Canister Filter?
- Thread starter pwrmacG4
- Start date
I like Eheim the most...it's kind of hard to like other filters after you own one. I once doubted the price when I spent the money on one and I felt like total crap for an entire week while waiting for it to arrive. Once I got it running, all my worries dissolved day by day and I actually learned to depend upon it for the success of my tanks. I've heard really good things about the Rena's. Marineland's are nice for flow and general filtration, but lack biofiltration (I hate biowheels which Marineland relies upon). I've purchased a Fluval cannister (04 series) and I'll never buy another. It's a cheap pos and I am very dissatisfied. ADA makes nice filters, but I'll just assume they are out of everyone's budget unless you are an engineer, doctor, or lawyer. This is just my opinion of cannisters I'm familiar with. 
I agree with Avalon about the Eheims... great filters. I've never heard anyone regret buying them (except for the money). As a second choice, we usually go with Magnums, but we always have an additional filter running in all tanks anyway (for bio filtration, additional flow). The Fluvals we have are sitting in closets because they don't work too well, IMO (poor flow, hard to work with).
I just did some reading on the rena filters and most of the people liked them.. now the eheims are nice but too $$ for me. The Marineland 360 looks like a nice unit and the price is right.. now for the biological filtration part.. what is the problem with them? Can I just use a hob filter as well for biological filtration?
In about as much as they filter water, and use electricity.
Canisters are far more efficient than HOB's, and can filter more water without worrying about any water bypassing the media. Also you have a lot more options with filter media with canisters than with HOB's. Canisters also allow for more filter media.
Canisters are far more efficient than HOB's, and can filter more water without worrying about any water bypassing the media. Also you have a lot more options with filter media with canisters than with HOB's. Canisters also allow for more filter media.
Any filter consideration should revolve on the inhabitants in the tank. If the tank is going to be home to some real messy fish, then your going to want to have some serious filtration. Canisters and sumps allow for this, while being more efficient than HOBS. If the load is going to be light, then save the money and you'll probably be OK with some of the larger HOBs. For tanks with lots of plants, where you don't want to loose Co2, Canisters are the way to go. For fry tanks, or tanks with delicate fish, air driven sponge filters couldn't be better.
There's a filter best suited for every situation.
There's a filter best suited for every situation.
I got my Rena XP3 yesterday and installed it on my 29gal tank. I put it on the tank now to establish the bacteria on the bio stars in the filter. Within an hour I noticed that the water was clearer. The set up and priming couldn't have been easier! It is extremely quiet also.. glad I went with this filter over the Fluval. I recommend this filter to anyone who can't afford the Eheim filters!