Poll: If you have switched from power filter to canister...
- Thread starter alicialav
- Start date
I switched from 2 Emperor over the tank filters to 2 Magnum 350 canister filters for my 125 gallon freshwater over a year ago. With the old filters I could never keep my PH in the normal range. It was always low even though I was doing a 30% water change every 2 weeks. The improvement with the canister filters was immediate as my PH is always normal now. This was especially critical since I had 2 freshwater stingrays in the tank.
If you are interested don't miss out on the deals at FOSTER & SMITH Aquarium Supplies at drsfostersmith.com. They have the Magnum 350 for half the price of a fish store. I deal with them on a regular basis and have been for over 10 years. Good luck.
If you are interested don't miss out on the deals at FOSTER & SMITH Aquarium Supplies at drsfostersmith.com. They have the Magnum 350 for half the price of a fish store. I deal with them on a regular basis and have been for over 10 years. Good luck.
Made the switch from HOBs to a canister on my 65g when I went planted. I prefer the canister (FilStar XP2), probably partly because it's more suitable for the type of tank I have. I find it's easier to maintain, quieter, has more room for media and keeps the tank cleaner. It also allows me to place the intake/outflow where they're least visible, which is a nice bonus in a display tank. Possibly most importantly, it doesn't flush the CO2 back out of the water, which keeps my plants happy 
I think the key is determining your needs and preferences - there's a filter for everyone. When you find the one that fits, it makes everything easier
I think the key is determining your needs and preferences - there's a filter for everyone. When you find the one that fits, it makes everything easier
I think what Blinky means is that with a HOB it creates surface agitation, which gasses off C02 from the water. With a canister, you get no surface agitation.
Yep, that's exactly what Blinky means 
Canisters are great for planted tanks - you can place the spray bar beneath the water surface and have good circulation in the tank without surface agitation (and loss of CO2).
HOBs can be used with CO2, they're just not ideal. Less CO2 will be flushed out of the water if you make the water surface is as high as possible and place a sponge over the outflow (learned this little trick from Len, great idea) to reduce surface agitation.
Canisters are great for planted tanks - you can place the spray bar beneath the water surface and have good circulation in the tank without surface agitation (and loss of CO2).
HOBs can be used with CO2, they're just not ideal. Less CO2 will be flushed out of the water if you make the water surface is as high as possible and place a sponge over the outflow (learned this little trick from Len, great idea) to reduce surface agitation.
Swimfins
This is as good as it gets.
I'm a newbie with a eheim 2215 canister filter. I set it up New Year's Eve, and haven't cleaned it yet. Regular water changes of course. Ummm when do I clean the thing??? Water is so nice, I don't feel I have to. 