Types of Canister Filter.

[llee24]

I am goin to be getting a 65 gallon tank. I don't know which canister filter is good and esay for my 65 gallon tank. I am planning to do african cichlid tank. Please help...

[liv2padl]

i can highly recommend cannisters by Eheim and Filstar. i despise Fluval cannisters ... cheaply made, leaky, noisy, and lousy customer care.

[llee24]

With the Ehiem Filter do i need to buy a Suction Starter?

[liv2padl]

several of the Eheim cannisters, i believe it's the "pro" series, have a "button" on top which when pressed, will start the siphon without any trouble at all.

[llee24]

In your Opinion would u go for the eheim or the filstar?

[DeRo316]

I dont have any first hand experience with either but Im going with the Filstar xp2 for my 55g because of a friends suggestion. He has an xp3 on his 125 and he loves it. I've heard from reading the Ehiem are great but they are costly.

[llee24]

DeReo - Thanks that is very helpful..

[seajays]

I have 3 XP3 and they are working great. I think they are great fliter for the money.

[llee24]

Thanks seajays... I was debating between the eheim and filstar. From wat i hear i might even go with filstar. How many filter media do i need for the filstar?

[seajays]

I used 2 LT of Eheim media. But should have used Seachem Matrix. It is alot cheaper. (Canadian site)
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/catalog/product.xml?product_id=24221;category_id=2607;pcid 1=1965;pcid2=

[llee24]

Thanks

[tre8160]

I have both, I've got a rena XP2 and it's ok, It's nice because it's quiet as far aa long term reliability they haven't really been around long enough to tell. I will say they have the chezziest plumbing I've ever seen, and filling the intake tube with the little funnle they give you is aa major PIA. I also have Eheims and these are cadilacs, I own 2 Pro II's And two of the Ecco Models, these are both great filters, I've had a classic in the past and didn't care for it, both the pro line and ecco line are self priming and have individual media baskets, the classic has neither of these features and after you've had them for awhile you wouldn't want something without. Eheims realiability is second to none as well. Here's a link to an Ecco http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=EH-ECOO2236&Category_Code=eheimfilter.

[Xielos]

Ehiems are pricey, but from what I hear they are worth the cash.

I have a FilStar Xp3 on my 72 gallon tank, and I love it so far. There is tons of space for media in that thing, and I higly recomend one. Also don't pay more than this (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22035;category_id=1711;pcid 1=2885;pcid2=) for one, you won't find it anywhere cheaper than at Big Al's :cool:

[seajays]

I can't see why filling the intake tube is such a big problem it only takes around 2 cups of water. You only have to do this once, unless you louse you prime for some reason.

[tre8160]

If you decide to go with the XP2 Petsmart.com has em for the same price with free shipping http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp or if you have a petsmart close print the page and take it in and they'll do an in store price match :cool:

[llee24]

Tre8160 - Thanks for the info. I might just got to Petco and pick the xp2 up. Since i don't want to wait for delivery...

To All: Your comments and suggestions are very helpful to my question. Any more would be very helpful..

Thanks..
Lisa

[tre8160]

We don't have a petco in my area but I've heard they don't do price matching, The XP2 in store at petsmart is around $150! You could get it for almost half with a little waiting. This hobby envolves alot of paitenence as is, waiting four days or so to save about 70 $ is worth it IMO. :cool: