Which Canister Filter Is Best ?

bert

bert

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Nov 2, 2003
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I have a 100 Gallon fresh water tank equiped with a Magnum 350 canister filter ( mechanical/ chemical filtration only ) submerged powerhead with foam filter on opposite side of tank. I have been looking at 2 other canister filters as a new replacement. they are--

1--FLUVAL 405 $210.00

2-- RENA FILSTAR XP4 $250.00.

Which one of these filters is the best ? for filtering, ease of cleaning & servicing the filter, AND the reliability and the least problems with parts? PLUS, the ease of operation ?
thanks :D
 
That is a pretty loaded question! :grinyes:

I don't think you can just eliminate them out on the criteria you listed, since it involves personal preference.

What I would consider ease of maintanance may be someone elses nightmare. In general, the canister filters out there are pretty much the same with capabilities though most have capabilities you do not even need.

I do not prefer either of the two filters you listed. I have basically all Mags, and am amazed that you consider them mechanical/chemical only. I have several that are just mechanical/biolgical.

If I had to pick from your choices, I would go with the XP.
 
I would buy a Rena XP4, a Fluval 405, a Marineland C360, an Eheim 2217, an Eheim 2236, and an Eheim 2224. I would connect them all to the tank. Then over the course of the next few months I would keep them all running and do the normal maintenance on them.

Over time I will start liking and disliking several things about each filter. Then in the end when I realize that they're all doing basically the same thing while being both good and bad in one way or another be it cost, reliability, ease of cleaning, efficiency, effectiveness, etc I would come to the conclusion that which filter I chose really didn't make much of a difference so long as I set it up properly and kept up with my normal tank maintenance routine.

In other words, either one of those would be a wonderful choice. As would all the others I mentioned and probably even more that I didn't mention.

As long as it's a quality product (all of them are except crap like Penn Plax) any canister filter of the proper size will do just fine.
 
If you're willing to spend that much, I'd look at a 2217 (Eheim).
 
Thanks, I heard on forums that some canister filters are prone to having small parts break easily during normal maintenance routines, but I do not recall which brand of filter they were speaking of.
 
bert said:
1--FLUVAL 405 $210.00

2-- RENA FILSTAR XP4 $250.00.
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Hmm, you may want to shop around. The only Fluval I'd buy would be the FX5. I've heard many get em for around $200, for example look here.

As for Rena, I'd look into two XP3's instead of one XP4. The 4's seem waaay overpriced. You can get the XP3's usually around $90 for example look here. Two of those would be ~the cost of an XP4 but more total flow and more media volume total, plus the redundancy of having 2 filters, customization, etc. etc. if your really willing to spend $250 though maybe you might want to look at some of the Eheims (2028 maybe? or pro3e for a little more). Just some ideas.
 
I feel Eheims are overrated. They don't do anything that other canisters don't do just as well. The only real argument in their favor is the supposed longevity/durability. And that too is debatable.

I would never suggest against them, but they are overpriced and I find the dedication to them a bit humorous - sometimes I picture Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons being an Eheim type of hobbyist.

"Oh that water is really clear - are you using a Rena?"

Comic Book Guy: "No, and please refrain from dealing me further insults with your pathetically ill-informed references to those far inferior products. As you can see kind sir I use strictly EHEIM filters on all of my tanks and nothing less. Now if you are finished insulting my intelligence I shall bid you a good day."



Okay back on topic - I have read some reviews of the Marineland C series and according to almost all of them, Marineland has just produced what is possibly the best canister filter available today as far as cost coupled with effectiveness.
 
echoofformless said:
I feel Eheims are overrated. They don't do anything that other canisters don't do just as well. The only real argument in their favor is the supposed longevity/durability. And that too is debatable.
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And dont forget how quiet they are. That is very significant to many (and the main reason I went that route on my bedroom tank). And they do have many features that the others dont. For one example my Eheim has a flow meter built in. My Renas do not. Overpriced maybe, but the same argument would be a cadillac is overpriced compared to Kia - they both perform the same role, and in many cases the Kia will work for just as long, just as well.
 
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