Tell me about cannister filters

[Bryterlater]

I really think I should put a cannister filter on my goldie 75g...but I'm overwhelmed. i don't know anything about them. They look complicated. I wouldn't know what brand to buy or how to set it up. I mean, I'm sure there's dirrections and all, they just seem a little intimidating.

What can you tell me...pros and cons etc.

[OldMan47]

A canister has the main advantage of having lots of room inside for media of your choice. Whenever you decide that you need more or less of a particular function than you have, just open the filter and change what's inside and you basically have a different filter. It will move about the same water as before but now it is doing a different job. Another advantage to a canister is quiet. When I decided to get back into the hobby, my wife's first reaction was that she did not want the constant water noise of a filter. The canister is set up to return the water a few inches below the water surface. It still stirs the surface but there is no splashing sound like so many HOBs have.
To me those are the big differences. The canister is almost as easy to clean as a HOB and does not need cleaning quite as often so that part ends up being about the same. In the case of a HOB, after you clean it you need to fill it before you start it back up. In the case of a canister you need to wait for it to fill itself before you start it back up.
The initial set up is just measure and cut hoses the right length to go from the tank to the filter. Otherwise its a lot like setting up a HOB. You decide where you want the filter, where the water will leave the tank and where it will return, how you want to trim the top to fit the filter or filter hoses, etc.
When it comes to cost, I like the Rena XP series and would expect that a 75 for a goldie would use the XP3. I have also used the Marineland C series and found them nice to use. I have never used a Fluval or an Eheim so I have no opinions about them. They are likely just as nice as the ones I have used. There are lots of less well known brands around but I am not that adventurous, I have stayed with the better known brands for ease of finding parts, filter media and similar issues.

[Bryterlater]

costwise, any opinions on the best value. I can't believe how much the fluval 405 retails for, but it seems you can get them at half that at ebay.

oldma47...I'm pricing those rena's at the moment!

[TwoTankAmin]

There are a number of folks who will agree with me that there are 3 good brands of canister filter to use. Eheim is one, Eheim is another and then there is Eheim. They are not for the budget constrained.

On my 75, which has a very heavy stocking level, I run an Aquaclear 300 gph, a HOT Magnum (w/ Micron cart) and an Eheim Pro II 2026. The filter has been running great the past 5 years. My other 2026 has pressurized co2 pushed through it and has been running longer.

[tankboy_taylor]

While the newer Eheims can be pretty pricey you could pick a eheim 2217 classic for around $120 its a little less user friendly than the newer models but a great filter.

If money isnt an issue Id go for a Eheim Pro 2 2128 with intergrated heater

The Rena xp3 is another one I use that you might consider its a snap to use but the price has gone up recently and it comes with no bio-media

[Bryterlater]

I'm looking for the cheapest filter that will do the job adequtely. Money IS an issue.

I could go the 2nd HOB route to add some extra filtration. My parameters are good. My nitrates stay at about 10-20 ppm, but i do 60-70% water changes every week. Technically i don't need to get another filter but I feel my HOB aquaclear just doesn't move as much water as it should.

Then again there's the whole "if it ain't broke" thing to think about as well.

[SchizotypalVamp]

With goldfish, I would say your suspicion is probably right! You may also consider going the sump route.

[Bryterlater]

i know nothing about sumps. Is it difficult to maintain?

[ibr3ak]

The hardest part about the sump is figuring out the flow rate and what pump you'll need if you're diy'ing your own overflow, maintaining it will be easier than both canister and hob, because it's more accessible.

If you're still looking for a canister, get on ebay, I recently picked up a fluval 404 for around $30.

[jbowzer7]

I am sure the other brands of canister filters are good filters also, but I currently use two fluval 404's on a 125g, one 404 on a 75g, one 403 on a 55g and they have been working great for me. The only thing that the fluval filters have is a ribbed lines, that I usually flush out once every year and a half to clean some of the waste that tend to collect in the lines after a while. The 405 is just a newer version, which the only thing that notice clamping of the hoses on the aquarium edge, which is a little easier on the 405's.

[Bryterlater]

Any good articles on how to set up a sump. i have ample space under my tank. i have an extra empty 10 gal lying round, what else would be needed. What goes IN the sump area besides the water.

I think I may be more confused than when I started this thread :)

[ibr3ak]

Just do a search here or google for "diy sump" (freshwater).

Here's just one:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_overflow.php

P.S. 10 gal tank is a little too small for a 75 gal tank, especially one with goldfish.

[Bryterlater]

ok. I am totally nixing the sump. Beyond my technical skills...oh well. Back to the canisters.

[tankboy_taylor]

Id just use your current hob and go with a eheim 2217 then if you keep an eye out on ebay you can snag one for cheap picked mine up slightly used for 53 bucks

[Bryterlater]

tankboy--I just bid on a slightly used fluval. i think the ebay route is the way to go.

[THE V]

I run two Marineland Magnum 350's on my 125G goldfish tank. I bought the deluxe model with the quick connect valves for easy maintenance. They are probably the lowest priced of all the larger GPH models. I also have a very limited budget to spend on the fishtank. I run one with carbon and the other with the carbon basket stuffed full of sponge. I really like how clear and clean they keep my tank.

I got mine from Big Al's as they had the best price I could find, even on e-bay.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl3684/cp17290/si1382183/cl1/marineland_magnum_350_filter?&path=c3684-def-USD-16695%23%23-1%23%23-1%7E%7Ec3684-def-USD-17289%23%231%23%234%7E%7Enc3684-def-USD-17290%23%230%23%2310&offset=

[smyke]

I purchased the Jebo 828 / Odyssea 4 canister filter on ebay for under $70 shipped. Money was an issue for me as well so i decided to give this a shot. it was very easy to install and is very quiet. I cannot hear it unless I open the cabinet.

It has only been few weeks and I can't vouch for the reliability of this thing just yet, but so far so good.
Just google Jebo 828 and you will read some good reviews on other forums.

hope this helps.

[Bryterlater]

I purchased the Jebo 828 / Odyssea 4 canister filter on ebay for under $70 shipped. Money was an issue for me as well so i decided to give this a shot. it was very easy to install and is very quiet. I cannot hear it unless I open the cabinet.

It has only been few weeks and I can't vouch for the reliability of this thing just yet, but so far so good.
Just google Jebo 828 and you will read some good reviews on other forums.

hope this helps.

It does because those seem to be some of the most inexpensive but I was concerned about reliability

[smyke]

It does because those seem to be some of the most inexpensive but I was concerned about reliability

I hear ya, and I am hoping for the best with mine too, but so far so good.

[koorinosekaisai]

Bryterlater, check out the Hydor Prime 30 Canister Filter out. It's $99.99 at most stores. But, thats just one option.

[Heady]

Over the years, I've gone from under-gravel filtration, to over-the-back filters, to canister filters. The canisters are definitely more of a PITA to clean than the over-the-back filters. I have sponges over my filter intakes to keep stuff out, but there's still always some sludge in the canister after a month. I do like that I can just put whatever media in there that I want, without having to look for a specific size of filter replacement cartridge or whatever. It helps get control of the situation when someone "helps" you by overfeeding your fish and giving you phosphate (algae) issues!!

I have an Eheim 2028 and two Eheim 2213 's. Overall they have been very reliable. However I've had a problem with the 2213: When I took apart the magnetic fin part, I broke an axle, totally my fault because I put too much pressure on it. But when I went to order a replacement, the one they sent didn't work right. It was made of some other material, and wasn't exactly the right size. I tried ordering another one and had the same problem. Eventually I was able to get it to work, but it took a lot of fiddling.

The only problem I ever had with the 2028 is when I cleaned out the filter and I wasn't being extremely careful about reattaching the quick disconnect flow thing properly. I only got it in halfway or something when water suddenly started gushing out of there all over me and the floor and everything. I called out for help and between the 2 of us we were able to fix it in about 30 seconds or so, but by that time there was about 2-3 gallons worth of water on the floor. Now I'm extra careful about making sure the valve is 100% secure!

[wataugachicken]

next time you're looking for filters, check out amazon.com. it's possible to find really good deals.

[davcheng]

I've had a jebo on a 55 for about 4-5 months now i think, and its worked perfectly.

[koorinosekaisai]

Another good thing they haven't mentioned about canister filters is that they provide much more biological filtration. If you go to this website it'll help you see the difference between all sorts of filters. http://www.aquariumconnection.com/freshsol/fwsoln7.html (http://www.aquariumconnection.com/freshsol/fwsoln7.html).
Canister filters aren't hard or complicated.

[Gretchen]

I know this thread is about a week old, but I can relate to your concerns about the canister filter.

I finally made the plunge and got a Rena XP3 to go with my 2 AC 110 on my 125 gallon. It has been set up for 2 weeks and was so much easier than I ever thought. I bought mine from Ken's fish and it was much cheaper than other websites. I am thinking about buying another one.