which filter?

Question
hi Nicole..

i have a 30 gallon African Cichlid tank.. im using a HOB filter and an overhead filter and i was thinking about upgrading my HOB filter but which filter should i buy? an aquaclear or an emperor? ive googled about the these filters and i've seen a lot of forums where they boast about the aquaclear's filtration, but i've also read about the benefits of a HOB with a biowheel.. are biowheels really that good?

Answer
Hi Paolo,

Why not get the best of both worlds and get an Emperor filter and use the AquaClear media? What is so fantastic about the AC filters is that the media is flexible. The layering they recommend is a foam sponge on the bottom, carbon in the middle, and a bag of ceramic cylinders (called Biomax) on the top. I personally use two foam sponges and a bag of Biomax because I find carbon unnecessary. Carbon takes the yellow out of the water and removes any odor - with a regimen of weekly water changes, your water won't have a chance to yellow or become smelly! Using reusable, rinseable media (instead of disposable carbon cartridges) will save you lots of money in the long run.

There are two kinds of Emperors, the 280 and the 400. The 280 should be sufficient to filter your 30 gallon tank. Put it in one end of the tank and then leave your existing HOB filter on the other side, that way both sides of the tank will be filtered and you will minimize "dead" areas and get water circulation on both sides of your tank.

The bio-wheel is helpful but it isn't necessary. I have both kinds of filters, AquaClears and Penguins (which is a smaller version of the Emperors) and I like them both. For messy fish like cichlids, I believe you will find the Emperor will do a better job. Use the cartridges that come with it, and once they are expended, do yourself a big favor and get a couple of AquaClear foam sponges and a bag of Biomax! There will be a size that fits the Emperor filter either snugly or a little loose, just measure the area where the filter media goes, then measure the length of the sponges.

African cichlids and goldfish are bulky fish who produce plenty of waste, and their herbivorous diets produce lots of fibrous poops! A powerful filter is a must in keeping the tank clean, I recommend 6-10 times turnover of the tank's volume per hour. In your case, that would be 180 gph (30x6) to 300 gph (30x10). Since the Emperor 280 is 280 gph, using that filter along with your other HOB ought to be ideal. Trust me, you'll never regret choosing to overfilter!

I hope that helps, take care!
Nicole