Meenu

i have the same filter, david. it is pretty awesome...

kelsangdol

Eheim classic!
Very quiet and nice aeration too.

blasto172

Hi all new to the forum, just set up my first canister filter last week and I'm cycling my tank as we speak. It's a Penn Plax cascade 1200. 109.99 at petsolutions. Seems to be a deceit filter for the price, runs quiet, 4 media trays so I have lots of options. Comes with both the spray bar and a jet. Also Used a hydor eth (external thermal heater) 300 watt when I set it up. been holding the temp on the dial with out fail; the best part being theres no heater in the tank to hide or for the fish to hurt themselves on. It connects in the output hose. I plan on starting a thread on it soon with pics and keep it updated as I start stocking the tank.

ilikefish

I bought a used fluval 05 canister for my 80g and it has worked flawlessly for over a year.

-It is completely completely, silent (after its run for about 30 mins and gets the bubbles all out)...

-media is whatever you feel like adding

-The thing runs like a truck... I dropped it of of the back of a pickup from about 6' onto the driveway and nothing happened no internal damage no leaks no nothing.

-highly recommended

you said
"Fluval 05 Series: easy to use, lots of media options, reliable, hoses hard to work with, bypass?"

not sure what you meant by hoses hard to work with... I don't have that issue... in fact I thought it was easy... and bypass? I don't understand that statement either...

I think you wouldn't be disappointed with a fluval.

fluval fan

stefjane

By bypass, I think it means the way the water is forced to flow through the filter media. In Eheims, the water is brought in the bottom of the filter and comes out of the top. The water HAS to go through the media in order to come back out again. In Fluvals and in many other filters water goes in and out at the top of the filter. Not all of the water travels through the media before flowing back into the tank.
Hope that makes sense ilikefish,
Steph

blasto172

in my cascade the hoses do connect to the top of the filter. but it flows down to the bottom of the case through a tube thats is built into the media baskets, the tube sections are stepped so that they interlock with the adjoining baskets. the top basket also has a rubber gasket to seal itself to the inlet. so the water still has to flow back up, through the media to get to the impeller and out of the filter.

FlintyDoughy

I really liked the Fluval 305 for ease of use and cleaning. The bypass worked great and plenty of media options. Much quieter than the air pump. However, it wasn't quite enough to do the 55g. When I upgraded to the 75 gallon, I added a Fluval FX5 and I love it. Tons of space for media, quiet and the water is crystal clear. I really, really love the FX5.

kuhliLoachFan

I love my Eheim 2215, 2217 classic, and Eheim Professionel II (2026) filters.

Second to those, I love my AquaClear HOBs.

Between those two filters, I don't need anything else. I have had nothing but bad luck with the other brands of cannisters, and HOBs that I have tried.

I particularly hate the tendency of Fluval 30x/40x to leak at the mid section.
The media trays and design of the Fluvals are FANTASTIC. It's just that whoever designed the way the top and bottom fit together was an eeejit!

W

JustinF

I've always loved my Fluval 204, and someday I will go with the Fluval 05 series. It's been very reliable, it was in storage for 4 years replaced 2 gaskets and it fired right back up and purrs like a kitten. It is very quite and the flow, wow! That's my opinion, and I also like Eheim Classic too.

bassbonediva

I have a Penn Plax Cascade 1000 and love it. Plus the customer service at Penn Plax is amazing. I bought the filter used and it didn't have any instructions. I couldn't get it to prime and emailed Penn Plax with my problem. They corresponded with me, trying to help me fix the problem, and when I accidently burned out the motor on the filter trying to get it to prime, they sent me a whole new motor unit completely free of charge.

Cfl Mike

Fluval G6 HANDS DOWN! NO IF ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT IT! First it has Fluval Legedndary filtration and even more filtration options than most. They make cartridges for ease or you can use your own media in it. Most of all ITS A FREAKING COMPUTER! It will tell you like everything about your water and if theres a problem in the system. I mean the dam thing is just ridiculous HANDS DOWN. Go look into it if you havent; FLUVAL G6.

Everythingzen

A fluval 05 is perfect, in my experience. If a total klutz like me could hook one up, then a 4 year old could probably manage it. They're silent, no leaks, strong, efficient, thorough, so versatile with media, cleaning is a breeze, maintenance is no issue... Perhaps my naiveté has made me a little blinded? I adore mine. I will stay with them for sure.

yusufm52

well i absolutely love my eheim 2217 canister filter, my water has never looked so clean.. and its almost maintenance free..