister, I'd get the XP2 instead of the XP1 because you have more room for media. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

09-10-2006, 12:24 PM	#8
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,677	XPs come with all necessary media. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

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09-10-2006, 01:22 AM	#2
rba I'm Korean we love dog :) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: CT, USA Posts: 46	I like canisters because the intake and output can be placed almost anywhere you want. Also they can hold a LOT of media. The down side is with most it's hard to tell when it needs cleaning and if the power goes out they go anaerobic FAST. I like big HOTBs because I can just stuff them with AquaClear foam and it is easy to see when the water flow slows and lifting out the media and rinsing it only takes minutes. There is no single correct answer. I would decide what kind of tank it will be, what fish, fake or live plants, soft water with lowish pH or hard water high pH... Then match the fiter to your needs. If you want a live planted tank with a school of small tetras and a few corys a HOTB will be fine IMO.

09-10-2006, 09:34 AM	#5
Daniel1 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 17 Posts: 62	so you think i should go with a HOB?

09-10-2006, 09:36 AM	#6
Daniel1 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 17 Posts: 62	im planing on having some schooling fish....some bottom dwellers ...some fake and some real plants...and i also want to pass the fish i have in my 10 gals tank..which are 4 white skirt tetra...4 platies and 2 blindcave....according to my bioload..should i go canister or HOB...i know HOBs are cheaper...but are they as reliable as Canisters?

09-10-2006, 01:16 PM	#9
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,854	Canisters are quieter, but a hang on back is easier to tell when in need cleaning

09-10-2006, 03:43 PM	#10
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,479	My XP3s did not come with biological media. They come with foam pads, microfiltration pad and some chemical media. You have to buy the biological. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

09-10-2006, 07:25 PM	#11
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,677	Pretty much anything with any sort of surface is a biological media. I know someone who sticks nylon kitchen scrubbies in his filters for biological media. The foam pads make an excellent biological media, IMO, but I'm also of the opinion that filter media only needs to be changed when its completely worn out and falling apart, too. Bio-balls, star, etc., are unnecessary IMO. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

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