The Sun Sun CFD series canister filters have been around for about 6 years and its these filters that are the base for the Sun Sun manufactured Marineland C series and Tetratek filters not the current Sun Sun HW-300 (or now 400) series.
People might notice that they have never seen the smaller CFD series available as a Sun Sun or other noname brand except this huge 2600 version and there is a reason for that. Sun Sun have a deal with Marineland and Tetra not to sell the smaller versions to anyone else which is why the admittedly very similar HW series was developed. The only model Tetra and Marineland do not take off Sun Sun is the big CFD-2600 and that is available. It is usually sold under the Pro Aqua (Australia) Risheng (Asia) Perfect (US and parts of Europe) of SenSen (Europe, South Africa) brand but these are all the same filter. It used to be sold in a higher quality version by Aqua One in Australia, Asia and the UK but this deal stopped in 2007 and since then they have been available openly to whoever wants to import them and slap on their own brand name.
The CFD-2600 is SunSun's largest (and one of the largest ever) canister filter and its rated at 650 gph. Like the Resun EF-2800 I previously tested the filter is huge. The specs are as follows.
650gph flowrate
60 watts
4 stage filtration
2.5m max head height
Complete with Filter media
Quality Fittings ( Taps, hoses & spray bar inc )
Quick Release taps
Quiet and Extremely reliable
Surface skimmer attachment included
1 year Warranty
Suitable for up to 1000 litres
dimensions are
Height (to top of pump head) 22 inches (highest I've tested)
Canister body height 18 inches
Width 9 inches
Depth 12 inches
The filter body is squarish/rectangular in shape and its a imposing sight as you can see in the pics. The filter comes with no instructions and only 2 course and one fine filter pad but does have quality hose connections and spray bars (look to be Eheim Installation Set copies) for its large 25mm (1 inch) inlet and outlet hose.
The box is large and the filter fits snugly here is what you are confronted with.
To give you a idea of the size here is the filter next to the already very large Sun Sun HW-304 ....
and together with the huge Resun EF-2800 and the HW-304 ...
The Resun is a bit wider and square while the Sun Sun is deeper and slightly rectangular I'd suggest the actual canister volume is similar between the two.
When you open the CFD-2600 you have 4 large baskets that actually hold more then the Resun's because of the smaller inlet hole as this unit does not have a UV. So more space for media in these baskets.
Thats' 1 inch hose and nearly 24 inches of spray bar in the above pic so that should give you a idea of the size. One thing I like about this filter is the fittings and spray bar are 1 inch all the way through there is no reducing the pipe like on the HW series for the outlet.
You may recall I had some trouble priming and setting up the Resun but no such issues with the Sun Sun. The tap connection is a simple and effective shut off valve with double tap set seen on all the Sun Sun (and Marineland,tetra etc) filters and its very easy to use. The Filter features automatic priming via a large push button and its simply a case connecting all the hoses, opening the valve and pushing the button. Presto! the canister fills with water and expels the air like it should. Turn it on and it springs to life expelling the remaining air. As the filter did not come with any biomedia except the pads I set it up as follows. Bottom tray (the filter is a traditional bottom to top flow, top motor design) course sponge (supplied) topped with ceramic rings. The next two trays I packed with ceramic rings as I did for the bottom half of the top tray then I placed the two (supplied) fine pads on top. All up the filter took about 10 liters (or 2.5 gal) of ceramic rings which is a lot indeed.
Once running full of media the flowrate of the filter looked fantastic it looked at least as good as the EF-2800U's 525gph and in fact measured out at 520 GPH at 37 inches of head height and 470gph at 48 inches. A very powerful filter indeed.
Noise levels were generally good. The filter isn't as quiet as a Eheim or a FX5 but its close enough not to notice it running. Compared to the horrendous drone of the Resun EF-2800U the CFD-2600 is a church mouse.
Here is a pic of the filter set up and running followed by a video showing the noise and flowrate.
[YT]jbJcVB0XuZY[/YT]
The rubber here is that this filter is essentially the same price as the Sun Sun HW-304B about $90-$120 it has massive media capacity, its quiet, its priming works well and its got a high flowrate.
It does appear to be more cheaply built then the Resun or the HW series but only in the finish of the outside. The taps and inlet/outlet connections are good and the filter seems very strong.
I liked this filter a lot and thing its sensational value for a large tank.
I give it 8/10
People might notice that they have never seen the smaller CFD series available as a Sun Sun or other noname brand except this huge 2600 version and there is a reason for that. Sun Sun have a deal with Marineland and Tetra not to sell the smaller versions to anyone else which is why the admittedly very similar HW series was developed. The only model Tetra and Marineland do not take off Sun Sun is the big CFD-2600 and that is available. It is usually sold under the Pro Aqua (Australia) Risheng (Asia) Perfect (US and parts of Europe) of SenSen (Europe, South Africa) brand but these are all the same filter. It used to be sold in a higher quality version by Aqua One in Australia, Asia and the UK but this deal stopped in 2007 and since then they have been available openly to whoever wants to import them and slap on their own brand name.
The CFD-2600 is SunSun's largest (and one of the largest ever) canister filter and its rated at 650 gph. Like the Resun EF-2800 I previously tested the filter is huge. The specs are as follows.
650gph flowrate
60 watts
4 stage filtration
2.5m max head height
Complete with Filter media
Quality Fittings ( Taps, hoses & spray bar inc )
Quick Release taps
Quiet and Extremely reliable
Surface skimmer attachment included
1 year Warranty
Suitable for up to 1000 litres
dimensions are
Height (to top of pump head) 22 inches (highest I've tested)
Canister body height 18 inches
Width 9 inches
Depth 12 inches
The filter body is squarish/rectangular in shape and its a imposing sight as you can see in the pics. The filter comes with no instructions and only 2 course and one fine filter pad but does have quality hose connections and spray bars (look to be Eheim Installation Set copies) for its large 25mm (1 inch) inlet and outlet hose.
The box is large and the filter fits snugly here is what you are confronted with.
To give you a idea of the size here is the filter next to the already very large Sun Sun HW-304 ....
and together with the huge Resun EF-2800 and the HW-304 ...
The Resun is a bit wider and square while the Sun Sun is deeper and slightly rectangular I'd suggest the actual canister volume is similar between the two.
When you open the CFD-2600 you have 4 large baskets that actually hold more then the Resun's because of the smaller inlet hole as this unit does not have a UV. So more space for media in these baskets.
Thats' 1 inch hose and nearly 24 inches of spray bar in the above pic so that should give you a idea of the size. One thing I like about this filter is the fittings and spray bar are 1 inch all the way through there is no reducing the pipe like on the HW series for the outlet.
You may recall I had some trouble priming and setting up the Resun but no such issues with the Sun Sun. The tap connection is a simple and effective shut off valve with double tap set seen on all the Sun Sun (and Marineland,tetra etc) filters and its very easy to use. The Filter features automatic priming via a large push button and its simply a case connecting all the hoses, opening the valve and pushing the button. Presto! the canister fills with water and expels the air like it should. Turn it on and it springs to life expelling the remaining air. As the filter did not come with any biomedia except the pads I set it up as follows. Bottom tray (the filter is a traditional bottom to top flow, top motor design) course sponge (supplied) topped with ceramic rings. The next two trays I packed with ceramic rings as I did for the bottom half of the top tray then I placed the two (supplied) fine pads on top. All up the filter took about 10 liters (or 2.5 gal) of ceramic rings which is a lot indeed.
Once running full of media the flowrate of the filter looked fantastic it looked at least as good as the EF-2800U's 525gph and in fact measured out at 520 GPH at 37 inches of head height and 470gph at 48 inches. A very powerful filter indeed.
Noise levels were generally good. The filter isn't as quiet as a Eheim or a FX5 but its close enough not to notice it running. Compared to the horrendous drone of the Resun EF-2800U the CFD-2600 is a church mouse.
Here is a pic of the filter set up and running followed by a video showing the noise and flowrate.
[YT]jbJcVB0XuZY[/YT]
The rubber here is that this filter is essentially the same price as the Sun Sun HW-304B about $90-$120 it has massive media capacity, its quiet, its priming works well and its got a high flowrate.
It does appear to be more cheaply built then the Resun or the HW series but only in the finish of the outside. The taps and inlet/outlet connections are good and the filter seems very strong.
I liked this filter a lot and thing its sensational value for a large tank.
I give it 8/10
