|
| Model: |
AquaClear Power Filter Model 20 (formerly AquaClearMINI) |
| Type: |
Hang on the Back Filter |
| Manufacturer: |
Hagen |
| Types of filtration possible: |
Mechanical, Biological and Chemical |
| GPH: |
Max - 100gph/378lph; Min - 33gph/125lph |
| Tank Size: |
5 - 20 gallons (mine is on a 10 litre/2.5 gallon) |
| Pros: |
easy maintenance; three stage filtration; media replacement readily available and boxes clearly marked with old and new model numbers; compact size great for smaller tanks |
| Cons: |
flow control is far from precise and difficult to ensure consistent rate; intake strainer gets clogged easily; I found that for the thicker walled acrylic tank, the filter did not slide on and off as easily as with a glass tank. There is a leveling tab on the motor that I had to trim. |
|
|
| Model |
AquaClear Power Filter Model 30 (formerly AquaClear 150) |
| Type: |
Hang on the Back Filter |
| Manufacturer: |
Hagen |
| Types of filtration possible: |
Mechanical, Biological and Chemical |
| GPH: |
150gph/568lph; Min - 50gph/190lph |
| Tank Size: |
10 - 30 gallon |
| Pros: |
Easy maintenance; three stage filtration; media replacement readily available and boxes clearly marked with old and new model numbers; |
| Cons: |
flow control is far from precise and difficult to ensure consistent rate; intake strainer gets clogged easily |
AquaClear20 | AquaClear30 | How to Clean them | Comparisons
The box comes with the case, leveling device, cover, instructions, media basket, media, motor, intake pipe, and cover.
The media included is the sponge, carbon, biological media. A bag and a clip are included to hold the biological media.
The motor attaches to the case like most other power filters.
To assemble, begin by attaching the motor. Ensure the impeller cover is firmly in place. Add enough water to the case to check the motor seal for leaks. Better to find one now than later when you have it on the tank!
It is a good idea to cut the sponge in half. This allows for more media room.
Next put the biological media into the bag. The bag is way too big for its use and approximately half of it will need to be cut off. The clip works by inserting the open end of the bag into the oval then sliding it toward the notched end. The other half of the clip then slides over the oval end and onto the notched end, holding the bag in place. (note: a plastic covered twist-tie or a knot would do just as good)
Rinse the biological media and the carbon media to remove the dust.
The media now goes into the basket.
Sponge on the bottom, then the carbon, then the biological media.
The basket is then slid down into the filter case. Press until it is firmly seated.
The "U" shaped pipe is placed with the raised lever end above the motor.
Make sure the pipe is firmly against the outside of the case into its notch. Use the lever of the pipe to ensure it slides against the impeller cover. This is how the flow is adjusted.
The straight tube is slipped over the end.
My Aquaclear 20 had an overly "new" smell so I settled it over a bucket and allowed it to run for approximately one hour until the smell was gone.
AQUACLEAR 30 (formerly known as the 150)
The Aquaclear 30 is very similar to the Aquaclear 20. They even have the same manual. The differences are in the size of the case, the size of the sponge, the amount of biological media, and the extra intake pipe.
Assembly for the AC 30 is the same as for the AC 20, with the exception of the extra pipe.
In my AC30s, I added a second bag of biological media. Replacements of this come already in a bag, which is better than the original. I rinsed it to remove dust.
The sponge may look nasty, but until it starts to literally fall apart, it is best to just keep rinsing it (in dechlorinated water or tank water) and re-use since a lot of good bacteria live in it.
The basket is assembled with the additional biological media placed below the original. I do it this way so it all settles well without that dang clip in the way. I rinse the biological media but only enough to make it semi-clean. Most of the good bacteria live there.
CLEANING:
In cleaning either of the AquaClears, it is important to clean the impeller cover. I didn't realize it came out until the filter had been in use for well over a month!
Another item to clean is the impeller itself.
It may be a little tricky to remove but it does come out.
Rinse the impeller clean and use an impeller brush to clean the inside of the motor. Re-assemble in reverse order and check for leaks where the motor attaches to the case.
COMPARISON:
The AquaClear 20 and 30 differ in only a few ways.
The baskets:
The sponges:
And the cases:
The AC 30 case is 6" across and the basket area is 4".
The AC 20 is 5" across and the basket area is 3".
They are both 6" high.
They have the same motors and impellers.
The carbon media bag is the same.
There is slightly less biological media for the AC 20.
The AC 30 has an extra intake pipe.
NOTES:
- Both my AC 30s and the AC 20 have had the strainer modified.
- In the basket comparisons, both have had their carbon removed due to medication at the time. Also, the AC 20 has only the original biological media but has crushed coral added to the top.
- The black sponge in the AC 20 is from another filter (which the AC 20 replaced) that I was using to keep the tank cycled.
|
GAB Articles 
