Canister filters drawbacks/recommendations?

Just to follow up. . .

I went with the XP3. I was put over mostly by a post I saw about Eheim using funny sized tubing which limits possibilities for accessories in the future. The price difference also helped out. ;)
 
Originally posted by lee914
I am debating a new filter purchase for a 90 gallon cichlid tank. .....
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Get the Filstar xP-3... User friendly, priced right, many many media set-up options, spraybar set-up options, silent operation, easy priming (no need to, really), adjustable flow! :)
 
Originally posted by DIYMatt
..... But, I own Filstars, a Fluval and owned two Eheim "classics". I prefer the Filstars by far. The qualilty seems great, they are quiet, very flexible and very easy to maintain. The Eheims were OK, but much more difficult to maintain and they much more costly in startup and future accessories. ....
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Seems I have also heard that.... I'm sold on the Filstars.. Lots of accessories come with it..
 
Eheim is German company, so does use metric tubing. NBD for me, my LFS stocks the whole line of Eheim tubing.

BTW, I'm one of those folk Jim was referring to, with multiple Eheims operating for multiple decades. I would not have anything else at this point.
 
I have been running my XP3 for 2 days now. Set-up was pretty straightforward. A couple of minor things to note about my experience. . .

First off I wish they had included a discussion about using the spraybar vs. the powerjet. They highlighted the choice but I wasn't sure how to decide.

Second, after choosing to go with the spraybar it was acting like a flute and whistling rather loudly. Covering certain holes on the bar would make it stop, but I couldn't figure out a way to plug the hole permanantly. I ended up cutting a strip of media foam and inserting it inside the spraybar. I fear this may eventually clog up, but maybe not since it is "clean" water running through it.

Finally I haven't duplicated the "it's so quiet that I have to touch to tell if it's running" experience. Initially it was on a piece of 1/8" plywood that serves and the shelf of my stand. That was quite loud. I added a piece of styrofoam and it is significantly quieter, but I can still hear it distinctly admist the rest of the noise produced by the tank, primarily the wash from the AC500.

Hope this is helpful to others.
 
You could drill a couple more holes in the spray bar. I heard someone did that and it worked great.

(side note) ..you can get 2 xP-3's for the price of the equal "sized" Ehiem...
 
I don't know exactly what I do right but my 90G tank is almost always clear, I use a eheim canister and drop in the Fluval's largest underwater filter. I remove all the fluval componants out of the filter and fill with good quality bulk carbon in a pantyhose and put some cotton on top, works great! Change cotton and carbon every two weeks. My eheim has been ROCK solid, never lets me down, shut off vales for cleaning without repriming. I clean it twice a year. Very Very quiet! Running 3.5 years now!
 
Originally posted by chefkeith
If you want an Eheim, but don't want to spend the $, try finding a Jebao Canister Filter . Looks like the same thing, for alot less.

They sell these filters on Ebay

I read a thread about this filter at
fishinthe.net

I'm thinking about getting one. Either that or another Filstar.
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Great find! I personally run the XP3 on my 90 gallon after having a leaky Fluval and it works great. I also run a wet/dry filter too so my water is always very clear. My first choice was the Eheim but for the filter I wanted I didn't want to spend the $$$$ so I bought the Filstar for about 1/2 the price. I too did have a small noise coming fron the spray bar but I took a reamer tool and opened all the holes just a bit and the noise is gone. My buddy who is a Eheim fan just bought the XP3 too so he will be a prime candidate to see which filter he likes better. In my opinion the Canister filter's filter way better than the over the back type filter's.
 
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