Best cannister filters and why?

I have both fluval and eheim cannisters. Fluvals I find are easier to clean the media since the media is placed into seperate baskets which make for easy removal. My dislike about fluval is the new design on the water outlet back to the tank. My eheims are the 2217 models which don't have seperate baskets to put your media in, which means when you clean you have to pull everything out by hand a little at a time. I do like the spray bar return which the fluvals used to have. Both have pros and cons, but I find both do an excellent job at filtering water.
 
For me it is Eheim and nothing but Eheim. I use their internals and externals (both Classic and Pro). They are better made, last forever, and are silent. Every manufacturer urges use of their own media. I do use some Eheim proprietary media, but I outgrew being overly influenced by manufacturer sugestions long ago. I am fully capable of evaluating my needs for myself, and one of those need is permanent biomedia - which eliminates all sintered or foamed or whatever process glass biomedia. I do have several dozen Eheims.
 
Originally posted by RTR
For me it is Eheim and nothing but Eheim. I use their internals and externals (both Classic and Pro). They are better made, last forever, and are silent. Every manufacturer urges use of their own media. I do use some Eheim proprietary media, but I outgrew being overly influenced by manufacturer sugestions long ago. I am fully capable of evaluating my needs for myself, and one of those need is permanent biomedia - which eliminates all sintered or foamed or whatever process glass biomedia. I do have several dozen Eheims.
Click to expand...

What do you use as a permanent biomedia? I'm using Ehfisubstrat in my 2226 now. I understand that it can get some of the pores clogged over time and it eliminates some efficiency. I haven't noticed it yet(1.5 years now) but I do use a prefilter sponge on my intake that I clean bi-weekly. My Efimech and filter pads stay pretty clean as well. I usually rinse off the Efimech and Ehfisubstrat along with replacing the pads every three months regardless of if they need it or not. My tank is moderately stocked and heavily planted. Is there a better biomedia? Thanks,

Scott
 
my vote is for fluval. i've been running one with a variety of aquatic life for two years and have never had a problem. they are great and i love the possibilities of the multiple media baskets. no complaints from me
 
Scott - my favorite permanent biomedium is Dupla's Minikaskade, a small version of the W/D spheres. I got into those before they stopped distributing in the USA, then stocked up at that time to carry me over, but they are back in circulation now in the USA. Totally self-cleaning, they last forever.

Eheim's Ehfimech will actually serve as a biomedium also (don't tell Eheim). Not as good as the baffled plastic spheres IMO, but not bad.

Eheim pushes Ehfisubstrat, but are honest enough to admit the clogging. After 6-12 months is is an expensive rock equivalent, external surface only - I don't see any point to that for my practices. I way overfilter everything and separate mech and bio so I can rinse mech frequently and keep bio relatively undisturbed.

Have you seen:

http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/cannister.shtml
 
Thanks RTR,

I'll hunt down the Dupla Minikaskade for my next biomedia. That article is good as well. The Eheim is great and if I can improve my filtration through better media, I'll do it.

Scott
 
you can use ordinary aquarium gravel as a biomedia in your filter...and it's alot cheaper than the regular biomedia sold for Eheims.
 
I've never used a canister.... but I have heard, Filstar, Fluval, and Magnum are hte best types to get. ;)
 
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