canister question

[terrapin24h]

hey all--
I've been thinking about getting a canister filter for my 30 gal tank. Currently i have a HOTB emperor that's running well, but i was thinking a canister filter would grant me more flexibility in terms of media use and be a little easier to hide. I'm looking at 3 models: the Marineland Magnum 350Pro, the marineland C220, and a fluval 305. In the future, i plan on getting another tank prob in the 50-75 gallon range(it'll be FW like my 30) and would like to use the same model filter on that tank too so i only have 1 set of parts/media to buy. I like the media trays on the c220, but love the biowheels of the 350pro, as well as the micron cartridge and the fact that it is close to a zero-bypass design. Also, i can buy a neat gravel vac attachment for it. Plus it has the shut off valves with flow control/quick disconnects. Anyone have any opinions on these? I want something that will be easy to work on, and not messy to clean, as my current tanks are in our den and the new one is going to be in a finished 1/2 of our garage that we are rebuilding into a office/entry/mud room. The ability to pick the canister up and carry to a sink to clean it is therfore a must, without having to do a bunch of disconnects etc. I realize the magnum and fluval would be over-overkill for my 30 gal but am willing to accept that. I tend to over build things anyway :) I have to admit that i am considering overstocking a bit if i get a larger canister filter. I would probably add numbers to each pack of fish i currently have(rosy barbs, guppies, platys, and tetras, maybe 1 more dwarf gourami-i have 1 currently-) A snail or two is in my future as well. Let me know what you think, esp if you have used any of the models im looking into, thanks!

--chris

[Lady Hobbs]

Of those you mentioned, Fluval 305 would be a definate.

[duce]

yep:19: :19:

[Demjor19]

I have a magnum 350 that i don't even use...it's given me nothing but problems. I hear the Fluval 305's are great though. I would vote for the 305.

[mtg]

Look at the Rena xp series as well. I have heard that they are sturdier than the fluvals. I have a magnum 250 that I use for water polish with the micron cartridge. I like it for that purpose, but it is loud and tricky to prime without trapped air (more noise). I am glad I dont run it all the time. I also think they just have too many parts for my taste. A simple canister cant be beat.

I have an eheim 2217 as well and love it. Super quiet and a great performer. But it doesnt have the bells and whistles of others canisters. It doesnt self prime and has no media baskets. But it is a good one I think.

[toddnbecka]

The reviews I've seen for the Marineland C220 looked good, seems to be a little better quality than the fluval. If I was in the market for a new canister I'd try one out, I have 2 fluvals (304/305) and an Eheim now. My main gripe w/fluvals is the tabs on the impeller cover break too easily. Unless you really need to take the impeller out for cleaning it's best to leave the cover alone.
The biowheels aren't really as great as some folks seem to think. Just about any suitable size filter has plenty of media for bacteria to grow on. The biowheels on aquarium filters actually revolve much too quickly to be effective like the larger ones used in commercial water treatment facilities.
As long as the filter has adjustable flow, go for the larger model if you plan to use it on other/larger tanks later.

[jimcurt99]

I have an old school 305 on my 30 gallon that I've been using since 1992- no promlems at all. That being said, my 55 has a Rena XP3 that I absolutely LOVE.
It has all kinds of room for media, it's quiet and it has the best disconnect system I've ever seen +built in handles for carrying.

[duce]

but money wise its only a little more and u can get a 405 which is a great filter , more media compartments

[terrapin24h]

The rena, i'll have to look into it. My boss had an 03 or 04 model and had the same problems with the impeller cover. Because it broke and the locking tabs broke he swore he'd never buy another. However, he has just setup a 47 gallon reef and bought off ebay...a 305. He loves it, and says they fixed all the issues he had with the old model. One of the things i like about it is that the trays are not used up by coarse filter media, like they appear to be in the rena. With the rena, it looks like I would need 3 trays, one for coarse, one for fine(floss), and one for bio, and they look to be a bit priceier as a result. Each filter has something i like. Keep the opinions coming!

[nwnittany]

Terrapin,

FWIW (not much, lol) I got an XP3 for my 45 and love it. Easy to setup (aside from the damn hoses) and use and lotsa room for media.

From what I've read, most of the canister filters are adequate and it basically boils down to personal preference.

It's a great idea to buy two of the same for parts/media reasons...

[W_Oz]

I'd toss in another vote for the Fluval and add a recommendation for a Pen Plax Cascade series canister as well if you're on a little bit of a budget.

[tanks4thememories]

Fluval Rocks!!

[terrapin24h]

it's kinda driving me a bit bonkers. I like the 305, but i also really like the c220 from marineland, but it doesn't appear to have any flow control. The magnum does, the fluval does, as does the eheim. I dunno, i'll have to flop around a bit more i guess :)

--chris

[terrapin24h]

I'd toss in another vote for the Fluval and add a recommendation for a Pen Plax Cascade series canister as well if you're on a little bit of a budget.

All of the filters i mentioned are in the price range, remember i'll be buying another in the near-ish future. That being said, that penn plax looks nice too and has some good reviews on petco. Can you tell me a bit about your experience with'm? thx

--chris

[toddnbecka]

Check e-bay for some good buys on used filters, whichever brand you decide on.

[W_Oz]

All of the filters i mentioned are in the price range, remember i'll be buying another in the near-ish future. That being said, that penn plax looks nice too and has some good reviews on petco. Can you tell me a bit about your experience with'm? thx

--chris


I'm running a Penn Plax Cascade 1500 on my 55 right now and I'm more than happy with it. There's lots of room for media, quiet, and really nothing as far as maintenance or anything else is any more or less difficult than any other canister I've messed with in the past. The only complaint I have with it is "lack of accessories" like you'd have with a Fluval or other more prominent canister filter manufacturer.

[mxman311]

hey all--
I've been thinking about getting a canister filter for my 30 gal tank. Currently i have a HOTB emperor that's running well, but i was thinking a canister filter would grant me more flexibility in terms of media use and be a little easier to hide. I'm looking at 3 models: the Marineland Magnum 350Pro, the marineland C220, and a fluval 305. In the future, i plan on getting another tank prob in the 50-75 gallon range(it'll be FW like my 30) and would like to use the same model filter on that tank too so i only have 1 set of parts/media to buy. I like the media trays on the c220, but love the biowheels of the 350pro, as well as the micron cartridge and the fact that it is close to a zero-bypass design. Also, i can buy a neat gravel vac attachment for it. Plus it has the shut off valves with flow control/quick disconnects. Anyone have any opinions on these? I want something that will be easy to work on, and not messy to clean, as my current tanks are in our den and the new one is going to be in a finished 1/2 of our garage that we are rebuilding into a office/entry/mud room. The ability to pick the canister up and carry to a sink to clean it is therfore a must, without having to do a bunch of disconnects etc. I realize the magnum and fluval would be over-overkill for my 30 gal but am willing to accept that. I tend to over build things anyway :) I have to admit that i am considering overstocking a bit if i get a larger canister filter. I would probably add numbers to each pack of fish i currently have(rosy barbs, guppies, platys, and tetras, maybe 1 more dwarf gourami-i have 1 currently-) A snail or two is in my future as well. Let me know what you think, esp if you have used any of the models im looking into, thanks!

--chris
I would go for the Cascade 1000. I have had one for a year now with no problems. Also it is on the tank in my master bedroom and doesnt make any sound at all. Very easy to clean and super easy to prime. Best of all I only paid 80 bucks for it shipped to my house off ebay.com

[labnjab]

I would go for the Cascade 1000. I have had one for a year now with no problems. Also it is on the tank in my master bedroom and doesnt make any sound at all. Very easy to clean and super easy to prime. Best of all I only paid 80 bucks for it shipped to my house off ebay.com


I second that, I've had one for a month on my 55 goldfish tank. Is good for a 100 gallon tank and does an awesome job of cleaning. My tank was bare bottom until recently and the bottom was always clean, never had to vacuum it. Also very quiet, almost too quiet, i have to put my hand on it to see if its running. It comes with carbon, lots of filter floss, and a sponge.

[nwnittany]

Terrapin,

Which one did you end up getting ?

[terrapin24h]

still thinking :)

It was a nice weekend here, so i was out on the boat(after having to work on it, lol). Right now i'm leaning towards the cascade and the fluval. If the marineland c220 had flow control, i'd get that. I'm pretty good at plastic fabrication, so any accessories i wanted i could probably make(i'm thinking of making a vac attachment for it actually). Being on the lake actually got me thinking about my new big tank. This lake has bass, blue gill, FW clams, etc and i was thinking it might be cool to do a "lake" tank. So many choices :)

--chris