Hi all. I'm looking for advise on canister filters. I have a 70 gallon tank, no plants, currently housing a Clown Knife fish @ 20 inches long and 2 plecos. I will be adding 3-6 Tinfoil Barbs in the near future. (as soon as they're large enough and I'm sure that they're healthy) My Millennium filter just kicked the bucket recently, and we're looking to get a canister filter. I would like to keep it as chap as possible for now, as we also have to look into getting a new hood soon. I'm wondering what the advise is. We've looked at Fluval 303 vs 304 vs 304 vs 404, and I don't really know the difference. Also been looking at Eheim. I would appreciate any advise y'all can give. Thank you!
Which filter to get?
- Thread starter daberlen80
- Start date
I've been extremly happy with my Eheim 2026. It runs silently, does a great job, and I expect it to last forever.
If I were you, I would gow with HOBs as they are better for mechanical filtration which you will need more than anything with those fish. Something like 2 AC 500s or an AC500 and a 300.
My issue with filters that hang on the back (I'm assuming that HOB means that) is that the water level tends to dip quickly, as we have a very dry house, and then it's very noisy. It's also very time-consuming to clean an has to be cleaned quite often and many that I've owned use expensive, non-reusable filtering elements. I'll admit that I don't know much about canisters, as I've never owned one, but we really would like to stick with a canister from what I've heard about them. Thanks for the reply! I really appreciate it! Keep 'em comin' 
For quality products that give excellent mechanical and biological filtration, as well as offer unsurpassed flexibility in optional uses------go with 1 Eheim 2026 Plus Kit (includes media), and one AC500 hang on filter. Buy one extra filter pad for the AC500 and you will never have to buy any additional media for your filters again. Everything in these filters is "rinse and re-usable"! NO MORE EXPENSIVE FILTER PADS! These filters are considered the top in their classes, and can be expected to operate for at least 10 years (or better) with minor periodic upkeep. Rinse the filter pads in the AC500 often though!
That being said, I just want to say that that two quality filters would be the minimum filtration I'd use on a tank that size since you will be HIGHLY overstocked! If you skimp on costs and get cheap equipment, you can expect to lose your fish when they fail to operate. 3 adult Tinfoil Barbs alone are more than enough fish mass in that size tank, but with plecos (massive poop factories) even they will look crowded! I'm not even going to get started with a 20" Ghost Knife, which has NO PLACE in a tank this small, even all by itself. Best of wishes to you.
That being said, I just want to say that that two quality filters would be the minimum filtration I'd use on a tank that size since you will be HIGHLY overstocked! If you skimp on costs and get cheap equipment, you can expect to lose your fish when they fail to operate. 3 adult Tinfoil Barbs alone are more than enough fish mass in that size tank, but with plecos (massive poop factories) even they will look crowded! I'm not even going to get started with a 20" Ghost Knife, which has NO PLACE in a tank this small, even all by itself. Best of wishes to you.
I have an XP2 & an XP3 currently running on a 100 gal. cichlid tank and think they are the best filter in their class for the money.
I would get an emperor 400 and an aquaclear 500. No canister is going to be as good as an emperor when it comes to biological filtration. Maybe a magnum, you can get those with a bio-wheel too.
I'd Go with a Rena Filstar xp-3 as well.
I used to have a HOB on my 29 and recently switched to a xp-1. Ill never go back.
I used to have a HOB on my 29 and recently switched to a xp-1. Ill never go back.
I would go with the Filstar XP-3. Mine does a great job on my cichlid tank. I have a both this filter and a 3 other Fluval 404's. IMHO the Filstar beats them hands down.