External Cannister Filters?

[MikeD67]

Ok so im getting the stuff needed for my new up coming fish tank.. Im looking to get a external cannister filter thats rated for 90 U.S gallons or more due to the fact I havent really decided what size tank im getting I was planning on 55 gal but I know after awhile it wont satisfy lol so Im thinking of just getting a 75 gal tank instead, any way Im browsing online stores looking at filters and I looked at the Fluval 405 rated for 100 gal pump out of 340 gal per hour and filter circulation of 225 gal per hour and I have heard good things about it and its 180.00 U.S dollars. Then I stumble across the Eheim Proffesional 2 with thermofilter model 21126 rated for 92 U.s gal with a pump out of 251 gal per hour and circulation of 172 gal per hour but says thermofilter helps regulate water temp and is priced at 250.00 U.S dollars now by the specs the fluval looks to be better seeing how the pump out and the circulation is much higher but why is it much less? and what does the Eheim with thermofilter eliminate need for a heater in the tank? any thoughts or suggestions would be great and if tyou are a owner of either system I would like to here your reviews on each. Or if you are a user of a different brand you can also state how you like yours and specs.

 

[andywg]

The thermo eheim does include a heater, so you don't need one. Be wary on the gph as that is an empty rating without any media.

Fluval are so much cheaper because they are a cheap and nasty brand that is notorious for failing and leaking within 24 months of purchase. Eheim are a premium brand that will often run for 15 years and more. That's where the price comes in.

 

[xingumike]

I use a tetratec which is branded as the Marineland C-series in the US i think.

Came recommended by a friend that runs a LFS he now refuses to stock any fluval external except the fx5, he has been selling the tetratec range for about 4 years now i think and has yet to have one returned. I am not claiming the are as good as eheim but my ex1200 certainly gives me excellent (and quiet its in my bedroom) performance for less money then ehiem but seem to have the quality edge over fluval. The ex1200 as its branded here is rated for aquariums upto 500l (132 us gal i think) so should suffice

hth

 

[andywg]

I use a tetratec which is branded as the Marineland C-series in the US i think.

Came recommended by a friend that runs a LFS he now refuses to stock any fluval external except the fx5, he has been selling the tetratec range for about 4 years now i think and has yet to have one returned. I am not claiming the are as good as eheim but my ex1200 certainly gives me excellent (and quiet its in my bedroom) performance for less money then ehiem but seem to have the quality edge over fluval. The ex1200 as its branded here is rated for aquariums upto 500l (132 us gal i think) so should suffice

hth

I have no experience of Tetratec (do with fluval and eheim) but I do hear they are a lot better than Fluval, and while aren't as good as Eheim, don't cost as much either. A pretty solid choice from what I have read.

 

[MikeD67]

I have also been hearing things on the Jebo Odyssea CFS filters any1 know of these?

 

[MikeD67]

I use a tetratec which is branded as the Marineland C-series in the US i think.

Came recommended by a friend that runs a LFS he now refuses to stock any fluval external except the fx5, he has been selling the tetratec range for about 4 years now i think and has yet to have one returned. I am not claiming the are as good as eheim but my ex1200 certainly gives me excellent (and quiet its in my bedroom) performance for less money then ehiem but seem to have the quality edge over fluval. The ex1200 as its branded here is rated for aquariums upto 500l (132 us gal i think) so should suffice

hth

Looking at the Marineland C series 360 and liking it has no bypass so water always travels thru the filtration easy access stack and flow. Has almost identical specs as fluval 405 but has a few things i like not sure if the fluval has extra compartment for cyramic rings but the Marineland C series 360 and 220 come with this feature of a extra tray and seems like could be big help thanx for the reccommendation gonna do alittle more research but seems this may the cheaper ay to go with out hurting quality, And Andy as far as the Ehiem i have been researching those as well and have seen in all honestly way to bad of a ratio of bad complaints to good ones not sure want to risk that much money to face the problems many others have, seems pretty bad when I call my LFS and they have said that Eheim filters have been returned to the store more than any other filters they carry and they have heard nothing really good about them from the customers.

 

[iairj84]

I own a jebo CSF-4... For the price, at the moment it can't be beat. The flowrate is more than enough for my 55 gallon tank. I have only owned it for about a month and a half so I can't say much about the durability. I am trying to find a big thread on them I read a while back to where the guy gets into detail about the filter. http/www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthre...;highlight=jebo

Ahh there it is. This review prompted me to buy it, for $60 shipped I couldn't pass it up. The flow rate "experiment" is a little missguided when you consider his canister is full of media. The advertised flow rate was more than likely without media. If you compare the full flow rate with that of a Eheim classic you would find that the numbers are really comparable... That being said I can't verify it's quality in the long run and wouldn't want you to buy it if you can afford something higher quality. I think it's probably going to be a great filter for me for at least another couple years. If it lasts me 3-4 I figure I've more than gotten my money out of it.

Feel free to ask any more questions about the jebo as it's kind of an uncommon filter on here.

 

[MikeD67]

I own a jebo CSF-4... For the price, at the moment it can't be beat. The flowrate is more than enough for my 55 gallon tank. I have only owned it for about a month and a half so I can't say much about the durability. I am trying to find a big thread on them I read a while back to where the guy gets into detail about the filter. http/www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthre...;highlight=jebo

Ahh there it is. This review prompted me to buy it, for $60 shipped I couldn't pass it up. The flow rate "experiment" is a little missguided when you consider his canister is full of media. The advertised flow rate was more than likely without media. If you compare the full flow rate with that of a Eheim classic you would find that the numbers are really comparable... That being said I can't verify it's quality in the long run and wouldn't want you to buy it if you can afford something higher quality. I think it's probably going to be a great filter for me for at least another couple years. If it lasts me 3-4 I figure I've more than gotten my money out of it.

Feel free to ask any more questions about the jebo as it's kind of an uncommon filter on here.

Im reading the article you put up from link and its been very helpful but quick question for you.. The guy says the tubes come pre bent and theres really no room for modification is this the same with all other cannister filters or do others allow for mods as far how the tubes are layed out in the tank? or could u possibly buy tubes to fit the hoses?

 

[iairj84]

The tubes come pre-bent with most any external you buy. I think maybe he meant the hoses were kinked when he first got them? You could just as easily modify the intake/outputs on this filter as much as any other.

 

[MikeD67]

The tubes come pre-bent with most any external you buy. I think maybe he meant the hoses were kinked when he first got them? You could just as easily modify the intake/outputs on this filter as much as any other.

Thats great ya the more I read from people sounds like the Odysea would be good for for a 55 gal tank ill keep it in mind if i get a 55 gal tank but i think I may be going with a 75 gal.

 

[iairj84]

I agree, the Jebo is not probably capable of handling a 75 gallon unless you had two and at that point you might as well buy a nicer filter.