Buying a HOB filter can be difficult because there are so many different factors to consider. Here we break down the most important factors we found through hours of research and product analysis.
Hang on back filters are commonly used as alternatives to canister filters and sump systems which are notoriously more difficult to setup and clean. The more convenient a filter is to clean, the more likely you are to actually clean it. Many companies have come up with great ideas from media baskets to drip tray lids and even self-priming impellers inside the tank.
Keeping a filter easy-to-use shows that the company has thought about real use cases. Designing with the consumer in mind also shows that the company puts time and effort into their products.
Filters that make it so you don't have to pour water into the compartment to prime it with pumps that are inside the tank are also quieter and restart by themselves after a power outage or water change.
The ability to put whatever kind of media you need into your filter makes it more accomodating to a much wider variety of situations. You can add or remove media that you need after stirring up ditritis, or you can add pre-cycled biological media to jump start your tank's nitrogen cycle.
Many people have plants in their aquarium, and in this case they opt to remove the carbon from the filter because it filters out nutrients the plants need. It also allows them to add in more mechanical or biological filtration to use it as additional filtration for a tank.
Having a large customizable media basket is one of the most important features when choosing a filter that can be changed to your needs.
A lot of people have tanks setup in bedrooms or living rooms where the sound of flowing water isn't welcome. While adjusting the flow rate on a filter can impact how loud the water is coming out of the filter, key design features can reduce the sound even more.
The most popular and common complaint people have is their filter lid rattling on the Aquaclears. While there are some that say it's not a problem, it's worth taking into consideration when buying a filter for your bedroom tank.
A quiet filter can be key when looking at long term use and reliability. With more quality parts, such as impellers, lasting longer, a filter is less likely to create noise with broken parts.
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