New Whisper EX Series Power Filters

[rich_one]

Okay... so normally, I stay away from Whisper filters like the plague. I dunno... I just don't like 'em.

But then, I saw this cool looking, new Whisper EX series filter on sale at PetSmart...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=3065443

And well... curiosity killed the cat and all of that, right? So, assuming no one else here has tried this product, I have decided I will jump in and give it a shot... especially after reading poor review after poor review of Rena's SmartFilter power filters... which I am no way buying now. Aqua Clear's are okay, but I really want something quieter. I have recently lost my faith in Emperors... which I have used nearly the entire time of my hobby... after buying two recent ones that broke very quickly.

so... I will check out this filter, and post what I think of it here... good, bad or ugly! Stay tuned...

[rich_one]

Question... do you think it would be too much flow, if I put a filter rated for a 70 gallon tank on a 33 gallon tank, that will be intended for shrimp and smaller fish (yes... I will use a prefilter, to prevent babies from getting sucked into the intake!)?

[Aaron]

I think most of us are using canister filters. I'm not terribly familiar with any of the HOB type filters.

[rich_one]

ah... okay, then. well, I do have a Rena Filstar, but have used mostly power filters.

would anyone be interested in knowing if this product is a good one, or am I unbeknownst to myself being um... ahem... primitive?

[Aaron]

Well, I don't think you're being primitive. It's more so that most of us keep all planted tanks and use CO2 in some capacity. The power filters tend to produce too much surface agitation and gas off CO2 so we use canister type filters.

[rich_one]

aaahhhh.... I see. got it. okey dokey... I am definitely low tech only, no co2.

[PaulS]

I have several AquaClears and I've always considered them pretty quiet. I like the AquaClears because I can choose whatever media combination I want. For that same reason, I don't like filters that require a proprietary cartidge. For example, I don't use carbon in my filters unless I need it to remove something from the water. I'm not sure, but I think the whisper cartidges include carbon. Also, I like to buy bio-media in bulk and bag it myself instead of buying the more expensive pre-bagged media. You don't have that option with the Whisper filters.

As far as flow ratings are concerned, I'm running an AquaClear 70 on a 20 gallon, and a 110 on a 37 gallon and the fish don't seem affected in the slightest. In fact, they seem to like it (however, I don't have shrimp). My only concern with the higher volume filters is the loss of CO2 through surface exchange.

[rich_one]

Yeah... I have used aqua clears lately. But the thing is, if that top is not on perfect, that buzzing sound can drive you nuts. I personally have not, otherwise, noticed any better results than my emperors gave me over the years. Just seems lately, those are not being constructed as well. So I have been seeking something that does not give me that occasional rattle the aqua clears do. CO2 is not a concern for me, as all of my tanks are low tech anyway. I have always used carbon. I did stop for awhile several months ago, but my wife began to complain that she could smell the tank... Something she never complained about before. I did not even tell her I had stopped using carbon. I stopped after reading how planted tank hobbyists thought the carbon may remove nutrients that the plants would use and filter out. Well, I have not noticed any difference myself, and going back to carbon ended the wife's complaints of any smells. So, for me, carbon has always worked well.

Well, I guess I need to decide between staying with aqua clear, or trying this newly redesigned whisper... Hmmm...