Two main choices are offered at the pet store where you stand in the aisle trying to decide which one fits your lifestyle and daily routine. You don’t want to spends weekends cleaning. You want happy fish and clear water.
Two choices is given, canister filters that are hidden underneath your cabinet with strong filtration. Hang-on-back filters clips on easy and give you easy access. It’s not about which is the best filter.
It’s about what filter fit into your lifestyle. The correct direction for you depends on your tank size, the type of fish you keep, and how much maintenance you’re willing to do. One is a powerhouse and the other is a convenience tool.
Hang-on-back filters are convenient tools. Knowing the balance between convenience and power makes for successful long term use. Later, when you have quiet equipment and clear water, you’ll be glad you made that choice.
Comparing Canister And Hang On Back Filters
Canister Filters: Powerhouse Filtration
The workhorses of the aquarium is canister filters. These unit sit outside the tank, normally underneath it. They draw water from the tank and filter it mechanically, chemically, and biologically before returning it to the tank.
Because of this design, they has great capacity for media. Large bags of carbon and ceramic ring can be added; something you couldn’t do in a small box. And flow rate is substantial.
A tank the size of a hundred gallons can be turned over multiple times per hour on models from manufacturers such as Fluval or Eheim. Why? This is for heavily stocked tanks and for those housing large, messy feeders such as cichlids.
The bad news is maintenance. Cleaning a canister filter is anything but a quick task. Hoses need to be disconnected, the pump needs to be primed, and seals must be checked to make sure they’re seating properly in order to prevent leaks.
It’s a scheduled project. The good news, You only have to do it every month (or even less) so there’s plenty of time between cleanings. Because your filter is efficient, it keeps the water cleaner for a longer period of time.
In other words, you’re trading frequent minor chores for occasional major ones. That’s the primary tradeoff. That’s not true for hang-on-back filters.
Hang-On-Back Filters: Convenience and Ease
These don’t sits on the floor. Instead they clip into place on the back of the tank. The media baskets is visible.
You can go in, rinse off the sponge, replace the carbon, etc., all within about half a minute. That accessibility makes them a good choice for novices. Cleaning become part of your regular routine instead of a project you have to schedule.
Because you know it’s easy to get started, you’re also more likely to do it. But those filters are weaklings. Their flow rate isn’t very impressive.
Unless you have an oversized HOB (hang-on-back) filter, it’s barely adequate for a group of goldfish let alone a heavily planted tank. Because that plastic box contains only so much living material, you don’t get to add much more. When your tank gets messy beyond the capacity of the filter, water quality suffer.
Clarity goes down. More algae grows. The filter turns into a bottleneck.
It is time to upgrade, which usually means getting a bigger and more noticeable one for your tank. What is one of the deciding factors? Tank size.
Choosing Based on Tank Size
For smaller tanks (under 30 gallons) that are also community tanks, a hang-on-back filter will typically suffice. Bioload is low. Water volume is manageable.
Performance doesn’t suffer for lack of access. You don’t need heavy equipment. Canister filters are basically a necessity for tanks exceeding 50 gallons in size.
The amount of media and the flow will keep the water quality good. That hang-on-back just won’t cut it. Finally, consider your aesthetics.
Aesthetics and Noise Considerations
Do you mind having equipment exposed on the back of your tank? Is that something you don’t like to see? If so, you’re looking for a clean look.
For example, a canister filter conceals its motors and tubing under the stand. What you see externally is minimal. Do you like to see it?
Do you like the flow and bubbles? Do you not care if there’s a piece of plastic in your view? This comes down to what YOU like when you look at your tank.
What about noise? In general, canister filters are quieter. They enclose the pump and keep it off of glass.
With hang-on-back filters, air can get trapped in the impeller and cause noise. Water splashing onto the plastic housing can also cause some noise. Sometimes vibration will transfer back to the glass and cause a hum which is annoying in a quiet room.
If you’re concerned with noise at your house, check out reviews on specific models. In the end, however, you’ll have whatever filter makes sense for you. If a really powerful canister filter is too difficult to clean, it won’t be maintained and thus it won’t benefit your fish.
If a hang-on-back filter is easy to use but too weak to handle your tank, you’ll have dead plants and clouded water. Select a filter that suits both your tank requirements AND your lifestyle. Go by the specs first, then tweak according to how you live.
Either way, your fish will love it.
