Aquaclear Filters

[jimmy3323]

What is everyone's opinion of these HOB filters? Also, would there be an advantage to replace the default media with another brand such as the eheim or Seachem Matrix?

[angel]

Happy Birthday Jimmy! I love the aquaclears, but they do have two drawbacks. The first is the impeller sometimes gets stuck and they quit. Then you have to take the motor off and get it going again. After a power cut they sometimes stop too.
As far as the media, it's good as long as you maintain it. If the media gets too full of waste it'll cause the top to rise and dump water out. You have to keep an eye on them. They can go a long while before getting that far.

[jimmy3323]

Possible Aquaclear MOD....the ac20 can have the flow rate reduced to 33gph. As I have read nitrates can be consumed by anarerobic bacteria. Seachem has a product, de nitrate, that claims that at flow rates below 50 these bacteria will grow. What do yall think?

[jon carman]

I like the aquaclear media and would stick with that. You could add some chemi-pure to that to cut nitrates, but the best way is biological+water change. As for the Seachem product, I have not heard of it.

[jon carman]

And if I where to use a HOB, it would be an aquaclear.

[bunnie1978]

I personally like most of the marineland products the best, but I've found it pretty easy to use a different DIY media to save on costs. You can use a sponge, like the poret foam as a media and I hear that works extrememly well.