View Full Version : Canister filters?
I have never had a canister filter, nor do I really know much about them. I was thinking about going that route though for a new tank I wanna setup. Since I've never used one though I do have a few questions, that may be me just be paranoid. lol
But since the canister is on the floor or under the tank in a stand, ect. is there any concern of it leaking, water over flowing, or going back out into it, ect? I just don't want aquarium water on my carpet at any point. Do they spill when you open them?
Also can someone reccomend a good one for 10, 15, or 20 gallons?
thanks
stezatois
12-14-2008, 1:30 PM
i have an aqua one aquis 500 on my 15gal, I have only had canister filter for a few months now and ive had no problems with leaks. It does reckomend placing a towel unter the unit when u open it and i always place the pipes onto the towel to prevent drips. The off valve prevents water pouring everywhere. And the manufacturers extensively test products to ensure they will not be a danger with water back flow etc.
I much prefer my canister to internal filters, partly because it saves space in the tank and partly as i personally feel that its cleaner as the crud picked up by the filter isnt sitting in the tank water.
Veloth
12-14-2008, 1:37 PM
You pretty much can't go wrong with any of the major brands. I use Rena XP series. IMO there is always a possibility of water on the floor.
I have never had a canister filter, nor do I really know much about them. I was thinking about going that route though for a new tank I wanna setup. Since I've never used one though I do have a few questions, that may be me just be paranoid. lol
But since the canister is on the floor or under the tank in a stand, ect. is there any concern of it leaking, water over flowing, or going back out into it, ect? I just don't want aquarium water on my carpet at any point. Do they spill when you open them?
Also can someone reccomend a good one for 10, 15, or 20 gallons?
thanks
I have a Rena SP2 on my 46 g. It does not leak and is so quiet that in order to check flow I have to put my hand in front of the spraybar.
When you do maintenance on an XP, you lift a lever which unplugs the hoses and also shuts off water flow from the tank. You can then pick up(pull ouat from undaer) and carry teh unit to a sink to wash/replace the media.
I would suggest an XP1 for up to 20 gallons.
Charles
[quote=CBWMN;1743664]I have a Rena SP2 on my 46 g. It does not leak Sorry, I meant XP2.
Rbishop
12-14-2008, 1:39 PM
Canister filters are my preferred choice. Never had an issue with leakage from them. Most canisters available in the states are for 30 gal and up tanks thought the HOT Mag can be good for smaller tanks provided the flow isn't an issue for your fish.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to look at some online for specs and pricing. I'll probably post back on here for some more opinions later on.
jpappy789
12-14-2008, 3:53 PM
The magnums are probably best for smaller tanks, although I wouldn't mind putting a Rena XP1 on a smaller tank provided the spray bar fit :D
I've been doing some looking around on the net. I don't think I'll be going the canister filter route. They're a little too expensive for my budget at the moment.
excuzzzeme
12-14-2008, 4:22 PM
what I like about my HOT Magnums is I can carry them over to the sink and do a thorough cleaning without worrying about a mess.
RodInCALIFORNIA
12-14-2008, 5:38 PM
i buy all my filters on ebay and i have saved so much money i cant imagine ever going and paying retail ever again. i have never had a problem with any i bought but of course check feedback ratings and do some price checking so you know what a good deal is on a certain brand/model of filter you want and then search for it on ebay.
Thanks. I don't know why I didn't check ebay earlier.
Cory Keeper
12-14-2008, 9:23 PM
www.kensfish.com
Either a Rena XP1, XP2, Marineland C160 or C260 or an Ehiem 2213 or 2215 filter would be good choices.
www.kensfish.com
Either a Rena XP1, XP2, Marineland C160 or C260 or an Ehiem 2213 or 2215 filter would be good choices.
Hey thanks for that link. Those are better prices than what I was finding. I'll have to look at some reviews and see what they say on each one.
thanks again
BradH
12-14-2008, 10:41 PM
The more reviews I read on the different filters, the less I want one. I keep reading about leaks, replacing o rings and priming problems. hmmm confused. lol
I think maybe I should just quit reading. I don't know which one to get really. One person says their great (referring to any of the top brands) then the next person says they have nothing but problems. I was also looking at the Marineland Eclipse hood filter. Same thing . One person says they're the best filter they've had and the next person says they suck. I really don't want a HOB filter because it leaves openings in the top of the tank. I'm trying to make sure no crab or snail can escape.
jpappy789
12-15-2008, 9:02 PM
I've had no problems with my Rena except the initial priming was a hassle for some reason...I hear less negative comments about cannisters in general compared to other filter types.
maxthedog123
12-19-2008, 3:20 PM
Always temper what you read on the internet. People are much more likely to provide negative feedback I would say.
I personally use fluval 3 and 4 series and love them. You will see a lot of "they suck" and "they don't prime" posts on the internet. I've never had an issue. Craigslist may be a good place to check. Also, I get mine from a locally owned pet shop. The owner always has a lot of used equipment and sells filters at a great price.
As for water on the floor - there is another recent thread that mentions getting 5g of water on the floor. I did the same thing - didn't get the top back on the filter correctly and ended up losing about 5g of water. That was an ID-10-T error, however.
justahannah
12-19-2008, 3:58 PM
If the only reason you don't want an HOB is because of the gaps, it's really easy to fix. I like the black plastic mesh from craft stores (it's like 39 cents a sheet), sturdy enough to hold up where ever you put it, and being a mesh it doesn't make your tank airtight allowing for plenty of gas exchange.
I'm still undecided. The more I think about it, the less I want a canister. I might have to try to the mesh idea.
maxthedog123
12-21-2008, 12:38 PM
Canisters are much better filtration. One other benefit - much, much less evaporation than HOB.
Cory Keeper
12-21-2008, 3:48 PM
I dunno why you wouldn't want one, I prefer canisters over HOB any day.
I dunno why you wouldn't want one, I prefer canisters over HOB any day.
I'll probably give one a try. Just not sure what brand. After doing alot of reading I think I might try the one of the eheim classics.