Hagen AquaClear Filters

Some products are just so well designed and versatile that they become the work-horse of their market. The Hagen AquaClear filters are just that. They're cheap, they're dependable, convenient, and they get the job done. I've had my AquaClear for over 10 years now and it still performs as if it were brand new.

The AquaClear line consists of hang-on-back (HOB) filters in different sizes that simply hang over the edge of the aquarium, eliminating the need for hoses and space beneath the aquarium to house an external filter. They are a perfect solution for beginners and those short on space. The filters are also extremely economical, ranging from just $22 for a Mini which is rated up to 20 gallons to $65 for a monster 500 which can handle up to 110 gallons all by itself.

The system works by pulling water up through an intake tube via an impeller and pushing it through the filter media and back into the tank via an overflow lip. The media is where the AquaClear filters really shine. Unlike other HOB filters that use cartridges, AquaClear media is held in an easy to remove insert, but each set of media (biological, chemical, mechanical) is it's own individual unit, wrapped up in a mesh bag and stacked one on top of the other. This makes it very easy to clean and prevents shock to the aquarium since you can replace the media one at a time, allowing the bacterial colonies to propogate from the old media to the new. It also spreads out the media over a greater area, allowing longer contact times and improving efficiency. Using your own media is possible, though not as convenient as in a canister filter. The set-up also allows for easy restarts, since the distance the impeller has to pull the water is minimal. All is needed is to fill the filter with water and the impeller will do the rest. The filter also allows the flow to be adjusted by simply shifting the intake tube to the side of the impeller. This is handy during feeding times when you don't want the filter's flow to create a blizzard of food flakes. The lack of tubing and the ever-annoying suction cups (ever done battle with a suction cup inside your tank that just doesn't want to let go?) also makes it very easy to move this filter from one tank to another, making it an excellent choice for a quarantine tank filter or a seeding filter to jumpstart the bacterial colonies in a new tank.

The quality of the plastic used in the filters is a little questionable, but unless you routinely abuse your filter equipment with heavy objects or like to leave it out on the floor to step on, it's not a big deal. The only other qualm users might have is the waterfall style outflow. This can get quite noisy depending on your water level (unless you enjoy the noise of splashing water) and for those of you with CO2 injection of some sort, the water disturbance will cause a lot of CO2 to escape.

If you're looking for a cheap, basic filter that is dependable and convenient, AquaClear filters are definitely a best buy, earning five out of five fish.

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Eheim 2217 Review

The Eheim 2217 is the largest of the Classic series you can buy. It's rated at 264 gallons per hour and the filter itself is a hefty 6 liters (roughly 1.5 gallons). This is significant because the volume of the filter container determines how much media you can put in and the more media, the more filtering capacity. Many people mistakenly think that the flow is what determines what size tank a filter can handle. Although this holds true in some cases, larger filter volume will always mean larger filtering capacity. It doesn't matter how fast you push water through a tiny container, it will only have so much media that can do the job. Although the 159 gallon rating may be a bit optimistic (like the 2213's 66 gallon rating), this filter can certainly get the job done on any tank below its upper limit.

If anyone asks you why an Eheim is one of the best filters available today, you can point to the flawless German engineering and efficiency. The 2217 only uses 20 watts to push all that flow; comparable filters use 25 or more. There is also absolutely no bypass. The way the filter is designed means that all water must pass through the media. Any dirt that gets sucked up by this filter remains in the filter.

The quality of the parts and construction is top notch. When you clamp the lid onto the container, you know it wouldn't leak, ever. Not even if you tried. In fact, you can even run it without half the clamps and it still won't leak. Priming the 2217 for the first time can be a bit of an ordeal (like any of the Classic series). These filters don't come with any of the fancy self-priming buttons or levers, but they do come with double-tap valves, which make all the difference. However, the first time you set it up, you will funnel (Eheim sells a bulb to do this) or, with much regret, suck on the intake tube. Once you have it filled and running, all you have to do is close the valves on the double-tap connectors, unplug the filter, then separate the connectors. The water remains in the tubing and in the filter, so when you're finished, just reconnect everything, open up the valves, and turn it on. No priming ever again!

My 2217 came with free media, as I think most do at this point. It came with 1 fine pad, 1 coarse pad, 1 carbon pad, Ehfimech, and Ehfisubstrat Pro. These are all top notch, and the Ehfisubstrat Pro is specially shaped so it doesn't compact and clog. They provide mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. Again, nothing gets by this media. It also came with tubing and tubing accessories including a spraybar, an intake tube with strainer, and suction cups. It includes a plastic elbow piece which I believe is an alternative to the sparybar, but quite frankly, if you decided to use it it'd be like putting a fire hose in your tank; heaven help the poor fish who unknowingly swims in front of it.

Eheims are probably the best filters you can buy, if you have the money. The 2217 usually retails for around $120 but is well worth it, as these filters have been known to last for decades. I give it five out of five fish:

Pros: Efficient, high quality, no bypass, large filtration capacity

Cons: First time priming can leave a fishy taste in your mouth

Filters Have Arrived!

Well tonight I picked up my filters from the post office and brought them home. To refresh your memory, they are an Eheim 2217 and a Unimax Pro 250.

I took out the Unimax first just to see what it was like. I was very impressed. It wasn't cheap feeling or looking, the media was all there, and I immediately set about rinsing the media to get it ready. I thought it a bit odd that I found a piece of glass in the canister, but started filling it up to rinse it out anyway. I should let you know, this is a filter with a built in UV sterilizer. Anyway, long story short, it starts leaking as soon as it reaches a certain level. I put two and two together and take a peek inside the quartz sleeve of the UV sterilizer, and sure enough there's a crack and a hole with a few pieces missing. DAMN!

So now I don't know what to do. The filter was bought used, so I don't know if it was already broken or if it was broken in transit, but my money is on the proud workers at the USPS, who, by the way, took about 20 minutes this morning trying to find my packages, and only looked for two after I pointed out there were two explicitly listed on my claim slip. Grrr.

So, disappointed about the Unimax, I started setting up the 2217. I already have a 2213 so I know the drill, but if it's your first time, the directions might as well not be translated. It can get a bit confusing. My first impression of the 2217 was "Wow, this thing is huge!"

Anyway, I'll write a full review and setup guide on the 2217 tomorrow morning and keep you posted about the status of the Unimax. I'm hoping I can order a part (or have one sent for free!) from Aquael, the manufacturer, in Poland. Luckily its an easy piece to replace. Wish me luck!

Mulm Farm

So I think I've concluded that my Eheim Classic 2213 is not nearly big enough to filter my 29 gallon aquarium. Even though Eheim states it can be used on up to a 60 gallon tank, I seriously doubt a normally stocked, planted tank would be filtered effectively by the filter. Don't get me wrong, the filter is amazing in every other aspect. It only uses 5W, it's easy to clean, it only needs to be cleaned every 3 months or so, and it just works well. But my tank has 15 fish in it (a little overstocked by the 1 inch of fish to 1 gallon rule) and the Eheim just cannot keep up. Some are very messy fish, like my 3 Bosemani Rainbows and 2 Gouramis, and since I've had it on my tank I've noticed a layer of mulm and debris slowly building up. It's gotten to the point where it has started to actually choke out my Dwarf Hairgrass and Blyxa japonica. The filter claims it has a flow of 116gph, or roughly 100gph with media. This is just not strong enough to keep the debris and mulm from settling on everything, making a mess. Even if I added a power head, I doubt the filter would be able to suck up enough stuff to stop it from being a mulm farm. Either way, it looks like I'm going to have to come up with a solution, which probably means buying a new, more powerful filter.