Help w/ Filstar and Eheim filters

[mako8551]

I have a new 50 gallon that i'm hoping to put 2 oscars in but i want to over do the filtration so i can use the pump for other aquariums i will get later. I like what i heard about Filstar XP has been almost all good and it does come with some media so that is a major plus. However the website says it has a self priming mechenism and yet from the diagrams i dont see one. Can someone shed some light on how this works?
easy? hard?

I of course would love to get an Eheim proII but i'm a bit concerned about the only 2 media containers on the 2026 which is the only one i can afford. Also what is the best combinationof media in the pro II series for oscars.

There is also a sale on wet dry eheims on DrsFosterSmith.com and i'm wondering how hard they are to prime sence they lack the newer self priming of the proII. Anyone know if they are planning to introduce a proII series wet dry any time soon? The only media they show in the in the diagrams is the ehfisubstrat (bio) what about chemical and mechanical? Is the Eheim wet dry as wonderful as they claim?

[Skittyfish]

I have an Eheim 2026 Pro II and I really like it. It is easy to clean, super quiet, and I think you can pretty much put what you want in the baskets. The one's with media included come with the ehfisubstrat and ehfimech and two sponges.

[Heady]

The Eheim Pro II 2028 goes for $199.99 including media at BigAl's, only $40 more than the 2026. Seems if you're going to spend all that money on a filter, you might as well go whole hog. That's what I did. I love my 2028. Three media baskets and super super easy to put together. Included double tap makes it super easy to take apart for cleaning, and prime button makes it super easy to prime as well.

Filstar vs. Eheims, I saw how many people on here are still using Eheims purchased a decade or two ago, made me go Eheim all the way. I'm going to be a fishkeeper a good long time yet, God permitting, so I figure it's an investment in my future.

[125gJoe]

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From what I've heard (never seen an Eheim), Filstar filters hold more media and can be configured or set-up different ways. I like the options on set-up and larger media area. Priming is no prob.. The filstar is extremely quiet. And, what a great price!

When my Fluval 404 'dies', a Filstar will replace it! :) The Rena company (Rena makes Filstars..), makes quality air pumps too.

[RTR]

Most folks already know my strong pro-Eheim prejudice, so I don't need to repeat all that.

The Eheim wet/dry canister is intended for bio-only and would certainly not be adequate as the only filtration on an Oscar tank. Oscars are very messy fish and need easily accessed mechanical filtration along with excellent bio.

If you are saying that another brand holds more media than an Eheim, you would be better to specify models - there are some awfully large Eheims. They are both sizeable and efficient (no bypass).

I do have to say that for life-cycle costs, Eheims are among the cheapest filters on the market.

[SBee]

I've got a filstar xp-3....

it seems to do the job pretty well, although I'm concerned that it's not working top-notch.....the flow seems a little low to me, even after cleaning the tubing etc.

I dont' have any experience with eheim