Aquarium Filter Tips, Tricks, Hacks, Lies and What I Love & Hate about HOBs, Sumps and Canisters!

[@fishlaw1]

Awesome and informative video my friend... Thanks for sharing and happy fish keeping:-) LIKE# 419

[@gregjensen7492]

I like overhead filters. They are great 👍

[@jayfuller3709]

Hi, good info. I started using Seachem HOB filters. The pump is made by Sicce. They work great!!!

[@stlconsulting8462]

Excellent info as usual…..especially the canister tips. 👍

[@jonstfrancis]

Good points there! Sponge filters ended up annoying me with the need to clean them all the time, also they take up room in the tank. The great thing with external filtration is both that they aren't in your tank and also - canisters and sump - that they allow for some extra water. And you can just leave them alone for like a whole year.

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

I my sumps and cannisters I go 9 -12 months before cleaning the sponges

[@kerrypitt9789]

Ben on my smaller tanks to say 60 gallons, I use a large Foam filter or two smaller ones and an HOB filter with my own combination of filtration and ceramics in them. I like the HOB because it cleans the solids out quickly if you stir it up for any reason. Foam filters are simple and inexpensive. They are easy to clean and provide shrimp with food if you run a mixed tank. I have a couple of older FX-5 filters I have been planning on using in larger tanks, but I will use Foam filters as well. I like to have moving water in my tanks, I think it creates a healthier environment. With HOB noise, I wait until I hear the water splashing "Downward," into the tank so that is my low water alarm and I either just top it up or it may be time for a water change. I keep a couple of Impellers on hand incase one breaks, but it doesn't happen often. Many of those inlet foam filters are too dense. Aquarium Co-op sells a nice coarse filter or you go to Home Depot and buy the foam inserts for eavestroughs they are the exact same coarse foam and you can make a great suction filter out of it. I've been away for awhile and was wondering if you were still using SunSun. Happy Thanksgiving from 🇨🇦 Ben!

[@joeader6046]

Have a Happy Thanksgiving been to you and your family

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Excellent information!! I know it's not as possible with some of the cichlids as it is with community and nanofish that can have a deep substrated and heavily planted tank that creates a lot of natural filtration, you definitely covered what can create an unbalanced or high ammonia spikes that are detrimental to our fish and the systems we are keeping!! As you said the amount of filtration you use and the media that you use that can grow beneficial bacteria is one of the most important things you can have in maintaining the health of your aquarium. I hope that made sense.. when I start trying to think deep I get confusing 😂😂 it makes sense in my mind but trying to explain it is a whole other thing!! You have to be diligent in watching and checking your water parameters, Your turn over rate, and everything going on in your aquarium to get optimal results. Also making sure that the filters are working properly!! You do a great job explaining how filters work and the importance of how you set them up!! Thank you as always for providing us solid information and helping us understand filtration!! Like I said I may not make sense 😂😂 but you sure do 💪😁😂 Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! Thank you so much for sharing 🙏🌿🐟🌿💚

[@BenOchart]

Thank you Mary 😀

[@ericharvey4902]

Hi Ben, great information you passed on. I have a 40 breeder moderately stocked with different Tetras. I use 2 Fluval 207 canisters on it. 1 handles all my media in it and the other is strictly for polishing. I haven't lost a fish in almost 6 months. And I have crystal clear water. I learned to use two canisters watching you Thanks!👍

[@mikeeljahosafats3524]

I like how your new substrate matches your hair.

[@BenOchart]

🤣🤣🤣that was by design🤣🤣🤣

[@Duclosxrp]

What kind of gravel....u use..i love the color mix.....i use 2 X f6 for filter and a 407 for a polishing filter...works awesome

[@brianp6180]

I love filtration videos! Great info Ben. I always over filter my tanks. I realize there are limits to how much beneficial bacteria a tank can have. However can you ever have too much mechanical filtration? I always run 2 canisters for redundancy as you said. But on my 125g I added a Seachem tidal 110 HOB to the center of the tank. This is a heavily stock peacock / hap tank. It made a big difference. Added a bunch of water movement and more mechanical. On a whim I had a bunch of carbon I stopped using years ago. I threw some in the HOB. Wow my water is so clear. So you can also use the extra filter to polish your water. Easy to access the HOB

[@cichlid_kings]

Great content highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of different filter applications. Personally can't speak for sumps as I have not ventured down that road yet. I've also had good luck with Marineland HOBs and Fluval canisters, when set up properly is key 😎 On my 6' display tank the left side canister, closest to wavemaker requires maintenance every 6 weeks, the right side cannister only needs to be serviced every 3 months. "Fluid situation" 😎

[@BenOchart]

Have you considered a pre-filter?

[@cichlid_kings]

@@BenOchart Nah, I'm OK with the more frequent maintenance of the canister closest to the wavemaker because it is doing most of the heavy lifting. 😉

[@joeader6046]

The shark filter is one of the best I have along with my Marineland canister

[@BenOchart]

Shark is a Sicci filter, right?

[@leo2o915]

So whats your opinion on having more area for more bb to establish ?

[@BenOchart]

Deep substrate

[@acanskywalker5631]

I make racks out of egg crate for holding my Marine Pure Bio Balls, I use as many as the sump I'm working with can hold. Maintenance is simple, it consist of sliding the rack/s out of my sump, swishing them around in the water change bucket and sliding them back in. The surface area available for bacteria growth on MP is amazing! In my opinion Marine Pure Bio Balls are among the very best of all the products in our hobby!

[@peytonplace7430]

Very informative thanks

[@BenOchart]

You’re welcome 😀👍🏻

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

More filtration media is far better. Multiple layers (e.g. foam) and locations allow for less frequent cleaning and less loss of beneficial bacteria when you clean a filter. Minimizing disruptions to the entire biological system is one of the secrets to a healthy, disease free aquarium.

[@johnfadds6089]

I totally agree. People underestimate the filtration media volume required to achieve crystal clear, bacteria free water. Speaking of which, you should check out my latest video, I managed to fit 154 pot scrubbies tightly inside my new Eheim 2260. I also use a larger outtake hose than the original, the flow is just crazy.

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

@@johnfadds6089 nice job on the pot scrubbies. This will go a year without cleaning i bet

[@johnfadds6089]

My 2 Sunsuns 704 (one was replaced with the Eheim) have been running for 9 months without cleaning, filled with 30 ppi foam only, no drop in flow rate.

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

@@johnfadds6089 and you will develop a very healthy "biofilm" -that is the ultimate goal for effective nitrification! Aquarists are amazed at how pot scrubbies can result in crystal clear water. It's the biofilm that captures and processes even the finest microscopic particles.

[@freddievara8117]

Y es filtration can run along time depending on the fish load and feedings. Sometimes to much muck can sour a filter by smothering the bacteria hence ammonia and nitrates rise.

[@joeader6046]

I watched your video on your sump and it is very impressive

[@BenOchart]

Thank you

[@joeprovenzano4362]

Ben. I can’t find the member join nor can I find the patrion logo

[@BenOchart]

Hi Joe, it’s at the bottom right of the channel banner or just go here: www.patreon.com/user?u=13754188&fan_landing=true

[@joeprovenzano4362]

Found it

[@alejandrolisdero4531]

I don't like hang on back filters. They are too noisy for me. Also because they stop working when I have a power outage, AND don't start again when power returns. That's why I never bought one. I like canisters, silent and start inmediatily after power outages. Very useful video! 👍🏻

[@alejandrolisdero4531]

...after power returns.

[@alejandrolisdero4531]

@Will B I've seen Tidal's reviews. They are new and have the pump under water level. But where I live, there are not spare parts. I live in Argentina. I can buy spare parts for my canister. Thank you for your comment! 👍🏻

[@tetraguytx1705]

On my Oase canister filter, I use a black after-market spray bar that sits high and tight in the back of the tank. You can't see it, which results in a low equipment profile in the tank. The spray bar also provides excellent surface agitation, and it distributes flow, nutrients and C02 (with an in-line diffuser) evenly throughout the aquarium.

[@Dara-hx2pt]

Hi.. what about water evaporate, humidity built up the air, and it does it built up mold on your wall and ceiling? Do I need dehumidifyer?

[@tamershawky2506]

Thank you for your advice 🙂

[@marcusmcclung7330]

Always love this KZbin channel! I have been meaning to ask this question for a long time now. Thanks in advance for any response. Why are fluidized sand filters so rarely used or mentioned? They do a great job for bio filtration with absolutely no maintenance and limits risk when servicing other filters, cleaning the tank, and water changes. (And for less than $100.) Is there a down side to these filters I am missing?

[@BenOchart]

They don’t get promoted. People are not aware of them and those that are might find them complicated (when the truth is, like sumps, once you understand them, they are very simple)

[@rickjones1176]

where do you stand on the great charcoal in the filter debate for fresh water, helpful or not??

[@BenOchart]

I talked about this in detail in my last live stream. Go to 24:10 in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4Onnp5jgamYmsk

[@AnointedMinds_CoachMalachi]

I'm new to the hobby. What is your reason for having so much substrate in your tank?

[@BenOchart]

Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYGTfHmqr7Clg9E

[@carlheller6648]

I have a fx6 and marineland 375 pro on a 75 gallon tank. The marineland is my polish filter and fx6 is my biological/polish filter. Love hob easy care maintenance. Love canisters for how much biological meida it can hold. Sump I don't have one yet but I will once I get a bigger tank. Downside of hob is the space from wall to the tank. Downside of canister is they are heavy to carry or hard to get out of stand. For sponge filter I love them in my shrimp tank that's it. Downside is you have clean them all the time.

[@BenOchart]

Valid points, thanks!

[@joshhopper6109]

I have worked my way through all the types of filters with various size tanks and what I've landed on that I like best is a sump as a primary filter with cotton batting for mechanical and pot scrubbies and bio balls for bio. I have a canister with a sponge for prefilter as my secondary filtration. If you have room to do it I would like to see you set up plants like pathos in one of the chambers in your sump with a full spectrum light and test the parameters of your tank to see if it helps at all.

[@danielspielman2585]

Ben, Have you considered replacing your filter socks with the roller mat systems that have become popular in the salt water hobby? I’m curious how well the roller mats will work in freshwater, or if they clog too quickly. It sure would be nice not to have to change filter socks every couple of days.

[@BenOchart]

My sump is a bit too small for a roller. They look very cool and make sense. I wouldn’t mind having one. Maybe in my next build which will be between 200-300 and need a bigger sump. That being said, it only takes 15 minutes to swap out and clean the socks.

[@charlessloop1552]

Sponge filters r great for what they are I wouldn’t use them solely on anything bigger then a 29 gallon lightly stocked because of how much they need to be cleaned. Hob they r great filters that I use as my backup filters but they r fill of sponges just to polish water but those sponges also act as bio media if canister fails witch I just had to deal with and they don’t need to be cleaned as often as a sponge, I love my canisters like you said set them up and forget them I clean mine maybe once every 6 months, as long as you do it right they won’t give you many issues but I have over filled them and they don’t move water like they are designed to. I have never had a sump but would love to upgrade all of my tanks to them with filter socks for the extra time they give you between cleaning if you can’t tell by now I am a bit lazy so the longer I can go the happier I am lol

[@edgararcega3046]

Cool Video Ben. I'm new to fish keeping and I've been using KZbin videos from people like you and Kev at Kaveman Aquatics. I've got some weird stuff that has been happening to my tank and I am wondering if maybe you can explain what is going on. So to begin I got my new 55 gallon tank this September and it's been up and running since then. I am still using the HOB that came with the tank that's rated for a 55 gallon and I even installed a FX6 as well. Now here is the strange thing. Every single thing that is in the 55 gallon tank was brand new including the filters and media and according to the test I do weekly my ammonia levels and nitrite levels never go above 0 ppm. Now the thing that trips me out is that my nitrate levels always shoot up to around 40 ppm every 7 days but I never see ammonia or nitrites go above 0 ppm. This has been happening to me since the the very beginning and I don't know what's up since I thought that in order for nitrates to be present in a tank the tank has to go through it's cycle of waste> ammonia> nitrite then nitrates. My tank currently has 20 small fish in it most of which are tetras and 2 blood parrot fish. I feed them 1 to 2 times a day and in the beginning I was doing 50% water changes weekly but then stopped doing that because someone told me that constant water changes can disrupt the cycle I'm new tanks. So after being told this I went to doing a 50% water change every other week but I am still getting the same results. I am also using that API master test kit that uses those 4 dropper solutions and glass tubes and yes I am making sure to follow the instructions to the T. As for my media the top tray of my FX6 has the egg crate sponge that came with it and a fine polishing pad under that. Middle tray has all fluval ceramic rings and bottom tray has purigen bags and the very bottom is a fine black sponge that also came with the FX6 which is mainly there to protect the impeller. The hob has the pads it came with and some more fluval ceramic rings. I also have 3 wave makers inside the tank 2 of which are top left pointing upwards towards the right and one on the bottom right slightly pointing downwards and to the left. These wave makers sure the hell circulate the tank and provide plenty of surface agitation along with what the fluvals output and hob output also provide. Oh and I also have a 6 inch air stone and 2 small box filters inside the tank with more ceramic rings in them and sponges. But anyways man this is a long post and I know reading really sucks but maybe you or someone else knows what's up with the tank.

[@edgararcega3046]

@Guppy Lover omg I've never thought of that. Il do that asap. Problem may be at the source! Another thing i thought of is that it could be my substrate. I used some cheap aquarium gravel i got from the 99 cent store. It tends to flake and chip easily

[@edgararcega3046]

@Guppy Lover omg I've never thought of that. Il do that asap. Problem may be at the source! Another thing i thought of is that it could be my substrate. I used some cheap aquarium gravel i got from the 99 cent store. It tends to flake and chip easily

[@edgararcega3046]

@Guppy Lover omg I've never thought of that. Il do that asap. Problem may be at the source! Another thing i thought of is that it could be my substrate. I used some cheap aquarium gravel i got from the 99 cent. It tends to flake and chip easily

[@tamershawky2506]

Can you please tell me which kind of sand you use in your aquarium? And is silica sand is good or not ? Thank you )

[@BenOchart]

I use a combination of 45% CaribSea crushed coral, 45% CaribSea black aragonite and 10% black sand from PetCo. Silica can contribute to brown algae, so I’d advise against using it.

[@tamershawky2506]

@@BenOchart Thank you so much for advice.

[@jinpachichulo7561]

I have 2 FX6'S on a 125 and plan on getting a sponge filter. Question is, should I put a sponge pre filter on my FX6 or just leave it stock? Have a 100G filter on a 40G tank and a 40G filter on a 10G trollolol yeah I'm one of those over filtration guys. I'm probably gonna do a sump next. Kinda wanna upgrade to a 400-500 gallon aquarium if possible.

[@BenOchart]

Pre-filter will extend time between having to service that canister, and that’s a good thing.

[@freddievara8117]

Well this is interesting and debatable Ben great subject to sit by the pot belly stove with coffee lol. How the filter system is set up mechanical and biological can be set up independently from each other. The theory being biological filtration should tumble for extra oxygen while mechanical filtration is for sediment and polishing I use floating clay balls in one of my sun sun and a 604b for my Aquaponics and a 350 hob to pick up sediment easy change. All filtration works if maintenance is done. My pet peeve is this misconception on sand and gravel beds without water circulation eg without an under gravel filter. Will become anaerobic over time eg. Empty an old Aquarium and the gravel or sand Stinks Anaerobic bacterial bloom has occurred. Just my 2cents. How many filters, well whatever makes you happy and comfortable other than using electricity know harm done. If a filter fails another filter running can save the day. Great Video Ben👍😎

[@mcaquatics3143]

None of my tanks over 75 gallons, including my 3-240s have canisters, I use either hob, sponge filters or under gravels and a wave maker. And they are over stocked. Crystal clear. Water in them are more stable than any of the tanks under 40 gallons. Ppl forget that bacteria only grows to the bio load, and after that they are just mechanical filters. Bacteria grows on the substrate, glass, decor not just the filters.

[@davidsenger7694]

I use a sponge filter and an HOB in my 56 gallon. Wouldn't change for anything else

[@albertmarquez6125]

Hi Ben! i have a 75 gallon tank and bought a Sunsun HW-303B Canister. Is it compatible? or is it good enough with 1400L/H? or need additional filter? Thank you for the tips and tricks,.

[@ericnewton2314]

I have been keeping fish for over 30 years and I believe in using multiple filters on an aquarium. However, I believe they should be different types of filters on an aquarium. Each type of filter, whether it be sponge filters, HOB, canister filters or sumps, has its pros and cons. When you combine different types of filtration, you get the benefits of each type of filter that you have and I believe that is what gets you the best results. In short, it is not about having more filtration, it is about more types of filtration!

[@treeehrhardt4509]

Great info as always! Setting up a 125 for my 2 grown oscars silver dollars and a larger pleco. What would you do for filtration? Can't decide what to do. Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@sarge6870]

Ok Ben. When I first got my tank (29gal Aqueon Kit) that came with an Aqueon 30 LED Pro HOB, I felt it wasn't moving enough water. It took me months to get the tank cycled. My biggest issue was Ammonia spikes and the PH,KH and GH being out of whack. I also had an issue with a bacteria bloom that made for cloudy water. I added Aragonite (hanging in a mesh bag), a "Green Killing Machine" UV Filter (I only have in when I have clouding issues) and a 2nd HOB filter. In about 4 days everything balanced out and my water has normal parameters and is crystal clear (as of about 3 months ago). I do WC's every other week. I feed twice a day. My question, do you think I should remove one of the filters? I'm hesitant to do so because I don't want the tank to crash. I have about 12 fish (Community) in the tank and NO losses in over 5 months. Thanks to your videos, I was able to get things where they should be. Hope you're still feeling ok bud.

[@Boogerboys1990]

ever hear of father fish? on KZbin. fully balanced planted deep substrate with anaerobic lower layer. i have 15 tanks many cichlid tanks. i use floating plants jungle val and bio sponge. very little maintenance on the cichlid tanks if any for 6 months. i have guppy tanks angelfish convicts red jewel blue acaras discus all do great in heavily planted father fish method tanks.

[@NoJobNoBoat]

I had a sump on a 125 about 11 years ago. It made life very easy until that one night I was just getting to sleep and the pump blew the hose off. I was out of bed and behind the aquarium in 3.5 seconds and about 4 steps. The aquarium was NOT in my bedroom by the way. Since then I've been a canister/HOB guy, not that the same can't happen with a canister filter.

[@davesaquarium1987]

I have a 90 gallon no need for a sump my sunsun 704A keeps it absolutely pristine

[@richardlewis9007]

First 😀

[@thag7749]

I have 3 FX6 on my 10 gallon 😊(Im J/K) lol

[@robertjohnston25]

Sumps: extra water volume Canister: mechanical filtration HoB: ease of maintenance Sponge: low fire hazard risk for lazy folks like my sister in law who doesn’t like to maintain their filter.

[@sarge6870]

...love the "Sister-In-Law" line!!! 🤣🤣

[@robertjohnston25]

@@sarge6870 lmfao sad but true. Almost every time I went over there their hang on back filter was trickling water or not pushing water at all but the thing was plugged in. They asked me for a suggestion as this was their 3rd filter they were replacing (even tho it was probably fine) I suggested the sponge filter and there had been no issues since 🤣😅

[@joeader6046]

That's supposed to say Ben

[@BenOchart]

Thank you

[@joeader6046]

I don't like hang on the back filters I had 1klog and overflow on me

[@skipperdan1]

I recently discovered "goop" on my HOB filter where the water empties into my fish tank. Now, whenever I change my water, I run a paper towel over these spouts and wipe off the goop. I also use a Q-Tip to clean the notches where the axels of the rollers pivot.

[@alecthenice8115]

My aquarium is far more highly engineered than any Boeing aircraft

[@bo_392]

"too much filtration is bad" thumbnail?! HOBs are bulky and fugly. good luck with your channel. unsub

[@mikelane4005]

How are HOB filters with sand substrate? Does it get up inside the filter, if so, how do you clean it out, and how often? Asking because I will probably be starting a peacock cichlid tank soon.

[@BenOchart]

Keep the intake several inches from the bottom and use a pre-filter over the intake if possible. Sand has never been an issue with HOBs for me.