The Great Big Filter Thread

[anewbie]

Changing topics a tiny bit does anyone have an opinion on ultramax 2000 vs biomaster 2 850 vs fluval 407 in terms of reliablility and ease of use. A few twists since nothing is simple:

a) I run a prefilter (20 ppi sponge) on the intake to prevent frys or small fishes from getting sucked up so you could consider it a prefilter to a prefilter.
b) I realize the 850 and fluval 407 have similar flow and the ultramax 2000 greater flow (hence i'm leaning towards the 2000); price wise the 2000 is about $20 less then the 407 and $100 less then a 850.
c) The 'termo' 850 is usless to me since i run double heaters off one controller for fault tolerance (i use the controller from jehmco (sp?))
d) while i like the idea of the stronger flow of the 2000 reliability (and no leakage) is my primary hope.

I currently own classic 2227 (yuck), fluval fx6 (think god i only have to clean it once every 5 year), fluval 107 and 207 - too new to need cleaning.
I believe sponges are better media then bio-balls.

The aquarium is a 24x48 (95 gallons) and i prefer to have the current flow across the 24 inch side - so long ways like a river. The aquarium is blackwater (so 30tds, lots of leaf particles and very heavy planting but not co2) and ph below 5.5 which seem to change the type of bio-particles that form.

I saw one person prefer the ultramax to biomaster in this thread though no long term usage and not sure the either the ultraxmax or biomaster have been out very long.

I currently have a matten filter (air driven) on the 95 but the small particles are creating issues and too much headache.

Experience feedback welcome and prefer and i'll even say thank you in advance.

 

[JayP]

Changing topics a tiny bit does anyone have an opinion on ultramax 2000 vs biomaster 2 850 vs fluval 407 in terms of reliablility and ease of use. A few twists since nothing is simple:

a) I run a prefilter (20 ppi sponge) on the intake to prevent frys or small fishes from getting sucked up so you could consider it a prefilter to a prefilter.
b) I realize the 850 and fluval 407 have similar flow and the ultramax 2000 greater flow (hence i'm leaning towards the 2000); price wise the 2000 is about $20 less then the 407 and $100 less then a 850.
c) The 'termo' 850 is usless to me since i run double heaters off one controller for fault tolerance (i use the controller from jehmco (sp?))
d) while i like the idea of the stronger flow of the 2000 reliability (and no leakage) is my primary hope.

I currently own classic 2227 (yuck), fluval fx6 (think god i only have to clean it once every 5 year), fluval 107 and 207 - too new to need cleaning.
I believe sponges are better media then bio-balls.

The aquarium is a 24x48 (95 gallons) and i prefer to have the current flow across the 24 inch side - so long ways like a river. The aquarium is blackwater (so 30tds, lots of leaf particles and very heavy planting but not co2) and ph below 5.5 which seem to change the type of bio-particles that form.

I saw one person prefer the ultramax to biomaster in this thread though no long term usage and not sure the either the ultraxmax or biomaster have been out very long.

I currently have a matten filter (air driven) on the 95 but the small particles are creating issues and too much headache.

Experience feedback welcome and prefer and i'll even say thank you in advance.

Such great timing for this question as I made a big change today and have plenty of input.
First, to clarify a comment you made, both the Ultramax and Biomaster have been available for years.

As has been noted in this forum, I began as a fan of the Biomaster filters and have many of them in all sizes. I was primarily drawn to their features like the prefilter and built-in heater, even though I knew they had lower flow than other brands. My love for them has faded, not only due to the lower flow, but primarily their well documented issues of sucking in air which leads to purging and noise. This was supposed to have been resolved with the release of the version 2 models but not completely. My new 120cm 75 gallon tank was set up with a Biomaster 850 and a separate external return pump for higher flow, but the 850, no matter how much I lubricate the gaskets and ensure no air leaks, still sucks in air and is constantly purging. It was version 2 never used filter. As of today, I'm done with Biomasters.

I have a number of filtration options to try out, including all 3 of the Aquael Ultramax models (1000, 1500, and BT which is the 2000 with Bluetooth and app functions). I debated replacing the 850 on the 75g tank with either the 1500 or BT. I chose the 1500 but after seeing it's flow performance, will likely switch to the BT in the next week. I will say that so far, the noise level of the 1500 is lower than the Biomaster but not as low as the Jebao MDP-3500 pump I was running. Media wise, I was able to transfer 4 trays of Matrix from the Biomaster 850 into two trays of the 1500, so the Aquael easily beats out the Biomaster for how much filter media it can hold. The one drawback is not having the built-in heater. For that, I'm using a Chihiros inline smart heater now.

In the future, I'll probably use the Aquael 1000 and 1500 only on tanks in the 20g-40g range, the 2000/BT on tanks 50g-75g, and for anything bigger, a setup like @Naturescapes_Rocco uses with the separate external pump, a prefilter canister, and a main filter canister whether it be the Netlea brand canisters or something else. If I had a much larger tank, I might consider the Aquael Hypermax.

For your setup, if wanting a strong "river" like flow from one end to the other, I would go with the Aquael 2000 at a minimum. But if flow is less an issue (since it's a black water), the BT model gives you the max flow of the 2000 but lets you easily adjust it via the app just like a separate DC return pump would do.

 

[anewbie]

Such great timing for this question as I made a big change today and have plenty of input.
First, to clarify a comment you made, both the Ultramax and Biomaster have been available for years.

As has been noted in this forum, I began as a fan of the Biomaster filters and have many of them in all sizes. I was primarily drawn to their features like the prefilter and built-in heater, even though I knew they had lower flow than other brands. My love for them has faded, not only due to the lower flow, but primarily their well documented issues of sucking in air which leads to purging and noise. This was supposed to have been resolved with the release of the version 2 models but not completely. My new 120cm 75 gallon tank was set up with a Biomaster 850 and a separate external return pump for higher flow, but the 850, no matter how much I lubricate the gaskets and ensure no air leaks, still sucks in air and is constantly purging. It was version 2 never used filter. As of today, I'm done with Biomasters.

I have a number of filtration options to try out, including all 3 of the Aquael Ultramax models (1000, 1500, and BT which is the 2000 with Bluetooth and app functions). I debated replacing the 850 on the 75g tank with either the 1500 or BT. I chose the 1500 but after seeing it's flow performance, will likely switch to the BT in the next week. I will say that so far, the noise level of the 1500 is lower than the Biomaster but not as low as the Jebao MDP-3500 pump I was running. Media wise, I was able to transfer 4 trays of Matrix from the Biomaster 850 into two trays of the 1500, so the Aquael easily beats out the Biomaster for how much filter media it can hold. The one drawback is not having the built-in heater. For that, I'm using a Chihiros inline smart heater now.

In the future, I'll probably use the Aquael 1000 and 1500 only on tanks in the 20g-40g range, the 2000/BT on tanks 50g-75g, and for anything bigger, a setup like @Naturescapes_Rocco uses with the separate external pump, a prefilter canister, and a main filter canister whether it be the Netlea brand canisters or something else. If I had a much larger tank, I might consider the Aquael Hypermax.

For your setup, if wanting a strong "river" like flow from one end to the other, I would go with the Aquael 2000 at a minimum. But if flow is less an issue (since it's a black water), the BT model gives you the max flow of the 2000 but lets you easily adjust it via the app just like a separate DC return pump would do.

I don't esp want a strong river just for the current to reach most of the way - i am very familiar with dc pumps as i use them for my 600 and 500 in the sumps. Cheap and effective.

The bt model is not readily (the only seller i found waws nature aquariums and it is backorder); available and $60 more but a bit confused - is the motor actually different (dc variable speed vs ac)? I know on the 2000 you can tweak the valve on the out going side to adjust flow down and i can always make larger holes in the spray bar if the flow is too strong.

I did order the 2000 for $249 from fishtankdirect but i suppose i could cancel the order before it ships if there is need.

As for 'new' i was really referring to the current models which have been tweak from previous iterations. The 407 in its current form has been around quit a bit longer as have the fx series.
--
Your comment on the biomaster sort of is a nail in the coffin - i was already feeling like it had too many gaskets and places for issues - it seems like the ultramax like the 407 have basically 2 primary areas the lid and area around the input/output valves.

I have seen some canister filters where the plastic is too brittle and over time it gets worse the fluval is more rubbery and seems to hold it tensile regidness for a long time (some plastics will become more brittle as exposed by water for long periods).

As for the netlea approach - i worry about getting the media right for so the water doesn't create channels of bypass.

 

[JayP]

I was fortunate and a new-in-box BT model came up for sale on FB marketplace at a discounted price. I wasn't looking to buy one but had to jump at the deal. It does use a Dc motor and is actually powered via a USB C cable.

You could use the 2000 and just dial the output down with the built-in lever or using an inline double tap valve.

 

[BranchScape]

As the resident Aquael fanboy, I can share that the Ultramax BT shipment is expected to be processed and available in about two weeks if you're able to wait. My neighbor recently ordered one and has been using the contacts I provided to track availability.

On noise, both the Aquael Ultramax and Ultramax BT are essentially near-silent in my experience, typically running at around 32 dB or less once they've been operating for 10 minutes or so. I don't have any firsthand experience with the smaller models.

For flow, I would note that the stated 2,250 L/h, like most canister filter flow ratings, is somewhat optimistic. I'd generally assume actual flow is about 30% lower once the filter is set up and running. For Oase Biomasters, I'd discount the advertised flow by 40-50%, depending on the amount and type of sponge media being used.

As for leaks, I've never experienced one across the three Aquael filters I've owned. The only annoyance is that if you don't run the filter with the outflow open and intake closed for about 20 seconds before then closing the outtake and turning off the filter. You'll end up with a bit of a mess, when opening the prefilter. It's a frustrating design quirk.

That said, at 96 gallons, I wouldn't run any of the filters you've mentioned as a standalone solution, as the resulting flow would be fairly underwhelming and the filters would need a good bit of regular cleaning. I'd say the BT is realistically maxed out on something around the size of your tank. So depending on how often you want to clean it and your scape setup I would probably look elsewhere although you could supplement it with a powerhead.

For your setup, I'd be inclined to go with a Hypermax and run it at 70-80%. Given that real-world flow is roughly 30% below the advertised rate, you should still be easily getting around 8-10x turnover, which is comfortably more flow than an FX6, at lower energy use, and low noise as you are nowhere near full power. Alternatively, the new Sicce canisters look interesting, but there isn't enough independent data on their actual flow rates yet. I've heard claims that the published flow figures are measured with media installed, but I'm skeptical until someone performs at least a bucket test, if not a proper flow meter test. Lastly you can do the DC pump and prefilter route which is about the cost of the hypermax but requires more DIY knowledge, not hard but requires a bit more thought.

 

[anewbie]

As the resident Aquael fanboy, I can share that the Ultramax BT shipment is expected to be processed and available in about two weeks if you're able to wait. My neighbor recently ordered one and has been using the contacts I provided to track availability.

On noise, both the Aquael Ultramax and Ultramax BT are essentially near-silent in my experience, typically running at around 32 dB or less once they've been operating for 10 minutes or so. I don't have any firsthand experience with the smaller models.

For flow, I would note that the stated 2,250 L/h, like most canister filter flow ratings, is somewhat optimistic. I'd generally assume actual flow is about 30% lower once the filter is set up and running. For Oase Biomasters, I'd discount the advertised flow by 40-50%, depending on the amount and type of sponge media being used.

As for leaks, I've never experienced one across the three Aquael filters I've owned. The only annoyance is that if you don't run the filter with the outflow open and intake closed for about 20 seconds before then closing the outtake and turning off the filter. You'll end up with a bit of a mess, when opening the prefilter. It's a frustrating design quirk.

That said, at 96 gallons, I wouldn't run any of the filters you've mentioned as a standalone solution, as the resulting flow would be fairly underwhelming and the filters would need a good bit of regular cleaning. I'd say the BT is realistically maxed out on something around the size of your tank. So depending on how often you want to clean it and your scape setup I would probably look elsewhere although you could supplement it with a powerhead.

For your setup, I'd be inclined to go with a Hypermax and run it at 70-80%. Given that real-world flow is roughly 30% below the advertised rate, you should still be easily getting around 8-10x turnover, which is comfortably more flow than an FX6, at lower energy use, and low noise as you are nowhere near full power. Alternatively, the new Sicce canisters look interesting, but there isn't enough independent data on their actual flow rates yet. I've heard claims that the published flow figures are measured with media installed, but I'm skeptical until someone performs at least a bucket test, if not a proper flow meter test. Lastly you can do the DC pump and prefilter route which is about the cost of the hypermax but requires more DIY knowledge, not hard but requires a bit more thought.

Just an fyi: While the aquarium is 95 gallon it is not your typical 95 gallon with the largest fish (other then whiptails arund 2 inch). I most of the particles are bacateria clumps and decaying leaves as oppose to fish waste - here is a picture:

This is looking in from the 24 inch side since that faces the person the 48 inch side then extend back:



The hypermax is too powerful i might have to extend the flow bar across the 48 inch side instead of the 24 inch side - i'll have to see how small the holes are.

As for cleaning i expect to clean the sponge on the intake once a month or so and the filter itself once every 2 or 3 years as long as it does not clog the bacteria clumps should break down via normal nitrate process.

 

[anewbie]

Here is another picture - it is hard to get a decent picture due to 'hot' spot blowing out the sensor - for scale those tetra in the upper right corner are ruby tetra which are a little under an inch; not really sure what is happening with the phone sensor since the overall light level is not that bright. I think ti is aimplifying for dark areas then blowing out in the less dark areas:

 

[BranchScape]

Lovely tank.

One question I'd ask regarding flow levels is whether you want the filter to handle the majority of detritus removal, or if you're comfortable vacuuming more plant debris during water changes and trimming sessions.

I think most people here, especially those keeping smaller fish, can rely on a weekly cleanup and simply need enough flow to distribute CO₂ (not you) effectively and prevent large dead spots. In that scenario, high flow isn't really necessary, 3-4x is fine.

However, if you want the filter to remove 80%+ of the detritus, then you need enough flow to keep that debris suspended in the water column long enough for the filter to capture it. With larger fish, I think this becomes much more important.

I'm definitely an outlier when it comes to stocking compared to most people here. In a lightly stocked tanks with smaller fish, higher flow for waste management isn't really needed. In my case, though, even my "dwarf" cichlids, along with gouramis, loaches, and barbs, can create a surprising amount of waste. I prefer having enough flow that most of it stays suspended and gets filtered out, leaving only a few collection points based on the hardscape and plant layout that I can quickly vacuum during maintenance.

If I were running an Oase, sized based on their recommendation, my manual cleaning time would probably quadruple as most everything would settle.

I pretty much assumed when i saw 96g and blackwater you would have Angels or some form of cichlid.

​

 

[anewbie]

Lovely tank.

One question I'd ask regarding flow levels is whether you want the filter to handle the majority of detritus removal, or if you're comfortable vacuuming more plant debris during water changes and trimming sessions.

I think most people here, especially those keeping smaller fish, can rely on a weekly cleanup and simply need enough flow to distribute CO₂ (not you) effectively and prevent large dead spots. In that scenario, high flow isn't really necessary, 3-4x is fine.

However, if you want the filter to remove 80%+ of the detritus, then you need enough flow to keep that debris suspended in the water column long enough for the filter to capture it. With larger fish, I think this becomes much more important.

I'm definitely an outlier when it comes to stocking compared to most people here. In a lightly stocked tanks with smaller fish, higher flow for waste management isn't really needed. In my case, though, even my "dwarf" cichlids, along with gouramis, loaches, and barbs, can create a surprising amount of waste. I prefer having enough flow that most of it stays suspended and gets filtered out, leaving only a few collection points based on the hardscape and plant layout that I can quickly vacuum during maintenance.

If I were running an Oase, sized based on their recommendation, my manual cleaning time would probably quadruple as most everything would settle.

I pretty much assumed when i saw 96g and blackwater you would have Angels or some form of cichlid.

​

No - angels - well altum need around 300 or 400 gallons for 6 to 8. I'm a big believer that these fishes require low density and large spaces.

As for your question - i mostly let decaying leaves and such just settle and rarely try to remove it as it provides some health benefits. I do 40 gallon water change once a week and if anything large is an issue i'll remove it but the problem with trying to remove 'fish' waste for example is most of the stuff on the bottom is decaying leaves and it is jsut a rat hole to put leaves in the aquarium to decay then vacuum it out.

 

[anewbie]

One last picture of the aquarium showing off some ruby tetra and others:

 

[G1rt]

Great thread. I was looking for Jecod Jebao on AliExpress and found out that they released a new model this year. I think this might be interesting for those who were planning to make a purchase.

 

[G1rt]

How often will the cotton sponge in Netlea need to be replaced? With such a density, it should get clogged with detritus quite quickly.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

How often will the cotton sponge in Netlea need to be replaced? With such a density, it should get clogged with detritus quite quickly.

I've never replaced mine! Just rinse really really hard (beat it up in your sink like it owes you money) and it's good to go.

ARC does sell replacement sponges if you want to easily rotate cleaner ones in.

 

[anewbie]

I've never replaced mine! Just rinse really really hard (beat it up in your sink like it owes you money) and it's good to go.

ARC does sell replacement sponges if you want to easily rotate cleaner ones in.

I think the question was more along the lines of how often does it need to be cleaned which of course will be aquarium dependent. While not totally relevant i stuck a huge prefilter sponge on my fx6 and haven't clean the actual filter in 3 years though the prefilter sponge has to be cleaned whenever it begins to suck in (it is something like 4x4x8 that i drilled a hole in the middle); so maybe every 3 months. I presume most of the waste in the fx6 itself is broken down by bacteria and the prefilter prevents it from getting clogged before the waste is broken down.

 

[JayP]

The bt model is not readily (the only seller i found waws nature aquariums and it is backorder); available and $60 more but a bit confused - is the motor actually different (dc variable speed vs ac)?

Fish Tanks Direct now has the Aquael Ultramax BT in stock, as well as the Hypermax if interested.
Aquael Ultramax BT

 

[anewbie]

Fish Tanks Direct now has the Aquael Ultramax BT in stock, as well as the Hypermax if interested.
Aquael Ultramax BT

Too late they already shipped the non bt model; but hey i saved $65. However i am interested and i will be setting up 4 more 24x48 aquariums in 18 months so if i like the non bt model i will probably get the bt model for those aquariums. Then again if i find the flow is not adequate who knows maybe iw ill need the new bt 4500 model. I have ~18 to ~24 months to play with this unit and see how it goes.

I'm not worried about actual filtration per sey but i want enough flow to keep film from forming on the surface and a few of the fishes would prefer a bit of flow while most are found near the banks where flow is rather minimal.

 

[G1rt]

I've never replaced mine! Just rinse really really hard (beat it up in your sink like it owes you money) and it's good to go.

ARC does sell replacement sponges if you want to easily rotate cleaner ones in.

As far as I know, you have experience with both Netlea G2 and Netlea G1, is it worth buying Netlea G2? I'm choosing it now, but it's more expensive, and delivery will take longer. At the same time, the advantages are only a large area and, as a result, less frequent maintenance. Thanks for the reply.

 

[G1rt]

Great thread. I was looking for Jecod Jebao on AliExpress and found out that they released a new model this year. I think this might be interesting for those who were planning to make a purchase.View attachment 19198

Guys, an important update. The models Jebao Jecod GDP-1500, GDP-2500 for underwater use only. The kit doesn't even have a nozzle for a water intake hose. Underwater use starts with GDP-3500, but there hoses are poorly compatible with standard aquarium (16, 19) - 20 and 25. I decided to avoid complicating the system, instead I will add a prefilter, and I will remove the sponges from the canister filter and fill its Matrix.

 

[CincyScaper]

My oase biomaster 2, has been noisy for quite a bit of time now. Did not have this issue the first few months. I had come to accept that this was an Oase issue after reading about it.

However, had to do a partial reset of my tank and took the opportunity to deep clean the filter including the motor housing which I have never cleaned before. That fixed the noise and is as quiet as ever.

Just a one off experience, will have to see if this stays quite.