Filter Systems?

[ScubaMolley]

I have a Penguin 350 and a Penguin 160 runnning on 55 gallon aquarium. Both do a fine job of keeping the aquarium clean but I've been looking at the Canister filters and was wondering if there is a advantage of having waterfall style vs cainster.
 
What are you thoughts? Would I be better off just sticking with the Penguin filters?

 

[bluesword23516]

I personally like the waterfall styled filters.  It does help put oxygen into the water, but I do enjoy a little sound in my fish tank.  But the sound is me personally, its how I fall asleep. I have three tanks in my room XD

 

[ScubaMolley]

Awesome! I am trying to talk my wife into putting a Aquarium in the bedroom for the same reason.

 

[Fishmanic]

this would be the dream bedroom tank

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

this would be the dream bedroom tank

 
 
Imagine a pleco in there sucking on the glass when you are trying to sleep
 
I like canisters more as you can stock a bit more, and you dont have to have a bunch of filters to avoid dead spots, only 1. They also have more media opttions and the spray bar can be pointed to agitate the surface. The con is if you dont put them together correctly they can drain your ank onto the floor.
 
My HoB could do the same. It clogs easily and if it clogs it overflows on the back of the tank. I dont trust it. I only keep it on when Im in the room (The tank has 2 snails, nothing worrying me about an ammonia spike) and I take it apart and clean the intake 3-4  times a week. Not to mention it has shut off on me.
 
IMO canisters are great. They work for messier fish and you can get away with more fish. You have more media options. You can hide the tubing easier and hide the canister in your stand.

 

[ScubaMolley]

Thanks for the replies. I got a Tiger Oscar, Blood Parrot and a Convict Cichlid yesterday. I was told they were real messy eaters and that's one of the reasons I started looking. Any particular brand of filter better than another?