Which Filter? Need advice

Why not get the best of all worlds and get the only canister HOB made which runs circles around Power filters for about the same price. The Sunsun would be good but it wont get your water polished crystal clear like a Magnum 250 and it circumference dual micron filter technology. Also the Mag 250 uses only 7 Watts of power.:grinyes:
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3597
p-321033-48819P-fish.jpg


Hmm don't know how I passed that one up. Those are bulky though aren't they? Have you had any experience with this one? ty for bringing that to my attention by the way =]:duh:
 
Once you get used to properly using it and cleaning it youll be able to chnage the filter without removing it from the back by popping the lid. Youll love the option of polishing with its free cartridge if you need the thank to really sparkle for arriving guest and it ability to clean a tank fast.

But if you don't mind having a less then crystal tank and have no interest in micron polishing filter options and prefer caveman-like easy operation, then the Mag 250 is not for you. In that case buy a Sunsun 304 for $43, it does as good a job as any high-end, big-name basket canister costing hundreds more.
 
The Hagen AquaClears are my favorites. I usually go with the next size bigger filter than what they claim they will handle. For example: a AC30 on a 15G aquarium, a AC 70 up to a 35-40G aquarium and a AC110 on 55G, after than I start using multiple filters on a tank.

As far as the cheap external canisters go, I like Odyssea and Jebo. They can be had cheap enough on ebay, other outlets and even locally to me. I find I can have 2-4 for the same price as other "name brand" filters.
 
i have all the above mentioned filters except the fosters brand,..
i personally wouldn't go with the emperor, it a pain in the you know,.. losses its prime when power goes off and needs re primed pain if your not home,.. and water level is low due to evaporation

penguins great,.. no complaints

aqua clears are great if you use them modded like cogunner has them,.. if not they are a pain to keep clean if you don't they pop up out of canister,..

fosters looks good but no experience,...

sun sun i have and never looked at lt since great little filter for the money,..

hot mag is great also but when really dirty flow slows down, but only after a while... i have 3

depending on your stocking level and time you spend to cleaning filters
all will be great,..

if you want a set it and forget it filter
as i forget to do maintenance when i need to,..
I'd go with a sun sun, or penguin double or hot mag,.. or modded ac

if using regular hob penguin or emperor, or fosters get double volume tank size if you can,..
and use the imagine inserts they save you money,.. i use the clam shell with just walmart quilting batting,.. very easy to cut to fit the clamshell,..

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11352&rel=1

as said before i own all but the fosters filter and speaking from what i have delt with,.. not what i've heard,..

and i want to forget the filters,.. and emperor filters clog and flow slows and i have a penguin 350 on my 90 goldfish tank along with an ac1000 and a sunsun and ac is always full but since modding it the flow still goes on,.. and the penguin is still running great even though it catches tons of litteral crap,.. and the sun sun is still runn good,.. so all i can say is my filters take a beating,.. and the issues are only with what was stated,..

i hate to mess with filters,.. i do it when i want to,....... not when running out the door and i hear a filter whinning to be cleaned wa wa wa,..
just saying,..;)
 
I have to go with Gunner and the HOT mag on this one. I currently have 3 of them and have never had an issue with them. They combine the efficiency of a canister filter but are super easy to clean and do maintenance on.
 
AquariaCentral.com