I use Rena XP's on all of my tanks, and anything under 50 gallons get a single XP2, which gets cleaned, at the longest interval, about quarterly. Make sure if you get it from petsmart, you print out the online coupon, it should be 89, instead of 120 or 130 or however much it is in the store.
If you can afford to give up an organ and possibly a limb, buy an Eheim, because they are the most efficient and reliable, and most expensive filters on the market, but as far as bang for the buck, I don't think anything compares to Rena cannisters.
Cannisters really are the way to go.
If you can't afford a cannister, I've always had problems with the impellors of Penguin filters becoming very loud in tanks with a sand substrate, so have since switched to aquaclear and like them a lot more.
Remember, Bio wheels are nice, but not "necesary" equipment by any means, and are to loud for me to want to deal with.
Some people like the trickle sound of water.. I hate it.