Semi-outside tank -- Commercial Cannister, DIY, of HOB?

[PVT-Kanaka]

Aloha!

My 55 gal tiki tank housing my rescue African cichlids is ready for a real filter. The 2x HOBs are fine, but one is overcomplicated and the other is slated for a new tank going up.

I have been looking at canister filters, but I am wondering if these will survive being outside on our covered lanai. The weather never drops below freezing here in Hawai'i, but I am subject to the occasional flooded lanai and horizontal rain as well as the fact I am a mile from the beach and its salt air. I had a canister 30+ years ago that choked to death on lint and dog fur, which gave my pause as I reached for my credit card recently.

I have been looking at submersible pond pumps, and I am now wondering if this would be the better way to go with a DIY set-up. Clearly, the pump is intended for the environment. If this is an avenue I should pursue, could someone point me to a good resource with some plans?

Finally, given most HOB filters are totally enclosed, am I safe in assuming that if the cheap ones I am using have survived, a big one appropriate for the tank would do so as well?

Thanks for the assist!
Aloha,
Eric

[Diana]

Outside, with no chance of frost, any filter should be OK.
Here are a few ideas.
1) Some filters say "Do not submerge" on the pump housing, where the electric wire is attached. I have quite a few aquariums in a greenhouse where there have been water spills. Several filters have gotten wet on the outside, and had water running over the pump housing. None have died except for the filter built in to the lid of an Eclipse 3.

2) Dog hair, dust etc. should not be able to stop a filter if these things are on the outside of the filter. (lots of stuff around many of my greenhouse filters) But, if these things accumulate around the tank, then they sure could be inside the water, then get inside the filter. I have had to clean some filters which had hair tangled around the impellor. I have a long haired dog, and I have long hair. The hair I removed from the filters was from both my dog and I. Not very much, never enough to stop the filters. Just enough that I could ID it.

3) If your current filters are working in these conditions, but you want something larger, you might want to look into the same brand name.
If you want to change brands...
I like the Aquaclear 110 for tanks of this size. This is a HOB style with a large chamber for media of your choice. Very easy to clean. No cartridges. I run these with a large sponge, some finer media, then some chemical media (depends on tank- peat or coral sand) then some bio-media in a mesh bag. Sponge and bio media and bag come with the filter. Also includes some activated carbon (which I do not use).
If I wanted a canister for a tank this size I would look into the Rena Filstar XP3. I have several. I do not much like canisters, though. Not so easy to clean.
Either way, I like spreading out the water flow. 2 filters (perhaps a pair of Aquaclear 70s) or a canister with a spray bar (used to come with the Filstar, maybe not included now?) can do this. Or set up the Aquaclear 110 so the incoming water hits a rock then spreads out.

[PVT-Kanaka]

Diana,

Thanks you so much for the detailed response. Based on the above, I will probably upgrade my two smaller filters (A "Whisper Second Nature 2" and a "Tetra Whisper EX30") with a single, larger HOB much as you suggested. What I have now It works for the 6 adult African cichlids and every varying number of fry in the tank, but I intend to repurpose the Whisper and I am simply not fond of the EX30. With its pump placed in line with the uptake pipe, it seems it is always coming loose, and I find the filter media "box" awkward.

I'm somewhat partial to the Marineland / ex-Penguin brand myself for their durability and parts support (three of mine are 20+ years old and going strong with new impellers!), but I will look for the Aquaclear, as I like the sound of the flexibility in media choice you describe, as I find the Marineland ones are not always non-cartridge friendly.

Anyway, you saved me a lot of money and / or a lot of time!

Aloha,
Eric

[PVT-Kanaka]

Diana,

Took your advice , and I just got the Aquaclear 110. I can see why you like it. It forces almost all of the water through the medium! The LFS owner threw in a 20% discount, to boot!

Thanks for the advice!

Eric

[Diana]

Glad you like it
I have several of each size of the Aquaclear product line on several different tanks from 10 gallon on up to 125 gallon.

[Schmidtsie]

Aquaclear is my favorite HOB filter. Glad it worked out for you.