Is There A Way To Direct The Outflow On An Aquaclear Hob Filter

turfguy02 · Jan half dozen, 2015

I purchased a aqua clear hob for my 29 I was setting up. After I set up it up I realized the water it non forced over the media. Now I am not an adept information technology flow dynamics but I fell similar that limits the effectiveness of the filter. Is elementary not true? Many people seem to think highly of the aqua clear filters. I beloved my fluval canister filter, both are Hagen so I fell it is a quality product, just when I expect at it running I tin can't assistance recall it merely moving the h2o over the top and not thru the media... Maybe I am just over thinking it. Other indicate is that I take had a hard time getting the nitrogen cycle to start. I empathise the aquarium nitrogen wheel. I Used condom get-go when I set it up, fifty-fifty add together more later on a couple weeks when it would bicycle. Of those are points for a different thread sorry to get off rails. Feedback well-nigh how the flow really works would be appreciated

Tabbycat · Jan 6, 2015

I'm not sure how it works simply somehow it does become through the media. Later on you've had it on your tank for a while you lot'll see how icky the sponge at the lesser gets. I recollect it's the mode the holes in the media baskets are made that direct the flow of current. But that's just a gauge.

BigXor · Jan six, 2015

I just inspected my Aquaclear xxx and my Fluval 306, neither are designed to accept all of the water period through the filter media. Some of the water goes through and some bypasses. The tin drives more h2o through the media than the HOB merely by design. The can is sealed and uses suction created by the pump to force water mostly through the media, but will bypass more and more as media becomes clogged so that flow is maintained . Hence the higher efficiency (and cost) of the can. HOB relies on simple flow and atmospheric pressure, therefore a lot less water comes in contact with the media. Both rely on high number of water changes per hour.

I'chiliad not a fluid dynamics major, but makes sense to me.

Chunk101 · Jan six, 2015

Yes, there is some water bypass in the aquaclear hobs. I suspect many (if not all) hobs have this design flaw. This is i reason why I think hobs are generally inferior to canister filters.

delta5 · Jan 6, 2015

Unless y'all have fill-in power, I would pass on the aquaclear hob. They drain backwards and exit your media exposed to the air. I loved the aquaclear hob until I came home to it smoking and also hot to touch. Nosotros lost power, drained backwards, and when ability came back information technology took to long for it to prime number (i'm guessing) , the motor stopped working, and turned into a big resistor.

turfguy02 · Jan 6, 2015

I have noticed the priming thing every bit well.

Ksuvet · Jan 6, 2015

I have had several Aquaclear HOB filters and I think you will be quite impressed with the filtering capability of them despite the featherbed. Its a quiet, reliable filter.

tocandesu · January six, 2015

That is true, just virtually of the "dirty water" is forced under the filter handbasket by the impeller cover.

DirtyKoala · Jan 6, 2015

I think the thought is that while it bypasses some, if you lot have sufficient filtration power (in GPH), all of your h2o will contact all of the media. Not necessarily in a flow as well as a canister filter, but the water does get contacted past the media.

I ran my AC70 for a while on my 40G and was very impressed.

Chunk101 · Jan half dozen, 2015

I recollect the idea is that while it bypasses some, if you accept sufficient filtration power (in GPH), all of your water will contact all of the media. Not necessarily in a menstruum as well equally a canister filter, but the h2o does go contacted by the media.
I ran my AC70 for a while on my 40G and was very impressed.

Yep I agree, then ultimately you need more flow for aquaclears and the like to get the aforementioned amount of water processed as a canister filter. And so, with an aquaclear, you def accept to go with a menstruation rate that is greater than 5x the size of your tank.

turfguy02 · Jan 6, 2015

good points everyone, thanks for the feed back

Paul1792 · Jan 9, 2015

The bypass issues are very problematic. I deem the AquaClear an obsolete relic compared to the Fluval C series which I have iii of.. I have an AC50 and had to duct tape the side holes and the acme overflow to get all the the water to flow through the filter media. See:

https://world wide web.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/aquaclear-110-h2o-bypassing-media.120878/

Come across mail #vi for pictures.

"And so, every bit I said, I just glued (epoxy'd) a piece of plastic over the one side to cake off the grates. Now the water is forced to flow into the bottom of the filter sleeping room. A lilliputian bit still flows through the crack betwixt the acrylic walls and the media rack. Oh well. This seems to exist doing the fox. I'yard nevertheless not sure what is causing water to flow upwards through the intake chamber."

******************

In that location is even a special "basket" for the known aquaclear defect. Go hither and watch the video.

Problem is .. it costs almost equally much every bit the filter.

My solution to the AC Bypass issues: I put duct record over the holes in the sides and acme bypass so all h2o had to be forced from the bottom up to get mine to work properly. Now 100% of h2o gets filtered by it can exist run at only at 75% of capacity since I use tightly packed floss in lieu of carbon. The AC sponge is also coarse to human action as a polishing pad and so if yous want crystal clear water, you must use floss or equivalent..

tocandesu · Jan nine, 2015

The bypass issues are very problematic. I deem the AquaClear an obsolete relic compared to the Fluval C series which I have three of.. I have an AC50 and had to duct record the side holes and the superlative overflow to become all the the water to menses through the filter media. See:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/aquaclear-110-water-bypassing-media.120878/

Encounter post #6 for pictures.

"Then, as I said, I only glued (epoxy'd) a piece of plastic over the one side to cake off the grates. Now the water is forced to menses into the bottom of the filter sleeping room. A niggling fleck nonetheless flows through the scissure between the acrylic walls and the media rack. Oh well. This seems to be doing the flim-flam. I'm still non certain what is causing water to menstruum upwardly through the intake chamber."

******************

There is fifty-fifty a special "basket" for the known aquaclear defect. Go here and spotter the video.

Problem is .. it costs almost equally much as the filter.

My solution to the AC Bypass bug: I put duct record over the holes in the sades and top bypass so all water had to exist forced from the bottom upwardly to get mine to work properly. Now 100% of water gets filtered by it tin be run at only at 75% of capacity since I utilise tightly packed floss in lieu of carbon. The AC sponge is likewise coarse to act every bit a polishing pad so if you want crystal clear water, y'all must use floss or equivalent..

I believe the holes in the side are for the Patented recycling filtration system

Though, I concord that AC sponges are besides coarse, that'south why I hated on them for a while

lowtech87 · January thirty, 2016

So I'k putting together a 30 gallon tank right at present. I was going to get a marine land filter but read a lot of bad reviews on them and saw a lot of people recommend aqua articulate filters then I'g gonna try them out. My question is would it be worth information technology to get ii Aqua articulate 20 rather than ane xxx and so I tin space them out on the tank for circulation and filtration or is the 30 gonna exist practiced enough. Both models say they apply 6 watts and then the motors probably identical. I just want to know if the double wattage is going to exist worth it or if anyone has tried information technology and seen a difference. Thanks!

el337 · Jan thirty, 2016

For HOB's, you lot want 8-10x the filtration of your tank size (240-300gph). I would get one AC70 or an AC50 and AC20.

tedisabum · Feb i, 2016

I run an Aquaclear 70 and a penguin 200 side past side in my 20 gallon. Happy happy fish and crystal clear water all the fourth dimension. . That's 500 GPH. My tank cycles its entire capacity 25 times per hour.

Caleb12345 · Feb one, 2016

Depends on what you are keeping in the tank. Small fast fish similar zebra danios wouldn't mind the current.

I had an AC70 on a 20 gallon long for a quarantine tank and it created quite the current on ane side of the tank.

Personally I would do 2 AC30 similar you lot said or 1 and a powerhead.

Dylandrewlukesdad · Feb 1, 2016

You tin can turn the menses down the Ac.....I dearest them for many reasons, the number one reason is for the flexibility of the media you tin employ.

lowtech87 · Feb 2, 2016

Went with 1 30 for now while the tank is cycling, and when information technology'due south done I'm gonna grab another one.

bizaliz3 · Feb ii, 2016

having ii filters running is a good idea incase you take a problem with one of them, you always have the seeded 2nd filter still going so you don't accept any water issues.

The other benefit to having ii filters running on your tank is if yous accept to set up an emergency tank for 1 reason or another (hospital tank, or quarantine for example). By having two filters on your established tank, you lot can just motility one to the new tank and have a virtually instant bicycle on the new tank.

All of my tanks that are 20 gallons and higher up accept two filters so I always have a back upwards going if one stops working, or I am ready if I demand to rapidly seed another tank.

Dylandrewlukesdad · Feb 3, 2016

having two filters running is a good thought incase yous accept a trouble with one of them, you always have the seeded 2d filter yet going and then you don't take any water issues.
The other benefit to having two filters running on your tank is if you have to fix an emergency tank for one reason or another (hospital tank, or quarantine for example). By having 2 filters on your established tank, you can just move one to the new tank and accept a almost instant wheel on the new tank.

All of my tanks that are xx gallons and above take two filters and so I e'er have a back up going if i stops working, or I am prepare if I need to quickly seed another tank.

This is true and some other reason why I have 2 filters to equal eight-10X filtration.

Kaitlin Marie Kaschak · Feb 12, 2016

heres a link to the filter I use have had it a yr and no problems best think about the filter I utilize is that information technology hangs on the dorsum of the tank and u can customize the media in it I use a combination of a sponge rto trap the dirty stuff and iv bags of ceramic media for the bacteria to grow

edit I have a ten gallon tank but use an aquaclear rated for 20 gallons

Cjacksonlasd1 · Feb 18, 2016

Agreed. On my 29 gallon I have an AC20 and AC50. Love aquaclear because freedom for whatever media. I apply sponges on lesser, biomax media in middle and Purigen on the AC50, and I run Peat and some cuttlebone in a media purse in the other to help keep the PH Down and added Calcium for shrimp and snails.

SwissCheeseHead · February 19, 2016

Just one matter to mention nigh the AquaClear's that don't seem to get mentioned frequently is that often times they are noisy out of the box. The best method that I've constitute to eliminate the noise is to disconnect the motor, remove the impeller and put a little dab of petroleum jelly on the tip of the shaft. Re-install the impeller, and the dissonance/vibration should become away later running for a time.

Caleb12345 · Feb 19, 2016

Merely 1 affair to mention virtually the AquaClear's that don't seem to get mentioned often is that often times they are noisy out of the box. The best method that I've found to eliminate the noise is to disconnect the motor, remove the impeller and put a little dab of petroleum jelly on the tip of the shaft. Re-install the impeller, and the dissonance/vibration should get away subsequently running for a time.

Is there whatsoever alternatives to this bated from petroleum jelly?

tedisabum · Feb 19, 2016

I've used Aquaphor. It's sold in the pharmacy area for dry peel. Works the aforementioned merely non petroleum based.

SwissCheeseHead · Feb 20, 2016

If you tin find a silicon lubricant that is thicker, then that should work also. I merely set up my tank nigh ii weeks at present, and the petroleum jelly is working well. We already had it in the firm, and even if you lot don't, it's really cheap and easy to get.

DuchesneWorld · Feb 21, 2016

I don't know if it is any help but I got an AquaClear 30 and it has been going for a week. It was loud to prime, but literally once information technology was fully primed (2-3 min tops) and flowing information technology is barely audible. My experience was straight out of the box, I didn't do anything to it or put anything on it. I exercise like that you can suit the flow also.

Is There A Way To Direct The Outflow On An Aquaclear Hob Filter

aqua clear hob filter

turfguy02

Tabbycat

BigXor

Chunk101

delta5

turfguy02

Ksuvet

tocandesu

DirtyKoala

Chunk101

turfguy02

Paul1792

tocandesu

lowtech87

el337

lowtech87

el337

tedisabum

Caleb12345

Dylandrewlukesdad

lowtech87

bizaliz3

Dylandrewlukesdad

Kaitlin Marie Kaschak

Cjacksonlasd1

SwissCheeseHead

Caleb12345

tedisabum

SwissCheeseHead

DuchesneWorld

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