Equipment Review and Discussion :: emperor 400 filter

[marisa]

I don't know what the extension's like on the Emperor. For the Aquaclear, you get two of the same pieces and you just put them together. When I did, they were too long for the depth of the tank, so I measured to just about the bottom of the tank and cut one to make it that length when it's fit into the other one. The pieces are slightly tapered, so the cut piece was a tad bigger than the piece it fit into. I very carefully filed (shaved, really) just a bit off around the portion that was to fit into the other one to make it snuggly fit into it. It's working fine. Check the fitting before you cut, if you have something similar with the Emperor.

[turtlesrock77]

That's the way the Emporer is, there is a mid level intake valve or something like that you attatch to the normal tube, then the extension, then a strainer. I don't think they are tapered so it should be pretty easy. I think I might try cutting it. Thanks for your advice.

[marisa]

If they're all the same size, you might have to make one end smaller to make it fit into the other one.

[AndyF]

I have an emporer 400 on my 55 gal tank with two adult res and the water is immaculate. My only problem is the high water level for escapes. Somebody mentioned that there is a way to modify the filter for a lower water level and I was wondering how I could do that.

[steve]

For the AquaClears, we have successfully used an acrylic "lip extension" and an acrylic flap. Not sure how those would work on the 400.

[turtlesrock77]

AndyF,
To make my 400 work, I fill the tank to the high level, then turn the filter on and take out the water to the level I want it. I don't know how much water you can take out for it to still work though- I have mine at about 5 1/2 inches from the top.

[FishTechNH]

I would recommend against a cartridge type filter if at all possible. A cartridge filter gives you little to no flexibility for customization to the type of media that you'd prefer to use, forcing you to use their products. Also, these cartridges can be difficult to clean effectively. Remember, all that mechanical filtration does is traps debris and it doesn't go away until you remove it. Trapped debris with water flowing over it simply sits and rots and creates astronomical levels of Nitrate and Phosphate build up in the water making for a great environment for disease causing bacteria and fungus. An easily accesible filter where you can get to and regularly rinse out the media is ideal. The AquaClear sounds like a good model to use in this case as you can easily rinse out the filter sponge and reuse it many times over and there is plenty of room for filter bags filled with any media you choose.

[AndyF]

I have an emperor 400 and it has extra media slots for whatever you choose. It comes with empty washable cartriges to put in anything. You don't have to use the disposable ones if you don't want to, then you'd have 4 slots for media. It is really easy to access the media as well to clean it.

[FishTechNH]

Hi AndyF, I understand, I'm just not a fan of the cartridges as they force you to use the granular carbon that comes inside and it leaches off Phosphates. Also, the media cartridges that they provide you with are difficult to work with. I have a client that runs an emperor 400 on a freshwater tank and when I tried adding a Phosphate removing medium to it, everything slid to the bottom of the cartridge and started spilling out the sides. Even after I packed the cartridge very lightly with the medium.