On freshwater I've always run Aquaclear hob's which I think are great. Got a Fluval 307 for one of my tanks a few months back. I think one of the bigger benefits with cannister is how long you can go between maintenance in a well setup tank. If you've got multiple tanks on shelves its also much easier to clean a cannister vs a HOB which might be difficult to remove. Sumps are nice love them for reefs but extreme overkill for FW unless you're going plumb multiple tanks to it.
When I had a 45 gallon tank I had a small canister filter and was constantly battling with ammonia. Then I got a larger tank so bought a much larger cannister filter, a Fluval FX6. Never had issues with ammonia ever again, not even a bit.
You are so correct man!! We just don’t need that much media in planted tanks. Also I hate Fluval 07 canisters because their impellers make a horrible grinding noise I definitely recommend an aqua clear HOB!! They’re whisper quiet and filter well
I have a Fluval C3 HOB on my 29 planted community tank, it's been running for 5 years now, Have Seachem Matrix in the red basket where carbon goes (I do not use Carbon). Also have Matrix in the wet/dry little chamber. Make my own Mechanical Filter pads with polishing pad. I still want a Fluval 207 canister but man $149.99 My wife will kill me!! Very hard to justify it right now but I still want it!!! Great Video brother!!
You have very good points. Plants plus an Aquaclear HOB are an excellent combination, and quite easy to maintain. Canisters are more toys to play with, so if you like the toys then consider a canister. If I need more filtration then maybe a small sump. They are more interesting and seem much simpler to maintain. Thanks!
Well said. I also see a Canister filter as a very expensive in-between step. If a HOB isn't enough then I'd rather dial it up to 11 and get a sump than go with a Canister.
I bought a cabinet aquarium kit that came with a canister filter and had the retailer swap it for an internal. It sits in a corner, is hidden by the scape and is the easiest thing to maintain. I've never liked grovelling under tank to maintain my filter.
I am a sponge filter and hob combo type. The hob I use for more mechanical and extra flow to avoid dead spots in my bettatank with no Cory's only snails and Amano shrimp. I have very adjustable flow and a baffle just In case the flow is to much even though it's a nano hob meant for betta tanks. I use the hob as the spar polishing filter mostly 😅
"Let me know what you think". Well since you asked I will tell you what I think. I think this is a great video, I also think you are 100% right and spitting pure facts. I have a 90 gallon tank and yes it has a drilled bottom and it also has a weir for overflow. I bought this tank intentionally because I had full plans on using a sump and I am 100% using a sump. My sump also boasts a 2000 gallon per hour DC powered return pump. I only use about a third of my return pumps capability I can dial it in to any flow rate I want, I oversizzed my return Intentionally for longevity reasons. I service the mechanical filtration once a day which takes me literally less than two mins, I clean the sump itself once every 12-14 months. I never carry water anywhere or even lift a bucket. My tanik has zero equipment in it, it has only fish and plants in it. My sump increases my water volume by 35 gallons and also affords me the ability to grow plants in it which I do. I am 110% a sump guy without question and prefer it no other way. Now with that said I do use 2 FX6's on my indoor turtle pond and I can tell you That I absolutely hate servicing them. I only use them because a sump would not work in that scenario and the FX6's work great for that application. My sump is one tenth the work to maintain than a single FX6. There you have it but when it comes to aquariums I am 100% going with a sump all day everyday because quite frankly I'm a little lazy and just like to make things as easy as I can and a sump buys me extreme ease of use. Cheers! Edit: I forgot one thing my sump system is also quieter than any canister filter on the market.
I like having a Fluval 407 canister on my 75 gallon. Yes it was expensive, and my funds are limited and yes it is overkill. I run the Aquarium CoOp medium, yes medium, pre filter on the stock intake tube. So that I can fit the sponge on the intake without the sponge, pressing against the tank glass, popping the intake tube out of the suction cups holding it in place. The pre filter gets cleaned every other week during a water change. I have a spray bar for the return spanning the width of the tank spraying down the length of the tank for increased oxygenation. And honestly I like the shimmering you get with high light and a spray bar. I like that the canister has water in it when I go to maintenance the internal sponges. I ALWAYS forget to have a bucket of tank water handy when I service my HOBs and end up dechlorinating water to clean those sponges. I keep my canister in cabinet sitting in cheap tupperware in case of any small leaks and when I do maintenance the tubes or the main filter itself I stuff an old towel around the filter inside of the tupperware, that makes clean up really easy for me. I also have a back up sponge filter with an air stone in it that is running off of the CoOp battery air pump in case of a power outage.
Also with a glass lid, the heat from the power the canister is using is enough to keep the tank above 77f even when the room AC is set to 72f. So I have not seen my heater, set at 76f, turn on since I set up this tank in late April.
I havent tried a sump Ive had numerous HOBs Ive owned one oase 600 for 3 years now. I love my oase. I got tired of trying to clean snails and whatever else out of the HOBs (even with filter guards). My oase never stops working. Keep the hoses a bit longer so you can throw it in a tub or bucket for maintenence. Spillage is non-existent onto your floor that way. Clean up is super easy. Ive also never had anything melt with the heater at a consistent 78*F. I wouldnt encourage everyone to have one, but in my personal experience my Oase has been amazing. Id rather have a room full of them than HOBs that clog up, quit working, spill over the sides and leave weird deposits, or whatever else ive ran into.
LOL! I kind a like "spicey" Bentley. Just before I watched this video I was reorganizing the electrical cords under my 40 breeder, where I run my old fluval 206 canister. I moved the canister a little while it was running to make room for more neatly storing electrical cords. First time for everything as I somehow managed to break the seal on the canister head and boy howdy did it pump out some water before I could hit the aqua stop valve on the top and unplug it. LOL! Water blasted everywhere!. In that moment I thought "canister filters suck". I started with my first 10 gallon Meta Frame with an under gravel filter in the mid 70s. I have had them all, hang on back, internal, canister, mini/hang on back/canister. I think my favorite for 40 gallons and under is a really good internal filter like Sicce makes.
I like canister filters... mostly I like them on someone else's tank! lol I totally agree with your analysis, Bentley... if you can't do it with a sponge filter or HOB, then get a sump! In the case of larger tanks, then I would build a DIY sump to run them... you can even grow plants in your sump system to super charge it even more... try that in a canister!
I had a 6 gallon breeding tank with no filter or heater for a year and my shrimp were breeding like crazy and my plants were growing so fast I would throw them out.
Have a 407 on my goldfish tank for about a year worked flawlessly changed it to a aqua clear wondering if it was going to be easier on maintenance (it is) but recently wanted to put my 407 back in circulation but now I have horrible peak problems even when buying jewelry orings and doing mods that allegedly help with the leaks. Staying with hob for now probably will consider internal filter
about 6 years ago I paid $65 for a sunsun 704b . I never turned on the uv light . I filled it with crushed lava rocks and it has run fine ever since. its on a 110 gallon tub pond with goldfish and sail fin mollies. best $65 I ever spent!
A canister filter is just a fancy bucket with a pump in it! In fact, if I ever decided I was going to use one, I'd DIY one before paying €200 for a plastic bucket that says "Fluval" on it. Loving this series so much!
I generally prefer HOB filters, however, I do have a 60 gallon breeder with a small canister filter. You can hide an HOB pretty well by removing the top and putting plants in it. I have plants in all my HOB filters and never use the tops lol!
Meh I got a new in box FX4 off Ebays that clearly fell off the truck for $150 for a 100 gal tall tank that I am refurbishing that was already drilled with a corner overflow that I really didn't want to mess with a sump with again. Still planning on planting and fish plan is guppies, corys, and mollies; maybe angels and shrimps after time (our well water is Hard)
if it didn't suck water what good would it be ?plants with oscars ? i run undergravel ,spones , hob and sunsuns{ i have had it for 5 years and only problems i had is change the orings . i don't have the heaters or the uv in them.] being disabled i find the canister the easyier to clean. i dont have to stand up out my wheel chair to reach to get my filters to clean.just unhook and take to the sink. 5 to10 min im done with it. lrb has shown we don't need any filters . @bently pascoe if you dont need filters on planted tanks .why do you use them ? after 30 years in the hobby .i found any filter will work is used the right way or no filter can work too .do what works for you . do what makes you happy and gives you the most fun.
I have 3 tanks. 2 have Hob and 1 which i put a canister on this year. I have found the maintenance so much easier. No leaks when i remove the pipes. I do open it in the bath. Aquael So not too expensive. Obviously allot more than hob. I am happy with both. for me i wouldn't trust a sump in my cheap unit and it seems overkill. I have a black background so you cannot see the pupes at all.
Once sumps were mentioned all I could think about is a Bentley Pascoe x Corvus Oscen build a sump series. One that even us guys with no diy skills could do.
If you've been around for a long time you have to give kudo's to the Rena Filstar XP line of canister filters. I acquired a NOS recently on ebay. I think they were one of the best filters ever made. Cheers.
I have had a canister. The cleaning of those suck. I do feel they have a purpose for like a bigger tank or cichlids tank where you need lots of flow and turnover. Me myself have really come to love sponge and under gravel filters.
If it's built into the filter itself, is it *really* a pre filter or is it literally just accessible sponge columns? Still have to turn off the filter, stop everything, risk flooding the floor, etc.
Well, all my breeding and holding tanks run on sponge filters. My display tank runs on 2 Eheim Professional 4 filters of which one has a built-in heater. I bought both used online for under €100 each 4 years ago. Maintenance takes 20 minutes every 3 months. I squeeze the sponges from these to kickstart newly setup tanks. I ran that tank previously on a sump. Though that worked like a charm maintenance wise and for esthaetics, I never totally could get rid of the gurgling from the overflow and this annoyed me (and my wife especially). Honestly, that was the sole argument to get the canister filters. Water quality is the same for me using both types of filtration but I can certainly see how less dense planted and more stocked tanks would benefit from the higher media capacity of a sump.
Not everyone has a planned tank. Also sumps are noisy and messy they splash water everywhere. Sumps suck and are more work when it comes time to clean. Canister filters are king. Less mess and quit also do just as good if not better then a sump. You can hide all the same equipment with a canister filter.
I overthink everything without exception. So… the only reason I bought a canister filter is because I purchased a rimless tank and I’m afraid of stressing the silicone seal. The tank I replaced was hanging 3 AquaClear 110’s on a six foot tank. I like heavily stocked tanks.
20 long planted with a HOB aqua clear 20 the most stable aquarium that I own ; I have more tanks with canister filters and it’s real they are a pain when you have to service!
I have a 400 liter aquarium with a 3 chamber sump. In the first chamber is the only mechanical filtration i use: a 400 micron filtersock to filter out 'big' junk and i clean it once every 5 or 6 weeks. Also my heater is in the first chamber. In the third chamber is a pump to get the water back up in the tank. The second chamber is where the 'magic' happens, This is where i have my natural filter, it is filled with fast growing stem plants, shrimps and snails. I've tuned the light in the sump so that the stem plants are growing in a rate that nutrients are fairly stable. My aquarium is running over a year now, never cleaned my glass, never done a water change, no algae at all, and everything is thriving. Maintanance: once every 5 to 6 weeks clean my filtersock and trim the stem plants. Easy peasy :)
Lmao, I didn't think it was possible but through sarcasm you just convinced me my 307 sucks!!! How long do you think I can shut it off for? What are some things to watch out for?
The big thing is that our beneficial bacteria colonies are aerobic meaning that they need oxygen. So typically we try not to have our filters off for very long. Say something like 30 minutes. Because otherwise we start risking that oxygen depletion and thus the colony beginning to die.
Canister filter is quieter than a HOB. I prefer the canister filter. My experience is Its much easier to clean than the giant HOB full of sponges that takes up half my tank. I can carry the canister filter over to the sink and clean it. Whereas the HOB is too large to do that. I have to clean it over my tank. Its not much fun cleaning any filter though.:)
Was wandering if you have already or are going to talk about sumps. Seems like everyone talks about the other filtration systems but very little about sumps. Are they good or bad?
I have a 407 on my 75 gal and I would like to add a disadvantage which is relevant for many of the females in our hobby…when it comes to cleaning the 407, I really struggle to lift that heavy sucker out of the cabinet.
I think for many people especially newer to the hobby like myself a canister filter is less intimidating than a sump. I started a couple of years ago on a canister filter because I inherited it along with a tank full of rainbows.
My main reason for moving away from canister filters was because of the gaskets. They will eventually shrink and make it leak!!!! So many cheap stands ruined
Yea idk everyone gripes on costs of a "hobby" i get everyone wants to save but i bet 90% of us give 2 shits about the money we spend to be happy and have what we want that being said i use overkill cannisters on smaller tanks i dont plan on cleaning them unless i lose so much flow rate they will burn up the prefilter catchs most of it and thats an easy squeeze and rinse
I can't tell of Bentley's being spicy or he's really good at acting. Yeah I think canisters are rip off. There's this really horrible aquion canister filter hob hybrid, I saw at petsmart probably the worst filter I've ever seen, the canister filter which with all the disadvantages you mentioned, overpriced (I think it was the same price as the stainless steel camster one you reviewed), cheap plastic, then they make the outtake a hob filter so there's no point in hiding the canister filter and you still have to do with the stupid cartridges.
Hello Bentley ,your right fluvel sucks it leaks you have to play with the gasket open ,close until it sealed, but ok filter,I use ehiem canister filters now and it a breeze,and yes it's pricey but u get what you pay for and it's a work horse, you get your money's worth ,your fan mg, see you on the next video
To be fair, that particular filter had not been serviced in over a year closer to 2 years. If you're on top of your maintenance, it's never going to be that bad. Go take a look at my most recent video of the FZone canister. After a few months there was really not that much muck in it.
I believe they price the hang on tank lower because they know MOST people will just purchase the cartridges monthly, spending more money in the long run with the same company. They get their money up front for the canister filters.
Do you need all of the biological media that your canister holds - probably not. Can you get away with less flow rate than you get from your canister - almost certainly yes. 2 minutes later - get yourself a sump. Why? - because you can get far more biological media in it and you'll also get a much better flow rate. OK, I think.
Bentley I wanted to thank you for all that you do for the hobby, love your knowledge and reviews , thanks for all that you do sir ! Keep on truckin !
Another awesome video. This series has been a lot of fun.
Working thru you filter vids now. Interesting stuff. Def chill. 😂😂😂
Always enjoy ur content keep it up! Those tanks behind you are looking pretty fire !
I love the simplicity of the old-fashioned box filters, particularly the jumbo round box filter that Jhemco sales.
On freshwater I've always run Aquaclear hob's which I think are great. Got a Fluval 307 for one of my tanks a few months back. I think one of the bigger benefits with cannister is how long you can go between maintenance in a well setup tank. If you've got multiple tanks on shelves its also much easier to clean a cannister vs a HOB which might be difficult to remove. Sumps are nice love them for reefs but extreme overkill for FW unless you're going plumb multiple tanks to it.
Eheim “Bucket of Death” I can see the marketing materials now! 😂😂😂
So great meeting at the Clash. Thanks for the video.
When I had a 45 gallon tank I had a small canister filter and was constantly battling with ammonia. Then I got a larger tank so bought a much larger cannister filter, a Fluval FX6. Never had issues with ammonia ever again, not even a bit.
You are so correct man!! We just don’t need that much media in planted tanks. Also I hate Fluval 07 canisters because their impellers make a horrible grinding noise
I definitely recommend an aqua clear HOB!! They’re whisper quiet and filter well
Maaaan can’t wait to see the corner matten filter
I have a Fluval C3 HOB on my 29 planted community tank, it's been running for 5 years now, Have Seachem Matrix in the red basket where carbon goes (I do not use Carbon). Also have Matrix in the wet/dry little chamber. Make my own Mechanical Filter pads with polishing pad. I still want a Fluval 207 canister but man $149.99 My wife will kill me!! Very hard to justify it right now but I still want it!!! Great Video brother!!
On a sidenote, I haven’t cleaned my canister in 15 months and I should probably do that
Just to further add, I have only bought one canister.
You have very good points. Plants plus an Aquaclear HOB are an excellent combination, and quite easy to maintain. Canisters are more toys to play with, so if you like the toys then consider a canister. If I need more filtration then maybe a small sump. They are more interesting and seem much simpler to maintain. Thanks!
such an enlightened "sucks" series of videos!
Well said. I also see a Canister filter as a very expensive in-between step. If a HOB isn't enough then I'd rather dial it up to 11 and get a sump than go with a Canister.
Just bought a small canister filter today. I bought a UNS 60S. Its a shallow 10 gallon tank. My other option was multiple tiny HOBs.
I bought a cabinet aquarium kit that came with a canister filter and had the retailer swap it for an internal. It sits in a corner, is hidden by the scape and is the easiest thing to maintain. I've never liked grovelling under tank to maintain my filter.
I am a sponge filter and hob combo type. The hob I use for more mechanical and extra flow to avoid dead spots in my bettatank with no Cory's only snails and Amano shrimp. I have very adjustable flow and a baffle just In case the flow is to much even though it's a nano hob meant for betta tanks. I use the hob as the spar polishing filter mostly 😅
"Let me know what you think". Well since you asked I will tell you what I think. I think this is a great video, I also think you are 100% right and spitting pure facts. I have a 90 gallon tank and yes it has a drilled bottom and it also has a weir for overflow. I bought this tank intentionally because I had full plans on using a sump and I am 100% using a sump. My sump also boasts a 2000 gallon per hour DC powered return pump. I only use about a third of my return pumps capability I can dial it in to any flow rate I want, I oversizzed my return Intentionally for longevity reasons. I service the mechanical filtration once a day which takes me literally less than two mins, I clean the sump itself once every 12-14 months. I never carry water anywhere or even lift a bucket. My tanik has zero equipment in it, it has only fish and plants in it. My sump increases my water volume by 35 gallons and also affords me the ability to grow plants in it which I do. I am 110% a sump guy without question and prefer it no other way. Now with that said I do use 2 FX6's on my indoor turtle pond and I can tell you That I absolutely hate servicing them. I only use them because a sump would not work in that scenario and the FX6's work great for that application. My sump is one tenth the work to maintain than a single FX6. There you have it but when it comes to aquariums I am 100% going with a sump all day everyday because quite frankly I'm a little lazy and just like to make things as easy as I can and a sump buys me extreme ease of use. Cheers!
Edit: I forgot one thing my sump system is also quieter than any canister filter on the market.
In my country, overhead sump is popular. Set up correctly and all you have to do is change 1 sponge in there like every 2 - 3 months.
I had an incident with a Christmas Tree stand that leaked on our new floors and yadda, yadda, yadda; my husband won’t let me have a canister filter. 😂
🤣 those pesky trees!
One advantage of the HOB over a canister is the ability to grow plants in it. I have pothos growing in mine. I just cut holes in the lid.
I like having a Fluval 407 canister on my 75 gallon. Yes it was expensive, and my funds are limited and yes it is overkill. I run the Aquarium CoOp medium, yes medium, pre filter on the stock intake tube. So that I can fit the sponge on the intake without the sponge, pressing against the tank glass, popping the intake tube out of the suction cups holding it in place. The pre filter gets cleaned every other week during a water change. I have a spray bar for the return spanning the width of the tank spraying down the length of the tank for increased oxygenation. And honestly I like the shimmering you get with high light and a spray bar. I like that the canister has water in it when I go to maintenance the internal sponges. I ALWAYS forget to have a bucket of tank water handy when I service my HOBs and end up dechlorinating water to clean those sponges. I keep my canister in cabinet sitting in cheap tupperware in case of any small leaks and when I do maintenance the tubes or the main filter itself I stuff an old towel around the filter inside of the tupperware, that makes clean up really easy for me. I also have a back up sponge filter with an air stone in it that is running off of the CoOp battery air pump in case of a power outage.
Also with a glass lid, the heat from the power the canister is using is enough to keep the tank above 77f even when the room AC is set to 72f. So I have not seen my heater, set at 76f, turn on since I set up this tank in late April.
I havent tried a sump
Ive had numerous HOBs
Ive owned one oase 600 for 3 years now.
I love my oase. I got tired of trying to clean snails and whatever else out of the HOBs (even with filter guards). My oase never stops working. Keep the hoses a bit longer so you can throw it in a tub or bucket for maintenence. Spillage is non-existent onto your floor that way. Clean up is super easy. Ive also never had anything melt with the heater at a consistent 78*F.
I wouldnt encourage everyone to have one, but in my personal experience my Oase has been amazing. Id rather have a room full of them than HOBs that clog up, quit working, spill over the sides and leave weird deposits, or whatever else ive ran into.
I really appreciate your common sense Bently.
LOL! I kind a like "spicey" Bentley. Just before I watched this video I was reorganizing the electrical cords under my 40 breeder, where I run my old fluval 206 canister. I moved the canister a little while it was running to make room for more neatly storing electrical cords. First time for everything as I somehow managed to break the seal on the canister head and boy howdy did it pump out some water before I could hit the aqua stop valve on the top and unplug it. LOL! Water blasted everywhere!. In that moment I thought "canister filters suck". I started with my first 10 gallon Meta Frame with an under gravel filter in the mid 70s. I have had them all, hang on back, internal, canister, mini/hang on back/canister. I think my favorite for 40 gallons and under is a really good internal filter like Sicce makes.
I like canister filters... mostly I like them on someone else's tank! lol I totally agree with your analysis, Bentley... if you can't do it with a sponge filter or HOB, then get a sump! In the case of larger tanks, then I would build a DIY sump to run them... you can even grow plants in your sump system to super charge it even more... try that in a canister!
the only thing i don't like about sumps is they take to much space
Perfect timing with that petsmart pricing mixup. Pricing the canister filter under 20 dollars.
I had a 6 gallon breeding tank with no filter or heater for a year and my shrimp were breeding like crazy and my plants were growing so fast I would throw them out.
well i got a 320g central american tank and the fx6 is a godsend for mech filtration
Have a 407 on my goldfish tank for about a year worked flawlessly changed it to a aqua clear wondering if it was going to be easier on maintenance (it is) but recently wanted to put my 407 back in circulation but now I have horrible peak problems even when buying jewelry orings and doing mods that allegedly help with the leaks. Staying with hob for now probably will consider internal filter
about 6 years ago I paid $65 for a sunsun 704b . I never turned on the uv light . I filled it with crushed lava rocks and it has run fine ever since.
its on a 110 gallon tub pond with goldfish and sail fin mollies.
best $65 I ever spent!
A canister filter is just a fancy bucket with a pump in it! In fact, if I ever decided I was going to use one, I'd DIY one before paying €200 for a plastic bucket that says "Fluval" on it. Loving this series so much!
I generally prefer HOB filters, however, I do have a 60 gallon breeder with a small canister filter. You can hide an HOB pretty well by removing the top and putting plants in it. I have plants in all my HOB filters and never use the tops lol!
I set a speed record for cleaning my FX6 before leaving for fishtoberfest. Swiss tropicals may have sold me on matten filters on my next tank remodel.
I definitely hate that the cost of a filter is going sky high. Reminds me of video cards and their inflated cost.
Social media and CZcams have introduced a lot of people to the hobby. Supply and demand. I love fish CZcams but have mixed feeling about it’s effects.
Meh I got a new in box FX4 off Ebays that clearly fell off the truck for $150 for a 100 gal tall tank that I am refurbishing that was already drilled with a corner overflow that I really didn't want to mess with a sump with again. Still planning on planting and fish plan is guppies, corys, and mollies; maybe angels and shrimps after time (our well water is Hard)
if it didn't suck water what good would it be ?plants with oscars ? i run undergravel ,spones , hob and sunsuns{ i have had it for 5 years and only problems i had is change the orings . i don't have the heaters or the uv in them.] being disabled i find the canister the easyier to clean. i dont have to stand up out my wheel chair to reach to get my filters to clean.just unhook and take to the sink. 5 to10 min im done with it.
lrb has shown we don't need any filters . @bently pascoe if you dont need filters on planted tanks .why do you use them ? after 30 years in the hobby .i found any filter will work is used the right way or no filter can work too .do what works for you . do what makes you happy and gives you the most fun.
I have 3 tanks. 2 have Hob and 1 which i put a canister on this year. I have found the maintenance so much easier. No leaks when i remove the pipes. I do open it in the bath. Aquael So not too expensive. Obviously allot more than hob. I am happy with both. for me i wouldn't trust a sump in my cheap unit and it seems overkill. I have a black background so you cannot see the pupes at all.
If I only had one tank AND was afraid of sumps or just needed a really quiet tank, I would get a canister again.
Ur tank they are beautiful ❤
Once sumps were mentioned all I could think about is a Bentley Pascoe x Corvus Oscen build a sump series. One that even us guys with no diy skills could do.
If you've been around for a long time you have to give kudo's to the Rena Filstar XP line of canister filters. I acquired a NOS recently on ebay. I think they were one of the best filters ever made. Cheers.
I have had a canister. The cleaning of those suck. I do feel they have a purpose for like a bigger tank or cichlids tank where you need lots of flow and turnover.
Me myself have really come to love sponge and under gravel filters.
I love my canister, but I’m in a lot of beginner groups and will never recommend them to beginners. It’s a nightmare to service.
If it's built into the filter itself, is it *really* a pre filter or is it literally just accessible sponge columns? Still have to turn off the filter, stop everything, risk flooding the floor, etc.
Well, all my breeding and holding tanks run on sponge filters.
My display tank runs on 2 Eheim Professional 4 filters of which one has a built-in heater. I bought both used online for under €100 each 4 years ago. Maintenance takes 20 minutes every 3 months. I squeeze the sponges from these to kickstart newly setup tanks.
I ran that tank previously on a sump. Though that worked like a charm maintenance wise and for esthaetics, I never totally could get rid of the gurgling from the overflow and this annoyed me (and my wife especially). Honestly, that was the sole argument to get the canister filters.
Water quality is the same for me using both types of filtration but I can certainly see how less dense planted and more stocked tanks would benefit from the higher media capacity of a sump.
Not everyone has a planned tank. Also sumps are noisy and messy they splash water everywhere. Sumps suck and are more work when it comes time to clean. Canister filters are king. Less mess and quit also do just as good if not better then a sump. You can hide all the same equipment with a canister filter.
I overthink everything without exception. So…
the only reason I bought a canister filter is because I purchased a rimless tank and I’m afraid of stressing the silicone seal. The tank I replaced was hanging 3 AquaClear 110’s on a six foot tank. I like heavily stocked tanks.
20 long planted with a HOB aqua clear 20 the most stable aquarium that I own ; I have more tanks with canister filters and it’s real they are a pain when you have to service!
I have a 400 liter aquarium with a 3 chamber sump. In the first chamber is the only mechanical filtration i use: a 400 micron filtersock to filter out 'big' junk and i clean it once every 5 or 6 weeks. Also my heater is in the first chamber. In the third chamber is a pump to get the water back up in the tank. The second chamber is where the 'magic' happens, This is where i have my natural filter, it is filled with fast growing stem plants, shrimps and snails. I've tuned the light in the sump so that the stem plants are growing in a rate that nutrients are fairly stable. My aquarium is running over a year now, never cleaned my glass, never done a water change, no algae at all, and everything is thriving. Maintanance: once every 5 to 6 weeks clean my filtersock and trim the stem plants. Easy peasy :)
Lmao, I didn't think it was possible but through sarcasm you just convinced me my 307 sucks!!! How long do you think I can shut it off for? What are some things to watch out for?
The big thing is that our beneficial bacteria colonies are aerobic meaning that they need oxygen. So typically we try not to have our filters off for very long. Say something like 30 minutes. Because otherwise we start risking that oxygen depletion and thus the colony beginning to die.
Canister filter is quieter than a HOB. I prefer the canister filter. My experience is Its much easier to clean than the giant HOB full of sponges that takes up half my tank. I can carry the canister filter over to the sink and clean it. Whereas the HOB is too large to do that. I have to clean it over my tank. Its not much fun cleaning any filter though.:)
Was wandering if you have already or are going to talk about sumps. Seems like everyone talks about the other filtration systems but very little about sumps. Are they good or bad?
They can be exceptional but there is a lot of cost with them. I'll be doing a good and bad video for sumps in this series
Thank you for the reply
Anyway Eheim classic is the king! If you can not setup a sump 😊
It costs a lot but I don't need to clean it every week or it starts clogging...
I have a 407 on my 75 gal and I would like to add a disadvantage which is relevant for many of the females in our hobby…when it comes to cleaning the 407, I really struggle to lift that heavy sucker out of the cabinet.
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I think for many people especially newer to the hobby like myself a canister filter is less intimidating than a sump. I started a couple of years ago on a canister filter because I inherited it along with a tank full of rainbows.
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i hate cleaning filters i can leave my canister filters for months without touching them
My main reason for moving away from canister filters was because of the gaskets. They will eventually shrink and make it leak!!!! So many cheap stands ruined
No sump, sump takes away new tank space >:D
Yea idk everyone gripes on costs of a "hobby" i get everyone wants to save but i bet 90% of us give 2 shits about the money we spend to be happy and have what we want that being said i use overkill cannisters on smaller tanks i dont plan on cleaning them unless i lose so much flow rate they will burn up the prefilter catchs most of it and thats an easy squeeze and rinse
love my 207
I can't tell of Bentley's being spicy or he's really good at acting. Yeah I think canisters are rip off.
There's this really horrible aquion canister filter hob hybrid, I saw at petsmart probably the worst filter I've ever seen, the canister filter which with all the disadvantages you mentioned, overpriced (I think it was the same price as the stainless steel camster one you reviewed), cheap plastic, then they make the outtake a hob filter so there's no point in hiding the canister filter and you still have to do with the stupid cartridges.
Hello Bentley ,your right fluvel sucks it leaks you have to play with the gasket open ,close until it sealed, but ok filter,I use ehiem canister filters now and it a breeze,and yes it's pricey but u get what you pay for and it's a work horse, you get your money's worth ,your fan mg, see you on the next video
Just seeing a video of aquarium co op opening up a canister filter made me cringe. All that disgusting brown slime. Bleh.. HOB it is for me.
To be fair, that particular filter had not been serviced in over a year closer to 2 years. If you're on top of your maintenance, it's never going to be that bad. Go take a look at my most recent video of the FZone canister. After a few months there was really not that much muck in it.
I believe they price the hang on tank lower because they know MOST people will just purchase the cartridges monthly, spending more money in the long run with the same company. They get their money up front for the canister filters.
I use HOB's and I don't need anything other than an occasional bag of pillow foam once every 16 months or so.
@@Curtis.StMartin 👍I “hot-rodded” my HOT’s so I don’t buy the replacements. Just clean out the foams and give the bio-media a gentle rinse.
@@RTCommuter me to kinda never bought the factory replacement filters. I use fiber fill and a media bag.
Heyyy don’t make fun of me spending money on a cross river puffer lol jk
Hang on the backs far to noisy esp in living room area be getting up for a piss every 5mins
Why all the hate bro? lol
Do you need all of the biological media that your canister holds - probably not. Can you get away with less flow rate than you get from your canister - almost certainly yes.
2 minutes later - get yourself a sump. Why? - because you can get far more biological media in it and you'll also get a much better flow rate. OK, I think.