Best filter for freshwater planted tank?

[SouthernGal0682]

I currently have a Marineland 200 Biowheel for my 38gal planted tank. Its making me crazy. Its kinda loud and it often has problems with losing its prime (even after its been cleaned). I have been thinking about replacing it so I wanted to get some opinions on what might be the best option for my tank (HOB vs. canister). Also, which brands do you recommend? Thanks!

[Ellen4God]

I've heard many people recommend AquaClear filters. I think this will be my next filter. I have a biowheel at the moment as well, but it's doing pretty good so far. Once it gets testy, I'll get an AC.

I'm sure other people will give you more detailed responses though. This is just what I've read. :)

[doug z]

You could get an AquaClear 110..

I hear they're pretty quiet, and are the HOB's to get..

Or you could get a cannister filter.. They're a better filtration device than the HOB's..

Best Brands are the Eheim, Rena, and Fluval filters..

Whatever brand you get, just make sure they're good up to at least twice the size of your tank (80g)

[cocoa_pleco]

id say a fluval 305 if youre looking for a canister, AC110 for a HOB

[Fishguy2727]

If you have plants you usually want to keep CO2 in the water so you want minimal surface agitation, this leads you to a canister. I recommend Fluvals, unless you want to spend the money on the higher end Eheims.

[smaug]

You can never go wrong with a rena xp-2.Canisters are your best bet for a planted tank or really for any tank for that matter.As was mentioned by another member you want to keep surface agitation to a minimum to avoid losing co2.

[SouthernGal0682]

Thanks! I really think I am going to go ahead and step up to the canister when I replace my noisy HOB. I have read on the internet in a few places that you still have to run a biowheel to continue the biological filtration. Is this true? Are there any canisters that offer biological filtration also?

[sailor]

Thanks! I really think I am going to go ahead and step up to the canister when I replace my noisy HOB. I have read on the internet in a few places that you still have to run a biowheel to continue the biological filtration. Is this true? Are there any canisters that offer biological filtration also?

That statement is false. Any canister can offer good biological filtration, it just depends on how you set up your filter media. All the major brands have a good filter media for the biological needs of your filter system. Which ever 1 you choose run it about a month with your current filter still in place in your aquarium to ensure it is fully seeded.

[Fishguy2727]

Run the HOB for a couple weeks after you add the canister. Almost all of your nitrifying bacteria are in the Biowheel and the canister will need to be seeded. After that if you are going to remove the HOB, put the Biowheel in the water for a couple weeks. This will mean that all your nitrifying bacteria will still be in the tank, but submerged so they will start to develop other media. Even with the canister and HOB running together for a couple weeks, most of your nitrifying bacteria will still be on the Biowheel, so you can't just remove it all at once.

[smaug]

That statement is false. Any canister can offer good biological filtration, it just depends on how you set up your filter media. All the major brands have a good filter media for the biological needs of your filter system. Which ever 1 you choose run it about a month with your current filter still in place in your aquarium to ensure it is fully seeded.
Sailor said it all,ditto.

[xoolooxunny]

Go with a canister filter, you'll be glad you did. Depending on how well-planted your tank is compared to how many/size of fish, depends on how much filter you need. For example, I have a 75g with a big plants, a powerhead, and a handful of small community fish, so obviously i don't need excessive filtration.

It also depends on how much you are willing to spend. I suggest doing a lot of shopping around for best price keeping in mind the brands in this thread. filters can vary (from what i've seen) up to 50 bucks from store to store for the same one - that includes online.

[SouthernGal0682]

I would have never thought to keep the HOB running for a while...thanks!

I started shopping around this evening. Went to Petsmart and a LFS and saw Rena, Fluval, and Marineland. They ranged in price from $119.99 to $159.99 with Rena being the cheapest and Fluval the most expensive. I'm going to make a trip to my "trusted" LFS this week (hopefully) and get their input, but from what I have gathered on here Fluval and Rena are the best. I'm shopping around on the internet too :thumb:

[A340]

If you have plants you usually want to keep CO2 in the water so you want minimal surface agitation, this leads you to a canister. I recommend Fluvals, unless you want to spend the money on the higher end Eheims.
I'm going to agree with Fishguy on this one. I've been on holiday in Germany for the last couple of weeks and been spending lots of time in various pet stores. I've seen the most amazing planted tanks here and they all have filtration systems that offer a nice flow of water yet don't produce very much surface agitation. Being the curious person I am, I always took a peek at the equipment they were running. Mostly all Rena or Ehim and to a lesser degree, Fluval. Not to say Fluvals are any less superior then others. I'll probably be getting myself the Fluval 105 for a 10g tank I have that is going to be a heavily planted tank mainly because Fluval parts and filter media is very popular where I live, other manufacturers I'd have to get shipped.

Currently, I have an AC110 on my 29g planted tank and absolutely love the filter. For a HOB filter, there is no question, AquaClear is the way to go. But after looking at the European tanks here and talking to people who are truly masters in aquatic plants, the AC110 provides to much surface agitation which virtually makes a CO2 system useless.

[SouthernGal0682]

You know, I tried CO2 in my tank and saw absolutely no results, so I stopped using it...but I'm thinking now that I didn't see results because my of my HOB...hmmmm:rolleyes:

[A340]

You know, I tried CO2 in my tank and saw absolutely no results, so I stopped using it...but I'm thinking now that I didn't see results because my of my HOB...hmmmm:rolleyes:
To be honest, I've never used a CO2 indicator system, so I never know what my CO2 levels actually are. :14: Also, my CO2 system from Red Sea isn't the most reliable, but from what I've heard over the couple of weeks is that too much service agitation will rapidly diminish your CO2 levels.

My plant growth has been pretty good, but not optimal. First thing I'm doing when I get back is adding a CO2 indicator kit to see what my actual level is.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

the Fluval 405 is $199.99 at BigAls but you can bid on ebay for around $100....

I'm also looking for a canister filter for my summer project but just can't decide.

[YankyTexan]

FWIW - I have an Eheim 400 l/h that I have been running continuously for over 20 years. I clean it once a year whether it needs it or not LOL.

Daniel

[YankyTexan]

FWIW - I have an Eheim 400 l/h that I have been running continuously for over 20 years. I clean it once a year whether it needs it or not LOL.

Daniel

[Fishguy2727]

They need to be cleaned out more often than that, way more often. Even if it is not clogged and will still run, the filter does not actually clean the water for you, it only traps the debris for you, making it easier to remove. You still have to do that. Leaving the debris in that long leads to it breaking down into nitrates, causing them to be a lot higher than what they should and could be at. Since you want to keep nitrates to a minimum letting this buildup happen (sometimes to the point of a tank crash) is not good at all. Every filter should be cleaned monthly, Eheim is no exception.

[SouthernGal0682]

Got a Marineland C-Series 220. Came highly recommended from the owner of a LFS. JUST got it running :)

[Fishguy2727]

They are not bad. One of the few customers that have bought them so far had to get parts replaced because it stopped working. If I bought another it would be a Fluval.

[SouthernGal0682]

Well I am hoping for the best.

[doug z]

Marineland's are good..

Better are Eheim, Rena's and Fluvals, but whatever works..

So knock on wood, and hold on to that receipt! LOL

[SouthernGal0682]

Yeah, its funny how everybody automatically goes for a particular name. It was in the same price range and the Renas and Fluvals also.

Anyway, its only been running for about 12 hours and I already see a difference in the tank...looks a lot cleaner. AND it is absolutely silent....ahhhhh:19:

[SouthernGal0682]

p.s. Check this out...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[doug z]

Well there ya go..

You can rest easy.. :)

[SouthernGal0682]

thumbs2: Yessss!!

[Bobo the Clown Loach]

I went from a biowheel to a cannister. I got a PennPlax Cascade 700. It's a great filter and does an amazing job in my planted tank. I would recommend going to a cannister. And then I read the post above. Good to hear it's working out for you!