Is this filter good?

OhYesItsMe · 08-18-2012, 05:19 PM

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...60&cagpspn=pla
(im getting the biggest one)
see i already have the elite hush 55 (200 gph) and i want my 55 gal tank to be filtered at least 10 times an hour so this would total it at 550 gph which i think is good for a tank with 4 kenyi, 6 yellow labs, 1 upsidedown catfish, 1 upsidedown lace catfish, 1 BN pleco and the 4 probably johanni maybe a different cichlid that i dont have yet. all the fish are/will be juvinailes (exept the pleco) so its okay that i dont have all the needed filtration yet. and with all that being said assuming u guys think thats a good filter, with those 2 filters ill be doing water changes once a week 25-50% depending on how things are when the fish grow up.

**emc7** · 08-18-2012, 05:26 PM

I use them on several tanks. The are workhorses, long-lasting and replacement parts are available. The have bigger cartridges than the penguin and a nice, large box to put extra media in. Cons are they take up a lot of rim, the biowheels ups your evaporation, they can get crusted with hard water (scrub it off) and they have a tendency to get noisy over time (you can often fix it with a new impeller), and the price of cartridges is climbing (there are 3rd party sellers).

Bottom line, good bang for the buck, will last a long time, but I wouldn't put in a bedroom (get a canister so you can sleep).

OhYesItsMe · 08-18-2012, 06:03 PM

o changed my mind to the penguin 350 is that just as good?

**emc7** · 08-18-2012, 06:25 PM

no. Its got less room for media and a smaller cartridge.

OhYesItsMe · 08-18-2012, 06:32 PM

how about the aquaclear 110? thats 500 gph for a total of 700, thats sounds better, but is it?

**Obsidian** · 08-18-2012, 06:43 PM

That would be plenty. I like the AC brand and use them on the vast majority of my tanks. The AC110 will be pretty big so be prepared for that.

When the sponge on the AC units get dirty they can ride up a bit. It's easy to prevent with regular maintenance, but you do need to be aware of it.

I find them really pretty dang quiet. Not silent by any means, but quieter than most. The biowheel ones are louder.

OhYesItsMe · 08-18-2012, 07:08 PM

do you know how wide it it? it has to fit between the tank and the wall, there is about 5.5 in between the edge of the trim and the wall, so if anybody has one can u measure ho fat it goes out from the edge of the rim?

Ghost Knife · 08-18-2012, 09:54 PM

I have always preferred the Marineland filters, but the Pengiuns are good too. I'd go with whichever you can find cheaper.

Redhead305 · 08-18-2012, 11:13 PM

the aquaclear 110 is 5" from the rim i personally have one and love it. Its one of the quietter filters i have but its still a tiny bit noisy. However i find it best next to the fluval c series. i like how you can customize the media to how you like it and i also like the fact you can adjust the flow. Its reliable, works great, hagen is awesome at customer service, its cheap to replace media and its a good deal for your price

**emc7** · 08-18-2012, 11:55 PM

I like both the emperors and the aquaclears. The floating sponge trick is annoying, though and so is the leveling foot that falls off the bottom. .

Redhead305 · 08-18-2012, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by emc7

I like both the emperors and the aquaclears. The floating sponge trick is annoying, though and so is the leveling foot that falls off the bottom. .

never had either be a problem

**Cory1990** · 08-19-2012, 12:37 AM

I love the 350s I have two of them and never have a single problem with them. One time I thought the old bio wheel died on me and I forgot to put the bottom cover on turns out a fish got up in there and Jammed it up. Pulled out the poor little fish and she works great still out of all my filters on all my tanks the 350s are really my favorite ones. They work great and at that price you really can't do much better. I'm thinking of ordering another at 30$ it's way cheaper then what I got mine for.

OhYesItsMe · 08-19-2012, 06:05 AM

Yeah i found an aquaclear 110 new for 50.53 (found an online coupon that reduced it from 55.99) and free shipping, ill just check my lfs first when i go to get the hide and seek pipes because i know they have some filters on sale.