canister filter suggestions?

[gourami_kid]

I have decided to go canister on my stocked 46g, the hob filters i have are noisy and a little unsightly. I have been doing quite a bit of reading but have heard the goods and bads for just about everything and can't make a decision, so i could use some help. What is the best option and why?

[Lady Hobbs]

I have two of the Fluvals 305 and like them a lot. Silent and they have 3 baskets for keeping media separate.

Before buying anything, check online to get better prices and even on Ebay. (watch their shipping charges, tho)

[gourami_kid]

thx for the quick reply lady hobbs, have you ever had any problems with urs? I'm most concerned with long term reliability

[johnl]

I've been running three Rena xp's for almost two years without a hitch. Their inexpensive, quite, easy to setup, and easy to maintain. I love em'

Kens Fish has some very good prices on them.

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[gourami_kid]

i've heard that the rena's are a bit of a pain to prime, is that true in ur case john?

[Fishalicious]

I'm a Eheim gal .... never had any problems with any of them and have even had one running for 8 years now without hiccups

[johnl]

i've heard that the rena's are a bit of a pain to prime, is that true in ur case john?

Not that I'm aware of never had any problems with mine they prime and start with no problem.

[gourami_kid]

Not that I'm aware of never had any problems with mine they prime and start with no problem.

thats good to hear, i may wind up getting one of them then

I'm a Eheim gal .... never had any problems with any of them and have even had one running for 8 years now without hiccups

fishalicious what series of eheim do you use? I've heard quite a few horror stories about eheim pro 2's having bad leaking problems after extended use

[cocoa_pleco]

fluval 305

[gourami_kid]

fluval 305

well that was certainly definitive lol, i assume you've had very little issue with them

[Fishalicious]

fishalicious what series of eheim do you use? I've heard quite a few horror stories about eheim pro 2's having bad leaking problems after extended use

I have Eheims from all series... the Pro 2 series 2028 is one of my favorites and never had issues but then that is just my experience... also have pro 3 series as well as the old series

[gourami_kid]

ok thx for all the info everyone, i think i might go with the fluval 305, the eheims are just too expensive and the fluval seems like the best bang for my buck

[Lady Hobbs]

I was going to get a Rena because I've heard they work well, too, but with one Fluval, decided to stay with the same model so I would have parts that could interchange with each other. I felt it unwise to have 3 or 4 filters all different.

[gourami_kid]

thats smart thinking lady hobbs :c3:

[Holyvision]

I use Rena XP series.

[terrapin24h]

i posted a similar thread a while back. The popular choice of the board seems to be a fluval or rena. Another fav was the penn plax cascade series too. My personal choice was the marineland c220 due to its zero bypass design. Like lady hobbs i will eventually get another one of what ever i bought so im still mulling the decision myself. My only complaint with the 220 is that is doesn't have a flow control of any kind

--chris

[W_Oz]

I'd certainly not deswade you from getting a Fluval, but I would also like to suggest the Penn Plax Cascade canisters if you're on a bit of a budget.

[Commodore 64]

I dont' think you can go wrong with Rena, Fluval, Eheim, Marineland, or Cascades, really. I'd just get what is locally available and cheapest.

I have a Fluval 305, BTW, first one I got leaked out of the bottom (strange), so I had to return it...was glad I could just run down the road to a LFS to exchange it rather than RMA the thing to an online retailer.

I'm not familiar with the others, but I've read of people using a funnel to prime Eheims and Renas...seems like a royal PITA to me. Fluvals prime nice and easy with the little priming pump they have.

[gourami_kid]

just lettin you guys know that i did get the fluval 305 and i love it, completely silent and does an outstanding job of filtering for a fairly cheap price. I ordered mine at petsolutions.com for $120, and they were fantastic to deal with, my order came in just 3 days