Fluval C2 HOB Filter. Should I get it?

[chinjaysquare]

Some may have read in the other threads that I had started that my filter was "attacked" by brown algae. I realised that it was not the only problem the filter is suffering from. Yesterday it started producing screeching noise. The horrible noise was of low volume initially but it then escalated exponentially. I opened the filter up today and found out that the impeller has chipped off slightly with the chipped off part scratching and destroying the other parts. On top of that, the filter medium that came with it was disintegrating (I guess that is why the algae can survive so well in it) So I guess I need a new filter soon.

I came across a website complimenting how good the Fluval C2 is.
http://theaquaticgazette.com/2012/03...ssions-review/\
The good name of the filter echoed on YouTube as well. That got me interested.

Any one of you have tried it before? How was it? I really like the hassle free cleaning feature (cleaning my current filter is a nightmare). Go for or against? In addition, what are the dimensions to it? I have a leeway of about 3 inches behind my tank. Can it fit? Where is the place to find it at the lowest price? (budget $50. Underestimation of costs?)

[VSGenesis]

Personally, for a hang on filter, i use the Fluval C4. Large compartment. Very quiet.
Just remove the carbon if you're using in planted. That compartment, i just put other media.

I got no comments about it. Its been really good to me. Only used Gex and Fluval, so i cant comment on liberty.

Choose the correct one for the siZe of your tank. When the filter pad is about time change to new one, not necessary to go get from fluval. Abt any other filter pad also can use. The c nodes is good enough.

[Cyberkinetic]

I've used the C3 around two months before upgrading to a canister filter. It's my first filter so i can't compare with other similar ones. Saw the same article as you on C2 but decided to get C3 which although on specs is overkill for my 40cm 10 gallon tank, but in reality, it worked nicely.. with good water flow throughout the tank. Plants all moving in the water.
I'd say it's quite well made, can fit reasonable amount of bio-media in the chemical filter compartment, much more than the designated bio filter compartment. I can fit in 250ml of Seachem matrix with some space left which i topup with Mr Aqua CR.
On and off, sometimes i hear humming noise or some clucking sounds where air bubbles appear from the outlet.. seems to be the placement of the inlet tube not aligned proper,goes away after fiddling with it for a while. The foam piece although can reuse, i don't think for too many times as the frequency i had to wash it became more and more closer. I think if i had continue using it, i would just get generic filter wool from lfs and use. More economical and save the hassle of cleaning. The missus absolutely hated it when i kept cleaning the filter pad, when i told her the merits of longer duration between cleaning a canister filter, i got approval immediately to get it.
Also, the small little "bio foam" piece on top of the bio filter compartment, almost next to impossible to wash cleanly..ditched it after trying twice to rinse it clean. It's ok to do without it. Water flows much better into the bio filter compartment. Or if worried, can just cut a small piece of filter wool and place there.
Just my personal short two months experience using the C3.

[bondwinner]

Been running Fluval C4 for 5months plus and very satisfied with it. Very quiet and does it job with good clarity water.

[tetrakid]

The Fluva C4
Nice HOF p-73725-55582-fish-supply.jpg

[chinjaysquare]

Thank you for your inputs! Here comes the ultimate question... How much did you all get it for? I do know that none of you got the C2 but we can estimate it from the cost of the other larger versions. I don't need such a huge one because my tank is only 2 gallons.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CAN IT FIT INTO A 3 INCHES SPACE BEHIND THE TANK?

[seudzar]

How big is your tank? if your tank is at least of 1.5ft. Fluval should be a good choice. I would also recommend Gex Slim filter. It is super quiet. Price is the lowest if you get it from seaview.

I owed a Fluval C2 for a 1ft tank, seriously overkill and my tank becomes a washing machine because of its strong outflow, even i set the flow to the lowest but still too strong for me. After that i change it to Gex Slim filter (2 filter slot) and customize my own filter media arrangement in the filter.

[chinjaysquare]

How big is your tank? if your tank is at least of 1.5ft. Fluval should be a good choice. I would also recommend Gex Slim filter. It is super quiet. Price is the lowest if you get it from seaview.

I owed a Fluval C2 for a 1ft tank, seriously overkill and my tank becomes a washing machine because of its strong outflow, even i set the flow to the lowest but still too strong for me. After that i change it to Gex Slim filter (2 filter slot) and customize my own filter media arrangement in the filter.

The mental image of a washing machine for a fish tank produced in my head is hilarious. I guess my fishes are all right with a strong outflow though. On top of that I have a ship ornament that I place under the outflow of the filter to break the current. The plants have similar effects as well.

As for the GEX slim filter. I once considered that, looking at how aesthetically pleasing the filter is. Nevertheless I am not very fond of the pump being out of the filter and in-line with the intake tube. It so slim too that I have no idea what to do to the extra space behind the tank Adding on, the water doesn't pass through all the filter media (not very erm... comprehensive?) The slim body may also impede the effectiveness of non GEX filter media...

[seudzar]

Oh, you will be very surprise how much filter medias/bio medias it can hold. I customize it till it can hold the same wool filter same as a c2 can hold but more bio media than a c2 can hold. I attached a photo what I did to my Gex slim filter.
Attachment 32139

[chinjaysquare]

Oh, you will be very surprise how much filter medias/bio medias it can hold. I customize it till it can hold the same wool filter same as a c2 can hold but more bio media than a c2 can hold. I attached a photo what I did to my Gex slim filter.
Attachment 32139

WOW. Hahaha. That's a lot of things you've got in there! I plan to use the basket that suppose to hold the activated carbon to hold bio filteration media though. However thank you for this eye opener-- something that is slim can actually hold a lot of things.

PS: This question suddenly popped up in my mind. How do you clean the media? I mean you have to rinse the wool somehow right? Removing it will cause the bio media to collapse. I am really lazy so I love the idea of the baskets in fluval

[seudzar]

Just pour out the whole thing, throw the filter wool away, put in new one and the put back the bio media. Still need to rinse the bio media too. As the filter itself is so big, I only rinse and change it like once a month.

Sometimes if the brown algae starts to grow inside the filter, I find it is more tedious to clean the fluval filter than Gex slim.

[rogerjr]

Oh, you will be very surprise how much filter medias/bio medias it can hold. I customize it till it can hold the same wool filter same as a c2 can hold but more bio media than a c2 can hold. I attached a photo what I did to my Gex slim filter.
Attachment 32139

is this the S size filter?

[seudzar]

Not sure, but it got 2 filter slot compartment

[chinjaysquare]

Just pour out the whole thing, throw the filter wool away, put in new one and the put back the bio media. Still need to rinse the bio media too. As the filter itself is so big, I only rinse and change it like once a month.

Sometimes if the brown algae starts to grow inside the filter, I find it is more tedious to clean the fluval filter than Gex slim.

True true. I suppose like my current dying filter, a flip to pour all the media out is all that's needed. Oh ya, the wire to the pump actually is in the water right? I guess I really have to ditch the idea of getting the GEX. Clumsy me will get the water dripping to the power source

is this the S size filter?

Yup! The S size one has the capacity for two GEX media (2 slots).

[seudzar]

Actually when cleaning the Gex slim filter is pretty easy, just open the cover, take the U pipe and hang beside your tank, take the whole filter out. No worries on the cable. Both filters got their pros and cons.

[VSGenesis]

Price for C2, should be below $50. Guessing. Lfs, i've seen selling is C328. But that was early of the year. Bought my C4 online. Been really good to me. The motor can be remove; the propeller is magnetic and can be removed. Water goes through the filter pad. There, a slot after, which they give you an activated carbon bag, then the trickle chamber, comes with media. Good media. I added biohome at the slot for carbon bag and a bit of coral. My ph was low. And yes, remove that filter wool on the trickle chamber. For new, sure just use it. Once too dirty, throw. No need replace.

Mine works silently. Its about 7-8 months old now. Cleaning is easy. The waterflow can be strong. Used it before with combination of cannister on my 3ft. Its now on my 2ft. As the waterflow is too strong for a 2ft, my water level is slightly above the "lip" Hence it doesnt splash. Creates waves till the front of tank which is fantastic. Surface agitation=gas exchange.

I'm being bias here. I really like the C series. It is expensive but for me worth it. Does the job. Anyone using liberty? For my gex m, i removed what it came along with and did something like seudzar. Put media and filter wool. It works of course. On my 40cm but i prefer more surface agitation so i added air stones. One thing i like about gex is that sponge at the input tube.

Anyway good luck whichever hof you purchase in the end.

[chinjaysquare]

Price for C2, should be below $50. Guessing. Lfs, i've seen selling is C328. But that was early of the year. Bought my C4 online. Been really good to me. The motor can be remove; the propeller is magnetic and can be removed. Water goes through the filter pad. There, a slot after, which they give you an activated carbon bag, then the trickle chamber, comes with media. Good media. I added biohome at the slot for carbon bag and a bit of coral. My ph was low. And yes, remove that filter wool on the trickle chamber. For new, sure just use it. Once too dirty, throw. No need replace.

Mine works silently. Its about 7-8 months old now. Cleaning is easy. The waterflow can be strong. Used it before with combination of cannister on my 3ft. Its now on my 2ft. As the waterflow is too strong for a 2ft, my water level is slightly above the "lip" Hence it doesnt splash. Creates waves till the front of tank which is fantastic. Surface agitation=gas exchange.

I'm being bias here. I really like the C series. It is expensive but for me worth it. Does the job. Anyone using liberty? For my gex m, i removed what it came along with and did something like seudzar. Put media and filter wool. It works of course. On my 40cm but i prefer more surface agitation so i added air stones. One thing i like about gex is that sponge at the input tube.

Anyway good luck whichever hof you purchase in the end.

Thank you. Below 50 bucks, that's music to my ears
Yeah. I do fill the water up to the outflow "lip" as well. Not very fond of the sound of water splashing especially at night even though the tank is a good 5m away from my room. I guess I still have some time to ponder over. My filter is not exactly dead yet. It's still struggling but still doing its job filtering. Pushing it very hard
By the way, does your C4 occupy more than 3.5 inches behind the tank? I only have that much space...

[ChromiumX]

c328 sell the c2 for $58

[VSGenesis]

Haha Crap. My bad. Sorry about that. I was wrong. I got my C4 below $100 so I was just gauging the price for C2.

I'm not home so I'm not sure of the dimension. However, I check online and this is what was mentioned. "Dimensions: 8.75" Tall X 8.3" Wide X 6.2" front to back. 3.75" needed behind the aquarium" I'm not too sure about the 3.75". I used to place the hof and it was just about 2cm from the wall.

[chinjaysquare]

c328 sell the c2 for $58

That's a little higher than expected Glad that I save up a lot and I sell things online. Thank you any ways!

Haha Crap. My bad. Sorry about that. I was wrong. I got my C4 below $100 so I was just gauging the price for C2.

I'm not home so I'm not sure of the dimension. However, I check online and this is what was mentioned. "Dimensions: 8.75" Tall X 8.3" Wide X 6.2" front to back. 3.75" needed behind the aquarium" I'm not too sure about the 3.75". I used to place the hof and it was just about 2cm from the wall.

Nah! It isn't your fault. As for the space needed behind the tank I suppose worst case scenario I more the placement of the filter. I have ample space along the side that is hidden.

I've called up Nature Aquarium earlier on. They refuse to disclose the price to me over the phone. I do understand that for there are thick skinned people like me who go around asking. If they told me the price (which maybe higher than expected), they risk losing the chance of making money out of me. However they assured me that it is cheaper than the competitors. I suppose I can bring just SGD 60. If it's higher than that, I can say I went to C328 which quoted me the price of SGD 58. It is selling on Fresh 'n' Marine aQuarium for SGD 63 http://freshnmarine.com.sg/estore/pr...oducts_id=3743. I suppose I should be happy if I got it for 50 bucks? Which ever the case, I guess I have my mind set on this filter and we shall see how much they are selling. Of course I will respect the owner's decision to keep the actual price a secret. (hints will do right?)