Does anyone use canister filters?

[Lilly]

Just wondering why I haven't read about the use of canister filters on the site? I use them as a place for BB. I have sponge filters as well. I open the canisters every 2 weeks to rinse the pads and the media in tank water...I use Seachem Matrix .... even with the large daily water changes and vac ;)
Also have a sump on the tank! I keep the heaters and sponge filter in the sump.

Love to hear what you think....:D

[sdrexler078]

There are a lot of people who use just sponges cause it's easier. I used to use a canister but once you have 6 or more tanks it becomes a hassle to clean. but there are still a good amount of people who use them. There's nothing wrong with canister filters just that sponge filters are easier to clean

[DiscusLoverJeff]

I use canisters on my big tanks (110, 95, 90). When you can't change that type of volume everyday, I rely on the canisters (use sponges too) to help with the bio-load.

Maybe down the road I might link all my tanks into 1 large sump, but this works for me.

[adapted]

A good quiet cansiter filter is nothing to sneeze at. I use an Eheim 2217 mainly for feeding a UV sterilizer and I like it, but I also like my sump, sponges and AC110.

[Lilly]

Thank you for the reply everyone. ;)

[YSS]

I have three running on my 265G and one on my 90G with two AC110s.

[DISCUS STU]

I use Eheims in circuit feeding UV sterilizers. The first Eheim has all the filter media, the second one has all the bio media, they this feeds into UV sterilizer. This is for my 90, 60, and 55. I clean the first parts every month. They nice and quiet, and reliable, but it's always a good idea to have a spare impeller in case one of them goes.

[jim LI]

I have 2 - 2217 eheims i use on my 72 gallon bow front..they work great and really quiet.

[dragon1974]

Had an fx5 on my 125 gal and loved it. Now I've moved up in the world of discus and have a sump LOL. I like the eheim classics and yes they are quiet. Sometimes I have to put my hand into the water just to be sure they are working.
If money isn't an option then go eheim + eheim media, but if you want bang for the buck then go fx5 or 6.

[aalbina]

Yes - I've had a Fluval on my 55 for 3 years. Only media in it is ceramic bio filtration. I have a pre-filter sponge on the intake and a spraybar on the output line. I run a UV filter on the output line as well.

Adam

[ronald sherman]

I have too say I have used canister for year's most brand's but I have too admit I have the 2 and have a aqua-clear and it's so simple and fast too clean 1 used 1 went bad and just today I ordered from ken a aqua-clear for about 75.00

[AquaMike]

I do! 2 fluval 306 for my 100 gallon. I too out the carbon and use only bio foam and bio media.

[OC Discus]

I use a magnum 350 with micron filter surrounded by 4 purigen pouches on my 55g. Does an awesome job of polishing the water. I also use two whisper hob filters and one airstone in the tank.

[xmas_dude]

I use eheim 2217 on my 55G BB discus tank. Have 2 Hydro Pro IV sponges in there as well. I clean the canister filter media every 3 months and Sponges every month in rotation. Agree on the fact that Sponges way easier to maintain, but I like the mechanical filtration (in addition to the bio filtration) I am getting with the canister.

Sunil

[ericNH]

I use 2 magnum 350s on my 125 gallon. One has a filtersleeve and bioballs, the other has a filter sleeve over a water-polisher core, with the outflow runnning over 2 bio-wheels. They work great! And having 2 of them is convenient, because I stagger the cleaning, insuring that I always have one running with maximum bio-filtration.

[OC Discus]

The magnum 350 has been around a long time and has a great track record. I've been very satisfied with it.

[klannin]

I have an fx5 on my 150. Hopefully that is enough to keep my discus happy and healthy!

[zergling]

I use a Rena Filstar XP4 canister filters with a Hydor 300W Inline Heater for my 64g tank. Inside the filter I have Fluval Pre-Filter media, API Filstar 20ppi and 30ppi foam, Seachem Purigen, and filter floss.

[voiceinthedesert]

I've used a Fluval on my 90 with no trouble. I only use the ceramic biopellet things and the sponges.

[jds1990]

I've had my share of canister filters and they're a pain to clean they do help clear the water and provide great filtration but a sump is so much more effective and waay easier to maintain. My main reason I quit using them is because they would break a year later. I used the Marineland model c360 and the aquatop cf500uv. I used both on my 100g but I loooooovvveee my sump.

[kris2341]

IMO, the best canister filter in terms of ease of use and maintenance from what I have used is the Rena/API Filstar line because it runs pretty good as far as volume, and is relatively cheap.

since the pads are simply squares, it is very easy to cut your own pads for it and not have to worry about water bypassing the pads.

The quick disconnect from the canister body makes pulling it out and putting it back in fast and easy.

from the Rena, I went to an Aquatop CF-500 which is essentially a rebranded Sunsun which does have its share of popularity among users due to its cheap price and built in UV. I personally like it, its got a lot of space, strong flow, and the UV is a nice touch to keep algae down (but not very good for anything else). For 80-120 bucks, its a nice deal, it also has a quick disconnect from the canister to make servicing it quick and easy. Not sure on reliability though but i mainly like it due to flow, features, and price.

But cutting pads for that canister is downright ANNOYING so if you already have a UV sterilizer, or do not wish to use one, id go with a API Filstar XP-XL

I've also used Eheim, Fluval, Via Aqua and other canisters over the years but none of them really left a real impression like these two. Classic Eheims are plenty reliable, I also have had experience maintaining maintaining the Eheim professional 3 series, but it doesnt seem worth the price to me IMO.

FX5/FX6 canisters are powerful and can hold a lot of junk but proper maintenance means to keep the junk to a minimum anyways and they felt rather cumbersome.

I would rather have 2 XP-XLs since they are everything a basic canister needs and no gimmicks.

If i wasnt restrained to the topic of canisters, sump all the way! but a canister on a mature planted tank is very effective, stable and quiet.

My main system uses a miracle mud sump with valisneria growing in it and it is surprisingly good! the tank is very heavily planted though so maybe that's the real stabilizer there.

[zonkkie]

I'm using an eheim 2080. It's very quiet and I like the dual inlets.

[jds1990]

I run two green killing machines the larger models in my sump. They are pretty much a sponge filter with a uv light built in. They help keep my sump clean and clear and suck up and particles that can get by. I had the cf500uv and still do but my lower model broke pump motor went out same with my Marineland. Hope you have better luck with them than me I was obsessed with them till I got my sump and I've been very very satisfied since. I also put my tank heaters in there which helps regulate the temp better and prevent any injuries to my fish.

[beerocks]

Something thats definitely helped me and might help you is getting a Y-filter that people use for garden hoses and just attach it somewhere along the intake hose so it collects the nasties before it gets into your filter and you can just attach a ball valve in front of the y-filter to keep siphon and rinse out the mesh on the inside and since it only takes minutes to do you can do it daily. So the only reason you have to go into your filter is when you feel the medias are clogging from bb. I grew out 6 discus from juvenile feeding 4-5 times a day in a bb and maintained a clean bottom doing this setup on a sunsun 304b

[Jack Goh]

I used both sponge filters and cainster with my tank. I found the tank water with canister is more clear and clean compare to the tank without. If you're feeding heart meal then best to cover the intake of canister pipe with cloth.

[Rico04]

I use eheim 2217 and a JHW302 in my 55gallon but replace the carbon with ammonia remover pouches from aqua clear. They clear the water as well as help with the bio load. Pretty quiet and easy to maintain.

[mattgru]

I've been using fluval 406 and 306 on my 90 gallon tank. I saw couple people take the carbon out. Can someone explain what the benefit is on doing that?

[farebox]

Used Filstar XP 3 and Fluval FX 5 filters on my 125g, but went to an DIY sump, and never go back to a canister filter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[vanslam]

I use fluvial 306 on my tanks