Which canister brand to buy?

[beache]

I have a 10 gallon tank that's been running for years now. I'm finally upgrading to a 37 gallon tank for the health of my fish and to reduce maintenance a bit. This is the largest tank I can fit into the space of the old tank, but the only way it will fit is if I don't use a hanging filter off the back.
So I need a canister filter recommendation. Will a canister be "too much" for the 37 gal tank? What brand will be best? I looked at the Magnum and the Fluval at my local dealer. Advice please on make & model!

[anonapersona]

Be sure to also consider the Eheim classic series. So quiet! Ought to last a long long time.

I have a very old 2213 that I really like, now that the new ones have an incorporated o-ring and baskets, I think they are even better.

I also have Eccos and a Pro and a Pro2 thermofilter and a Fluval 303. The new Classic seems to combine the setup of the 303 that I like, the baskets, with the durability of the Eheim. Eccos are great if you have trouble priming, but the handle thing is "fiddly", as the British say. The Pro and Pro2 hvae more features at a higher price, so IMO, the best value is the Classic.

[JSchmidt]

I think a 2213 is a perfect filter for a tank of that size. The Classics don't have all the bells-n-whistles that the new tanks have, but they are rock solid dependable and an excellent value.

Jim

[DarthV]

I just picked up a 2213 for a new 40gal breeder and found it very easy to work with... very quiet and comes with a spraybar and double tap valves. Too bad the new 40gal had a bad seal..back to the LFS it went...so I ordered a 66gal to replace it ;) Which means I'll probably have to get a large eheim canister down the road.

[Aquaskilz]

Ehiems are great filters but can cost a pretty penny. A fluval 304 is a good choice for you tank if you cant afford the Ehiem. If you can, go for it!

[DarthV]

An eheim 2213 is going to cost the same as a fluval 304 with online stores...

[Aquaskilz]

I dont know where you do your on lline shopping please provide us with your source. But at Fosters and Smith, the Ehiem 2227 (2213 is cancelled) cost $169.99 (without media and only 145 gph) . Fluval 304- $85.99 w/media and a 260gpa! Gotta do the math. and these prices are pretty much across the board.

[DarthV]

Originally posted by Aquaskilz
I dont know where you do your on lline shopping please provide us with your source. But at Fosters and Smith, the Ehiem 2227 (2213 is cancelled) cost $169.99 (without media and only 145 gph) . Fluval 304- $85.99 w/media and a 260gpa! Gotta do the math. and these prices are pretty much across the board.

I just checked drfoster's online and they have the 2213 for $75.99... bigalsonline.com has it for $69.99. So it is cheaper and will probably do just as good of a job as a fluval 304...or better. You can't compare the Eheim 2227 Wet/Dry system to any canister or HOB filter.

Another thing to remember is that flowrate really doesn't matter as much with canisters as it does for HOB filters. The amount of contact time with the media and media volume is what counts. The Eheim 2213 will filter every drop of water that gets sucked into the canister... none will bypass the media...making it extremely efficient.

I have both a fluval 304 and an eheim 2213...the 2213 is much more quiet and I love the double tap connectors. And since it is as cheap or cheaper than a fluval 304, I'd spend the money again on another Eheim without batting an eye.

[Slappy*McFish]

I'm a big fan of Eheim, as well, but if I were filter shopping for a 37g tank, I would get the Rena Filstar XP2...it's rated at 300gph, so it can be used on tanks up to a 75g maximum size. IMO, perfect for a tank your size and it can be had for $69.99 at BigAl's online.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/category.xml?category_id=1711;pcid1=1699;pcid2=

[beache]

You are all helping me so much!

[JSchmidt]

Slappy, you could get Eheim for $76 and a Filstar for $70, and you'd the the Filstar? Six more bucks for an Eheim and you'd get the Filstar?

:eeek:

Jim

[Slappy*McFish]

The Rena filstar is a very good filter..better than the fluval..besides, that is the old style Eheim, not the nifty, new pro series with quick-release/connect valves. Personally, I have an Eheim pro II 2026 on my 55...excellent filter, btw.

[125gJoe]

I like the Rena Filstar line of canister filters.
You get more water flow through the filter compared to the Eheim. The more water you have going through the filter media means "more" filtration... I'm not saying Ehiems are bad filters, but the filtration rate is not there compared to Filstars.. Also, I have yet to see a LFS carry Ehiem. That is a little puzzeling to me...

[DarthV]

Like I said in an earlier post, the Eheim might not have the same flowrate, but they are more efficient... maybe the filstars have less media bypass than the fluvals, but I know the eheims filter every drop that goes through them. For canisters, the amount of time that the water is in contact with the media will drive up the efficiency...n need for huge flowrates. Look at the massive eheim 2260... it only pushes around 300gph, but I bet it would lay a smackdown on pretty much any other canister brand on the market :)

[Aquaskilz]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DarthV


I just checked drfoster's online and they have the 2213 for $75.99... bigalsonline.com has it for $69.99. So it is cheaper and will probably do just as good of a job as a fluval 304...or better. You can't compare the Eheim 2227 [b]Wet/Dry system to any canister or HOB filter.

Thanks for the info, I'll take it into considertation! You really stand behind Ehiems huh?

[Silent xXx Rage]

I like the Magnum Pro or Magnum 350 Pro systems.

They are cheap, come with medium containers and micron filters and biowheels. They even allow the vacum to attach to the filter so no more water changes.

Of course im sure there are pros and cons for saltwater setups. But, for freshwater i have had little problems with this in the 5yrs i have been using the magnum pro on my 55g tank.

The one problem i had was finding a biowheel replacement pad.

[DarthV]

Originally posted by Aquaskilz
[QUOTE]Originally posted by DarthV


I just checked drfoster's online and they have the 2213 for $75.99... bigalsonline.com has it for $69.99. So it is cheaper and will probably do just as good of a job as a fluval 304...or better. You can't compare the Eheim 2227 [b]Wet/Dry system to any canister or HOB filter.

Thanks for the info, I'll take it into considertation! You really stand behind Ehiems huh?

Hrmmm the Eheims have gone up slightly in price... now BAs has the 2213 for $69.99. The Filstars are pretty good as well...I guess they also have zero media bypass. Honestly you probably can't go wrong either brand. The 2213 probably handle more bioload than the filstar xp1...but the xp1 is a little cheaper. The filstar also comes with a media basket design (I think?)...the eheim classics just stack the media on top of each layer...

[JSchmidt]

The last Eheim Classic I bought had baskets, too, I think...

Jim

[DarthV]

My brand new 2213 only has a single basket for all the media... having multiple baskets just makes things easier for maintenance... it's not a big deal for me...

[DIYMatt]

I have owned a couple Eheim "Classics" and own Filstars, Mags, and a Fluval. The only one I would recommend to anyone as their primary filter are the Filstars. The only one I would never buy again are the Fluvals, just no real advantage over another filter to them, IMO. My list of gripes with my Fluval is entire post by itself, but it is still running. If somebody wants me to, I will post the gripes on Thursday, I will be doing maintenace Wednesday night:( I use the Mags as "clean-up filters" after a remodel or something, or as a secondary mechanical only filter. But, by themselves, they won't do the job. The Eheim classic I had did not have media baskets which is enough for me to never want one again. Imagine having to dump it out to clean it, not fun. On top of that they do not come with disconnects or shutoffs, so you have to entirely drain the system everytime you clean it. Also, that weird tubing out the side thing always got in the way. Its just an old design, that has been surpassed, I guess. IMO- A lot of what made the Eheims nice is the media. Luckily you can use the Ehiem media in Filstars. Not so in Fluvals you are almost stuck with their strange layout and media options.

Although I have never owned one, The Eheim Pro II series seems almost perfect (excpet for price) and everyone who I know who has one loves it. But, you can almost get two Filstars for the price of one Pro II. Also, IME the strange tubing size of Eheims require you buy Eheim accessories, which are also costly.

The Filstars ARE zero by pass filters. They come with large media baskets that allow you choose your prefered media configuration. The media baskets lift out with all the media in them. You can even use Eheim media, I do. They also come with a one motion shot-off disconnect that always works great for me. Build quality seems excellent, and they are just as silent as Eheims IMO. Standard tubing size so you can use generic accessories, I do. Lots of input/output options come standard, where as you would have to buy an expensive Eheim accessory to get a spraybar for an Eheim. But, this is also my ONLY complaint with the Filstars, also. The input/output options are just press fit together in many peices. this worries me a little so I siliconed the first two peices that go over the side of the tank together to guard against possible fountain action. Also, the flow regulator is a nice option, but I do not use because it is another possible place to leak, and we know how I fear that. I have never actually heard of these leaking, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Also, my XP1 is almost 3 years old now and the input/outputs have started to fade, but not really that bad.

The added features/quality/design/price make the Filstar my choice, hands down. Take price out of the equation and I would have to go with the Eheim Pro II based on the same reasons I like the Filstars and mostly Eheims nearly inpeccable reputation, which is rare thing in this hobby.

But, back to the original post. On your tank, I would go with a Rena Filstar XP2. The XP3 is very nice, but you would have to use the flow regulator on it because the flow rate would be too high, IMO. I think you will be very happy with it long term.

[RTR]

I don't use anything else but Eheim canisters. Even more, I would no longer consider anything but Eheim canisters. When you operate a lot of tanks and have been doing so for decades and intend to contiue indefinitely, reliability and efficiency both matter a lot. To me personally, silent operation also matters a lot, but it not so important to many folks.

[DarthV]

Originally posted by DIYMatt
I have owned a couple Eheim "Classics" and own Filstars, Mags, and a Fluval. The only one I would recommend to anyone as their primary filter are the Filstars. The only one I would never buy again are the Fluvals, just no real advantage over another filter to them, IMO. My list of gripes with my Fluval is entire post by itself, but it is still running. If somebody wants me to, I will post the gripes on Thursday, I will be doing maintenace Wednesday night:( I use the Mags as "clean-up filters" after a remodel or something, or as a secondary mechanical only filter. But, by themselves, they won't do the job. The Eheim classic I had did not have media baskets which is enough for me to never want one again. Imagine having to dump it out to clean it, not fun. On top of that they do not come with disconnects or shutoffs, so you have to entirely drain the system everytime you clean it. Also, that weird tubing out the side thing always got in the way. Its just an old design, that has been surpassed, I guess. IMO- A lot of what made the Eheims nice is the media. Luckily you can use the Ehiem media in Filstars. Not so in Fluvals you are almost stuck with their strange layout and media options.


The newer Eheim classic canisters do use a single media basket, so yo don't have to just dump out the entire canister, but it's not as handy as having 2 or 3 seperate baskets...and now they all come with the double tap connectors as well...which makes maintenance a lot easier. A spraybar is included in the kit as well.

When it comes time to buy another canister, I definitely intend on giving the Filstar XP line a good looking into...they sound like very good filters... I just wish they had a better look to them. If I have extra money laying around, I'd probably spring for an Eheim Pro II :)

[Radek Z]

It seems to me that (at least here in Europe) the larger Eheim calssics do not come with the basket. I have 2213 which has the basket in, spray bar included but no shut off valve, the 2217 does not have the basket not the valve, spray bar is there.

I am not an expert but I like the no basket design. There is no discussion of bypass and if you would like to avoid the dumping you could just put the media in a sock. I have done it in the begining but now I just put the media in layers separated by the blue foam pad. For cleaning I have two little buckets with change water dump the media in, clean the pads and put the rinsed media back in. I like the simplicity of that design.

The shut off valves are must I think - I got mine as extra and they work great.

I had Fluval 104 for a little tank and I really did not like it - as well it started to leak after couple of months.

Anyway, my $ .02 ...

[Grassguy]

I've got a Fluvall 303 on my tank, but it is the only cannister I have ever used, so can't help much there (no comparison), but I am very pleased with it. I must say though, that I prefer it to the old HOB's I had.

[Uncle Bete]

I've always used AquaClear and Marineland Magnums, but I did help someone clean a Fluva 1 time and it seemed like a pain compared to my 350 mag. But that was around 10 yrs ago so they could be alot diff. now?

If the 2 bio-wheels would fit on the tank, a 350 mag. would work nice. I just checked and Petwarehouse has one on sale for $99.99.

With this set-up at cleaning time you could:
Remove the carbon/foamsleeve.
Add water back to the canister w/ the micron filter in it.
Clean the substrate as long as you want.
Replace carbon/sleeve.
Change water. Done

And with the micron filter:
Rinse it off when done.
Let it soak in water/bleach solution over nite (I use a half gal. pitcher)
Rinse off and it will be ready for the next time you clean.

[DIYMatt]

THe mags with bio wheels are OK filters. But, IME they require much more frequent maintenance due to the relatively small media container with such a large flowrate. Especially if you use the micron cartridge. I do not do maintenance on any of my prefiltered canisters more than once a month. My mags are signficantly louder than any of my other canisters. Also, IME the mags are very peicey and they are the only filters I have ever had to buy replacemant parts for. I don't use them full time and I have to replace those foam seals about once a year. I do not and would not use bio-wheels because my alrger tanks are planted and the bio-wheels gas off the CO2 I am adding to promote plant growth. As far as amount of time to clean, nothing beats my Filstars.

All that being said Mags are decent filters that have their place, just not as a primary filter on my tanks. I do use them for circulation, a secondary mechanical only filter, or a clean-up filter. Filter maintenance is just work to me that I try to avoid all I can, and the mags require it too frequently for my tastes.

[steve_bkk]

I like Eheims. I've had a small classic 2011 for about 14 years. Very quiet and very reliable. Friday I just set up a new 2026 Pro II on a 29 Gal goldfish tank. They are expensive (149 USD at Big Al's) and since most LFSs don't stock them you have to order it without ever seeing one in person. Eventually I'm going to get a 55Gal and move this filter to it.

Big Als came with the media and two spray bars and two intake options. I really only need one of each though.

On my old one I bought an Airdiffuser for bubbles.
Steve