I don't use anything else but Eheim canisters. Even more, I would no longer consider anything but Eheim canisters. When you operate a lot of tanks and have been doing so for decades and intend to contiue indefinitely, reliability and efficiency both matter a lot. To me personally, silent operation also matters a lot, but it not so important to many folks.
Which canister brand to buy?
- Thread starter beache
- Start date
Originally posted by DIYMatt
I have owned a couple Eheim "Classics" and own Filstars, Mags, and a Fluval. The only one I would recommend to anyone as their primary filter are the Filstars. The only one I would never buy again are the Fluvals, just no real advantage over another filter to them, IMO. My list of gripes with my Fluval is entire post by itself, but it is still running. If somebody wants me to, I will post the gripes on Thursday, I will be doing maintenace Wednesday nightI use the Mags as "clean-up filters" after a remodel or something, or as a secondary mechanical only filter. But, by themselves, they won't do the job. The Eheim classic I had did not have media baskets which is enough for me to never want one again. Imagine having to dump it out to clean it, not fun. On top of that they do not come with disconnects or shutoffs, so you have to entirely drain the system everytime you clean it. Also, that weird tubing out the side thing always got in the way. Its just an old design, that has been surpassed, I guess. IMO- A lot of what made the Eheims nice is the media. Luckily you can use the Ehiem media in Filstars. Not so in Fluvals you are almost stuck with their strange layout and media options.
The newer Eheim classic canisters do use a single media basket, so yo don't have to just dump out the entire canister, but it's not as handy as having 2 or 3 seperate baskets...and now they all come with the double tap connectors as well...which makes maintenance a lot easier. A spraybar is included in the kit as well.
When it comes time to buy another canister, I definitely intend on giving the Filstar XP line a good looking into...they sound like very good filters... I just wish they had a better look to them. If I have extra money laying around, I'd probably spring for an Eheim Pro II
It seems to me that (at least here in Europe) the larger Eheim calssics do not come with the basket. I have 2213 which has the basket in, spray bar included but no shut off valve, the 2217 does not have the basket not the valve, spray bar is there.
I am not an expert but I like the no basket design. There is no discussion of bypass and if you would like to avoid the dumping you could just put the media in a sock. I have done it in the begining but now I just put the media in layers separated by the blue foam pad. For cleaning I have two little buckets with change water dump the media in, clean the pads and put the rinsed media back in. I like the simplicity of that design.
The shut off valves are must I think - I got mine as extra and they work great.
I had Fluval 104 for a little tank and I really did not like it - as well it started to leak after couple of months.
Anyway, my $ .02 ...
I am not an expert but I like the no basket design. There is no discussion of bypass and if you would like to avoid the dumping you could just put the media in a sock. I have done it in the begining but now I just put the media in layers separated by the blue foam pad. For cleaning I have two little buckets with change water dump the media in, clean the pads and put the rinsed media back in. I like the simplicity of that design.
The shut off valves are must I think - I got mine as extra and they work great.
I had Fluval 104 for a little tank and I really did not like it - as well it started to leak after couple of months.
Anyway, my $ .02 ...
I've got a Fluvall 303 on my tank, but it is the only cannister I have ever used, so can't help much there (no comparison), but I am very pleased with it. I must say though, that I prefer it to the old HOB's I had.
I've always used AquaClear and Marineland Magnums, but I did help someone clean a Fluva 1 time and it seemed like a pain compared to my 350 mag. But that was around 10 yrs ago so they could be alot diff. now?
If the 2 bio-wheels would fit on the tank, a 350 mag. would work nice. I just checked and Petwarehouse has one on sale for $99.99.
With this set-up at cleaning time you could:
Remove the carbon/foamsleeve.
Add water back to the canister w/ the micron filter in it.
Clean the substrate as long as you want.
Replace carbon/sleeve.
Change water. Done
And with the micron filter:
Rinse it off when done.
Let it soak in water/bleach solution over nite (I use a half gal. pitcher)
Rinse off and it will be ready for the next time you clean.
If the 2 bio-wheels would fit on the tank, a 350 mag. would work nice. I just checked and Petwarehouse has one on sale for $99.99.
With this set-up at cleaning time you could:
Remove the carbon/foamsleeve.
Add water back to the canister w/ the micron filter in it.
Clean the substrate as long as you want.
Replace carbon/sleeve.
Change water. Done
And with the micron filter:
Rinse it off when done.
Let it soak in water/bleach solution over nite (I use a half gal. pitcher)
Rinse off and it will be ready for the next time you clean.
THe mags with bio wheels are OK filters. But, IME they require much more frequent maintenance due to the relatively small media container with such a large flowrate. Especially if you use the micron cartridge. I do not do maintenance on any of my prefiltered canisters more than once a month. My mags are signficantly louder than any of my other canisters. Also, IME the mags are very peicey and they are the only filters I have ever had to buy replacemant parts for. I don't use them full time and I have to replace those foam seals about once a year. I do not and would not use bio-wheels because my alrger tanks are planted and the bio-wheels gas off the CO2 I am adding to promote plant growth. As far as amount of time to clean, nothing beats my Filstars.
All that being said Mags are decent filters that have their place, just not as a primary filter on my tanks. I do use them for circulation, a secondary mechanical only filter, or a clean-up filter. Filter maintenance is just work to me that I try to avoid all I can, and the mags require it too frequently for my tastes.
All that being said Mags are decent filters that have their place, just not as a primary filter on my tanks. I do use them for circulation, a secondary mechanical only filter, or a clean-up filter. Filter maintenance is just work to me that I try to avoid all I can, and the mags require it too frequently for my tastes.
I like Eheims. I've had a small classic 2011 for about 14 years. Very quiet and very reliable. Friday I just set up a new 2026 Pro II on a 29 Gal goldfish tank. They are expensive (149 USD at Big Al's) and since most LFSs don't stock them you have to order it without ever seeing one in person. Eventually I'm going to get a 55Gal and move this filter to it.
Big Als came with the media and two spray bars and two intake options. I really only need one of each though.
On my old one I bought an Airdiffuser for bubbles.
Steve
Big Als came with the media and two spray bars and two intake options. I really only need one of each though.
On my old one I bought an Airdiffuser for bubbles.
Steve
