How do you go about in choosing the best canister filter for freshwater? In this article were going to take a look at the important points that you should consider when choosing one for a freshwater environment.
Aquarium gains waste from fish and other marine animals as a result of the biological process. Therefore, it is important to have it installed to get rid of this waste and maintain a clean and healthy environment.
Over time, a number of filter types were introduced. The specialty is that it can perform several clean-up tasks simultaneously to assure a better environment.
The placement of the filter is quite the same to the placement of the conventional hang-on back (HOB) filters. Although the placement is similar,it is perfectly effective than the other types because of the improved mechanism integrated with them.
Considering the effectiveness, they are mostly recommended for tanks where large amounts of waste are produced.They are typically positioned underneath an aquarium. This is advantageous because of aesthetic reasons as your viewers will not be able to see it. In addition to that, there are actually filters that can be placed inside the aquarium and they’re called submersible.
It can move and filter large amounts of water than the conventional filters and therefore, you do not have to install multiple devices to filter water. These are extremely easy to customize. Because of this ability, you can use a combination of mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration process.
The main disadvantage of using it is that you need to clean them frequently. This mainly functions as a mechanical filter and therefore, the waste you find in water can easily get clogged up in the filter.
Top Canister Filters 2018
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| Name | Capacity | Advertised Flow Rate | No. of Media Trays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eheim Classic 250 (2213) | up to 66 gallons | 116 GPH | Canister chamber | |||
| Eheim Classic 350 (2215) | up to 92 gallons | 163 GPH | Canister chamber | |||
| Cascade 1000 | up to 100 gallons | 265 GPH | 3 | |||
| Fluval 406 | up to 100 gallons | 383 GPH | 3 | |||
| Hydor 350 | up to 100 gallons | 280 GPH | 3 | |||
| Marineland C530 | up to 150 gallons | 530 GPH | 4 | |||
| SunSun HW-302 | up to 75 gallons | 264 GPH | 3 | |||
| Finnex PX-360 | up to 25 gallons | 95 GPH | 2 | |||
| API Filstar XP-L | up to 175 gallons | 350 GPH | 3 | |||
| Best Choice Products | up to 150 gallons | 520 GPH | 5 | |||
| Aquatop CF400UV | up to 125 gallons | 370 GPH | 3 |
Here are some of the models that you might want to consider when it comes to improving the quality of water in your tank (whether its freshwater or saltwater). A solid tip I can give you is to don’t just blindly purchase from a big brand.
There are only 2 main things that you need to take into account when choosing your model. The volume of water it can move (flow rate) and the setup of your media.
You want the flow rate to be 4 times the capacity. So if you have a 35 gallon tank, then the ideal would have a flow rate of around 140 gallons per hour. Again, look for the correct flow rate and invest in quality filter media.
Let’s take a look at the best models:
Eheim Classic
Almost everyone loves the Eheim Classicfilter and it’s been around for over 30 years now. It’s a well built one that uses high quality materials and its advertised flow rate is higher than many of its competition.
There are different Eheim models that will handle different capacities. A lot of people also love the fact that it’s very quiet and consumes only a low amount of power.
- Quite
- Low Energy Consumption
- The Eheim is an great piece but like every other product out there, it’s not perfect.
- Another thing to keep in mind is that the impeller is made up of ceramic and it’s prone to breakage.
Cascade 1000
Cascade 1000 is from Penn-Plaxx and it’s another one of the highly rated by people. It’s a heavy duty and it is rated for tanks up to 100 gallons and has a flow rate of 265 gallons per hour.
There are also different models of the Cascade that will handle different tank sizes. Many people are very satisfied with the results that it delivers.
Fluval 406
The Fluval 406 is from the 06 series and its motor has been upgraded from the previous 05 series. The Fluval brand has been one of the most trusted brands.
They claim that their canisters hold 35-50% more volume than round canisters of similar size. The 406 is rated for tanks up to 100 gallons and has a flow rate of 383 GPH.
Hydor Filters
Hydor has been creating aquarium components since 1984. Now they have released their own canister filter to have a piece of the market. They’re just new but they’re quickly gaining some fans.
Their filter has a smart and space saving design that provides maximum performance and amazing versatility. They have an extra large button for easy priming and you have the option of using the expandable spray bar.
Marineland C530
The Marineland C530 is a multi-stage filter that can handle aquariums of up to 150 gallons and has an advertised flow rate of 530 GPH.
A lot of beginning hobbyist will find it difficult to set up as it requires you to follow every detail to set this up correctly. With that being said, there are still many people who are very much satisfied with its performance.
SunSun HW-302
The SunSun HW-302 is a budget-friendly model that’s rated for tanks up to 75 gallons and has an advertised flow rate of 264 GPH. It includes the necessary media to get you started and has 3 large media trays if you want to setup your own media.
A lot of people have expressed their satisfaction with the overall performance of the SunSun HW-302. The very affordable price is also another factor why many hobbyists are going to buy this one over and over again.
Finnex PX-360
If you have a smaller aquarium that’s around 20-25 gallons, then you might want to check out the Finnex PX-360. It’s not your regular model as it can also function as a hang on back filter (HOB).
It’s bigger and the price is more expensive when you compare it with your typical power filters but it gets the job done for smaller tanks.
API Filstar XP-L
The API Filstar XP-L is a powerful one with an anti-airlock system for sealed and silent operation. This is ideal for bigger tanks that have a capacity of up to 175 gallons and its advertised flow rate is at 350 GPH.
The media baskets are large enough so you can configure your own media setup and many people are very much satisfied with its performance.
Best Choice Products
Models from Best Choice Products is a generic that has a 5-stage filtration system. It can handle tanks that has a capacity of up to 150 gallons and has an advertised flow rate of 520 GPH.
Even though this is a generic, a lot of people have been very satisfied with its performance. The price is very affordable and cheaper compared to other models of similar size.
Aquatop CF400UV
The Aquatop CF400UV employs a 3 plus 1 stage filtration system and is rated for tanks up to 125 gallons. It has its own UV sterilizer that will help in improving the quality of your water.
Many people are satisfied with tit but of course like the other models, it also has its own imperfections.
Choosing Top Filter for Freshwater
How do you go about in choosing the filter for freshwater?
In this article were going to take a look at the important points that you should consider when choosing a canister filter for a freshwater environment.
Aquarium gains waste from fish and other marine animals as a result of the biological process. Therefore, it is important to have a one installed in aquarium to get rid of this waste and maintain a clean and healthy environment.
Over the time, a number of filter types were introduced to the market and it is one of the latest canister types. The specialty of this type is that it can perform several clean-up tasks simultaneously to assure a better environment insideit.
The placement is quite the same to the placement of the conventional hang-on back (HOB). Although the placement is similar, they are perfectly effective than the other types because of the improved mechanism integrated with them.
Considering it’s effectiveness, they are mostly recommended for tanks where large amounts of waste are produced. They are typically positioned underneath. This is advantageous because of aesthetic reasons as your viewers will not be able to see it. In addition to that, there are actually filters that can be placed inside the aquarium and theyre called submersible.
Check if the replacement parts are readily available
Make sure to check with the store if they have replacement parts available. If they are available, it is better to buy a set of parts and have them with you in an easily accessible place. With this preparation, once you need to replace a certain part, you can do it within minutes without checking with the stores. Mainly you should look for part like impellers, o-rings, and rubber gaskets.
Check if it matches your aquarium type
Be sure that it matches your freshwater aquarium perfectly. Just verify from the supplier about the functionality of the filter. Usually all the models work good with fresh water. However, if you need to use it with saltwater, verify it from the seller or from reading more information about it online.
Ease of installation and use
Although you can get the help with the installation process, almost all the maintenance will be done by yourself. So it is vital to go for a model that is easy to install and maintain.
After the installation process is done, be sure to adhere to the maintenance instructions provided by the manufacturer. It will assure the safety of the device and more importantly the safety of the animals in the aquarium.
Get the right flow rate
Choosing the best model for freshwater is not about which brand is popular or which has good marketing gimmicks. The main thing that you have to look out for is the right amount of flow rate for the size of your tank. The amount of water that it can move should be about 4 times the capacity. So for a 35-gallon tank, a flow rate of about 140 GPH is very much ideal.
Go ahead and check out my comparison chart so you can easily select which has the right amount of flow rate for your tank. Just click the link below to get started.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Are you ready to upgrade and switch to using one?
If you’re thinking about whether getting aone is going to be a good move in the right direction, then this article is for you.
We’re going to talk about the advantages and disadvantages so you will be more informed towards making a good decision.
So let’s get going. First, the advantages.
An advantage of using one is that it will increase the total water volume. This increase is beneficial for your tank because it equates to having a lower formation of harmful byproducts from the food and waste of your fish.
Additionally, a bigger water volume will also make the water in your tank more stable. You’ll have more reliable readings for example in your water temperature.
When it comes to the filtration, you have more flexibility. They have large media baskets where you can configure your media setup and their number will depend from model to model.
You can use it as a standalone unit or you can use it with different aquarium equipment if you want some advance filtration. For example, if you want to improve the quality of your water by removing algae and other harmful microorganisms in your tank then you can set up a UV sterilizer together with it.
Another advantage in using it is with regards to the space in your tank. Since they are typically situated on the outside of your tank, your fish has more room in your tank to swim. Aquarium will also look cleaner since no equipment will clutter up your tank’s appearance.
If you want some surface agitation or water aeration, you can also achieve that by using a one provided that it has a rain bar or a spray bar in their setup.
A disadvantage to having one is the cleaning and maintenance. You will have to clean it regularly because you don’t want the canister to become a nitrate factory and pollute the water in your tank.
What’s the cleaning schedule? Well, it depends on a lot of different factors. Like what’s the size of your tank and how large is your stock level? Does your fish produce a ton of waste like cichlids?
If you’re going to take care of a turtle then you might want to overfilter because they produce a ton of waste.
Some will clean on a weekly basis but there are others who can go 5-6 months before they do some cleaning and maintenance. Some will know it’s time to clean when they notice that there’s a reduced water flow.
Another thing to take note aboutis their prices. Many of them tend to cost a lot more than your ordinary hang on back filters.
In summary here is a list advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
- Large and flexible filtration
- Extremely quiet
- Water flow is significantly increased
- Can be easily hidden for a more attractive tank setup
- Easily configure your filter media
Disadvantages
- Higher cost
- More bulky than hang on back filters
- Regular cleaning schedule
Hopefully this article enlightened and helped you in making a decision.
Filter for Saltwater
Clean Your Canister
Before you get the best model for saltwater, keep in mind that you need to do some regular maintenance. Some people will recommend that you clean it out in a weekly basis but an even better schedule is to clean it out every 2 – 3 days.
I’ve read that many canister owners will switch to a different filtration system not because they are too lazy for cleaning but most of the time, when you turn it off, all the waste will shoot out into the tank and it agitates the water. When this happens, the fish are going to be under a lot of stress and so they will poop out a lot. This stressful situation happens again when you restart and prime the canister again.
As you can see cleaning your canister in a saltwater environment is going to be a huge chore and it’s actually one of the cons of running one.
Change the Water
Another thing you need to do which is also related to maintenance is to change the water in your tank very often. It’s recommended that you do a 10% water change every 10 – 12 days.
Do Not Overfeed
If you’re feeding your fish on a daily basis then you need to cut back on it. Overfeeding is one of the critical reasons why there’s a high amount of nitrates in your saltwater tank. Uneaten food and fish waste, also known as detritus, can greatly contribute to your nitrate levels.
Have a Great Water Flow
Make sure there’s a good amount of flow over your live rocks. The flow needs to be chaotic but it also needs to be random. But of course you don’t want the flow rate to blow out your fish. If you have a better flow rate then that would equate to more biological filtering with your live rock and the good bacteria. What you’re trying to do here is imitate the waves that are happening in the ocean. This will add oxygen to the water and will keep the detritus from settling.
Don’t Disturb the Ecosystem
Avoid disturbing the tank as much as possible and let everything get settled in. It’s easy to get excited when it’s your first time to have a saltwater tank but you only disturb and create stress for your fish when you keep on moving, cleaning and changing things around your tank.
You Got Any More Tips?
Do you have any experience with running it on a saltwater environment? It would be great if you could share some of the things that have worked out for you. If you have any tips and feedback then please leave a comment below.
If you’re looking for the top canister filter for saltwater aquarium, then check out our comparison chart by clicking the link below.
