Starter Sets On Goldfishconnection

So, i'm a little curious about the aquamaster filter.....

Does it look to be a well built filter?

Are the cartridges designed so that you dont have to buy more? (just replace the floss?)

Is there a media chamber designed into it?

Is it loud?

Is the flow rate adjustable?

I would really appreciate it if you could fill me in a bit.

And on a note the aquaclear 600 was taken off the shelves of other markets for an unknown reason

I think they just redid the packaging & renamed all of their filters last year or so (I bought my aquaclears right after they did this (I think) 'cause I kept having to sort thru all of the media with the different names & the guy at my lps said the stuff was the same - just different names)

can easily be replaced by 2 whispers

I like my aquaclears (& so far my cannisters as well). They work just fine & give me lots of media choices. I have to say my Whispers give me headaches & I don't think I'd use them on a large tank. When you have to replace the floss - all of your biobugs (or a large portion of them anyway) go out with the filter. I;ve also had many probs with the carbon continually leaking - despite rinsing well. I finally stopped using it altogether (the carbon). I also don't think they do a fantastic job of filtering, but they are really quiet & work OK on my betta tanks.

Jenn

Actually on informative sites the 600s do exist but they got taken off the market. but rick has claimed that he made special requested orders for the filters and also it is quite loud with a rumble so i suggest you keep it AWAY from the bed and instead listen to the waves while you sleep although it is quite repetitive. there is no rate adjustments the media chamber is actually quite large for a filter and has a small back slides that i think may be useful for slipping in corals/shells, on a questioning of other on-line suppliers they said the filter may last 5-10 years before needing to replace parts and it MAY break down when the motor overheats. the cartridges are designed so you can actully open it up for adding floss. so in an extra summary the filter is a great filter when cleaning, but the built is questionable.

Wow - thanks for that it got me thinking & I went over to the Hagen site. It seems that the Aquaclear 500's & below were converted over to the new ones but no mention at all of the 600. Wow - that doesn't sound too good at all.

On a side note - I do like my Aquaclear 70 (Formerly the 300). I haven't had a problem with a floaty basket due to the sponge nor have I had the sponge fill up quickly but then again I don't have planted tanks so that prob makes a difference!

I'm sure I wouldn't be too happy with this deal either!

Jenn

Oh Sorry but i meant to say aquamaster*

Gotcha. Thanks.

I've often wondered about those aquamaster filters. The cartridges look like they are designed so you can just cut your own floss to replace the old. I've been toying with the idea of constructing a similar idea out of the penguin 170/330 cartridges. Basically, I'll shave the spacer tabs off of the plastic cartridge, bust out much of the gridwork and place two of them face to face with a new piece of floss in between. When i get my new 330 in the mail, I'll toy with it a bit before i set it up. I'll post any positive results in the diy forum.

Paul

On another forum, there was some debate on the aquamasters. The results were "inconclusive". But yes, Goldfish Connection is one of the few suppliers of it left.

I have to say my Whispers give me headaches & I don't think I'd use them on a large tank.  When you have to replace the floss - all of your biobugs (or a large portion of them anyway) go out with the filter.  I;ve also had many probs with the carbon continually leaking - despite rinsing well.  I finally stopped using it altogether (the carbon).

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The floss, do you mean the mesh part of the cartridge or the black thingy? If you mean the cartridge, isn't the bacteria meant to grow on the black spongy thing? If you mean the black thing, I think you're only supposed to swoosh it around in tank water once in a while. I'm a new owner of a Whisper and I'm curious.

Btw, I removed my carbon and replaced it with bio-media. No leakies for me.