[jaida84]

*** never used a canister before..I only have a 75 so I've gotten away with not having to buy one...Im probably getting a 125gal within the week and have been researching options but was just looking for some personal opinions on which ones are the best.thanks

 

[rgr4475]

Enhiems, Marinelands C360, and fluvals get pretty high reviews around here. Check out the reveiws.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/reviews/category_display.php?CatID=104

 

[AquaTester55]

I have a Fluval 304 on my 29 Gallon. Size of the tank doesn't matter. Canisters are the way to go though. HOB have way to much bypass.

 

[AquaTester55]

I also have a Fluval Fx5 and a Rena Xp4. All of which are good filters.

 

[Nighthawk]

EHIEM!

When absolutely positively every fish in the tank has to live to a ripe old age by EHIEM! :lol:

 

[jaida84]

I see that the rena xp3 has good reviews..aside from the blue intakes. The enhiem classics are the only one in the budget when it comes to enhiems..Im about 70,000 in debt from school though so whats another couple hundred. Anyone have a Rena xp3? Is the xp4 a lot better then the 3? I dont see many reviews for it. I know newer often does not mean better. I only have about $150 to spend. I have two marineland bio-wheels (75gal each) to supplement the canister, but I would still like to turn over 4 times an hour. Thanks for the replies.

 

[thefish]

The only canister filter I've ever owned was a Filstar XP3. It works great and I only changed the media about once every 3 weeks, water was crystal clear. Quiet as **** too, I'm thinking of buying another for a 45 gallon tank I have.

 

[jaida84]

How much did you pay for the XP3 ? I see people saying they found it for < $100 the cheapest I found it so far was like $170.

 

[MightyM]

for 125g tank and on a low budget your best to go DIY wet/dry sump no canister at your budget will be as good.

 

[Kilpo]

I got mine off of ebay for $120 with shipping, right now the cheapest I see is at kensfish for $114.95 then you would need to add shipping. Also, with the xp3's you will still need to buy some media for it. You could go cheap and just get a bunch of pot scrubbers to add to it.

I have both the xp3 and a C-360, they are pretty close to the same although the C-360 doesn't come with a spray bar but does include more media. Both the xp3 and C-360 are very silent and work well. The xp3 is a bit easier to open up without any spill and to get started back up with the prime.

 

[F8LBITEva]

*** got a Cascade 1000, really quiet and really clear water. They go for about $75-$100

 

[Ispintechno]

I bought a fluval 304 maybe 7 years ago... I think. It has worked with not a single problem for me, still as quiet as the day I brought it home. I used to hear about people have parts break or leaking seal rings but for me its been perfect. The Enhiem canister filters where the cats meow back when I researched what was good but was out of my price range then.

 

[geoff_tropheus]

For a 125 gallon aquarium, I would get a

Eheim 2260 with a Eheim 2217

That would be awesome.

Geoff

 

[bones06]

I started out with the Eheim classic series and they are the quietest I have used.On my 180g I am still running 1 Eheim classic 2217 canister and recently put on a Fluval FX5. I am now very impressed with the new Fluval, this thing is a monster of a filter and has endless media possibilities. I am still Eheim loyal because I know they last forever, and still are as quiet as the day I bought them. I have my Eheim 2213 classic canister on my 55g qt/growout tank and it still does a great job. I would suggest you spend the extra money and get the Fluval FX5 if you can afford it. I got mine new off Ebay including shipping for just under $200.00 The only drawback that I think the Eheims have is they don't remove alot of solid waste floating in the water, but they are one of the best for biological filtration imo.

 

[Cich of it all]

Yeah, go with the 2217. Now if only you could find a good deal on a used one...
cough, cough, my ads, cough, cough, cough

 

[geoff_tropheus]

Be careful with the FX5 if you go there.

The FX5 pump is in the bottom of the canister. This creates 2 problems.

1. Solids from the tank will settle in the bottom and clog or damage the pump rotor assembly.

2. The fine filtering media is in the bottom basket, which makes it more of a chore to clean and replace fine filter media.

In your other canisters, such as Eheim and Rena, the pump is on top, which when all the solids settle out, they are at the bottom of the canister and not getting into the pump. And when you go to clean out your fine filter media it is right on top, and easy to change out.

Most of my canisters I replace the fine media once a month, the other media is rinsed& re-used maybee every 3-4 months.

 

[CDMOK]

Hey, Cich! I may take you up on that offer :lol:

I too am upgrading from a 75 to a 125, so I appreciate all the advice here.

Right now I use a Filstar XP3 and LOOOVVEE it. I am definitely keeping that one, but want to add one more for good measure. The 2217's seem really appealing, but the price. Eeeesh. And sumps are so intimidating. Choices, choices.

Let us know what you decide to go with once you get your 125 up and runnin'. I will take the results to heart.

 

[jaida84]

Thanks for the replies..I just bought a second emperor 400 on sale..so I have two now..plus its coming with 2 marineland biowheels for 75 gal each..haha so power filter wise I think im all set for the solid filtration aspect..I've heard bad and good about fluval..Nothing but good from this post..so I guess I will have to look into them as well...noise wise im not to concerned..the tank is right along side my bed..literally right next to my bed..and the emperors sound like someones running a vacuum cleaner..it actually helps me sleep ..i shut them off yesterday when I was adding the second one and it was an eery silence haha

 

[jaida84]

CDMOK --- I have a question for you..or anyone with an idea..im going to post it in another section but im putting my new 125 right where my 75 was..Im not sure if your in the same situation..but I cant figure out what to do..Im going to have to take all my fish out ..put them in a bucket?!? and move the 75..set up the 125 in its place andfill it with fresh water!? Ill use the same filter cartridges off the old one for the new one..but am not sure this will be enough to avoid disaster..any ideas

 

[AquaTester55]

Be careful with the FX5 if you go there.

The FX5 pump is in the bottom of the canister. This creates 2 problems.

1. Solids from the tank will settle in the bottom and clog or damage the pump rotor assembly.

No solids such as sand can make it through to the impeller. All the sand stays on the outside of the baskets. The velocity of flow is WAAYYYY to slow for the sand to make its way through the spunges and UP into the center baskets.

The impeller also will not get damaged like your standard 3 piece straight bladed impellers if sand does get to it.

2. The fine filtering media is in the bottom basket, which makes it more of a chore to clean and replace fine filter media.

Fine filtering media can be put in the TOP basket as well and I highly reccomend this as this will stop further "junk" getting into the bio media. So you eliminated the "chore".

In your other canisters, such as Eheim and Rena, the pump is on top, which when all the solids settle out, they are at the bottom of the canister and not getting into the pump. And when you go to clean out your fine filter media it is right on top, and easy to change out.

This is exactly the same is the FX5 except the impeller is at the bottom. That is the only difference here.

solids can still get to the impellers when they are at the top as well. The only thing that will settle out is heavy depris such as sand.

Also. In a Rena Xp series its a major chore to clean since you have to remove all the baskets to get to the bottom where the coarse spunges are. Xp4 also has a tiny surface area. I wouldn't reccomend for large tanks. Even the xp4 I have is a bit small and I would never use it on my 180 gallon for primary filtration.