Fluval or Eheim

[Andy16]

Anybody use anyof thse cannistar filters? i like how they give you the choice of which media you want to use. I currently have a penguin 170 and a AC mini on my tank. The tank is 20 gal. I know that i have enough filters on it already but i guess the more the better. I jsut wanted to see if any1 had any other recomendations.

[RTR]

If you search the forum you will find many threads, and the discussion is eternal. It boils down to personal prejudice and preference. I don't use anything but Eheim on my tanks, haven't in 30+ years, other than testing other brands periodically. I like their quality and their absolute silence. I am willing to pay more for long life and low lifecycle costs.

But it is a personal preference item.

[I Am Fishy]

I have a Fluval 404 on my 55gal. I haven't been in the hobby long enough to notice a difference between them, but I haven't had a problem with mine. I have a tray with the pre-filter, a tray with peat and 2 trays with the Bio-Max. I also have AC 500. Like I said I don't have all that much experience to notice the differences.

[DeVitaf]

I am very happy with my Marineland Magnum 350 Pro. I am a big fan of the biowheel and this has two larges ones attached to the output. I also find it to be of better construction than the fluval. The fluval hoses are a thin plastic where the magnum uses rubber tubing. It also has the available option of using it water polishing micron filter.

I would prefer the eheim but can't afford it at the moment.

[Andy16]

I was looking at the magnums too. the only one i saw was a HOB and i dont have anymroe room on the back of my tnak unless i make some modifications to the hood. I want an internal filter or a filter that doesnt hang on hte back of the tnak.

[skeletalmachine]

I vote for the Eheim classics. Eheim quality at an affordable price.

[Andy16]

How about for a planted tank? still the eheim?

[skeletalmachine]

An Eheim would be great for a planted tank too. It's still just a canister filter. Maybe you are better to ask "should I use a canister filter in a planted tank?" In which case I would say, yeah, they are great. Even if you are using CO2, you can put the input under the water level to reduce surface agitation, which reduces CO2 loss as well.

[elgecko]

I'll stick up for the Fluval. I've had a Fluval for 3 years now, with no problem. If I had more tanks, I'd buy more.

[Toro Driver]

A vote for fluval. My 304 is now 30 days old. Got it because it was a little cheaper than the Eheim. It is dead quiet and does a great job of defusing my co2. I dumped a Emp 400 for it. Just changed the carbon yesterday. The whole process took thirty minutes.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Andy16
Anybody use anyof thse cannistar filters?........... I jsut wanted to see if any1 had any other recomendations. Get a Rena Filstar xP... You'll be glad you did! (IMO) :)

[Rocketman]

I use Eheims at home and Fluvals at work... I am disgusted with the Fluval, (a 304,) and love the Eheim. Not that you need a canister on a 20 Gallon...

[Andy16]

Im like filters for some reason. Im planning on making a sump soon. SO far the eheim is in the lead. IT might come down to cost though.

[Rocketman]

It seems that if you are going to make so many filters...why not make more...tanks?

Wouldn't your sump end up being bigger than your tank?

And aren't overflows expensive?

[famman]

i have an EHEIM classic 2213 on my planted 20 gallon high. it is fabulous, i would definately purchase an EHEIM for any tank over 20 gallons. I also own an EHEIM ecco 2233 for my 55 gallon, it does fine. i vote EHEIM.

good luck
:)

[RTR]

Rocketman - Yes, filters and overflows are expensive. But many of us want to have optimum filtration on all of our tanks, and there are certain costs involved there. Eheims are IME among the lowest-cost on a life cycle basis of any equipment I use on my tanks. They last indefinitely and have low running costs. Ditto for well-made overflows. Of those I have bought through the decades, only one has ever even needed any repair. Tank support equipment is not a one-size-fits-all situation, different hobbyists see and have different requirements - personal choice situation.

[Rocketman]

But why would you put an overflow on a 20G, which already has a canister and two HOB filters?

[RTR]

I believe the poster specifies that the tank has two HOB (one a mini), period. The overflow mention was in response to a possible future project involving a sump. And I routinely use canisters on 20 gallon tanks for bio-only, plus 1-2 mechanical filters (but I use internal canisters rather than HOBs). Not your style? Not a problem, but it is my style. Again, personal choice item.

I also have no issue with anyone experimenting with various filter types (it is a good learning experience), and even less with using these on established tanks with other filters. Then, if there are problems, existing filtration can continue handling the load. If the new system goes as planned, pre-existing filters can eventually be moved elsewhere as needed or desired.

[Andy16]

thanks for all the replies. I think im going fo the ecco. When i get the sump and the ecco, i will have enough filtration for a bigger tank so all i will need to worry about in the future is the tank, not the filters.

[Pliggy]

I'm new to this board, and just getting back into the aquarium addiction (been about 10 years). This thread is of great interest to me as I am debating the same issue. I am about to set up a 75g cichlid tank (not sure which type yet) and have been doing a bunch of research.

I am deciding between the Magnum 350 pro (with the Bio-Wheel HOB) and the Eheim Ecco filter. Has anyone had any experience with the Ecco? How easy is the maintenance on this filter? It seems that this is the "bottom line" canister filter from Eheim - is it still better than the Magnum, Fluval or FilStar?

Thanks for the advice - this board is great - I've learned a ton since I've been lurking around!

[famman]

Actually the 'bottom line' on eheims canister filters is the classic. I slightly prefer the classic over the ecco (I own both) because of its simplicity of design, silent operation and low cost of maintainance.
good luck
:)

[Rocketman]

When I was setting up my 60 Gallon tank, I looked both at the an ECCO Model and at the Pro II 2026 Model. I think I paid about $50 more to get the Pro II 2026 Model, (which I am very very pleased with,) and the media for it. I don't want to sound like a "know-it-all" but I'd think that for a larger tank, if you have the money to spend you'd want the Pro II 2026 OR 2028, but that's just me...

[MFish]

I don't really like the classic Eheims. It looks like you'd end up making a mess trying to service them because it doenst look like there is media baskets.

I have the Eheim with the heater built in, and it has the media baskets and it shuts off the hoses so you dont loose your prime when you service it. I love it.

I don't like the Magnums, however. There is no room for media really. and the Media basket thing is tiny. The only Magnum I do like, is the HOB, mainly because I use the micron filter for water polishing.

[RTR]

I've never denied that the Pro series are far more user-friendly, especially to newcomers to canister filtration, than the Classic line. Anyone would be a fool to do so - the Classics are very slight upgrades of the oldest operating canisters on the market. However, a number of us have been operating these units for much of that extended period and can change a Classic out in not much more time than the easier Pro lines. Familiarity and decades of practice are great teachers. ;)

Some of us, especially those who no longer use all-in-one filtration (mechanical, chemical, & biological all housed in the same unit), are better served by the absolute simplicity of the older and simpler line.

http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/cannister.shtml

I would not trade my Classics for Pros. But that is personal preference based largely on decades of failure-free operation by the line. If I were staring out with canister filtration today, I would be likely to opt for the more user-friendly Pro line.

[goldfish freak]

Hey RTR, do you have any good tips that you can share on maintenance of the classics? I for one would very much like to have some tips on how to service them more easily. Thanks.