Pimp My Filter #91 - Superfish Hang on Filter 100

[@pondguru]

This is a good filter compared to some of the abominations I've featured in this series. The fact that you can upgrade the cartridges to suit the stocking situation is great. Filter on Amazon: geni.us/TbMCf The best HOB filter (in my opinion): APS HOB-500 (Amazon): geni.us/Q4AI37t APS HOB-500 (Ebay): ebay.to/2DZfrnz Filter media and foams: www.filterpro.co.uk Please post your reports of using this filter from Superfish long-term in the comment section - that is what it is for. Thanks in advance. As long as you avoid using damaging water conditioners which starve the bacteria in the system by messing with the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate (e.g. Prime) there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to achieve a full cycle (0-5ppm nitrate) when your filter is properly sized and set up well with suitable filter media. That's what this series of videos is all about so if you've found this video useful please share it on Facebook, whatever Twitter is now or any other 'social' media sites. If you'd rather watch these videos with no ads then check out my Odysee channel here: odysee.com/$/invite/@PondGuru:0 RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS ON AMAZON: goo.gl/jMaBWy INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/pondguru_outdoors/ FILMING EQUIPMENT: Panasonic HC-VX870 HD camcorder geni.us/3UwE +Rode stereo microphone: geni.us/4OL +Rode 'deadcat' mic cover: geni.us/1pmn JVC Everio quad proof HD camcorder: geni.us/e09e +Rode 'deadcat' mic cover (opened up and held between tripod and camera base) geni.us/dee24 Zomei Z666 tripod: geni.us/1a1af3 Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI mini tripod: geni.us/87f7 If you've enjoyed this video please check out the playlists on my channel for hundreds more - on a variety of subjects. Feel free to share or link any of my for the benefit of anyone you think may also enjoy watching. See you next time. Pondguru (Richard)

[@ashleygibson2141]

Thank you for this - I have been running this filter for 2 months now. I never used the included cartridges. I immediately upgraded to sponge pre-filter, and ceramic medium in the boxes surrounded by thin sponge and fibre. The tank runs beautifully, and I have only needed to strip and clean the pump the once, just this week. It was fairly clean, but the impellor now runs even better. Great video and great advice. Thank you

[@Les-OZZYTHEOSCAR]

Now this is exactly what is wanted and needed for small tanks, and larger tanks if there are larger models. Eheim !!!, are you taking note of this ? You really do need to sort yourselves out, back to what your once were.. Great filter that cannot fail to do what's required. Another good video Richard, loving your work Mr Thew

[@pondguru]

Yes, even if the stock cartridges are used the design ensures that the water will always be clean and relatively healthy since the water can't bypass the foam or fine pad.

[@AquaPeet]

Ohhh this is miles apart from the Eheim! This seems so practical together with upgrade possibilities that if I had a tank that would fit a HOB filter, I would get THIS.

[@pondguru]

Yes it is at the opposite side of the spectrum to that abominable Eheim filter form the last video. However, I still think that the All Pond Solutions HOB-500 from part 27 of this series is the best HOB filter I've seen so far.

[@Ethan-gv2zy]

That thing is HUGE for 5 gallons 😂

[@pondguru]

Yes, but at least the majority of it is external to the tank, lol. When I give tank size recommendations for the filters I'm working on a full cycle (reduction in nitrate) for normal and heavy stock and that takes a certain amount of suitable filter media (to support the anaerobic bacteria) in a 'normal' fish tank set up. If someone wanted this (unaltered) filter for a much larger tank, didn't expect a full cycle or didn't care about how quickly the ammonia and nitrite was processed it would do just as well (or badly) as any other choice.

[@JAG1651]

Just bought a Superfish Scaper 90 tank that comes with the Superfish 200 HOB, which as you know has 3 Cartridges. I think I might have to get a couple of bags of Bio Gravel off you. I might keep the 3rd cartridge as a water polisher.

[@pondguru]

Good one - these are decent filters. Best of luck with the tank.

[@ЮлияТ-щ9о]

Вы грамотно прокачали этот водопадик 😊❤ Биология это самый важный фактор в фильтрации воды аквариума ‼️‼️‼️ Лайк 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻 Вам из России ❤❤❤❤ Спасибо за информацию 🤝🤝🤝🤝

[@pondguru]

Не беспокойтесь, и я рад, что видео оказалось вам полезным. Спасибо за просмотр и хороших выходных.

[@iangrice329]

I like that idea compared to most cartridge filters but still prefer a standard filter layout.

[@pondguru]

Yes, there is only a limited amount that can be done to improve HOB filters and it generally involves a block of foam on the intake which isn't very attractive.

[@iangrice329]

​@pondguru the old Aqua Clear used to be good for adaptability.

[@pondguru]

@@iangrice329 Yes, anything which is a simple design gets my vote too.

[@jackbarratt698]

I have this filter and would like to upgrade it. Do you have a link for the bio gravel and bags?

[@pondguru]

I forgot to put the link to the website in the video description and pinned comment - it is www.filterpro.co.uk The media is on the 'Biohome Media' page and the bags are on the 'Foams, Bags' page. I have pre-filled bags on the media page but it may work out cheaper to buy separately and fill your own.

[@touchwood108]

Hi, do you sell the sponge that you used??

[@pondguru]

I only have foams in 11" x 17" on the FilterPro website www.filterpro.co.uk (Foams page). Sometimes I use whatever I have lying around to upgrade the filters in this series.

[@touchwood108]

@@pondguru Thanks for taking time to reply. I have already bought items from your web site but couldn't find the same sponge. Okay thanks.

[@pondguru]

@@touchwood108 Thanks for the order - if it's not on the website it will be something I don't sell since I'm not out of stock for anything at the present time. Best of luck with the tank.

[@GupPi_3.14]

Nice one I actually thought you'd mod it the same as the last superfish HOB you did

[@pondguru]

To be fair there's only a limited amount of alteration HOB filters will take as they all work the same once the cartridges are removed or altered. Unfortunately the upgrade normally starts with putting an ugly block of foam on the intake and for that Eheim filter it just made it look even worse, lol

[@pauldunlop1660]

Looks as good value for money as the Allpond HOB-500 you reviewed, as cheap as chips but worth every penny.

[@pondguru]

Yes, it is well made and very affordable - even with the stock cartridges it will do a reasonable job to clean and improve the health of the water so it's all good. I'd still recommend the HOB-500 over this filter since it will also easily hold 1kg of Biogravel (or other filter media choice) making it suitable for a normally stocked tank of up to 100 litres (38 US gallons) and a heavily stocked tank of up to 50 litres (19 US gallons) for a full cycle.

[@BetsyNadin-hepburn]

Just what I was looking for, just got this filter and didn’t want to waste money on buying new cartridges. Do theses remove tannings from the water?

[@pondguru]

If you have carbon in the filter it will remove tannins, yes.

[@MarkAliaFlorezHunt]

Hi there, set the filter up as you demonstrated, however, it's not collecting the fine particles. Is there a way I can amend your set up to start collecting fine particles?

[@pondguru]

Some details of the tank and stock will help to ascertain why you're having a problem with fine particles. Feel free to send pictures of the set up to [e-mail] and let me know tank size, stock, water conditioner used - it could be something as simple as the bacteria going through a boom / bust cycle where it can't establish a proper population (e.g. if prime was the conditioner - it starves bacteria and when it tries to re-establish it blooms in the water).

[@Jwonni1]

Have you search Mr Guru's older videos? He has already done this filter but it was the 200 I believe (with 3 filter compartments) Just going from memory he had two other options that he's not don't on this video for this model so might be worth you watching it. Essentially other options were to put the filter cartridges as the intake this getting the fine filtering and then the upper area just full of biomedia I also think he said you would remove one of the filter boxes, so the one you use would be the end on (as it has the sealed end cap) and in the now big empty space where you would have had the second you fill with a bag of biomedia

[@pondguru]

@@Jwonni1 Thanks for that - your memory is way better than mine, lol

[@ianferguson4728]

Sorry. No cartridge filters in my shop

[@pondguru]

Nice one - without alteration the vast majority of cartridge based filters won't be up to the job they promise (for a normal fish tank).

[@bigrededdy]

i hate cartridge based filters, but SuperFish have quietly become one of the leaders for quality, their products are fantastic for the price you pay for them

[@pondguru]

Yes, they have struck a good balance of affordability and quality and it's great to see that.

[@rsl2988]

👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@alt-swe5503]

It feels like a good idea to block the upper halves of the sides of the cartridges to make sure that the water doesn't take an easy shortcut avoiding the lower part of the upgraded cartridges. My first upgrading thought besides the in-tank sponge was to lead the water to a spray bar style pipe along the bottom and then stack all of the gravel type media I could fit above it.

[@pondguru]

Thanks for recognizing those great points. The cartridge on the right has a cap on the end so water is forced to go through the main body of the cartridges when they are joined together - sorry, I should have explained and shown that in the video. When water comes through the cartridges it will move around the main filter compartment no problem and having some areas of slow flow (between and in / through the media) will ensure that there will be anaerobic bacteria operating in the filter. Yes, having the pump outlet directed along the bottom of the main filter body is something I tried to do but the best I could get it (using spares from the skimmer parts) was 2 x 90 degree bends on top of the pump outlet and a pipe fitted to that firing water down to the bottom of the main filter chamber. Unfortunately the bends resulted in the pipe configuration sticking out too far into the main body of the filter so I scrapped that idea. That one would have been preferable to just filling the cartridges with filter media.

[@toastie1]

You are good, I like the filter pimps. I have done the Bio media pimp to an All Pond Solutions 1000, Only thing is I have an ongoing Issue with that noisy Cannister filter, A new Impeller from APS made it slightly more quiet. They refunded me. I also had to take one of these Superfish Hang on Filter 1000 back to Maidenhead and argue basically my consumer rights with staff/ manager to change it, I then took out a Fluval Roma tank kit instead of the superfish set, would you believe it I had a noisy Fluval U3 and a faulty flickering fluval led light. Many emails and basically arguing that the faults were there! What has happened to quality, Could be my bad luck, seems like it, I say shit quality everywhere, Be careful!! A great set of videos I would like to see is an actual test of the pimps, Somehow test, Or opinion on noise, It is either vibrations inside motor, baskets or Impeller, It is not air trapped ! my new Fluval U3 is good, I changed it. I have soon a Aqua One Aqusys tank with Oase thermo 850 to set up, fingers crossed.

[@pondguru]

While all those problems may have nothing to do with air it sounds like the the failings of successive filters could be related to the positioning of an air stone in the tank or positioning of intake / outlet (with venturi)? The impeller of a pump will be silent unless there is either air or solid dirt rattling around in the impeller chamber. With regard to how water and air moves around a tank I go into detail in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpetk4hjep2Meqs and it also shows how air travels around a tank from the venturi outlet of the pump / filter (from about 3 minutes). That's just from a normal filter outlet and an air stone in the tank (if you have one) adds to the problems unless it is located at the opposite end of the tank to the filter intake. Best time to check where the air is traveling is when the lights are off on a night - shine a flashlight through one end of the tank and it will highlight all the bubbles. The Oase Biomaster filters are renowned for having air issues so the positioning of intake and outlet are critical. Luckily the newer versions of the filters with the upgraded pre-filter pipe and better pump head design to remove trapped air quickly have largely solved the air problem - make sure you're getting the newer version of the filter from wherever you're buying from. If it the old version then the new pre-filter pipes are available for sale online now. Hope that helps and best of luck with the tank.

[@toastie1]

@@pondguru There is no air stones, Rule that out , The cannister filter for example is primed, not much more I can do to displace air, tipping side to side etc al done, It is noisy. Most KZbin vids show as example the intake say on right back, outtake on left back, That I have seen. Silicone lube the Impeller shaft too, no difference, Its a mystery, I might pimp myself a soundproof box then put the cannister in a soundproofed cudboard, Again not trapped air related in my opinion. after priming, tipping side to side what more is there? I do not see any good KZbin vids on reviewing cannister filters noise, testing practically.

[@ThousandYardStare]

​@@toastie1 (my other channel) Did you watch the video I linked in my previous comment? From 3 minutes - it shows how water and air travels around the tank from the pump / filter outlet and why the intake should not be on the opposite end to the outlet (since it will draw in air and therefore make the filter noisy). You can see the air moving around the tank in that video.

[@toastie1]

@@ThousandYardStare Thank you, I've just moved my inlet over to the same side as the outlet. I totally get your example, experiment and it makes great sense. Not to go on about it mind... I am talking about mechanical humm buzz not air trapped. which this all pond solutions 1000 is doing after trying basically everything, Reviews are kind of mixed on them too.

[@pondguru]

@@toastie1 You could try sitting the filter on a sheet of polystyrene to reduce vibration and make sure that the pipes leaving and entering the filter aren't touching the cabinet. If they are then that can cause vibration. They can be insulated with soft material wrapped around the pipe(s) at the point of contact.

[@Agnus78]

Not bad filter at all. But i still prefer SunSun HBL-803 - it seems better solution.

[@pondguru]

100% - in the UK that one is sold as the All Pond Solutions HOB-500 and it's by far my favorite HOB filter which has been featured in this series of videos. It was #27 and can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnysYo2EhpmYg6c For the price it is an excellent filter. It will also easily hold 1kg of Biogravel (or other filter media choice) making it suitable for a normally stocked tank of up to 100 litres (38 US gallons) and a heavily stocked tank of up to 50 litres (19 US gallons) for a full cycle.

[@Agnus78]

@@pondguru i bought it after your review and it still working in one of my 45 liter tanks. I like its simplicity, freedom of configuration and functiinality of external filter. I hate cartridges.