want to go canister

[brian1973]

I am looking into canister filters..I have a 90G and I would like atleast 300gph filtration

I have looked at a few on myfishplace.com ..any opinions on these..I am on a budget but may be able to spend up to $250 if i have too.

heres what I am looking at.
Fluval FX5 Canister Aquarium Filter | Canister Aquarium Filters | Filters | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com
UTC 3400 Canister Filter with UV Sterilizer - 581 gph - 5.79 gallon volume | Canister Aquarium Filters | Filters | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com

also open to other options..opinions are appreciated.

 

[Lotus]

One important thing, IMO, when choosing a canister filter, is the availability of parts. Some of the Asian brands simply have no customer support or parts available. When you're spending $50 or more on something, you don't want to have to throw it out because you can't get a new gasket.

Our favorites are the Eheims. They're expensive, but they work really, really well.

 

[Chris_A]

I don't really know anything at all about the FX5 but it has the label that means I'll never touch it... Fluval.

The other one could be interesting... Mostly depends on the UV. Wattage, flowrate (If it's the same as the filter IE; full flow it would have to have a really high wattage), and tube diameter all factor it as to if it's a gimmick or not. I couldn't find that info on the like you have, but I'm interested now so I'm gonna do a lil' looking .

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

Chris

 

[Chris_A]

Our favorites are the Eheims. They're expensive, but they work really, really well.

Ditto, my other fav is the Magnum 350.

Guess it's 4 cents lol.

Chris

 

[brian1973]

Eheim Canister Filter Classic Plus - 2217 - up to 159 gallon | Canister Aquarium Filters | Filters | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com
Eheim 2250 Canister Filter | Canister Aquarium Filters | Filters | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com

these are the only 2 eheims that I could find that come close to what i want for GPH.. both are cheaper or the same price as what i was looking at..

What makes Eheim better in your opinion..please expand on "they work really really good" , I am asuming you have had other brands. I do understand the point of customer service on asian brands.

Chris, why so opposed to Fluval? Is this the magnum 350 your refering to. Marineland Magnum 350 Deluxe Filter at Big Al's Online I know nothing about canister filters yet but am trying to learn..for the price this one cant be beat..if it really filter 350gph.

P.S. Look at my sig..this is going onto a heavly stocked 90G..

 

[Chris_A]

If I had a dime for every time I had to deal with a PO'd Fluval owner I'd have WAAAY more tanks lol. I even bought 2 of the first gen *04's to try them out. The 104 didn't even make it 6 months before I tossed it in a box, it was way to frustrating to set up and get running. When they were running i was noticing a large amount of media bypass. Turns out Hagen couldn't be bothered to design a pump that didn't burn out with out putting in that bypass. I don't like bypass lol . Oh and the 304... it burned out after 2 years anyway. I don't know about anyone else but I think a filter should get a lot more than 2 years.

Both of those Eheims are good units. They will last you a long time and they will have parts for years to come. Eheim was the first canister filter and the design on their classic line hasn't changed much. Out of those two with a BIG bioload the 2250 would be the way to go IMO, simply for the higher flow.

Yup that's the one! I love these things because they have *ZERO* bypass and they are not ment as a bio-filter. The Diatom option is also GREAT and it's come in handy a few times over the years. I've even loaned it to friends that had green water problems. It will pump 350gph initially, when it starts getting plugged the flow slows and that's how you know when to clean it. Interesting side note... this it the only filter I've tried that kept 2 full grown red ear sliders (turtles) SPARKLING. Even the Eheim couldn't keep up . At that price... buy 2! Hey, buy 3 and send me one lol! The Canadian BA's wants $155, even after exchange that's no where close.

Chris

 

[Chris_A]

Forgot to add, on the Magnum the motor is seperate from the canister, it has to be the easiest to prime canisters I've ever used, and the impeller comes as a 3 piece assembly.
1) impeller core and blades
2) shaft and bushings
3) magnet

That means when the core does finally wear (took 6 year on mine) you don't have to pay for an expensive magnet as well.

Can you tell which way *I* would go lol

Chris

 

[brian1973]

ok.so they have no bio filtration? Do the eheims have bio as well as mechanical filtration? The bacteria in the tank will probably produce anough bio filtration anyway correct, like I said I am learning here since I know nothing about canisters. Or would I still want a HOB for bio filtration??

Yea my wife would be happier with that one as well..cost wise alone.

 

[Chris_A]

Nope the base unit doesn't have bio filtration. You used to be able to get a biowheel unit for them (bio-wheel delux??) in the pro kit but I don't know if they still offer them after Aquaria inc. was bought out. The majority of the bacteria should grow in the tank anyway, yes. Either way, even adding a small fluidized bed filter would still be relatively cheap.

Years ago, filters in general were broke down into two catagories. Fast and slow filters. Fast filters were ment for nothing more than mechanical and chemical filtration while slow filters were for biological. The principal was that with a high flow rate the bacteria had a harder time utilizing the NH3, NO2 hence why no biological. Eheims are slow filters which explains the lower flow rate to canister volume ratio.

I really don't know why the hobby fell away from defining filters that way... Probably a case of less education and more marketing.

Chris

 

[brian1973]

Thanks I will wait for more opinions but as of right now my budget and your input I am leaning towards the magnum..plus I can get 2 so each 90g (second one getting set up soon) can have one and I will still use the HOB for my own piece of mind for now..lol. Wife has been bugging me about what i want for christmas so i think these have made the list.

 

[Orion]

Well I personally can't say enough good things about Rena XP filters. Easy to setup, easy to clean, and work very well IMO.

Regardless of what you pick, I would think about getting two filters on this tank. Not only for the back up factor if one fails on a friday night, but you'll just have that much more filtration and water movement. I've got two of the XP3's on a 75 gallon and they work wonders and only leave me with one semi dead spot out of a tank with lots of decor for stuff to hide in.

 

[brian1973]

Well I personally can't say enough good things about Rena XP filters. Easy to setup, easy to clean, and work very well IMO.

Regardless of what you pick, I would think about getting two filters on this tank. Not only for the back up factor if one fails on a friday night, but you'll just have that much more filtration and water movement. I've got two of the XP3's on a 75 gallon and they work wonders and only leave me with one semi dead spot out of a tank with lots of decor for stuff to hide in.

Thanks...now I have another choice..reading the specs on the xp3..other than worring about a failure why use 2, shouldnt 1 be sufficient or the xp4.

I was hoping for more input on this.

DO I NEED bio filtration in the filter as well??

That seems to be the biggest difference in prices is the rena, fluval, eheim all use bio and mechanical compared to the mechanical filtration of the magnum350..I have read some reviews on the magnum and they are all positive. I know you get what you pay for but I just dont see and real difference in any of these systems. And other than the flow rate as chris mentioned I find it hard to believe that no bacteria lives within the filter media on the magnum.

 

[s_anthony]

Uh-oh.. I just bought a Fluval - I love it so far, but then again it's only been running a month so far.. guess I'll keep my bio-wheels as a backup....

 

[brian1973]

Uh-oh.. I just bought a Fluval - I love it so far, but then again it's only been running a month so far.. guess I'll keep my bio-wheels as a backup....

Just because others dont like the fluval doesnt mean you will have problems, which fluval did you buy..please feel free to give it a "review" here..I would love to hear your opinion.

 

[s_anthony]

Just because others dont like the fluval doesnt mean you will have problems, which fluval did you buy..please feel free to give it a "review" here..I would love to hear your opinion.

I don't want to hijack the thread - but I bought a Fluval 105. It is currently on my 30 Gal tank (it's rated for 25 Gal, but I'm understocked quite a bit in that tank anyway). It will eventually go on a different tank but I didn't to invest 200.00 on something I didn't like. I got this one right about 100.00 I think. I usually overdo it on fitration as I tend to buy way more filter than I need - this is a first for me.

It was very easy to set up. I didn't even look at the instructions. I did have a few issues getting it primed but realized later that there was a lot of air in the lines.

Oh so much quieter than my bio wheels. Although the 15 gal I just set up is on a bio wheel, so the whole purpose of getting the room quiet just went out the window again.. So I'm up to 3 tanks now in my office. 2 15 gals and 1 30 gal. I've got MFT syndrome again - hooray!

I did just post something in equipment tonight asking if there is a way to split a canister filter between two tanks - I'm pretty sure some fish-geek out there knows some way of doing it..

 

[Chris_A]

So what I said about the Fluvals is about the *04's and my opinion is pretty well the same for the *02's and *03's. That said though... I haven't even looked at the *05's so I can't say anything concrete either way. The fact they were released so reciently after the last generation (and at least superficially look like them) is encouraging in a way, perhaps Hagen fixed the problems for the "re-release".

Either way, good luck .

Chris

Oh, and fish-geek right here lol Already posted in the other thread.

 

[brian1973]

Chris I am planning on the magnum for now..I will use it in conjunction with my HOB and see where it goes..wont be till xmas to see if my wife gets them for me or i have to buy them myself though..or if she goes with one of the others..lol.

 

[brian1973]

s anthony dont worry about hujacking..that is the info I am looking for. I have to have that info to make an informed decision.

 

[Chris_A]

Chris I am planning on the magnum for now..I will use it in conjunction with my HOB and see where it goes..wont be till xmas to see if my wife gets them for me or i have to buy them myself though..or if she goes with one of the others..lol.

#1 concern should always be keepin' the boss happy .

 

[Orion]

I always like to throw the backup point out there, but thankfully I've yet to have a filter fail *Knock on wood*.

I'm going to assume your tank is a standard 90 gallon, which is the same footprint as my 75 gallon, just a bit taller. I have one XP3 on each corner of the tank. Like I already said, not only does this help get me extra water flow and keeping gunk from building up anywhere, which any old power head could do, I'm using two filters so any gunk that does get kicked up gets sucked up and out of the tank. I also spent a little extra coin for a custom water intake/return plumbling set. On one of the filters I have a spray bar about 12" long that's under the water pointing twords the front of the tank, and on the other end I have one of those jet nozzles with a venturi valve pointed at a 45 degree angle from the corner as well as a flat nozzle that I can aim where I want too. Again, this just helps me in keeping everything as clean as I can with all the driftwood in the tank. I only have one corner that collects gunk by design that's easy to get too with a python vac to suck out the debris.

I also have two different maintenance schedules for each filter so that neither one gets cleaned within 1.5 months of each other. If I really wanted too I could just tank one entire filter out back and lay a pressure washer to everything to clean it off and not have to worry much about the loss of bacteria because of the other filter that's running.

I'm the first to admit, I tend to take things a little overboard sometimes. However I know how messy a single oscar can be, and I can tell you that with two large filters it's been easy keeping them both in top condition under a heavy load. So with two adult O's, and one large filter you may end up be cleaning it rather often, where as with two the load is split up between them. Meaning less work for you, but the fish are just as happy and healthy and the water just as clean.

You also mentioned the bio media, the XP's come with large baskets that you can do with as you please. The XP3's have 3 baskets, and I reckon the XP4's would have 4. It's easy to shove what ever type of media you want too in these things. I use bio balls and ceramic media in mine.