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Post by babygeige on Feb 11, 2010 22:48:37 GMT -5
I am tired of my AquaClear 70 filter. The lid rattles too often. A couple of weeks ago, I couldn't get it to start. The motor wouldn't do anything. So I tore the whole thing down, took it apart, cleaned it, and put it back together. It was fine until the other day when i came home from work and heard it as soon as I walked in the room. The motor is making a pretty bad noise. So I took it apart, again. But it didn't help this time. The flow has gone way down on it too. It's pretty clean in there since I just cleaned it a couple of weeks ago, so I don't know what the problem is. Frankly, I don't care anymore. So now, I just need to choose a new filter. I read Carl's article on them. I think I am leaning heavily towards a canister filter. I'm pretty impressed with the Rena Filstar's video. It looks pretty nice. I am also looking at an Eheim Classic. I don't have the money to get into a big budget one, but fortunately I don't have a big enough tank to worry about that, at least I don't think so. This is for my 30 gal. www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753158&lmdn=Fish+Filtration+%26amp%3B+CirculationOne of my main concerns is noise. I want something that is pretty quiet. Any suggestions are welcome. I'm leaning toward the Rena, but I don't know if it's just because of their helpful video. Good marketing!
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Post by Carl on Feb 12, 2010 10:18:14 GMT -5
I honestly think the Rena is the better filter over the Eheim Classic I say this not because I sell them, in fact I do not deal directly with Rena but through Central Pet Supply and sell these at just below wholesale (I get a discount for pick up at the facility, for paying cash, for spending a $800 min, FAXing the order, & picking this as the primary "vendor" for this order; and this is how we make some profit on these). My point is I sell this filter not because it is a line or company I sell, but because I believe in it. This same distributor sells the Eheim, but I chose the Rena based on my experience with it (including my sister maintenance company). The Rena is more quiet, more reliable, with much better head pressure than the Eheim. If I might go further, 90% of what I sell is based on believing in the product, even items that I do sell much of the manufacturers line such as Via Aqua; and with Via Aqua I get questions as to why I do not sell the VA 4900 pump; the reason is even though I like many of their products, this pump is junk & I refuse to sell it (I also do not sell Via Aqua for ease of purchase as this company is rude and very snotty to deal with). BTW, Via Aqua 750 is just as a good a filter as the Eheim Classic from my experience too, but not as good as the Rena This is another reason I stopped dealing with Hagen, as although they have some good products, they also have a lot of junk and Hagen forces retailers to purchase most of the line so as to get a discount that allows to be competetive, at least Rena allows to sell via distributors gives the opportunity via certain requirements, but not that their line (good and bad) be sold. I think this is dishonest business practices IMO Carl
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Post by babygeige on Feb 12, 2010 14:34:34 GMT -5
Thanks Carl. This morning, I checked on the AquaClear. It's running, sort of, but barely moving any water at all. So I took the plunge and grabbed a Rena at the lfs. They had a good price on it, and I am worried about the complete lack of filtration going on that tank right now (otherwise I would have purchased from you, Carl! ) I am going to get it up and running today and put my AquaClear's media in the little baskets so I don't any cycle crashes. It's rather short and squat compared to other canisters I've seen, so I'm hoping that I will be able to rearrange in the stand and get it sitting comfortably. I'll let you know how the installation goes. Some of the reviews I read said that they had a hard time getting it primed. It says it's "self-priming" but it really doesn't seem like it truly is. We'll see!
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Post by Carl on Feb 12, 2010 15:06:02 GMT -5
No canister filter is truly self priming IMO unless plumbed under the tank with direct link bulk heads (which I did for many custom installations).
What I find to be simple for initial siphon start for the Rena or any canister filter is to start with a canister filter with no water, then take the return tube from the aquarium and literally suck until water is coming through the line into a ready bucket, I then reconnect and rarely have a problem (again I do not think the Rena is any easier or more difficult with siphon start)
As for restart, I have generally found the Rena to be easier than most for re-start if directions are followed, but this is not 100% (the Fluval is generally the hardest to restart IMO)
Good luck, I think once you get used to this filter, you find this to be an excellent filter, mush more so than your Aqua Clear
Carl
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Post by goldenpuon on Feb 13, 2010 15:34:08 GMT -5
Not to get off topic but I hope this doesn't mean my Via Aqua HOB which is for about 45-70 gallons is junk. It was been working great so far in the few months I've had it but this post makes me worried it will malfunction. Sorry to prod into a thread like this but this has me a bit concerned. I want the best filtration for my fish and don't like filter malfunctions (mine has not malfunctioned though.)
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Post by babygeige on Feb 13, 2010 16:27:51 GMT -5
Not to get off topic but I hope this doesn't mean my Via Aqua HOB which is for about 45-70 gallons is junk. It was been working great so far in the few months I've had it but this post makes me worried it will malfunction. Sorry to prod into a thread like this but this has me a bit concerned. I want the best filtration for my fish and don't like filter malfunctions (mine has not malfunctioned though.) I wouldn't worry about that Renee. The reviews out there on the AquaClear are still pretty solid. Mine might have only needed a good cleaning, which I did today. Plus I tended to beat a bit on the intake tube if it wasn't seating properly. Maybe I damaged it. I'm going to put it some water and see how it sounds. I just think that this filter and I didn't get along well. It's rubbed me the wrong way since I got it almost 4 years ago and this was a good excuse to get a new filter. Installation of the Rena went very well yesterday! I had my brother help me to make sure we got the tubes on very snugly. Starting it was very easy. I had no problems getting it primed. I cannot believe how quiet this thing is compared to the AquaClear!! Today I cleaned the tank out. I just turned the little tap valve closed on the output on the top in the aquarium so it didn't lose its prime and when I was done cleaning and refilled it, i just opened that valve and the filter started right back up again. It hasn't been running 24 hours yet, but so far I'm really pleased with it. I like the spray bar that it comes with.
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Post by fishfever on Feb 13, 2010 17:40:51 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry about it either. I've had my Via Aqua Vitalife 200 for over a year and it's still going very strong. Really I haven't noticed any drop in the flow at all. I do want to change the O-ring seal out at the pump base (not that it feels bad or is about to fail) but I like to do preventive maintenance (especially when it's cheap and easy to do) and a failure of this O-ring would be a messy disaster! About the only slight problem I've ever had is after a tank cleaning sometimes the pump won't begin pumping even after filling the housing with water. This does not happen often, but it's easy to fix by giving the pump housing a gentle twist a fraction of a degree. Then it starts right up and it doesn't stop after this until I shut down for the next cleaning.
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Post by goldenpuon on Feb 13, 2010 19:50:27 GMT -5
Thanks for the reasurrance you two. Babygeige, I hadn't known the age of the filter when you posted about it. If I had known before that the filter was 4 years old, I wouldn't have been so worried by your post (filters break down after a while). I'm no longer worried about my Aqua-Clear. Thanks for clearing things up everyone.
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Post by Carl on Feb 14, 2010 17:21:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the reasurrance you two. Babygeige, I hadn't known the age of the filter when you posted about it. If I had known before that the filter was 4 years old, I wouldn't have been so worried by your post (filters break down after a while). I'm no longer worried about my Aqua-Clear. Thanks for clearing things up everyone. I will jump in with my view that hopefully clears up some of what some have thought is a bad review of the Aqua Clear by me when all I am attempting is to provide the plusses and minuses based on the literal use of 100s of these filters. I have probably kept more Aqua Clears since they first came out a few decades ago and when you count my sister maintenance companies continued use of many, he (Gregg/Fish Man) concurs with my statements on my Aquarium Filtration Article and that is they are a good filter that has a higher than average bio capacity and a lower than normal mechanically ability. As for reliability, failures are rare (which is why I would not worry much), however the impeller/power unit design is slightly less durable than other filters, but they are still a good filter. If I have any real complaint is that they are often over hyped/promoted as the best when one needs to compare apples to apples and as a vague generalization, they are a good filter, but overpriced compared to some other filters that are as good or better. Carl
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