RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEDIUM AQUARIUMS
LARGE HANG ON THE BACK FILTERS
Looking for a simple, effective, and affordable filtration system for medium sized fish tanks? Try a large hang on the back filters. They are suited to maintaining both medium sized freshwater tanks and if the tank is not too heavily stocked, saltwater fish only tanks as well.
If you are looking for smaller hang on the back filters click here.
If you searching for wet dry filters for sale online click here.
Hang on the back filters for medium sized fish tanks around 55 gallons to 75 gallons for example are often affordably priced compared to most other filter types, people often use one or two on the back of larger tanks of around 100 gallons or more.
Large hang on the back filters are great for freshwater aquariums, they are sometimes used for saltwater aquariums as well, but more robust wet dry filters are often used for saltwater aquariums. Hang on the back filters also will work for planted aquariums but are not the best choice for planted aquariums because they pour a cascade of water through the air above the back of your tank. This tiny waterfall captures oxygen as it falls, next the tiny cascading waterfall hits the surface of the tanks water and this breaks open the surface of the tanks water thus allowing for the introduction of even more oxygen. This oxygenated water displaces carbon dioxide and replaces it with oxygen, this is great for fish but not for plants. We recommend a canister filter for planted aquariums.
When shopping for hang on the back filters look for names like: Fluval, Marineland, Penn Plax, AquaClear, Marina, and Aqueon. These are brand names that usually keep customers satisfied.
Penn Plax Cascade Hang-on Aquarium Filter for 55 to 100 gallon aquariums With Quad Filtration System
As far as name recognition goes it would be hard to beat Penn Plax. They have been around for decades and make a very wide selection of fine products including several hang on the back filters.
The Penn Plax Cascade Hang-on Aquarium Filter 300 is ideal for tanks of around 55 gallons and can be used on fish tanks as large as 100 gallons. Personally I would use two on a large 100 gallon fish tank.
It has a poly fiber floss cartridge to trap floating particles and a carbon cartridge to filter and eliminate an array of potentially harmful chemicals. An internal sponge promotes beneficial bacteria and an external bio-falls helps remove ammonia and nitrates. This filter is preferred by many aquarium enthusiast as it is designed for simplicity and to take the guesswork out of selecting the right aquarium filter.
Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO
For aquariums up to 75 gallons filters 400 gallons per hour, it has a unique wet dry grid to increase the amount of oxygen exposure to bacteria in the filter thus improving the efficiency of biological filtration.
Marineland Penguin Power Filter w/ Multi-Stage Filtration
For aquariums up to 70 gallons filters 350 gallons per hour, life the above Aqueon QuietFlow, this Marineland Penguin also has a wet dry feature to increase oxygen levels and thus increase the effectiveness of bacteria in it’s system. Instead of using a grid that is exposed partially to air and partially to water, it has two rotating wheels that are powered by the water flowing under them. This is in addition to mechanical and chemical filter pads in the unit.
We have more information on aquarium filters here