aquaclear or emporer

aunkster

I was curious if any of you thinks one is better than the other,I had heard that the emporere is better due to the bio wheels but then I heard the aquaclear is better due to the bio beads,

Thanks

1077

Have and am using both. I am a big fan of the Emperor series but have recenetly switched most of these for aquaclear filters which offer more flow for the 110 's over the emperor 400's and like wise with the aquaclear 70 as opposed to the emperor 280.
Biowheels offer a bit more surface area for bacteria to colonize but placement of biomedia ensures both types or brands ,have oxygen rich water flowing over or through the biological media.
Aquaclear's are a bit more quiet than the emperor's in my view and they take up less space on the back of the aquarium which allows the tank to be closer to a wall if needed.

aunkster

with your aquaclear do you have a problem with some of the bio beads sticking up above the water level?

1077

Yes, but it doesn't hurt anything. I simply flip them over each week after rinsing them in a bucket of aquarium water.

AbbeysDad

I have an AquaClear 70, I do not have the Marineland filter. Cartridge filters do offer the ease of quick replacement. The downside is that when the cartridge is replaced, much good bacteria is thrown away. I'm not convinced that the rotating bio-sponge is enough bio-media and I'm not convinced that a rotating sponge offers any distinct advantage over a stationary sponge.

What I like about the AC70 is it's a HOB that thinks it's a canister in the sense that you can put the filtration media of your choice in there. In mine right now, I have the standard mechanical sponge media, an AC Ammonia Remover packet, a sack of bio-max ceramic ring media, a sack of gravel (bio seed from another tank) and another sack of bio max.
Granted, the AC can't house as much bio-media as a canister, but it's far better than a cartridge filter in bio-filtration capacity. I would choose the AquaClear again over the Emporer or any other cartridge filter.

Byron

Experienced members have responded on the filters, nothing to add to that.

My point here is to ask about the tank and fish, since this is not mentioned. The filter should be suitable to the fish that the tank will house, and all fish do not do as well in all filters due to water movement primarily. No mention is made of intended fish, or if live plants are included, or the tank size; so I just toss this comment out. These factors should be the basis for deciding on the type of filter.

Byron.

1077

Emperor series filters come with two cartridges.One cartridge at a time can be replaced and this helps prevent loss of all biological filtration and the biowheel also houses considerable bacteria colony and never needs cleaning or replacement.
Magnavore also makes a "super cartridge" (Dr.FosterSmith.com) that fits the emperor series filter along with a couple other makes /
models that insert can be removed and cartridge will hold three times the amount of media of choice that other HOB filter's offer. Have been using these for a couple years and it saves money on replacing cartridges.

AbbeysDad

Well...

1077

Agreed, Slow flow is better for some species of fishes.I switched out Emperor for aquaclear's for 55 gallon pleco tank .Tank is filtered with Aquaclear 110 and aquaclear 70 along with aquaclear 802 powerhead attached to Aquaclear Quick filter and Hydro sponge filter that was /is being used as seed material from established ,disease free aquarium.
Tank currently houses one LDA 31 pleco,one L104 pleco,one L201 pleco, and three juvenile Bristlenose plecos.These fish appreciate currents in the aquarium and the current also serves to keep particulates and waste in the water column longer for the filter to catch.
I have two Emperor 400's on 75 gallon work tank housing six loaches approx five inches long, and one adult electric blue Jack Dempsey that is approx eight inches long, Water movement and lot's of it are appreciated by the loaches (not so much the dempsey).
My planted 80 gallon tank with approx eighty small assorted tetra's,barb's,corys.is filtered by one eheim 2217 which provides not too much current for fishes that don't really need or appreciate it.
both the emperor and aquaclear filters are excellent choices in my view for HOB filters and flow can be adjusted on both .

SinCrisis

I have used both, both are great filters.

However, note that the aquaclears will leak if not maintained regularly, the media clogs and the motor will continue to suck water and propell it over the top of the filter and onto your floor

The emperor's biowheel will stop rotating if the media is not changed out regularly because it requires the flow to be at a certain rate to be effective.

Just keep those in mind when you make your decision, if theres a chance that you will slack on filter maintenance, go with the emperor.