Question about filter choice

[Tim]

I have a 55 gallon planted tank. I want to buy a new canistar filter.
Can anyone recommend which of these is the best bet?

Eheim Filter 2213

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals RENA Filstar XP 2

Fluval 304

Via Aqua Canister Filter 300

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tim

[328iGuy]

Eheim is the best make of cannister filter you can buy hands down.  I wouldn't trade any of my Eheims for anything else on the market, very quiet, very reliable and least amount of maintenance.

Go with Eheim!  

[BigDaddy]

I have a 2213 on my heavily planted 75 gallon, and I'm 100% content with it.

[Aiglos]

For the price do they do that much better of a job then a HOB filter ? Chances are you would recommend to someone with a 55 gallon tank to buy a cannister filter for sure, but would you recommend someone who is already using a HOB filter and has invested the money into them to switch and buy a cannister filter ? They seem to be pretty expensive when a 50$ HOB filter does the job.

[BigDaddy]

It's a question of how often you want to do filter cleanings.

My heavily planted tank would have the HOB clogged up with detritus in no time flat... I was rinsing mulm out of the sponges weekly.

A canister filter, on the other hand, can easily go months without needing any maintenance whatsoever.

[Tim]

I think I have decided on the Fluval 404 as I can get it used for a decent price. Any comments on this filter?

[dandaman]

Hey bigdaddy, you seem to know alot about cannister filters.
What is so good about them, what do they do , what the difference between the and what i have, a biowheel or ac.?
Why are they so expenseive?
thanks,

[BigDaddy]

well, I am not an expert on canister filters.. I've only ever owned Eheim.

You get what you pay for.  A HOB will not provide the kind of biological filtration a canister will - good if you have high waste fish (i.e. goldfish) or a large bioload

A HOB relies on multiple passes of water through the media to clean it - that's why GPH is so important with HOBs - not so with canisters - one pass is usually 10x more effective than 10 passes through a HOB

Plus, canisters don't take up room behind the tank... under instead.  Means you don't have to have your tank sticking 6 inches way from the wall if you don't want to.

[Pisidan]

I use one of each on my planted..and find that the canister does better it doesnt clog as much and doesnt need to be cleaned very often like a HOB...But if you r in a money crunch HOB's are your best bet...You just have to watch them and do a little more maintence on them..but hey I find thats part of the fun of having Aquariums..but if I could I would definetly go with a Canister when I put one on my 55 it made the water crystal clear in less than 24 which my HOB (Aquaclear) did not!!

[slickshooter]

The fluval 404 is a good choice at full price and even better if you get a cheaper price used........search on here for a topic I started called
" Filtration Filtration Filtration" it was a few months ago maybe it'll help
I've had no issues with my 404.

[ambushman2j]

Fluval 304 would be sufficient, out of Fluval, Marineland 350 prosystem and emperor 400, fluval has eclipsed both in performance for me no question hands down destroyed the other two.