The Oase BioStyle is a brand new line of power filters from the German company which has been all been taking the canister filter market by storm. Much like their BioMaster line of canisters the BioStyle exudes style and sophistication but that svelte design hides some unique and innovative features that we can’t wait to get our hands on.
The rounded off outline of the Oase BioStyle caught our attention from a great distance but when we started looking under the hood we were pleasantly surprised to see some clever features that will appeal to many different users. Before we get into those we need to address the first big departure from what most other new power filters are doing these days which is the positioning of the feed pump inside the tank.
Having the pump mounted inside the aquarium sure does make it easier to prime the hang on back power filter such as the Seachem Tidal and the Marineland Penguins but we’ve never really found it difficult to prime a power filter in the first place. We have found it challenging to access and service the internally mounted pumps of the aforementioned power filters so we’ll gladly trade the easier priming for easier cleaning of the pump.
The style part of the Oase BioStyle comes from the filters being available in three different colors, grey, navy and white and we certainly value the more attractive slim intake strainer although the clear tubing will require more than a wipe down to keep it crystal clear. Oase is offering in three sizes including the BioStyle 20, BioStyle 30, and BioStyle 50 which are rated for an equal number of gallons and there will also be a BioStyle Thermo version for the two larger sizes which include an integrated heater preset preset for 79F degrees.
One of the first clever design decisions of the Oase BioStyle is that instead of having cartridges sized for each model of power filter Oase has designed a single cartridge to be used in multiples across the line – one for the BioStyle 20, two for the BioStyle 30 and three for the BioStyle 50. This simple modularity of the power filter cartridge will make it much simpler for dealers to stock one size of cartridge on the shelf and for users of multiple filters to buy them in bulk and use them across different models.
Looking deeper inside the pumping heart of the Oase BioStyle we noticed that it has a very hydrodynamic spiral volute to promote efficient outflow and an impeller with highly curved and even branching impeller blades which we assume reduces drag for a quieter and more efficient operation. We don’t think most aquarist get excited about power filters the same way we do but the truth is that this filter category is one of the most popular and widely used across the broader world of aquariums so the design and features they incorporate will shape the experience of a massive audience and for our part we appreciate the deliberate choice Oase made with their new BioStyle series and including a Thermo version. [Oase]
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