pumps and filters

[aquak]

Re quiet air pumps: I now have a biowheel on my 30 gallon and have wondered about other types of filteres because I am considering getting a larger tank. I am particularly interested in canister filters. Are they quiet and relatively easy to use? Vickie said on a freshwater site that the "hang-on-the-back" (such as biowheel?) are not powerful enough for larger tanks. What about underground filters as to noise levels and ease of use? I only know about the underground using air pumps, which seem to be noisy. I guess I can keep looking, but am discouraged right now because I have 2 noisy ones and don't need more. Thanks for all the good information!

[AquariumPro]

Like anything else, canister filters can be quiet or noisy. The very best, and most highly acclaimed are made by Eheim. I do not think you'll be able to find anyone who will disagree with me there.

As far as undergravel filters go, provided you will not be keeping live plants, they work quite well as biological filters. The water movement through the gravel can disturb plant roots, although not as badly if you are using air to run them. The one complaint that hobbyists have with them pulling dirt into the gravel is baseless. You have to vacuum substrate anyway and dirt still gets in there. They SHOULD NOT be used for marine tanks however, as the submerged aerobic bacteria will compete with fish for oxygen, and saltwater, depending on specific gravity, has up to 1/6 the oxygen of an equivalent volume of freshwater.

If you will not be doing live plants, I recommend using an undergravel driven by powerheads AND a canister filter. If the UGF cannot be done, then use an over-sized canister filter designed to run a tank two to three times the size of your aquarium.

Anyone who has read my articles already knows how I feel about most BioWheel filters, the Emperor series being the exception as they also provide large cartridges that can be filled with additional biological media.

[Nooboon]

I Just had to agree with Dave about the Eheim filters. I have a 2128 and it really is quiet.
I was so surprised when I first plugged it in that I thought it wasn't going for a while.
It has a little flow meter thingy that has a ball in it. It started vibrating a little after a while (oh no! some noise!) so I just removed the ball. Now it is even quieter if that is at all possible. The flow meter is meant to indicate when it needs cleaning I think, but I soon found out that it still reads full flow even when it does need a clean so I didn't lose anything by removing the ball. A better use for the flow meter would be to indicate when it is going so you don't have to put your ear up to it!

I think it would have to be the best aquarium related product I have ever purchased.

[aquak]

Thank you! This is very helpful. I do have plants and so will probably go with the larger canister. Wonderful to hear it can be quiet!