Canister Filters - What Do You Prefer?

[jdizzle1000]

zoo med

ZOO MED 501. It's a turtle filter, but it is GREAT for smaller tanks and has the perfect amount of room for media. Works great.

 

[LongTime]

I have a eheim classic,quite a few FilStars, a Vortex Diatom, and a very old Fluval.

I don't know anything about the newer model Fluvals, so...no comment.

Vortex Diatom - This filter is not designed for regular day-to-day use. It would clog much to fast for that. It is a water polisher and it does the job very well. IT IS A TRUE PAIN to set up. I have a true "love/hate" relationship with my Vortex.

FilStars - I love the price and it is real easy to maintain. Everything is in its own liftout section. You just have to rinse the filters and put them back in. It is a good idea to replace 1/3 of the bio-media each quarter no matter what kind of filter you have. The quick release valve CAN drip a little when you first disconnect it. Out of my 3, I only have one that lets a little water get away. For the price, it, IMO, cannot be beat!

Eheim classic - I have to agree with anonapersona. It is the 'best bang for the buck." The maintenance is a little more time consuming than the FilStars, but it does not require as much maintenance as the Filstars.

 

[cherrypie]

Recently moved to Sera canisters here, nice strong build with wide heavy duty clips, nice media baskets and easy to prime. Can't hear them until your ear is around 1ft away.

 

[born2lovefish]

I have had an eheim wet/dry professional model for 10 years. Still running and working like a charm. Great filter and basically I do nothing to the filter. I clean it about once a year. I would buy another eheim in a heart beat....well if I had the money.

 

[Pufferpoison]

had a magnum for about a week, piece of junk. Have been leary on using cannisters since that nightmare. Are they all kinda like the magnum?

 

[test4echo]

Fluval all the way!!!