Should I opt for an Internal, Hang on the Back or Canister Filter?
Question
I like to replace the filter of my 25 gallon tank, but I’m not sure which filter to choose. My options are:
- Aquaclear 50 Hang on the Back
- Eheim 2100 internal filter
- Aquaone Aquis 500/700 canister filter
Personally I would like to go for a canister filter but I’m not sure if its my best choice. I’ve been looking at the internal filter but am a bit worried because I’ve been told the filtration capabilities are limited. Hang on the back filters are probably a bit better then internal ones although I’m not really sure why.
What are my options ?
Answer:
This question has no one fits all answer because it greatly depends on what you intent to keep in the tank. The canister will probably increase the flowrate in your tank and that can be a disturbance for some fish.
Still I would rate them in the same order as you do:
- Canister
- Hang on the Back
- Internal
When you look at the convenience of use:
Easy is the HOB, the Canister can be rated medium; a little more troublesome is the internal filter. Cleaning is always a hassle with an internal filter besides this type is known to heat up the water in the tank. So if a high water temperature can be an issue that would speak against an internal.
Canister filters are not always easy to clean. They need to be switched off, you need to make sure you’ve got the hoses out of the tank because otherwise they will act as a siphon; a hang on the back is certainly the most convenient choice.
One other point of consideration can be that flow and flow are not equal; it’s the filtration media that do the job not the water replacement. All things considering I think you would be best off with a good hang on the Back filter.
