Rate these filters

[The Introvert]

Eheim ECCO 2235
Fluval 304

Thanks

[carpguy]

1
2





Just kidding (sort of)…

Eheim has the old reputation of being the best there is. Fluval has a pretty solid reputation of their own. Just from what I've gleaned hanging around these boards, I tend to think of them as 1 and 2.

I have gotten the impression from some that the Ecco line was a shot at producing a more economical filter that the middle market would go for and that a bit of the quality had to be sacrificed in order to make that happen. I'd guess that they're probably pretty similar filters and that costs and needs (media, etc) should probably dictate your call.

I'm surprised the great and never-ending filter war hasn't broken out yet.

Personally I recently switched my planted 30 from a an AC300 to an Eheim 2213. Very happy. (It probably has nothing to do with the filter :D )

[125gJoe]

Surprising not to see the Rena Filstar canisters mentioned!

Rena Filstar xP's (http://www.rena.net/cgi-bin/trans.pl/en/products/rena_range/rena_filstar_xp.shtml)

[mogurnda]

CarpGuy and 80gjoe,
How often do you change media in your canisters on your planted tanks? I have been using HOTs forever, but thought about getting an eheim (or filstar) now that I married money. The idea of opening them up to clean out plant debris has been reducing my enthusiasm, though.

[125gJoe]

mogurnda, we change filter media in 2 weeks (or less), with 2 canisiters on one tank we alternate between them. We leave the 'bio-balls' alone and just rinse the sponge and replace the floss..

[carpguy]

The great switchover was very recent, maybe two weeks ago, so I can't really report on maintenance. It was part of my switch to pressurized (inline reactor and minimal surface disruption).

The Eheim seems fairly simple to take apart for cleaning, comes with quick connects, and is an awful lot easier to access than the AC its replacing (under the canopy, behind the tank, too close to the wall, PITA). I rigged a spray bar at each end, one in and the other out and both deep, in part to minimize the plant debris. Seems to work well in general (why do it right the first time when you can tinker with it endlessly?)

I have just the 2 weeks experience with just the one canister so all I can really offer is my own impression of the Great Debate -- Eheim, then Fluval, then Rena, then the rest. The top 3 seem to all have dedicated fan bases (someone who'll chime in with a "hey, I'm surprised no one's mentioned _______"). I didn't think the Eheim was so out of line price wise and bought it largely based on its very solid reputation.