Canister filters: which ones do you prefer?

[vlangel]

Hi folks, I have been in the reef hobby for 25+ years and for most of that have used a sump. However I have used a canister in my earlier days and now on my new standard 75g display that is what I want to use again. What I need to know is what brands delivered the features that you wanted out of a canister filter.

Right now I am using a HOB Aqua clear which is an eye sore and kind of loud in our living room. A canister with lily pipes will definitely enhance the looks of the aquarium so that very little equipment is visible. I want the output to ripple the surface of the water but not splash. I want a canister filter that runs pretty quiet. I don't demand total silence but definitely quieter and more discreet than my Aqua clear filter.
I plan to use it more like a cryptic sump than a media reactor. (My display has predominately softies and macroalgae so I want NO3 and PO4 to be a bit higher than most reef tanks.) Of course I will still be doing my monthly water changes.

I will fill all the baskets except the most accessible one with live rubble rock (so pods can live and propagate unmolested),and the most accessible basket will have a coarse sponge unless I need to polish the water with a fine sponge and carbon. That way when I am using the coarse sponge the canister should be able to work well with monthly maintenance. Of course if I am polishing the water, I will open it up in a few days or a week. This way (if the canister opens easily and the coarse filter sponge is easily accessed) I should be able to do maintenance next to the tank with a towel on the laminant floor and a bucket to put the dirty sponge into. Once or twice a year I can swish the baskets of rubble rock in dirty aquarium water just to shake off the worst of the detritus.

This is a simple set up so I don't want an integrated UV in the canister. I want it to be easy to open and easy to deal with the tubing to the input and output. I want appropriate flow for a 75g but I have 3 power heads so its not the only flow in the tank. And I want it to be reasonably quiet as it is in our living room and to be able to add lily pipes to it. And finally I want it to be lasting. I am seeing cheaper brands (much cheaper canister filters that claim to have what I want) but I don't know how reliable they are? I would love to hear from folks who have used canisters.

 

[Subsea]

No specific recommendation for vendor, I have used only one vendor: PennPlax Cascade because it is inexpensive.

In my experiences, if your rubble has worms & pods, I see them eating biofilm & detritus.

 

[vlangel]

No specific recommendation for vendor, I have used only one vendor: PennPlax Cascade because it is inexpensive.

In my experiences, if your rubble has worms & pods, I see them eating biofilm & detritus.

Thanks Patrick, that is one of the ones I am looking at. I am guessing that you consider it reliable or you wouldn't have stuck with that brand. Is it reasonably quiet?

 

[FUNGI]

IMO, Any of the Fluval FX series.
Albeit almost all canisters are "silent", (and I've tried them all with the Rena as my second favorite) the Fluvals, I need to touch the motor or water out to make sure its on. Dead silent.
Huge media area. Great output.

 

[Subsea]

Thanks Patrick, that is one of the ones I am looking at. I am guessing that you consider it reliable or you wouldn't have stuck with that brand. Is it reasonably quiet?

Reliable, yes. And reasonably quiet. However, my living room area is noisy with 8 tanks each making some noise.
I suggest you go with above recommendation.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Hi folks, I have been in the reef hobby for 25+ years and for most of that have used a sump. However I have used a canister in my earlier days and now on my new standard 75g display that is what I want to use again. What I need to know is what brands delivered the features that you wanted out of a canister filter.

Right now I am using a HOB Aqua clear which is an eye sore and kind of loud in our living room. A canister with lily pipes will definitely enhance the looks of the aquarium so that very little equipment is visible. I want the output to ripple the surface of the water but not splash. I want a canister filter that runs pretty quiet. I don't demand total silence but definitely quieter and more discreet than my Aqua clear filter.
I plan to use it more like a cryptic sump than a media reactor. (My display has predominately softies and macroalgae so I want NO3 and PO4 to be a bit higher than most reef tanks.) Of course I will still be doing my monthly water changes.

I will fill all the baskets except the most accessible one with live rubble rock (so pods can live and propagate unmolested),and the most accessible basket will have a coarse sponge unless I need to polish the water with a fine sponge and carbon. That way when I am using the coarse sponge the canister should be able to work well with monthly maintenance. Of course if I am polishing the water, I will open it up in a few days or a week. This way (if the canister opens easily and the coarse filter sponge is easily accessed) I should be able to do maintenance next to the tank with a towel on the laminant floor and a bucket to put the dirty sponge into. Once or twice a year I can swish the baskets of rubble rock in dirty aquarium water just to shake off the worst of the detritus.

This is a simple set up so I don't want an integrated UV in the canister. I want it to be easy to open and easy to deal with the tubing to the input and output. I want appropriate flow for a 75g but I have 3 power heads so its not the only flow in the tank. And I want it to be reasonably quiet as it is in our living room and to be able to add lily pipes to it. And finally I want it to be lasting. I am seeing cheaper brands (much cheaper canister filters that claim to have what I want) but I don't know how reliable they are? I would love to hear from folks who have used canisters.

I am running a Fluval 207 on my 36 gal. You'd need a larger version for a 75, but mine is super quiet, both inlet and outlet shut off with one integrated gang valve, making maintenence a snap. I also like the manual priming pump (also integrated) to kick things off easily. It has stacking media baskets that all lift out of the canister at once, with one handle. I cannot speak to reliability, as I am a total reefing noob. But Fluval has been in the business a long time and when I started out in freshwater a long time ago, that's the unit I really wanted, based on reputation.

 

[FUNGI]

I would go either FX2 or for increased output, FX4.

I use 3 FX6's (filled with LR rubble) in my 125G. NO issues. going on almost 10 years.

 

[vlangel]

IMO, Any of the Fluval FX series.
Albeit almost all canisters are "silent", (and I've tried them all with the Rena as my second favorite) the Fluvals, I need to touch the motor or water out to make sure its on. Dead silent.
Huge media area. Great output.

That also is one of the filters that I am looking at. Thank you for your assessment.

 

[exnisstech]

I've used most of the ones mentioned in my freshwater days. I like the fluval fx series. They have a lot of room for media. I ran two fx6 on my 180g

 

[vlangel]

I would go either FX2 or for increased output, FX4.

I use 3 FX6's (filled with LR rubble) in my 125G. NO issues. going on almost 10 years.

That is even more and better info. Are you able to guestimate how much flow comes out of the output nozzle? If not, is it enough to create a good surface ripple of the water? I have plenty of flow from the power heads but they do not create surface agitation for gas exchange.

 

[vlangel]

I've used most of the ones mentioned in my freshwater days. I like the fluval fx series. They have a lot of room for media. I ran two fx6 on my 180g

So one FX6 should take care of a 75g that has plenty of powerhead flow in your opinion? Again, I wont be running much media in it, mostly live rubble rock in the center and just the coarse prefilter sponge on the top outter circle. I know that I wont be catching all the fish poo and uneaten food but my tank is a high nutrient system so the macroalgae can flourish. And I will still be doing weekly water changes.

 

[FUNGI]

So one FX6 should take care of a 75g that has plenty of powerhead flow in your opinion? Again, I wont be running much media in it, mostly live rubble rock in the center and just the coarse prefilter sponge on the top outter circle. I know that I wont be catching all the fish poo and uneaten food but my tank is a high nutrient system so the macroalgae can flourish. And I will still be doing weekly water changes.

One FX6 for a 75G is more then enough...tons of output. You will need the coarse sponge at the bottom instead of the top to protect the motor as the water out is at bottom.

 

[vlangel]

One FX6 for a 75G is more then enough...tons of output. You will need the coarse sponge at the bottom instead of the top to protect the motor as the water out is at bottom.

Oh thank you, good to know!

 

[Evil1]

The OASE Biomaster line is fantastic in my opinion. Went from FX’s to OASE 600 Love the pre filter set up and the internal heater

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Great stuff! This thread has me thinking of ideas... I'll start a separate thread so I don't hijack this one. Cool idea @vlangel!

 

[vlangel]

I am leaning toward Fluval FX4. I like that it has the water change valve at the bottom. I had wondered about the Fluval 407 also though. Anyone use those?

 

[exnisstech]

I have a 407 I use for QT and emergency tank set ups. It works fine and has a smaller foot print but I like the way fx is set up better.

 

[vlangel]

The OASE Biomaster line is fantastic in my opinion. Went from FX’s to OASE 600 Love the pre filter set up and the internal heater

Oase Biomaster was my first choice originally until I read that it was not very quiet. I loved the prefilter idea and also the integrated heater. One of my objectives is to have less equipment in the tank so the integrated heater is awesome. Is the Oase comparable in noise to the FX? I am willing to hear it somewhat but I don't want a constant sound like my Aqua clear makes.

 

[vlangel]

Great stuff! This thread has me thinking of ideas... I'll start a separate thread so I don't hijack this one. Cool idea @vlangel!

Your welcome Daniel, I am glad that this thread is spurring on ideas.

 

[FUNGI]

I am leaning toward Fluval FX4. I like that it has the water change valve at the bottom. I had wondered about the Fluval 407 also though. Anyone use those?

Thats the one single point of failure for the FX series. Dont use that valve. They will end up leaking on you. Every single FX I have used started leaking at that spot. Keep plenty of O-Rings on hand...LOL.