What is the Best Filter for My Tank? Filtration 101 - How to Pick an Aquarium Filter System

[@MylesBogner]

Why is it the smaller aquarist channels are a hell of a lot better than the big ones. Thanks for the information.

[@rldickie]

My local PetSmart not having a small enough HOB for my 5g a month ago I took a chance on a nano PAD filter and boy howdy am I ever glad I did.

[@kosys5338]

I use a sump for these reasons: 1) Extra water volume adds another 35 gallons water volume to my system, 2) I have a large tank @ 90 gallons, 3) I have a moderately high stocking level, 4) ease of maintenance, 5) options it provides, I have no equipment in my tank, 6) extreme gas transfer because of design, all water being pumped back into tank very well oxygenated, 7) dead quiet, my sump system is quieter than an FX6 or even some hang on backs. If my system is making a sound it tells me something is off instantly. Those are the reasons I chose to use a sump system and it works very well for me. For my turtle pond I use two FX6's because that's what worked best in that situation. Bentley said it 100% right when he said "the best filter for your system is the one that works best for you". Research and know your options so you can make an informed choice as to what's going to work best for you. When it comes to filtration there is no such thing as one size fits all. This was a good video with some great information and a good place to start in researching one's options, I didn't hear one thing I disagreed with. Cheers!

[@newmexicoaquatics282]

I always love your videos Bentley! Thank you for sharing! - Little Bobby

[@rolfkarlsson276]

Matten filters! Run it off air, clean it twice a year, you can set it up for alot of flow, or not that much. Looks really good, disturbs the surface tention. Really easy to clean, you can hide other gadgets with it, crushed coral. Cheap, easy to install (although you kinda have to plan from the beginning) and has really good surface area. You can run it on a 5 gal, or a 40 gal. I will never use anything else.

[@Igor-q3f]

It also depends where and kind of tank is. In a fish room you can use a sponge but not in a display tank in an office or living room.

[@billcoleman782]

Thank you Bentley for keeping an open mind about the available methods, and teaching them well enough to try and make an informed decision on which ones are right for the individual fish keeper.

[@beasluszka6258]

Next 101 ideas...Fish foods-how is the average fishkeeper to assess fish food content? So not the usual...feed a variety, feed frozen and live when you can. More like how is one to choose a good flake food? OR. Substrates 101. I'd love to see some 'side by side' testing with a variety of substrates and your typical plants.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Substrate 101: kzbin.info/aero/PLHZbMU5nMoipccfjiaN9Lozmh8Nai25yW Fish Food Quality Discussion: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqa1fHR7ZZKGi6M

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Hello Bentley 🙏♥️ "what is the best filter for me?"great topic and I love your insight! I love the filtration 101.. the question is absolutely "what is the benefit?" Good stuff my friend!! For me, I love my deep sandbed, it's working for me!! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter holidays and much love!!✝️🙏🤗🌿🐟🌿💪

[@ranikesa2329]

Thanks!

[@jackadair6225]

Love the crooked glasses look lol Great video! Out of all filtration methods I’ve tried, I kept going back to sponge filters for the simplicity. But I’m really wanting to try a sump soon.

[@mr.rabbit2938]

Don't forget the fucked up collar too really brings the whole ensemble together 🤣

[@iowainterstaterailroadfan6543]

Love the videos, always makes my day seeing a KZbin notification that you have uploaded a new video!!

[@MasterPhotographer]

This has been a great series! As I’ve said before, “You make the science easy to understand.” Thank you again, for everything you do for the hobby! 👍

[@CoolTies]

I always left carbon in my Fluval 207 on my 36G tank which is heavily planted. Just cause I always had carbon. Now I’m having a challenge maintaining Amazon Swords which are melting away. Could be because the carbon is reducing the Easy Green fertilizer I’m adding to the water column. I’m going to open the canister, remove the phosphate and carbon bags and replace with white biological media blocks. Thanks!!

[@kevinneibergall9420]

Thanks again. Great info. You know everyone is going to try them all till they find the one that works the best for them.

[@mauricematla1215]

Another thing to considder. Visibility. In a showaquarium you maybeant to or even have to in somencompetition formats eliminate or at least minimize the equipment in sight. No my favourits are. HMF, Internal sump If i can acces it. Canister.

[@mirekt9521]

Enjoyed the whole series, Bentley! And I like the fact that you utilize what looks like a natural lighting :)

[@rickey698]

I kinda like using more than one type of filter in my tanks. Most of them have a HOB and a sponge filter. My 20 gallon long has a sponge filter, a Tidal 25 and an “internal” filter

[@tritonriverstone5185]

You Rock Bentley. Stay Awesome and thanks for the excellent Vids.

[@thomashenrymyers1876]

Great video as always, Please keep them coming, and hi from the UK.

[@wolfsburgfanatic]

I’ve run HOBs, sponge filters, internal canisters and external canisters over the years but a simple Aquaclear HOB is my go-to for most setups. Hard to beat the durability, ease of maintenance and value IMO. I do want to try out UGFs and mattenfilters in the near future though.

[@CoolTies]

I always left carbon in my Fluval 207 on my 36G tank which is heavily planted (Crypts, Java Fern, Amazon Swords, Ludwigia and Anubis). Just cause I always had carbon. Now I’m having a challenge maintaining Amazon Swords which are melting away. Could be because the carbon is reducing the Easy Green fertilizer I’m adding to the water column. I’m going to open the canister, remove the phosphate and carbon bags and replace with extra white biological media cubes. Thanks!!

[@BentleyPascoe]

If you can, get a root tab or two at the swords roots in the substrate

[@drummking15]

Another great video man!

[@abubbleoff1742]

Great explanation!

[@jc49fishniner4lif7]

AS ALWAYS VERY,VERY GOOD AND INFORMATIVE VIDEO THANKS👍💯

[@AussieAquatic]

Sees Eheim Wet/Dry canister in the thumbnail Me : Clicks

[@samuelorellana2603]

That mugshot drawing of Oscen killed me

[@ftayor66]

Thanks Bentley 😊

[@Georgeolddrones]

Excellent video Bentley thanks GEORGE in England 😂👍

[@jjkdlflljldlkfn7306]

Eheim 2227 wet dry filter ---------the best canister filter in the world 👍

[@fattyb5646]

Always ace thanks

[@ftayor66]

How good is that eheim filter you just showed?

[@BentleyPascoe]

It's a good filter, but I think there are better options

[@ftayor66]

I want to reduce my mantinance well not my mantinance just how many things I have to maintain, lol..I have 2 hob ,sponge filters. What canister would you recommend? This is a 75 gallon discus by the way. I want just one good product and get rid of these 4 existing ones. Thanks

[@miked4175]

Oase biomaster 600 is a great filter it has a prefilter that you can pull up out and clean it just takes a minute you dont have to even open the canister. BUT THEY ARE $400.00 but VARY nice and good canister filter and they have a 3 year warranty plus 1

[@johnjanowiecki237]

Love this guy. It's like boogie 2988 and Corey from aquarium coop had a child.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Funny part, I'm older than Cory 🙃

[@Kevin-qg3lp]

Ran under gravel filter w/plants for 10+ years no problem. All the horror stories I've heard about UG filters always made me laugh.

[@miked4175]

Right although I dont use UG filters anymore I did run a ug filter in a 55g with power head on each end and air stone on the middle 2 uplifts. I had lots of plants and could look up under the cabinet through the bottom of the tank and see all the roots. I think the gravel filter helps to pull nutrients from the water column to the roots I believe they are good for plants..

[@AussieAquatic]

35+ years

[@geofishdude9488]

Personally the best filter for any tank, is the one your going to service regularly. If you don't service the filter, it's like cutting off the life support for someone in the hospital. Not a piece of equipment that I want cutting out on me when I need it the most lol

[@mangala666]

Just have one of everything. 29 gallon tank with a Fluval 206, Aquaclear 70, sponge filter, an internal UV filter and a sump. That oughtta do it, right?

[@vb2377]

Plants is the best filtration

[@chrisdavidson3180]

Having a continuous problem with getting my tank clear.... 15 gallon cube with aquaclear20 hob. 2 course sponges intake sponge. A layer of aquarium coop floss and a layer of fluval floss. Oh ya I have contrasoil as substrate. I've run at all different flows and just can't get it to sparkle? Any suggestions or thoughts?

[@miked4175]

You could add carbon to the filter or seachem purigen that should make it sparkle

[@BentleyPascoe]

As Mike mentioned, you could try carbon. You could also be dealing with a bacterial bloom if the tank is newer, these go away on their own.

[@chrisdavidson3180]

@@miked4175 It really looks like i need better mechanical filtration. I see bits of chingas floating around. Won't carbon strip the water of nutrients and tannins? btw I took the Aquarium Coop floss out and it trapped more dirt than anything I've used previous, so maybe that will be the right track? Haven't used Purigen but now I'm interested. I used other flocculants to minimal success. Thanks for chiming in!

[@miked4175]

Green aqua uses purigen in their planted aquarium as far as I know it will not remove nutrients from the water but I'm not sure. You could use it for like a week to get the water clear then take it out. Green aqua is a KZbin channel

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@miked4175 very familiar with Green Aqua. Purigen is used by many aquascapes, but keep in mind they have incredibly robust maintenance regimes and fertilizer schedules

[@thedeadfisher]

Thanks Bentley What ever happened to under-gravel filters? Did they go the way of the dodo and the clear plastic corner filter? I used to run an aquaclear and eheim through under- gravels on 2 planted tanks and didn't have to clean them for years. Of course the gravel was hard as concrete by then.

[@BentleyPascoe]

UG filters are effectively where plenums come from. Corner filters now are basically the box filter

[@connie6705]

Thank you for making such descriptive videos! You explain very well. I’m currently setting up a 29g deep bed (2.5-3” dirt & sand), heavily planted. I’m going to try to keep it more lightly stocked. I will be using a sponge filter (hygger 3w) for the first time. I don’t know if all sponge filters are like this but I feel like I need more flow to pick up particles resting on the bottom. I’ve heard power heads can be problematic giving off electric current. I was considering using a small internal filter (something like the aqueon quietflow internal power filter because it has good flow in my 10g) for extra flow. Do you have an opinion on this? Or perhaps a suggestion?

[@BentleyPascoe]

I've used power heads without issue. Aquarium Co-op has one designed to hook up to their sponge filters to give you a more powerful flow to get particles. I imagine there are others on Amazon or such as well with similar design

[@connie6705]

Thank you for your quick reply!

[@asier2001]

I've watched in Green Aqua channel that in planted tanks, plants produce more ammonia that fish, because rotten leaves, and that's the reason they have huge cannister filters. What do you think? Regards

[@BentleyPascoe]

Plants absorb a ton of ammonia, so if you have more die off than what they consume I would argue that's a bigger problem.

[@brianklimaszewski]

Wow no sunsun 5000 suggestion?!?

[@simonpidgeon949]

💯👍👍

[@tommyarmstrong731]

GREAT INFO....enjoyed the filtration series...only thing Bentley.....the lighting is not the best....it bothers me that I can hardly see the left side of your face....are you trying to be artsy? it doesn't work for me....just know that I learn and enjoy the information provided in your videos....keep 'em coming!

[@BentleyPascoe]

Trying to be artsy no, I filmed most of this in the evenings and had limited access to additional light that didn't turn my skin yellow.