im looking into a fluval canister filter for my 30 gallon tank i have one of their internal filters and it works ok but im looking at the big canisters does n e one have experience with them and no if they are good i do have a turtle in this tank so there is alot of junk along the bottom and such if n e one has n e experience with a good filter for that or if they know if the fluval filters are good n e help would be appreciated
fluval cannister filters?
- Thread starter philc21
- Start date
I used the previous generation of fluval canisters for almost 10 years. Some things were great, others were not so great.
Great -
Canisters do a great job of cleaning the tank
They don't need to be maintained as often
Flexible in media use
Good for larger aquariums
Not so great -
Cost
It's easy to not maintain them often enough. Set reminders in your calendar. Otherwise, you will probably not do it often enough.
Maintenance takes longer.
Hard to not make a mess when disconnecting
Without bio-wheels you risk your biological setup when cleaning
Trying to start the water flow (unless impellar is on the bottom)
If you go with a canister, you may want to get a bio-wheel attachment. I've recently bought several of the Marineland (hang-off-the-tank-back) bio-wheel filters and so far they are working great. Maintenance is so much easier than with the canister. I am much better about maintaining them.
Great -
Canisters do a great job of cleaning the tank
They don't need to be maintained as often
Flexible in media use
Good for larger aquariums
Not so great -
Cost
It's easy to not maintain them often enough. Set reminders in your calendar. Otherwise, you will probably not do it often enough.
Maintenance takes longer.
Hard to not make a mess when disconnecting
Without bio-wheels you risk your biological setup when cleaning
Trying to start the water flow (unless impellar is on the bottom)
If you go with a canister, you may want to get a bio-wheel attachment. I've recently bought several of the Marineland (hang-off-the-tank-back) bio-wheel filters and so far they are working great. Maintenance is so much easier than with the canister. I am much better about maintaining them.
I love fluvals. I've got a 304 on the 55g and i love it. Simple as that. Great at cleaning, nice adjustable flow, flexible intake/outtake...spray bar attachment...holds a variety of media unlike other filters.
My fluval is self-priming, so i dont have trouble starting it....
Eheims are supposedly better (especially if injecting co2 into it to break it up- fluvals are prone to air lock). But also cost more. I got my fluval from bigalsonline for like 70 bucks...not too shabby.
My fluval is self-priming, so i dont have trouble starting it....
Eheims are supposedly better (especially if injecting co2 into it to break it up- fluvals are prone to air lock). But also cost more. I got my fluval from bigalsonline for like 70 bucks...not too shabby.
i havent used a fluval for a while i prefure the via aqua range i say their more reliable plus for i turtle id say you would need a large bio load cause they are dirty and will make alot of waste alot indeed
I also use the largest Via Aqua canisters on my 180. I like them very much. Just wish there was a way to use bio-wheels, but it is an acrylic tank.