Hello everyone, i was wondering what would be a good filter for a 20 gallon. im not concerned of prices right now, so any filter you guys suggest would be great. i just want something that will do a good job keeping the water clear. i have a 10gallon tank with red cherry shrimp and i would love to move them to a nice 20 gallon planted tank.
Hello AC! i have a question.
- Thread starter Sebas
- Start date
Eheim canister filters are great... You can even get models with built-in wet/dry filters and heaters :-D
If you go with a Hang-On Box filter (HOB), I'd say Aquaclear is the best. Simple design, but that's why it's better than the others and works great. Foam blocks and media "pillows", rather than those flat/thin little sleeves (hate those) which force you to use carbon (the carbon comes built into the filter cartridge). Many fishkeepers don't use carbon, as it is usually a substitute for proper care. Also, you can rinse/ring out the foam blocks almost indefinitely, instead of having to buy new all the time with the others. As well, if the carbon is built into the cartridge, you must buy new ones as the carbon becomes saturated with the toxins and then starts to leach them back into the water.
There are probably others that would be worth mentioning, but I can't think of any ;-)
If you go with a Hang-On Box filter (HOB), I'd say Aquaclear is the best. Simple design, but that's why it's better than the others and works great. Foam blocks and media "pillows", rather than those flat/thin little sleeves (hate those) which force you to use carbon (the carbon comes built into the filter cartridge). Many fishkeepers don't use carbon, as it is usually a substitute for proper care. Also, you can rinse/ring out the foam blocks almost indefinitely, instead of having to buy new all the time with the others. As well, if the carbon is built into the cartridge, you must buy new ones as the carbon becomes saturated with the toxins and then starts to leach them back into the water.
There are probably others that would be worth mentioning, but I can't think of any ;-)
I prefer the marineland penguin filters for hang on backs.
For canisters I prefer renas, but I also like the cascades. Eheims are great filters, but a bit on the pricey side.
No matter what, I prefer to go with redundant filtration in case a filter fails, so at least 2 filters on each tank. You can always add a sponge filter for extra filtration, or if you don't mind taking up more room you can run two mechanical filters.
For canisters I prefer renas, but I also like the cascades. Eheims are great filters, but a bit on the pricey side.
No matter what, I prefer to go with redundant filtration in case a filter fails, so at least 2 filters on each tank. You can always add a sponge filter for extra filtration, or if you don't mind taking up more room you can run two mechanical filters.
I like the smaller eheim ecco cannister filters. It gives you the option for a larger tank upgrade later, and you could add stronger lights if you want to get into planted tanks or special lighting effects. There's minimal profile above the tank, or behind the tank.
The con is that they tend to be more expensive than a standard biowheel/hang on back option that a lot of people use for that application, and you have to have a spot under the tank for them.
The con is that they tend to be more expensive than a standard biowheel/hang on back option that a lot of people use for that application, and you have to have a spot under the tank for them.
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY
Formerly ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN on MFK
If you want a filter for plants and shrimp I wouldn't imagine you would want something with too much flow. I would use a very small canister filter like a "rapids mini cannister filter." great filter for 20 gallon tanks
I had one of those on my 10 gallon and found that it was not powerful enough for it.
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY
Formerly ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN on MFK
That was kinda my thinking on his setup. They have a low flow rate so it won't Disturb the plants, and I can't imagine shrimp put all that much stress on the biological filtration.
I may be wrong having never owned one before but seems logical to have a slow flowing filter with some good bio filtration vs a HOB that has a flat sponge.