These GPH results were taken under optimal conditions with pristine filter media. Here’s an example if the recorded times were 01:30 and 01:15. We used that number to divide 3,600, the number of seconds in an hour, to find the gallons per hour. We took the average time from each category for each filter and divided that by 4, which gave us the gallons per second. We converted all the times to seconds since this made the math a little easier. Once we had our data from the experiments, we crunched the numbers. He’s helped me do a bunch of these experiments and I wouldn’t have been able to get them done without him. I just want to give a quick shoutout to my husband, Steve. We did this four times for each filter, twice with no filter media and twice with all of the filter media that was included in the package installed. We started a stopwatch so could time how long it took the filter to fill up the container. We got the filters running and then submerged a 4 gallon (15 liter) container in front of the outflow. To test the GPH of each filter, we mounted each one on the side of a sturdy plastic storage tote that was filled with water. The more clogged the filter media is, the slower the water flow will be. So, by itself, the motor may be able to pump 600 GPH, but when you add the canister body and filter media, the GPH is reduced.Īnd GPH will be especially reduced when water is flowing through filter media that has algae and fish waste in it. GPH ratings are based on ideal lab conditions that test the pump only, not the whole filter. It’s common for GPH ratings from manufacturers to be different from the actual GPH a filter puts out. If the GPH is too low, ammonia can build up in the water column because the water it’s in doesn’t get pumped over the biomedia fast enough. This ensures that all of the waste products in the water column will be pumped over the biomedia so that the beneficial bacteria have a chance to eat up all the ammonia and nitrite. It is generally recommended that you use a filter that has a GPH that is at least four times the volume of your tank.įor example, if you have a 20 gallon (76 liter) tank, you would want a filter that has a GPH of at least 80. This is an important factor when you’re deciding on which filter to pick for your tank. GPH (gallons per hour) is the measure of how much water the filter’s motor can pump through the housing each hour. I did two different head-to-head comparisons, one for GPH and another that compared features like priming, biomedia space and the filter media included with the filter. I didn’t want to use a filter that had build up inside it and have that throw off the test. So, I’ve got a really good idea of their pros and cons from the perspective of a hobbyist.Īll GPH testing was done with brand new filters and filter media to ensure fairness. I’ve used each one at one point or another over the last few years. It was our goal to run each one through its paces.Īlso, I’ve got quite a bit of experience with these filters. We unboxed the filters, set them up per the manufacturer’s instructions and let them run on several of my tanks. All of the ones we tested for this article are rated for tanks between 55 and 75 gallons (208-284 liters) in an attempt to make the comparison as fair as possible.īut, if your tank is a different size, all of these filters also come in larger or smaller sizes. Last update on / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API How I Tested the HOB Filters for this Article Tetra Whisper EX 70 Filter For 45 To 70 Gallon aquariums, Silent Multi-Stage Filtration MarineLand Penguin PRO 375 Power Filter, Multi-Stage Aquarium Filtration for Up to 75 Gallons SeaChem – Large Aquarium Fish Tank Filter, Tidal 75 Gallon (300 Liters) by Sicceįluval C4 Power Filter, Fish Tank Filter for Aquariums up to 70 Gal.ĪquaClear 70 Power Filter, Fish Tank Filter for 40- to 70-Gallon Aquariums
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