different filters for different things
Eheims are expensive but durable, and silent, tops for a canister filter. Classics are the best value, Pro/Pro2 is more complicated with more parts and not fool-proof (this fool has found), Ecco has lower flow rate than you'd think probably best for smaller tanks.
Penguin 330 are cheap and sometimes noisy but always restart after a power failure (unlike many HOB filters) and if you find the refillable cartridge frames they are cheap to run.
Magnum HOT 250 is in-between HOB and canister, near silent, rather inexpensive, high flow and moderate biofiltration but great mechanical filtration, nice to switch to the micron filter some times if needed, normally I just have efisubstrat in the carbon canister with the foam wrapper.
Sponge filters are the cheapest of all. Noisy with air pump, not with powerhead, and ugly too, but sometimes that is OK.
I have discarded all the others along the way, the Fluval 303 was a nightmare to prime after cleaning, the Whispers tended to not start without a poke to the impeller after power off, the Millineum2000 is really noisy, the internal Fluvals don't hold much media and seem to bypass easily.
I didn't buy all these new, in case you were wondering, most came with used tanks or at garage sales! I paid for a Pro2thermo, a Penguin 330 and many sponge filters.
