Eheim vs. Fluval showdown

[hatton3]

I just bought an Eheim 2224 for my 55 planted tank that already has a Fluval 304 as the primary filter. I bought the Eheim to supplement the Fluval, and will be gathering anecdotal observations about the two.

Initial impressions:
The Eheim is better built, with solid construction. The water tubes on the Eheim are a heck of a lot nicer than the ribbed tubes on the Fluval. The Eheim is quieter than the the Fluval. I also like the spray bar from the Eheim better - it are smaller and less intrusive as opposed to the Fluval output port. The Eheim is easier to take apart and put back together and I had no trouble starting the siphon on either filter.

But...
I think that the Fluval allows me more options for putting media in the canister. The Eheim only has two baskets, but the Fluval has 3 so that I can put peat, etc. in the canister. I also like the intake on the Fluval better because it is smoke colored plastic and the strainer is smaller and less obtrusive.

Additional, the Eheim is smaller.

I think that both are fine filters at this point and each has their own strengths. It will be interesting to see how efficient that each one is on filtering fine particulate matter in the water column that occurs during water changes.
More to follow...

[Aderynglas]

Hi Hatton

I have to say my Fluval 204 rocks, it was a very good purchase, it came with all the media I needed to start ( I already had plenty of media but for beginners its a bonus) but what do you mean about it being noisier than the Eheim???? I can't hear anything unless I put my ear to the filter and even then I have to listen hard for the very faint hum. As for taking it apart and putting it back again, anything was easier than my trio3000. :D of course I haven't tried the Eheim but I think I may be totally biased anyway lol

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Aderynglas
.......but what do you mean about it being noisier than the Eheim???? I can't hear anything unless I put my ear to the filter and even then I have to listen hard for the very faint hum..... My Fluval 404 and Filstar XP-3 are very quiet too... :)

[jdheff1982]

I use a filstar XP3 w/ an AC300 on a 37 gallon and it stays absolutely clear all the time!!! If it wasn't for the fact that the filter is in a wooden cabinet, I would not be able to hear it at all. The only con I have with this filter is the priming. Sometimes it will startright up and other times, in can take about 30 minutes for the suction process to start. To me, a minor set back. All in all, this is an A+ filter!!!! (Haven't tried Fluval or Eheim yet)

[Tyler718]

I have the same set-up as 80gJoe on one of my tanks. I did the same comparision with these 2 as you are doing with your Ehiem. They both do a real good job and cost a lot less.:)

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by silver_shark
...... The only con I have with this filter is the priming. Sometimes it will startright up and other times, in can take about 30 minutes for the suction process to start. To me, a minor set back. All in all, this is an A+ filter!!!! (Haven't tried Fluval or Eheim yet) Do you fill the XP-3 to the top of the canister before putting the top on? This has worked for me -- no worries about priming. :)

[hatton3]

I'd be interested in testing a XP3 as well - I know that a lot of people like them here. But...I've spent $200 on the two canisters in the past 45 days so I'm probably not going to buy another:D I will agree with you - the Fluval is very quiet - I can't hear it unless I open the cabinet doors and put my ear near it. But I can put my ear next to the Eheim and hear nothing.

I am pleased with the Fluval and am actually glad that I have two different brands. I like a little variety:D I just wish that the hoses were not ribbed on the Fluval and that the intake strainer on the Eheim was not so big.

For those that are interested in buying Eheim but don't want the increased cost of buying media, I got my Eheim Professional 2224 from petsolutions.com and it included media. It was cost saving as I don't have any extra media lying around.

I must say that with both of them running, my water is clearer than it has ever been before - it is amazing what extra filtration will do.

Anybody have any experience in comparing Eheim's peat and Fluval's peat or peat granules. Which one did you like better?
Cheers!
John

[GulfCstAquarian]

My Fluval 403 hums pretty loudly. It is the biggest filter they make, and it's not deafening, but the tank is in our bedroom and my wife isn't fond of the audible hum and vibration it makes.

But the part that really annoys me about the filter is starting a siphon. The siphon-ball starter they include is worthless. I've gotten it to work maybe twice. So its either a mouthful of water to start a siphon or fill the container partway and hold it sideways for 20 minutes while the impeller slowly churns and gets all the air out (very tiring).

Next I want to try a Filstar.

[Elmo]

Originally posted by GulfCstAquarian
My Fluval 403 hums pretty loudly. It is the biggest filter they make, and it's not deafening,

They make a 404 as well.


Originally posted by GulfCstAquarian
But the part that really annoys me about the filter is starting a siphon

If you do what Joe suggested and fill the canister before putting the top on, you don't have to prime it. Just open the valve and plug it in. :)

[Mr. Pez]

I must agree with GulfCstAquarian. The Fluval 403 is a poorly designed canister filter. Not only does it hum, buzz, gurgle, and often snort, but try to refasten the @#/?! O-ring back onto the motor head. I myself have become an Eheim man and just love the Classic series (I am sure that the Professionals are just as good/if not better).

I have several friends who work in petshops actually recommend against buying the newer fluvals (they receive roughly 10-15 a week to service) while they service around 5 Eheims in the same time period (Forgot to mention that these filters serviced were 1st generation Eheim canisters). Even Eheim filters from 10-15 years ago are still going strong. Can't say the same for Fluvals.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by GulfCstAquarian
...fill the container partway and hold it sideways for 20 minutes No, no, no.... Please make it easy on yourself.. Fill it to the top. Then put the lid in place. Use the prime 'pump' after it is running. You WILL need to shake the Fluval from side to side - not violently - but just enough to get the air that's inside the canister to the top and out into the tank. It's easy, it's just air that is also causing the noise. It needs some mild shaking.... Let it sit for a few minutes, shake again. (no this is not part of a Shake-N-Bake recipe, just tips Fluval decided not to tell us..) :)

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Mr. Pez
I must agree with GulfCstAquarian. The Fluval 403 is a poorly designed canister filter. Whew.... Glad I didn't get a Fluval x03 series, but the 404 is a good canister filter. I Do Not like the corrugated hoses! :mad:

[hatton3]

As time goes on, I'm becoming more of an Eheim fan... I hardly notice the Eheim hoses, but man those Fluval hoses really stick out...:(

[chopperdoc]

I guess eveybody has there own trials and tribulations with filters. Personally, I have nine fluvals. 7 of them are 404's. Not one problem with them other than a broken latch when i first put one of them together. I just cant see spending 250.00 for an eheim pro that filters the same gallonage as a fluval that i can get for 100.00, minor problems notwithstanding. To each they're own as long as the water is clear and the fish are happy and healthy. That's the whole point of the filters anyway. The bonus comes when you're happy with the price you paid and the results you get IMHO.

[BluEyes]

Just chiming in...

I've got a Fluval 104 running on my 20L. The filter is what I would call silent. Put your finger on it, and there's barely a vibration.
My one complaint (and what makes me want to investigate other brands sometimes) is their water shut-off system on the hoses!
They have a spring-loaded stopper valve that is supposed to close when you take the hoses off. Well, let's just say my trumpet snails have other plans! Their shells jam up in there, and I have to fuss with it to get the water to stop when I do a water change.
I must say, aside from that, it is a wonderful filter. I could probably rip out their water stop system, and put in ball valves, and I'd still be $$$ ahead against an Eheim (nothing against them)

[Alastair]

With regards to the comparison between the Fluval *03 series and the *04 series, the *04 is not simply an alternate choice to the *03, it's the replacement for it. Because of the design flaws so many of you have pointed out, the *03 has been discontinued. Any that you might still see on LFS shelves are just leftovers from warehouses. As I understand it, the *04 was specifically designed to compete with the Ehiem Pro's. (and the comparison between the Ehiem Pro's and the older Fluval *03's isn't really a fair one. If you go back and look at the Ehiems from the era when the *03's were designed, you'll find that they too have many of the same faults; in fact, they're almost identical)

[Faramir]

The aquastop clogging feature has been fixed on the newer Fluvals. They don't use the spring loaded gubbins - (yep, mine does the same - clogs and leaks), but instead have a lever that you lift up to stop the flow. It's designed so that you can only have the lever in the open position when the aquastop is connected to the filter head - you have to close the aquastop water valve lever to lift the aquastop release lever.

[BluEyes]

cool. Now, if I order one mailorder, do they still have the clogging ones on stock, or am I sure to get an improved one?

[RTR]

My biggest comment on the idea of a "showdown" between Eheim and Fluval is that you are going to have to run it for decades. Eheims last indefinitely. I have Eheim canisters in daily operation that are older than the company producing Fluvals.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by hatton3
I just bought an Eheim 2224 for my 55 planted tank that already has a Fluval 304 as the primary filter. .... It will be interesting to see how efficient that each one is on filtering fine particulate matter ...
Yes, it would be...

I compared the Fluval and Filstar, and I found the Filstar to filter better..

[GulfCstAquarian]

Originally posted by Elmo
They make a 404 as well.

Yes, but the 404 is just a newer model, it is the same size as the 403.


Originally posted by Elmo
If you do what Joe suggested and fill the canister before putting the top on, you don't have to prime it. Just open the valve and plug it in. :)

Even if I fill the canister to the brim, there is still air trapped in the impeller area since it resides above the canister chamber. When I reopen the valves between the lines and filter, a siphon starts, and I think I can start the filter. Not so, it makes a dreadful crackling noise (airlock in the impeller) and doesn't pump. So I remove the canopy, unplug my spray bar, stick that big bulb thing on the end and start sucking air out. Oh wait, it's full of water since I used those convenient valves to "maintain" a siphon. Ok, so I need to get the water out of the outlet tube, first, I blow into the tube, clearing the outlet tube and connecting the air pocket in the impeller to the atmosphere. Good, now I'm ready to start a siphon with the clever little bulb thingie. I squeeze and release, squeeze and release, I hear air being sucked out of the canister but it's a slow process. Finally I see water being pushed out of the bulb, the lines are full of water and I can start the filter. I somehow hold the bulb tightly against the outlet and reach over to plug the filter back in with my wet hands. Still a clicking noise. I didn't get all the air out. That little bulb couldn't possibly make more than a few inches of sealed suction. I throw it maliciously across the room and try something else.
I tilt the canister to the side, allowing the air to fill the impeller chamber and pushing the air to the side of the canister. Hold large canister full of water with one hand and plug in with other hand. Ahhh, success, I hear it start to pump and a mass of rushing water comes out of the outlet tube. I slowly move the canister upright and that pocket of air on the side rushes into the impeller. A loud crashing noise as the air churns through the impeller. No problem, I'm holding the canister delicately on it's side, slowly feeding the air through the impeller a little at a time, carefully preventing airlock. My arms are tired from holding this 10-20 lb weight on its side but this is worth it, I tell myself. A clean filter is a good filter. My attention strays and I allow too much air into the impeller. Airlock again. Back on its side, get the impeller moving, slowly upright - feeding the air through the impeller until it is finally running. I'm a Mechanical Engineer, and I couldn't imagine designign a product that is this frustrating to use.

My next filter will never be a Fluval.

[Tourmodified28]

How often do U all clean your Canister Filters?I will be buying a Eheim 2036.Does anyone know anything about the2116 with Thermofilter?Is it worth the extra $$$$?

[BluEyes]

Originally posted by GulfCstAquarian
Even if I fill the canister to the brim, there is still air trapped in the impeller area since it resides above the canister chamber. When I reopen the valves between the lines and filter, a siphon starts, and I think I can start the filter. Not so, it makes a dreadful crackling noise (airlock in the impeller) and doesn't pump....

.... Back on its side, get the impeller moving, slowly upright - feeding the air through the impeller until it is finally running. I'm a Mechanical Engineer, and I couldn't imagine designign a product that is this frustrating to use.

My next filter will never be a Fluval.

Wow! That sux. I assume you're talking about a 403?

The X04 design seems MUCH improved them.
I fill my 104 to the brim, cap it, reattach the hoses, then give it a few pumps with the integral siphon-starter priming valve. I get some air out, then plug it in and pump some more. It makes some crashing noises, but just like my AquaClear HOB starting, and I keep pumping the priming valve.
After it has gotten flowing again I tip the cannister all around, rock it back and forth, shake it, etc to get all the trapped air out (I have a tray of those ceramic noodles - they really trap the air good!). More crashing noises whenever I turn it back upright, but that's to be expected.
All in all, it only takes 2-3 minutes to get the filter back running again.

[GulfCstAquarian]

Yeah, this is the 403. The new -04 series definitely look nicer. I had a 203 also and it was just as much of a pain as the 403 but at least it wasn't as heavy and easier to shake around, trying to get the air out.
Aside from the integrated siphon primer, the -04 series has a better air purge system. The -03 has this little white tube that get's clogged with debris so easily, it is worthless.

If someone does go for a Fluval, make sure it is the new series!

[BluEyes]

One thing I've always wondered is: Why don't they put the motor at the bottom! No problems with priming then. Just top it off, cap it, and plug 'er in. Any remaining air bubbles would simply dissolve into the water flow over time, and shouldn't cause any troubles...

[GulfCstAquarian]

Exactly blu, like on a Magnum 350. And that way you can inject CO2 into the inlet and the filter can dissolve the CO2 for planted tanks.