Which Canister Filter Is Best ?

Thanks everyone, come to think of it, it WAS the fluval that i heard bad things about. small parts snapping preventing the filter from being able to start up until the part got replaced, and the leaking hoses.:lipssealedsmilie: The RENA and Fluval are sold by petsmart and the RENA and Marineland filters are sold at petco. My Magnum 350 is doing a great job but without the optional bio wheel i am not getting any biological filtration from it it says on the box mechanical/ chemical filtration.
 
Not that it is even in the running, but on the off chance you are thinking of getting a Cascade canister filter (penn plax), DON'T.

I did, and every time I do maintenance on it, I feel like a entered a drag race with a tricycle. It is crap. I wish I had done more research, cause it really is a hokey pokey, Fisher Price My-First-Canister piece of junk.
 
I lucked out when i chose the Magnum 350 for my first canister filter, it has been good. I want to go to something that has what my Magnum doesn't, an area for Biological filtration. The Bio-wheel helps the Magnum but my 100 Gallon Plexi tank has only the narrow slots on the rear top and the bio-wheel attachment won't fit. besides, i would like to get something that will handle a lot more than 100 Gal. because there is a larger Aquarium in my future plans
 
Forgot to add, I will really do my homework on this one. nothing like a holiday, aquarium supply store closed and a chinsey made part just broke and the filter has to remain off until repaired. I want something strong, dependable, reliable, and VERY WELL MADE with high quality parts & workmanship !
 
I still don't see what Eheims are doing any better than Renas besides making people think they're so special due to a name. It's just like you wrote - "people say go for Eheim." And that is why I take issue with the whole thing.

I'm sold on the Marineland C series even though I haven't personally used one yet. The reviews are very solid and the prices on them compared to Eheim are significantly lower.

Lastly the idea of comparing Eheim to Cadillac and other filters to Kia doesn't wash with me. Cadillacs are huge, powerful cars with far more luxury appointments and frills than a tiny, bare bones Kia - not to mention the fact that Kias are known to be of poor reliability and Cadillacs are a little above average in that department. Eheims aren't more powerful or feature-laden and luxurious than Renas or Marinelands.

The only real and solid notion that I have been able to gather from the Eheim crowd is that the filters are supposedly long lasting and very reliable - something far more akin to a Mercedes than a Cadillac. But still grossly overpriced when you consider that Honda and Toyota are actually the most reliable of the four. Way off topic...but I love to debate. Sorry.
 
Actually Eheims are often referred to as the Cadillac of filters. Thats the only reason I picked them (Cadillac I mean). Substitute in you luxury car of choice (I however, would never put in Mercedes though, bad personal experiences). And I do stand by Kia as a good comparison. Look at the new Kia Amante's. Half the price, almost as much performance. You seem to be judging your opinion of Eheim based off the Ecco I am guessing. I think the Ecco is a waste of money personally, so I am guessing you didnt do your homework before purchasing it (well unless it was given to you or something). Yes the Eheim is more powerful (like a Cadillac). The Renas are way overrated, and even though they no darn well the actual flow is much less (read the fine print on the box) they advertise the big numbers everywhere and dont mention the actual flow in any of there advertisements:nono:. They are rated even higher than the Eheim but the Eheim actually out flows it, and draws less power doing it too. Options wise... Eheim has many features the Rena does not. They also have a lot more choices in the big filter department. As you can see, I dont mind debating either. The difference is I have relatively equivalent filters from both (pro2's), and all you've said you had from E is the ecco. Nor am I biased, as I have said more than once I like both, and would recommend the XP3 to anyone.
 
Eccos aren't so great for sure...I picked mine up on a half price deal. I'm happy enough with it, but no I wouldn't judge Eheim on the whole by an economy market product.

Anyway,
As long as the filter runs, holds media, doesn't leak and is easy to use I see no reason to spend any more money just for a name. Of course we're all entitled to opinions and mine is that Eheim is largely a name that gives some people a certain sense of "ah I have an EHEIM!" It just seems very Comic Book Guy to me. And many people will shell out the unnecessary cash for these just because they're said to be "the best." Yes they might offer certain features, but are they needed features? I just want my filter to do a good job, be easy to maintain, and reliable.


I'm placing my bets on those Marineland C series models. Reading the reviews online got me interested; and asking around amongst the people at my local fish shops and other forums has confirmed that several dedicated Eheim fans have either switched or will switch to Marinelands.

Okay I sound like a commercial. But see one of my little personal vendettas is towards things that have been given overrated reputations. So when something comes up to rival them, I cheer it on. Especially when it undercuts the more popular company's price line. It undoes that whole untouchable thing that allows companies like Eheim to overcharge for their products. Hence my distaste for that whole "Eheims are the best" routine - it shuts out competition from potentially better products in a sort of mind control-like fashion.

And in the end it is we the consumers who suffer. Why? Because the more we just say "Eheims are the best" without really considering the alternatives, the longer they can overcharge for their products.

Consider the whole PS3/Xbox 360 deal. The PS3 is the more usable and technologically advanced unit for sure - but it's not selling because there is something far cheaper that even though may not be as good, is good enough to make people steer away from Sony. And because of this, Sony is being forced to drop the prices considerably in the near future in order to stay in the game.

That is why I am rooting for these Marinelands to catch on; it just may force Eheim to bring their prices a little lower in order to be more competitive. (Have you ever noticed how ridiculously overpriced their media can be? Ehfimech for example - come on it's the same crap that you can buy under the Fluval name for less than half of that price.)

But that will only happen when people stop blindly chanting "Eheim!"

So it's not the filters and the features themselves that agitate me - it's the brand name mentality that all too often goes with it.


And please don't get me started on Hikari....hehe
:)
 
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Very little price difference in the UK between Eheim and Rena, so it's Eheim all the way for me. Never tried a Rena but from what I've read they are a tad noisier than Eheim.
 
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