Equipment Review and Discussion :: can anyone recommend a filter (under $50)?

[turtlemonkey]

It's been awhile since I shopped for a filter. I have a Fluval for my 125 gallon tank, I need one for my 20 gal now.

Here are some I found online, can anyone give advice or recommend one/against one of these:

AquaClear Aquarium Power Filters
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=165476

Marineland Emperor Filter Systems
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=226874

Marineland Penguin BIO-Wheel Power Filters
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=989754

Aqueon Aquarium Power Filters
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=1083767

thanks

[Lantic]

I've heard that the Marineland BIO-Wheel Power Filters work well but might be a little noisy.

[turtlemonkey]

don't mind a little noise, you said little right

[Lantic]

Haha yeah. It shouldn't be bad. My college use's the bio-wheels for their salt water aquariums and everything is perfect for them. You will just have to replace the wheels when they start to clog. But you probably already knew that.

[mike hill]

When purchasing a filter pump keep the gph in mind. 5x turn over is a minimum. m.

[ohitsmason]

personally the aqua clear is the best out of those choices. The marineland is alright but they are noisy and they are very hard to prime. But I never tried the aqueon ones. Keep in mind that when you get a aqua clear filter is to throw away the chemical filtration and add as much bio stuff as you can in there.

[marisa]

I like the Aquaclears I have. For a 20 gallon tank I've used an Aquaclear 70. For smaller tanks like a 20-gallon, I do use carbon.

[turtlemonkey]

i'm torn between the Aquaclear and the Marineland

[PcBuilder14]

I have a Marineland 350 bio-wheel on my 55..... it would do great in a 20 gallon. It's not to noisy it's about 5 feet from my bed. And priming isn't a problem at all, you just fill the filter with water and turn it on and it's done. Also you don't have to replace the wheels unless they break. It's actually a good thing if the wheels barely move, because that lets you know that its working and has lots of bacteria in it.

[turtlemonkey]

I've settled on an Aquaclear 70. thanks everyone