Help! Which Canister?

**4Mike** · 02-22-2013, 03:14 PM

The PV tubes were about 4ft high so they contained lots of filter medium,

**ameliaaahx** · 03-07-2013, 10:37 PM

Thanks for all your help, guys! Thought I'd give you an update on what I've ended up deciding on. I got a big fat cheque for my Birthday so my budget has grown considerably.

I've decided to do a complete filtration overhaul and completely ditch the Eheim 2215 on my 65g and the internal filters on both the 65g and 118g -- they take up too much room anyway.

I have decided to run the 65g with 2x Sunsun 302s, without the UV filter and both with 1000lph flowrate, giving me more than 8x turnover per hour -- double what I am getting now with the Eheim and the internal Juwel filter.

On the 118g I have decided on 2x Sunsun 304s with the UV as they don't stock the largest size without the UV. They will have a combined flowrate of 4000lph, giving me 8x turnover again.

I found a dealer who will give me these 4 canisters for $638, including all media and delivery -- that's cheaper than a new Fluval F5X.

The only problem this will then provide is that I will have buy new heaters. Even though they were a waste of space, I liked the way the Juwel internal filters hid the heaters away neatly out of sight. Still considering what to do here. I could continue to use the Juwel heaters but I feel they're old and probably in need a rest anyway.

So, any tips or objections to my new plan?

EDIT: Forgot to mention -- the guy who is selling these filters sold coral, filter wool and carbon as the "media". Seeing as I don't want coral or carbon I asked if he would switch them to ceramic media for me. He said he could swap to an Eheim media called Effi substrat that looks like cocoa puffs breakfast cereal. Can anyone give me any information on this, is it good? It looks like it would slow down the flowrate a lot to me because the little balls would all settle together. Any experience?

**Lady10Godiva** · 03-08-2013, 01:14 AM

The eheim media is a good option. I use it in a couple canisters and in a media bag in an hob. All my biomedia is the eheim stuff, seachem matrix, or the aquaclear biomedia.

I dont knoe how big the holes are in your filters baskets, but you should be able to run it without bags if you want.

And sidenote it is way more expensive than the matrix (the two are both sold in similar volumes). So you will get a lot of bag for your buck with it if he throws it in.

**Rocksor** · 03-08-2013, 01:18 AM

Eheim Efi substrat is fine as bio-media. There's no real way to determine if it is better than something like bio-max or Seachem matrix. I wouldn't worry about the flow rate too much using this media. It doesn't clog up like fine filter pads. The water will flow through the cracks of the media readily.

**jaysee** · 03-09-2013, 05:55 AM

All of my canisters are set up the same exact way. I use fluval ceramic prefilters as the fist stage of filtration. They trap large particles so that filter pads/sponge doesn't clog. I've found it to work well - well enough to add it to every other filter. After the pads/sponge, the rest is biomax. If I were to use carbon, it would be the final stage of filtration. Actually, it wouldn't even make it in the canister. I would run it in an HOB for ease of replacement.

**talldutchie** · 03-09-2013, 06:50 AM

Eheim makes 3 main types of bio media. The old style lava stone which is useless for most of us and two new sintered glass products:
http://www.eheim.com/en_GB/products/...dia/biological

Which are pretty good. The only product even better than that is JBL's Sintomec and Micromec. but I don't think those are on the market in Asia-pac.

**ameliaaahx** · 03-10-2013, 10:05 AM

Thanks for the information, guys. I have always been partial to the ceramic rings like the biomax stuff because I feel they would allow for better flow. However, I just openned up my Eheim 2215 and noticed that the stuff that's in there looks a lot like the SUBSTRATpro stuff in that link from Talldutchie. Not sure if it's just because it's only a 600lph model but I've never been thrilled with the flow rate of my Eheim -- it's good but not great. Now I'm wondering if it's because of the media.

**ameliaaahx** · 03-10-2013, 10:51 AM

I also have a couple of other questions for the Sunsun users out there...

1. Do they come with taps for easy cleaning? So you can disconnect the filter without water pouring everywhere?

2. Does it have an automatic primer and if not, how hard is it to prime?

3. What media DID your sunsuns come with?

**jaysee** · 03-11-2013, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by ameliaaahx

I also have a couple of other questions for the Sunsun users out there...

1. Do they come with taps for easy cleaning? So you can disconnect the filter without water pouring everywhere?

2. Does it have an automatic primer and if not, how hard is it to prime?

3. What media DID your sunsuns come with?

1. yes, there is a ball valve connection between the hoses and the filter head. From there you can move the filter to where you are going to clean it, leaving the intake and spraybar hoses and assemblies in place.

2. It has a pump you push in to prime. However, I never use any of the primers to refill my canisters. I manually do it with a pitcher. I fill it up high enough that when I clamp the head on, there's some water spillage. That ensures that there is no air in the filter, which can make an annoying gurgling sound (with any brand).

3. Some of mine came with "all" the media - mechanical, chemical and biological. The others just came with mechanical. It's been a while since I've shopped for one, but I think the ebay sellers no longer sell them with media. Regardless, I bought the media I wanted for them because I set my filters up a specific way. Even the ones that came with media did not come with enough for my liking.

**ameliaaahx** · 03-11-2013, 05:33 AM

Thanks jaysee -- it's very helpful to have a Sunsun expert on hand!

Apart from my Eheim which I got free with a tank I bought, I've never purchased and set up a canister filter for myself before. And I am both excited and nervous at the prospect!

My Eheim is just filled to the brim with media, a mixture of what looks like Eheim SubstratPRO and bioballs. It doesn't have baskets so it's just all thrown in. I'm not sure so far what media to put in my Sunsuns. I was always under the impression that the ceramic rings were bio-media for growing bacteria on, but now you tell me they're actually a mechanical media!

My bad.

So I'm not sure what to fill my trays with... I was thinking a course sponge in the bottom tray, then a fine wool or floss in the next one, and then fill the other 2 trays with maybe this -- http://www.trademe.co.nz/pets-animal...-570514386.htm