Canister Sugestions

[Tobigara]

i'm in the market for 2 canister filters. price is an issue so it can't be too expensive. the real question is which type should i go for? i need the filters for a 55usg tank and a 60 usg tank. i have cichlids in there now and they are all less than 4 inches but i don't think the penguin 350's will be up to the task once they get a little bigger. eheim, rena and fluval seem to be the most common but i don't know which is better even after the research. any advice will be very welcome

 

[funkyhoney]

i'm in the market for 2 canister filters. price is an issue so it can't be too expensive. the real question is which type should i go for? i need the filters for a 55usg tank and a 60 usg tank. i have cichlids in there now and they are all less than 4 inches but i don't think the penguin 350's will be up to the task once they get a little bigger. eheim, rena and fluval seem to be the most common but i don't know which is better even after the research. any advice will be very welcome

From my personal research, knowledge, experience and what I've been taught, both Eheim and Fluval are the two best brands when it comes to filtration.

From my personal experience, Fluvals are a lot more user friendly, and I mean A LOT. However Eheim do provide a more efficient filtration (they can filter the same tank while using less water per hour, and hence, less electricity). You wouldn't be going wrong with either of those two brands, chances are you could find Fluval's cheaper than Eheim and Fluvals have a 6 year warranty (they do here at least).

You'd want Fluval 405's or Eheim Classic 2217's I would think

 

[ibbledibble]

i'm in the market for 2 canister filters. price is an issue so it can't be too expensive. the real question is which type should i go for? i need the filters for a 55usg tank and a 60 usg tank. i have cichlids in there now and they are all less than 4 inches but i don't think the penguin 350's will be up to the task once they get a little bigger. eheim, rena and fluval seem to be the most common but i don't know which is better even after the research. any advice will be very welcome

From my personal research, knowledge, experience and what I've been taught, both Eheim and Fluval are the two best brands when it comes to filtration.

From my personal experience, Fluvals are a lot more user friendly, and I mean A LOT. However Eheim do provide a more efficient filtration (they can filter the same tank while using less water per hour, and hence, less electricity). You wouldn't be going wrong with either of those two brands, chances are you could find Fluval's cheaper than Eheim and Fluvals have a 6 year warranty (they do here at least).

You'd want Fluval 405's or Eheim Classic 2217's I would think

i would agree with this. IMHO the best bit about the fluval is that it comes with a primer, so you just pump a little lever to get the siphon started. the ehiem usually involves sucking on a tube (although i do wrap my hand around it and only have my lips on that!) not nice!

 

[Tobigara]

awesome!!! thank you!

 

[darkwolf29a]

Fluval is a better filter than Eheim.

However, depending on what you are using it for, the Eheim might be fine. I use an Ecco 2234 for my Oscar's tank. I have it set up as a bio-filter, i.e. no sponges at all in it. I used the bio media, looks like cocoa puffs I swear, and filled the bins up with it. Then, for water polishing I'm using a HOB Cascade 300 from Penn Plex. The combo keeps the water nice and clear and the Oscar happy.

 

[Tobigara]

i've been reading reviews on all three brands. the rena and fluval are about the same but the eheims say that the flow rate is abyssmal. sometimes not even getting 50 usg an hour. will this make a difference? i mean how would it suck up all the funk? and what about surface agitation?

is it just a matter of preference?

 

[vinylman]

If you buy a Tetratec external, you get everything with it - media, tubes & spraybar. You don't always get everything with an external filter.

 

[dthoffsett]

i've been reading reviews on all three brands. the rena and fluval are about the same but the eheims say that the flow rate is abyssmal. sometimes not even getting 50 usg an hour. will this make a difference? i mean how would it suck up all the funk? and what about surface agitation?

is it just a matter of preference?

Eheim is considered by most hard-core enthusiasts to be the best, however, I love my Fluvals and have never had a problem. Personally, I think for the price and ease-of-use, Fluval is the way to go.

 

[funkyhoney]

i've been reading reviews on all three brands. the rena and fluval are about the same but the eheims say that the flow rate is abyssmal. sometimes not even getting 50 usg an hour. will this make a difference? i mean how would it suck up all the funk? and what about surface agitation?

is it just a matter of preference?

Eheim is considered by most hard-core enthusiasts to be the best, however, I love my Fluvals and have never had a problem. Personally, I think for the price and ease-of-use, Fluval is the way to go.

I couldn't agree more, I personally prefer Fluval in almost all aspects of their filters. Plus they now come with 6 year warranties compared to Eheim's 2.

As I said before, I would go with Fluval 405's, everything you need is in the box. Eheim's generally are fitted with a spray bar and don't create as strong a current an the Fluval design. Fluval intakes also have anti-clog mechanisms and the hosing is ribbed so it won't kink.

 

[Tobigara]

yeah i'm pretty sure i'm gonna go with fluval. one more question if ya'll don't mind. is there any rhyme or reason with the media? does it matter what order i put it in?

sorry about all the questions. i just wanna get it right the first time

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

Go with a TetraTec canister- they r gr8!

 

[andywg]

I couldn't agree more, I personally prefer Fluval in almost all aspects of their filters. Plus they now come with 6 year warranties compared to Eheim's 2.

As I said before, I would go with Fluval 405's, everything you need is in the box. Eheim's generally are fitted with a spray bar and don't create as strong a current an the Fluval design. Fluval intakes also have anti-clog mechanisms and the hosing is ribbed so it won't kink.

Eheim may come with a 2 year warranty, but they also last for years and years. Head to MFK and read their old filters thread. I don't recall seeing a single Fluval past 10 years, yet the number of eheims that are 12 and 15+ years old is most impressive.

A quick search on the hardware part of the forum will tell you just how frighteningly often they lose their seal and start leaking water on the floor. Eheim are the Rolls Royce of filters. Ask any experienced or professional fish keeper if they prefer fluval or eheim, I know what the response will be.

As someone who has owned both, I would never even consider using a fluval cannister again. They are so poor my lfs refuses to stock them, and quite rightly too.

 

[DYLANSDAD022102]

you know what i have been in the hobby for 7 years. yes fluval and ehiem are great filters, but costly. i have used them all before and have been let down a few times. i have a cascade 1000canister that to my opinion has put my other canisters to shame. it pushes water way more then my fluval even did and my ehiem has broke far more time then its worth. i have never and let me stress never had a single problem with my cascade 1000 canister. i have it plumbed into my drilled 75 gallon freshwater planted tank. and it has my water sparkling and. and best of all the media is simple to change, uses many types and it costs less then the fluvel and ehiem in the same catagory.

my opinion. to each there own correct. this is not ment to stir up conflict just me stating my experiences in the hobby

 

[jayjay]

From my personal experience, Fluvals are a lot more user friendly, and I mean A LOT. However Eheim do provide a more efficient filtration (they can filter the same tank while using less water per hour, and hence, less electricity). You wouldn't be going wrong with either of those two brands, chances are you could find Fluval's cheaper than Eheim and Fluvals have a 6 year warranty (they do here at least).

Fluval's may well be cheaper but in the long run an Eheim which is going to last, easily, 3 times as long and cost you less on your electricity bill would be cheaper in the long run.

i would agree with this. IMHO the best bit about the fluval is that it comes with a primer, so you just pump a little lever to get the siphon started. the ehiem usually involves sucking on a tube (although i do wrap my hand around it and only have my lips on that!) not nice!

The higher range Eheim's come with primers, but you could just stick a funnel on the end of the tube of an eheim and fill it via that, if sucking the pipe bothers you that much.

Fluval is a better filter than Eheim.

However, depending on what you are using it for, the Eheim might be fine. I use an Ecco 2234 for my Oscar's tank. I have it set up as a bio-filter, i.e. no sponges at all in it. I used the bio media, looks like cocoa puffs I swear, and filled the bins up with it. Then, for water polishing I'm using a HOB Cascade 300 from Penn Plex. The combo keeps the water nice and clear and the Oscar happy.

Fluval better than Eheim? I would disagree, fluvals just don't last as long on average. The Eheim ecco range isn't that highly rated, eheim tried to create a "budget" filter with the ecco and it just isn't as good as others.

They are so poor my lfs refuses to stock them, and quite rightly too.

My LFS also do not stock fluval filters, just Eheim and tetratec, though they always say how much better the Eheim's are.

In answer to the original question I would go with Eheim classics, simple design but general good filters from everything I've read and I will be buying a few soon for my tanks in need of new filtration.

 

[funkyhoney]

yeah i'm pretty sure i'm gonna go with fluval. one more question if ya'll don't mind. is there any rhyme or reason with the media? does it matter what order i put it in?

sorry about all the questions. i just wanna get it right the first time

To actually answer your question Yes, it does matter.

You obviously want your mechanical (sponges etc.) first to catch all the debris that comes through the filter. After that you would put your chemical (carbon etc.) if you're using any and finally the biological. The reason for this is so you don't get all kinds of gunk going through your good bacteria colonies, a lot of people (myself included) like to use additional mechanical filtration like fine sponges or filter wool just before the biological to keep them safe and your water clearer.



As far as the whole Eheim vs. Fluval goes, I wouldn't disagree with anyone who said Eheim make great filters, but I personally prefer Fluval and have never had an issue with them, or any Hagen product for that matter. The Eheim pro filters are great but the classic range leave as bit to be desired IMO Having said that I generally buy a filter depending on my need for each certain tank and find Eheim suited to non-planted tanks, but that's just me

Last time I went to a shop and asked the guys which they preferred they said Aquaone