Suggestions for which canister?

[Saje]

Hi guys!

Okay - I've got a 20 gallon Long tank with apple snails in it ("mystery snails"). They are currently the only residents. They are dirty little creatures and need heavy filtration (recommended is a 10x an hour turnover). Right now, I've got an AquaClear 70 on there which is fine filtration-wise, but I have 3 big problems. The first is that snails require that the waterline be left a minimum of 2 inches from the top. The sound that the AC's waterfall makes going down that far is maddening. Second is that after a waterchange, the filter will not prime unless the tank is filled to the top. So I have to fill it all the way up, let the filter prime, then remove a bunch of water - doing work for nothing. Third is that they need a lot of aeration, but they (mine anyhow) don't like a lot of current - they just close up and don't want to venture out. The AC 70's current is STRONG for this tank - actually completely clears a big round spot at the bottom of the tank. Not good. I have a "current killer" on there now (same DIY I use for my betta tanks), but I'm not sure what it's doing to the aeration issue, and the other 2 just-mentioned issues remain.

So! Canister, I guess, is where I have to go. I think that'll solve all the problems above? (Meaning, I can set it up so the spraybar is not way above waterline, and somehow turn it so the inevitable current isn't making the snails nuts yet keep the water aerated?? If yes, here's what I need - wondering what kind you guys recommend.

-It's a 20 gallon "long" tank (30x12x12) and I need 10x per hour turnover
-Has to be relatively idiot-proof to set up, run, and maintain, as I've never used a canister before
-Not be ludicrously expensive

I was thinking the Rena XP2? I really don't want a Fluval (sorry Fluval people!...) just because I continue to hear not-so-great things about them overall. I know little about Eheim except they are nearly always recommended, but there are so many different kinds of them - wouldn't even know which ones to look at? And cost is an issue too.

What do you think?

 

[stratusfearrr]

An eheim 2213. Im running a 2215 on my tank, and will soon be buying another. It's an excellent filter series

 

[msjinkzd]

I like my xp series filters, but feel they are a bit overpriced. I have been experimenting lately with a bunch of the new knock-off filters. Here is one type: http://www.kensfish.com/reaction-4-stage-canister-filters.html

They are running really reliably and I have had no issues. Only complaint is that they spray bar and intake are not of the quality I would like but they are easy mods.

Another caniser series I really like is marineland c-series:http://www.kensfish.com/marinelandcanisterfilters.html
I am really impressed with their quality and I have been running one on my big boy tank (endlicheri polypterus and tropical gar) and h ave only had to clean it out once (no flow occlusion) and they are messy fish.

Eheim's have an excellent reputation so I am sure that would be a great choice. Filstars are great as well. I prefer the c-series out of all the name brands just because tey really do not occlude like my renas do and lose flow. The sunsun and reaction are very close to the marineland c-series but with built in uv and about 1/2 or less the price, to me a worthy gamble if htye work well which they have in the 8 or 9 months I have been using the knock-off's so far.

 

[Ozymandias]

have to agree with msjinkzd the c-series are awfully nice and the sunsun looks really good too (probably will get one for my next tank), and from what i have read its a good filter. hadn't heard of the reaction filter but looks interesting too. right now i have all eheims (2211, 2213 and 2222) and while i like them thay can be a pain to prime some times.

 

[Saje]

Thanks guys! Didn't know the Marineland C series was a viable option - good, glad to hear it. Are they relatively easy to set up, use, and maintain? (Never used a canister before - so I'm feeling a wee bit apprehensive.) Also - any suggestion on which of the various of them would be my best bet here? I guess I'm looking for about a 200 GPH turnover - slightly less is maybe okay. So that'd be the C220 I guess... Forgive the stupid question here, but I can keep the high flow rate but not send the snails flying with current by directing the spraybar at the glass, right? Or am I always going to have a big current problem with a powerful filter (big filter for smallish tank)?

The knockoffs look great. I can only find the Reaction - can't find anything about a sunsun? Does anyone have a direct link? And same question with these on ease of set up/use/maintenance? Making the spray bar and intake reasonable require what kinds of mods?

And not occluding is a really big deal with a tank full of snails (snail slime...), so sounds like the Renas may not be a great choice.

 

[msjinkzd]

Thanks guys! Didn't know the Marineland C series was a viable option - good, glad to hear it. Are they relatively easy to set up, use, and maintain? (Never used a canister before - so I'm feeling a wee bit apprehensive.) Also - any suggestion on which of the various of them would be my best bet here? I guess I'm looking for about a 200 GPH turnover - slightly less is maybe okay. So that'd be the C220 I guess... Forgive the stupid question here, but I can keep the high flow rate but not send the snails flying with current by directing the spraybar at the glass, right? Or am I always going to have a big current problem with a powerful filter (big filter for smallish tank)?

Absolutely. I use these on my snail tanks for just that reason. I either aim the spraybar towards the back glass or up at the surface instead of down to diffuse the current. I find the c-series really to use. Most of hte canisters have a quick release function and self priming or a priming button that make them very easy for maintenance. though, to be honest, I rarely crack my canister filters open unless i notice a decreased flow. They require alot less maintenance than my HOB's. The other thing I really like about the c-series and the knock offs is that their intake has more of a basket than just a strainer and the snails don't seem to get sucked in as easily so I don't have to use a prefilter like I do with my HOB's.

The knockoffs look great. I can only find the Reaction - can't find anything about a sunsun? Does anyone have a direct link? And same question with these on ease of set up/use/maintenance? Making the spray bar and intake reasonable require what kinds of mods?

Sunsun was on Ebay, I don't have a direct link for you. The spray bar that it comes wiht is perfectly useable. I am actually using it but may take a piece of pvc to fit the tubing and drill holes for a larger/easier to clean tube.

And not occluding is a really big deal with a tank full of snails (snail slime...), so sounds like the Renas may not be a great choice.

I used the rena's for a few years before I moved onto other canisters. I still think they are a good filter but I prefer the c-series or the knockoff's of the c-series because they just seem to have superior filtration (less occluding, less maintenance required, etc). I still have maybe 4 or 5 rena's in service in my fishroom. I have had zero issues at all wiht my c-series and if money isn't an issue, go with that. Otherwise I can find only minor differences between teh c-series and the knock-offs.

 

[Saje]

Sounds great. Quick question - it looks like the C220 doesn't come with a spray bar? Or do I totally misunderstand that? If that's true - what's the workaround - can you use the Rena's?

 

[Ozymandias]

sadly is doesn't as far as i know but i believe you can use the rena spray bars or make one you self. also here is a link to the sunsun on ebay so you have an idea about them, and there is some pretty good info in this thread about them.

 

[Rbishop]

None of the "C" series come with spray bars..a disadvantage of them, but an easy DIY.

 

[Sounguru]

I run a c-160 with a DIY spray bar and that sucker flat moves the water on a 29 gallon.

I also run 2 Larger Sunsun filters and love them. I have had them for around a year now with very few complaints. I have had more complaints about some of the $300 canisters I have run than I have of the $99 Sunsun. The Reaction (JBJ) is a Sunsun filter just rebranded for the US market from my understanding and cost about 1/2 as much more. Now the reaction comes with a little better made inlet and outlet tubes but other than that I have heard of no differences.

So My votes go to the Sunsun first and the C-series second.

Another trick is to place the spay on the short side of the tank so the flow is down the length. I have found this to be real effective in my shrimp tanks and snail tanks.