Which filter do you like best?

Hang-on-back power filters and canisters, Marineland (Penguin and Magnum) is the absolute best for performance, maintenance and value. The Bio-wheels just can't be beat.
Having said that, anything 75g+, I'd put on a sump-type filter. I've custom made 2 of these for my tanks over the years, and have paid FAR less than I would have for store bought. For my 125g I've got a 800gph overflow box feeding a bio-ball filled, square shaped, old, plastic cat litter container with a grate and filter pad on top. The bucket is inside a 10g tank with a piece of acrylic, 1/2 the height of the tank, siliconed in as a divider/dam. On the other side of the dam is the heater and return pump (800gph). I've figured this cost me about $170. In addition to this, I am using a Magnum 350 canister (plumbed into the sump) for carbon/water polishing w/ a pleated cartridge, and I have a UV system split off of that @175gph. I understand this sounds like alot, but my fish load is ridiculous. My fish like to eat, and I like to feed them. In an average week, they'll go through 100 2-3" goldfish, 4-6 4" crayfish and about 1/2lb of pellets. With this set-up, in over 5 years, I've never had a single illness or problem with chemistry, but most people spend a LOT more for the same results.
So, if you've got a decent sized tank, take the sump route.
It's the best way to go, and with some creativity, it doesn't have to kill your bank roll.
BTW- I designed this tank to go behind a couch (hiding the openings in the back of the stand) and be viewed by both sides. The skimmer and returns are on the NARROW end of the tank (custom lid) against the wall. One return shoots straight down, while another has a piece of 1/2 vinyl tubing attached, which rides along, invisible, behind the top plastic frame to the other side of the tank, secured with heater holding suction cups. All this makes for a tank which has completely unobstructed viewing from BOTH sides...hope this sparks some creativity out there!
 
I have had the same Eheim 2228 on the same 125g since 1995. It cost me $300 back then. I haven't had one problem with it until recently. Recently the internal heating element when crazy(the temp was stuck somewhere between sahara and hell) and I lost water flow so the impeller over heated. I think 10 years of consistant performance makes the price worth it.
 
I prefer Eheim cannisters because they are silent and incredibly efficient.

I also like Aquaclear HOB's for the same reasons and the ability and ease of media changes. It's like a small cannister on the back of your tank.

I also have a Magnum HOT with the gravel vac that I use to clean the tanks and then polish the water. I can go from tank to tank with it on cleaning days.

Altogether I have four Eheim cannister's (3 2322 and one 2028) and five Aquaclear's, one Whisper 20 and a Penguin BioWheel 170 plus the Magnum HOT that goes from tank to tank.

I like the Eheim Thermofilters and the Aquaclear HOB's the best.
 
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kooter said:
I personally have never tried the penguin bio-wheel but I knew a guy that had one a while ago and hated it?! He said the wheel, (no matter how much he cleaned or maintained it), would never spin properly. It got "stuck" all the time. =!
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The bio-wheel slowing with time is normal and it's fine as long as it keeps turning without drying. It actually becomes more effective as it slows because it is exposed to oxygen for a longer period of time aiding in the colonization of beneficial bacteria. Only if it stopped rotating and dryed up would it become a problem.
 
Since nobody's mentioned it yet, I'll put in a plug for Rainbow Lifegard modular filter systems. They put just about every other filter's performance to shame IMHO. However, they're not cheap and they're a real 'exercise' to set up initially.

http://www.cloudytanks.com/reviews/howto/pentair.htm

I've also been pleased with my Rena XP-2 and with my Penguin 330 Bio-Wheel, which are both reasonably good at what they do best (Rena = mechanical, Penguin = bio ) in relation to the price.
 
Penguin and emperor, you can not do better for water quality than having a bio-wheel filter.

:hang:
 
AquaClear... I love them. I've had a AC 200 on my original 10g goldfish tank for almost 6yrs now. The pump even stopped a couple times when I hadnt cleaned it for a while, but i would just clean it out good then it would just start back up. I now keep up good with the cleaning, which is sooooooo easy, and I do more regularly about when I do my water changes. You cant beat the price, and the tanks stay so nice and clear. Everyone comments on how clean they always look, even with almost all of them being planted. :bowing:
 
My favorite is the new Millenium Series by Marineland. I think their great power filters for small applications. The problem is that it is somewhat hard to find their filter bags in LFS's.
 
I started out cheap with 2 different whisper hang on types, and have went through all of them in under 2 years. If your not going to clean em weekly then forget em.

I have a Penguin 330 dual bio wheel on my brackish tank and it seems to work good plus has 2 media containers. But with the large bio load in that tank it clogs quickly and I have to constantly clean it.

In my largest tank - 75g planted - I went with canister so as to not disturb the surface (for max CO2 retention). I got the Rena Filstar XP3 because it was rated pretty high in my research and also one of the cheapest canisters. I bought it for $95 onsale and it works pretty good, and has some big baskets for customizing filter media. Never had any problems with it yet. Runs very quiet. Though much more expensive I wonder how well the Eheim wet/dry cannisters are? Anyone use them?
 
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