Casual aquatics Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Hello everyone was curious on your thoughts about canister filters what brands do you buy what site do you use etc I’m a poor guy lol so dose cheep mean bad? Should I suck it up and spend 300$ like I said need some opinions and thoughts thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquachris Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 I think it really depends on size and need, stocking level/etc. I've done the sponges, the HOB, the canisters and even a sump. My personal preference is still sponge first, then HOB. Canisters and sumps do have their advantages, but they aren't always required. Just so you know I run all 4 types right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 26 minutes ago, aquachris said: I think it really depends on size and need, stocking level/etc. I've done the sponges, the HOB, the canisters and even a sump. My personal preference is still sponge first, then HOB. Canisters and sumps do have their advantages, but they aren't always required. Just so you know I run all 4 types right now. Heavier stocked tanks do you use canister I have a 135 Oscar tank with 2 oscars and green terror have 46 gal bow front with 6 corydoras a fire mouth twig cat 1kuhli loach 2bristeld pleco then a 55 bp cichlid three baby African cichlids a bichir and smaller but not baby convict Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 4 hours ago, Wisnasky-tank said: Heavier stocked tanks do you use canister I have a 135 Oscar tank with 2 oscars and green terror have 46 gal bow front with 6 corydoras a fire mouth twig cat 1kuhli loach 2bristeld pleco then a 55 bp cichlid three baby African cichlids a bichir and smaller but not baby convict Check Amazon they’ve got filters for every budget. I don’t think your tanks are overstocked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RovingGinger Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 I have two canister filters, a variety of HOB, and a lot of sponge filters. I really like sponge filters. They have never sucked up a fish or flooded my living room or made ungodly scraping noises while I’m trying to sleep and they’re like, $10 for years of service. My HOBs are mostly used and I find them just so-so, I don’t like having to buy a sponge for the intake, cramming soggy stuff into slots and worrying about the motor burning out from me not thinking. My canister filters.... one has worked well from the beginning. The other from the get go has had issues from flooding/leaking to air bubbles in the pipes to just being loud and annoying. Same brand, upgraded model. Like you I am cheap so the brand is not Eheim or Fluval (it’s Polar Aurora) and maybe that factors in more heavily than I thought. But for the price, I think I’m done. I’d rather sink the same cash into plants and lights and sticks and rocks. Your 135 is large enough to make a sump a worthwhile idea, and that has the perk of being able to also hold your heater, etc, for improved aesthetics. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 5 hours ago, Wisnasky-tank said: Hello everyone was curious on your thoughts about canister filters what brands do you buy what site do you use etc I’m a poor guy lol so dose cheep mean bad? Should I suck it up and spend 300$ like I said need some opinions and thoughts thanks in advance It's hard to pass on the FX4 or FX6. If you catch them at Petsmart at the right time they practically give them away for free! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 I was into canister filters when I kept FOWLR marine tanks. I would end up with surprise brine shrimp in my canisters, which was cool. I also spilled a lot of water. I have the smallest Eheim Classic 150 as my only canister today, just because I wanted to try the spray bar, and super-basic canister tech. Now I prefer to keep all water in-tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 18 minutes ago, RovingGinger said: I have two canister filters, a variety of HOB, and a lot of sponge filters. I really like sponge filters. They have never sucked up a fish or flooded my living room or made ungodly scraping noises while I’m trying to sleep and they’re like, $10 for years of service. My HOBs are mostly used and I find them just so-so, I don’t like having to buy a sponge for the intake, cramming soggy stuff into slots and worrying about the motor burning out from me not thinking. My canister filters.... one has worked well from the beginning. The other from the get go has had issues from flooding/leaking to air bubbles in the pipes to just being loud and annoying. Same brand, upgraded model. Like you I am cheap so the brand is not Eheim or Fluval (it’s Polar Aurora) and maybe that factors in more heavily than I thought. But for the price, I think I’m done. I’d rather sink the same cash into plants and lights and sticks and rocks. Your 135 is large enough to make a sump a worthwhile idea, and that has the perk of being able to also hold your heater, etc, for improved aesthetics. Omg thank you so much for that very descriptive answer I have two sponges and a hang on wall filter in the 135 and an off brand canister too much ?? I have one sponge and a wall filter in my 46gal bow front which is a heavily planted dirt substrate community tank Thinking small canister be nice in it then a 55gal cichlid tank again sponge and wall filter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 38 minutes ago, Paul said: Check Amazon they’ve got filters for every budget. I don’t think your tanks are overstocked. Thank you kindly I was kinda worried if they was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 1 hour ago, Randy said: It's hard to pass on the FX4 or FX6. If you catch them at Petsmart at the right time they practically give them away for free! Let me know when that time is lol 300$ for f6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 15 hours ago, Streetwise said: I also spilled a lot of water. Hey @Streetwise, could you share a few examples of what to watch out for? Ben Ochart did a video on avoiding canister disasters, but I'd bet he missed some, so anything you can share would be great. I have several canisters running, and also share your "canister anxiety" lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted October 9, 2020 Share Posted October 9, 2020 @Bill, I am not a canister expert. I have run maybe a half dozen units as a hobbyist. As a teenager, I made many sloppy mistakes and spilled water on hardwood floors, especially moving canisters to the bathtub and back. In my marine days, I had an old Fluval, with some sort of double valve that would fail to align, and often spill water during water changes. I also had a Rena unit that eventually developed a slow leak where the power cord exited the unit. I also spilled water trying to prime certain systems. Sometimes tubing would spring and throw a bit of water. I have the smallest Eheim, the Classic 150, on my 16 gallon bow, just because I wanted to try the simplest canister, with green tubes, and a nice spraybar. It has multiple valves that you splice into your tubing, and I like it. That said, I still keep it in a 20 gallon tote, with all the tubing drip-looping into the tote. I spill a little bit on filter cleaning, and I have noticed that some of the plastic on the canister is brittle. Currently, I prefer to keep the water in the tanks. I say to myself, "Each tank should be its own sump." Now I mostly use air-based Co-Op Nano Sponge Filters (with check valves), or internal sponge power filters, like the MF10 units. FYI, my experience only covers smaller tanks in residential environments, and not racks or fish rooms. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3vi1p3nguin Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 I've had Cascade and Fluval canisters. I'm a big fan of the Fluvals personally, I'm running a 306 and 407 right now. I like the double valve design, and haven't had much trouble with spilling when I clean them, which is very easy. The primer is easy, especially on the new 07 models. The cascade worked well for a while, but was miserable to prime, and I always spilled water disconnecting it. Eventually I gave up on it and upgraded to a 407 when I couldn't keep the seal from leaking anymore. I know a lot of people that have had great luck with the cheaper canisters, but it wasn't my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquatoid Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 On 10/7/2020 at 6:08 AM, Randy said: It's hard to pass on the FX4 or FX6. If you catch them at Petsmart at the right time they practically give them away for free! On 10/7/2020 at 8:03 AM, Wisnasky-tank said: Let me know when that time is lol 300$ for f6 I have to second the FX6, it is amazing powerhouse. I also love the way it burps out the air it gathers every day. The more air it burps and the more often it does it tells you when the maintenance time is getting closer as either the media inside or the prefilter is getting too clogged and the filter is sucking in air through the gap between the body and the lid. I would however pimp it a bit. The suggested media layout is absolutely terrible considering the flow of water in it, and the media provided is a bit lackluster. I'd also make a DIY spray bar and inlet pipe for it from 1" PVC pipes (there are no suitable commercial spray bars available from Fluval or others), and it will make your life easier. I can link a video for the pimping of the media inside it, so your filter foam would actually filter the impurities before the water reaches the bio-media. I assume it's ok to link videos 😛 I was really surprised to see FX6 really being over $300 on US Amazon 😮 Usually everything is cheaper in Murica, but FX6 is just over 200 € on German Amazon. Even 1:1 conversion is usually too much to hope for here.. wonder what is so special about this. Anyway, Black Friday is coming soonish, I'd look for a filter during that day, unless you really really need it before that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 More like cyber Monday get Black Friday don’t happen cause covid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquatoid Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 10 hours ago, Wisnasky-tank said: More like cyber Monday get Black Friday don’t happen cause covid Black Friday will be an online thing no matter what. For me it has been an online thing always 😛 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whip's World Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 On 10/6/2020 at 4:16 PM, Wisnasky-tank said: Hello everyone was curious on your thoughts about canister filters what brands do you buy what site do you use etc I’m a poor guy lol so dose cheep mean bad? Should I suck it up and spend 300$ like I said need some opinions and thoughts thanks in This hobby can get pricey to say the least, but you can take shortcuts here and there and it won't kill you. I wouldn't take that approach on the filtration though. Contrary to what Cory says, I think canisters are the best way to go for show tanks. They're quiet and less obtrusive. So far Fluval is my favorite, but they can be expensive depending on the size of your tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 This the the safety tote for my Eheim Classic 150. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 So you put canister in tote for in case of a leak or what’s toat for. How much did ehiem150 cost what tank size is it made for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ellsworth Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Ehiem advertises the 150 from 13 gal to about 40 gal sized tanks, (they go by liters). When using canister filters it is better to look at them based on tank load vs tank size. For heavy stocking or dirty fish you could half the recommended size as a cushion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 On 10/6/2020 at 5:16 PM, Wisnasky-tank said: Hello everyone was curious on your thoughts about canister filters what brands do you buy what site do you use etc I’m a poor guy lol so dose cheep mean bad? Should I suck it up and spend 300$ like I said need some opinions and thoughts thanks in advance Before you get a canister, please be sure to watch this. They're not for everyone, nor every tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 12, 2020 Author Share Posted October 12, 2020 Forgive me but where in this did it even truly talk about how hard a canister is to run or sizes applied to Gph and tank size Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick M. Bodega Aquatics Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 I really love my canister filter and it is very easy to use. I have a Fluval 407 for my 75 gal and payed about $150. As I said it is very easy to use and only takes about .5 hour to clean monthly. Hope this helps! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 12, 2020 Author Share Posted October 12, 2020 8 minutes ago, Patrick M. Bodega Aquatics said: I really love my canister filter and it is very easy to use. I have a Fluval 407 for my 75 gal and payed about $150. As I said it is very easy to use and only takes about .5 hour to clean monthly. Hope this helps! Ty kindly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 12, 2020 Author Share Posted October 12, 2020 Just now, Wisnasky-tank said: Ty kindly 9 minutes ago, Patrick M. Bodega Aquatics said: I really love my canister filter and it is very easy to use. I have a Fluval 407 for my 75 gal and payed about $150. As I said it is very easy to use and only takes about .5 hour to clean monthly. Hope this helps! What fish you keep stocked I have a 135 gal it came with a 305 but when researched this is more for a 40gal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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