Canister filter recommendation ?

[robbie74]

Ok so I ended up buying a sunsun 304b very cheap and does 504 gal an hour very quite can't believe how much quiter it is to a intank

 

[bettafanatic]

HI all I'm switching over to the canister filter world and need help deciding which filer to get. My tank is 55 gallon and heavily planted. I was looking at the sunsun 264-GPH with UV sterilizer but getting reviews. I do want a UV sterilizer but most don't seem to come with them. If I need to I can get an aquatop that's in line with a canister but then what canister should I get? What filters do you guys have and what do you like and not like about them? Thanks

 

[aquatickeeper]

Fluval 306 (303 gph)

 

[Soocold]

I'm using a marine land c-360 it's been going good for 6+yrs. I'll I've done is replace the lid gasket.

 

[Mihai Boldor]

I would say Fluval 306 as well

 

[max h]

The Sunsun and Aquatop filters are actually the same filter, with the Aquatop you are paying for the stickers and fancier box. For a couple of years I used a Marineland C-360 on a 55 gallon tank the extra filtration was great. I haven't had any problems with the filter at all, I just put a Marineland Magniflow 360 on my 110 gallon tank in-conjunction with the C-360.

 

[bettafanatic]

Ok so I'm now torn between fluval 306 and Marineland (either MagnaFlow 360 or c-360). I read so many reviews on the aquatop and sunsun and I'd rather not deal with water leaks and back flows. The prices are amazing but you get what you pay for.

Do any of you use UV sterilizers? I'm also torn between the aquatop in line and the green killing machine. I like the idea of it being in line like the aquatop but the reviews aren't the best and it is twice as expensive as the green killing machine. The reviews on the green killing machine are for the most part great but I don't like the idea of it being a separate powerhead vs being in line. Thoughts or opinions?

 

[max h]

The Magniflow 360 is the current filter on the market, the C-360 was discontinued. I don't use UV so I couldn't give you any recommendations.

 

[leviathan]

I have use the Marine Land 360 on my 75 gallon tank and it's done fantastic

 

[Soocold]

I don't use UV. From what I understand it's just a band-aid for excessive nutrients

 

[bettafanatic]

The Magniflow 360 is the current filter on the market, the C-360 was discontinued. I don't use UV so I couldn't give you any recommendations.

They still sell the c-360. I was just looking at c-360 and the MagnaFlow 360 side by side comparing them.

 

[max h]

There may still be some new old stock around.

 

[bettafanatic]

I don't use UV. From what I understand it's just a band-aid for excessive nutrients

I bought the green killing machine at my LFS today because of this This is after 2 weeks of daily water changes and no improvements so I need something (poor fish). I can't even see into the tank to see what is causing the issue (dead fish, plant, etc). I quit using ferts for the time being to see if that would improve it and nothing so we will see how it does. As far as canisters, I ended up coming home and ordering the Marineland magniflow 360 on amazon ($60 cheaper than at my lfs). I'm excited to switch to a canister vs the ugly hob.

 

[max h]

If you don't like the suction cups that come with the Marineland filter, these ones work great

 

[leviathan]

I also run to Marine Land 360 my 75 gallon tank is crystal clear

 

[Finster]

I don't use UV. From what I understand it's just a band-aid for excessive nutrients

It is also very useful for breeding. I like using it instead of adding things like methalene blue to achieve a more sterile environment for eggs and fry.

 

[Soocold]

It is also very useful for breeding. I like using it instead of adding things like methalene blue to achieve a more sterile environment for eggs and fry.

That is a use I have not considered.

 

[Igor95]

I bought the green killing machine at my LFS today because of this View attachment 279945 This is after 2 weeks of daily water changes and no improvements so I need something (poor fish). I can't even see into the tank to see what is causing the issue (dead fish, plant, etc). I quit using ferts for the time being to see if that would improve it and nothing so we will see how it does. As far as canisters, I ended up coming home and ordering the Marineland magniflow 360 on amazon ($60 cheaper than at my lfs). I'm excited to switch to a canister vs the ugly hob.

Can we get an update? Has your tank cleared up?

 

[Finster]

I bought the green killing machine at my LFS today because of this View attachment 279945 This is after 2 weeks of daily water changes and no improvements so I need something (poor fish). I can't even see into the tank to see what is causing the issue (dead fish, plant, etc). I quit using ferts for the time being to see if that would improve it and nothing so we will see how it does. As far as canisters, I ended up coming home and ordering the Marineland magniflow 360 on amazon ($60 cheaper than at my lfs). I'm excited to switch to a canister vs the ugly hob.

You're going to love the world of canisters. I would have gone with the SunSun 303 myself, but that's only because I have 7 SunSuns and have never had a problem with any of them for over 5 years. I do hear good things about the Marineland though and I know it will serve you well. UV should kill the green in short order!

 

[Amazon3d]

I've been using a Sunsun for about 3 months on my 55 planted and love it. 10x clearer than my 65g unplanted with a HOB. Just wish they made one with higher flow.
I bought the HW-304B. $80 and came with media, though I added Purigen (needs recharging now).

 

[max h]

I've been using a Sunsun for about 3 months on my 55 planted and love it. 10x clearer than my 65g unplanted with a HOB. Just wish they made one with higher flow.
I bought the HW-304B. $80 and came with media, though I added Purigen (needs recharging now).

The Sunsun 404 has a higher flow rate, it pushes around 525gph. The mileage may vary with the media you use in it.

You're going to love the world of canisters. I would have gone with the SunSun 303 myself, but that's only because I have 7 SunSuns and have never had a problem with any of them for over 5 years. I do hear good things about the Marineland though and I know it will serve you well. UV should kill the green in short order!

I have no complaints with my Marineland filters and they have great customer service. I had a C-360 that the primer button got stuck on. Yesterday a new Magniflow 360 showed up, the whole dealing with them was 6 business days start to finish. All I was looking for, if there was a way to disassemble the motor head and lubricate the primer o-ring.

 

[Soocold]

I've done it, but it's not easy and I'm not sure I'd recommend unless your skilled with your hands

 

[max h]

I've done it, but it's not easy and I'm not sure I'd recommend unless your skilled with your hands

Hands are skilled, without knowing exactly how it came a part I really didn't want to try. At the time it was my cycles filter. It was easier to just prime it thru the intake with a hose from the sink.

 

[Soocold]

It's just some Phillips screws, just don't over tighten and use some silicone grease/faucet grease on the rubber seals. I think it was only 7 screws total. The easy option is to see if marine land will send you a new head under warranty, mine was outside of warranty and pouring water out of the prime. I was ready to buy the bigger c530 as a replacement, so worst case I broke a broken filter.

 

[max h]

It's just some Phillips screws, just don't over tighten and use some silicone grease/faucet grease on the rubber seals. I think it was only 7 screws total. The easy option is to see if marine land will send you a new head under warranty, mine was outside of warranty and pouring water out of the prime. I was ready to buy the bigger c530 as a replacement, so worst case I broke a broken filter.

Actually Marineland sent me a new Magniflow 360, I had about 6 weeks left on the warranty when the primer got stuck. All I did was switch over the media between the two filters and start it up. Now I have a pair of Magniflow 360's running on the tank. I had just installed a new unused filter from someone for a great price the week before the C-360 wanted to act up.

 

[bettafanatic]

Can we get an update? Has your tank cleared up?

Sorry I haven't been on here for a while. Been busy with my daughter and girl scouts but yes it's crystal clear! Took about a week and then I gave it a few extra days just in case and removed the uv sterilizer and no problems since!

 

[bettafanatic]

I've also added some duckweed since its cleared so we will see how that goes. I hear the stuff grows out of control quick which is what I'm hoping for. Using this tank to grow my turtle food now along with just enjoying having a planted tank.

 

[max h]

Your tank is looking great.

 

[Finster]

The Sunsun 404 has a higher flow rate, it pushes around 525gph. The mileage may vary with the media you use in it.

The 404 is just a newer version of the 304. Same flow rate. I think they even have a newer version, the 704.

I've also added some duckweed since its cleared so we will see how that goes. I hear the stuff grows out of control quick which is what I'm hoping for. Using this tank to grow my turtle food now along with just enjoying having a planted tank.

5 turtles. They can't eat all the duckweed I harvest from my 40 gallon long!

 

[bettafanatic]

5 turtles. They can't eat all the duckweed I harvest from my 40 gallon long!

That's good to know!!!! I only added a small amount I found for like $2. Hoping it turns out.

 

[bettafanatic]

Wow the duckweed has quadrupled in 2 weeks. I just fed my turtle a cup full and he ate it all in minutes and looked at me like "more please!"

 

[Zoomo]

I have a 40-gallon breeder, but also looking for my 10-gallon tank maybe.

In my 40-g, have mystery snails so need overfiltration.

Looking for relatively cheap, easy, first canister filter suggestions.

Was looking at the SunSun Hw304b, HW302, watched a video on the Finnex 360 but seems too small for my tank.

Which ones come with media, bioballs, foam, etc?

I do not have room behind tank as it is on a dresser and only have like 3 inches there, so it would have to go on the side of the tank.

Any cheapish suggestions?

Will a canister be enough alone or will I still need a HOB?

 

[Zigi Zig]

Generally recommend that on average, you turn over your aquarium volume four times per hour. So I don't know if you have typo and talk about Fluval 306 instead 360 should be way enough for 40.gal as 306 will turn water around 7.575 per hour SunSun Hw304b will spin at 13 times per hour and HW302 will do 6.6 per hour each filter is over rated and will be way enough to do job.. Each filter will and should come with media some of them will offer additional items media for couple months..

 

[finnipper59]

I have a 40-gallon breeder, but also looking for my 10-gallon tank maybe.

In my 40-g, have mystery snails so need overfiltration.

Looking for relatively cheap, easy, first canister filter suggestions.

Was looking at the SunSun Hw304b, HW302, watched a video on the Finnex 360 but seems too small for my tank.

Which ones come with media, bioballs, foam, etc?

I do not have room behind tank as it is on a dresser and only have like 3 inches there, so it would have to go on the side of the tank.

Any cheapish suggestions?

Will a canister be enough alone or will I still need a HOB?

I own a Sunburn just because it was cheap. I still run it, but with a job because the Sunsun hardly moves enough water for a 10 gallon tank alone. I have a Penn Plax Cascade on my other tank that was also inexpensive and keeps the water clear. It came with all the media necessary and it's easy to maintain.

 

[Zigi Zig]

I own a Sunburn just because it was cheap. I still run it, but with a job because the Sunsun hardly moves enough water for a 10 gallon tank alone. I have a Penn Plax Cascade on my other tank that was also inexpensive and keeps the water clear. It came with all the media necessary and it's easy to maintain.

What kind of Sunsun do you have because the lowest one on market is Sunsun 602B and that flows 105 GPH that means 10.5 times per hours for 10.gal ..unless something wrong with yours

 

[Zoomo]

Generally recommend that on average, you turn over your aquarium volume four times per hour. So I don't know if you have typo and talk about Fluval 306 instead 360 should be way enough for 40.gal as 306 will turn water around 7.575 per hour SunSun Hw304b will spin at 13 times per hour and HW302 will do 6.6 per hour each filter is over rated and will be way enough to do job.. Each filter will and should come with media some of them will offer additional items media for couple months..

The amazon link says it is a Finnex PX-360 Compact Canister Aquarium Filter and was only recommended for a 25 gallon.

I own a Sunburn just because it was cheap. I still run it, but with a job because the Sunsun hardly moves enough water for a 10 gallon tank alone. I have a Penn Plax Cascade on my other tank that was also inexpensive and keeps the water clear. It came with all the media necessary and it's easy to maintain.

Did look at that one too. They are quite ugly, aren't they? I mean all canisters filters.

 

[Zigi Zig]

The amazon link says it is a Finnex PX-360 Compact Canister Aquarium Filter and was only recommended for a 25 gallon.



Did look at that one too. They are quite ugly, aren't they? I mean all canisters filters.

LOL when I click on link it says lights 24/7 for aquarium .. I own 18 tanks plus 14 outside for customers I do not own Finnex PX-360 or any other from this company so I can't rate this product

 

[Zoomo]

LOL when I click on link it says lights 24/7 for aquarium .. I own 18 tanks plus 14 outside for customers I do not own Finnex PX-360 or any other from this company so I can't rate this product

Here is the link.



Which canisters do you own and what size tank are they on and do you recommend any over others?

 

[Letsfish]

You could also go with an AC 70 or a Tidal 75 HOB which are much easier to maintain.

 

[Zoomo]

You could also go with an AC 70 or a Tidal 75 HOB which are much easier to maintain.

I have the AC 70's two on the tank now, cannot stand the elevator media knocking the lid off, causing leaks. I have the Tidal 75 in the closet. Generally loved those except the skimmers. I like to keep my tank a few inches lower than top of tank for my mystery snails and if the water gets too low the skimmer starts screaming at me. The snails also crawled on it all the time causing the skimmer to scream at me too.

Was also looking at the MarineLand 350 or 200. But people have bad reviews on them a lot.

 

[Zigi Zig]

I have the AC 70's two on the tank now, cannot stand the elevator media knocking the lid off, causing leaks. I have the Tidal 75 in the closet. Generally loved those except the skimmers. I like to keep my tank a few inches lower than top of tank for my mystery snails and if the water gets too low the skimmer starts screaming at me. The snails also crawled on it all the time causing the skimmer to scream at me too.

Was also looking at the MarineLand 350 or 200. But people have bad reviews on them a lot.

I like MarineLand products I have 9 of those and I ma very happy I like they large trays they can handle up to 1.lb media ..

 

[Fashooga]

Honestly if it were me I probably would take a gander at the cascade filters. The 700 is rated up to 65 gallons and the 1000 is rated up to 100 gallons. Price is comparable to the sunsun but I've heard the quality is better.

 

[Zoomo]

What does anybody think of this one, best choice?



Never mind, some pretty bad reviews.

 

[fissh]

For the 40 gallon get a sunsun 304B. Buy the one without the media, and cut your own sponges, and buy a higher grade ceramic rings.






and for you 10 gallon, get the 603b. It comes with a good set of sponges.

 

[Zoomo]

For the 40 gallon get a sunsun 304B. Buy the one without the media, and cut your own sponges, and buy a higher grade ceramic rings.






and for you 10 gallon, get the 603b. It comes with a good set of sponges.

Thank you so very much!!!

 

[Letsfish]

Honestly if it were me I probably would take a gander at the cascade filters. The 700 is rated up to 65 gallons and the 1000 is rated up to 100 gallons. Price is comparable to the sunsun but I've heard the quality is better.

I have a Cascade 1500 on my 55 gallons and it works flawlessly. The only negative would be cleaning them. On my tank I have Ball valve between the UV sterilizer and the spray bar so I can do any maintenance when required without syphoning water back from the tank. The Cascade 1000 would be a good fit for a 40B.

 

[Zoomo]

I have a Cascade 1500 on my 55 gallons and it works flawlessly. The only negative would be cleaning them. On my tank I have Ball valve between the UV sterilizer and the spray bar so I can do any maintenance when required without syphoning water back from the tank. The Cascade 1000 would be a good fit for a 40B.

Thanks. I wish I knew what you meant by ball valve and what not, but I am still looking at all my options. But, since I do not have a canister filter, how does one open it to do maintenance w/o it spilling all over the place? Do you have to take the intake and outflow tubes out of the tank each time you do maintenance?

 

[max h]

I have a couple of Marineland Magnaflow 360's, an old Magnum 350, and a Fluval FX4 on my 2 tanks. The Magnaflow 360's have been good filters and trouble free so far. You could really get away with a Magnaflow 220 for a 40 breeder tank. I see some folks don't like canisters due to maintenance, in reality they aren't that intensive on maintenance. Out of the 4 filters I clean 1 a month which take maybe 15 minutes, the worst part of the process is getting them out from under the cabinet.

 

[Letsfish]

I removed my equipment from my cabinet because it is to much trouble getting it out ,plus my floors a carpeted and spillage is not an option. so this is what I did. At first my bride of 50 years squawked a bit but after awhile she settled down. Now I just cart the filter and Rubbermaid back to the utility sink in the back of the basement and do the maintenance.

 

[Zoomo]

I removed my equipment from my cabinet because it is to much trouble getting it out ,plus my floors a carpeted and spillage is not an option. so this is what I did. At first my bride of 50 years squawked a bit but after awhile she settled down. Now I just cart the filter and Rubbermaid back to the utility sink in the back of the basement and do the maintenance. View attachment 458812

What is to stop the water (after you take the canister off to go clean it) from shooting through the tubes connecting it to the tank?

I gotta be honest here, I am overwhelmed and so confused and do not know what to do. I like the SunSun for price but this may sound silly, but I hate white. It will get filthy in no time on the outside. Also it seems difficult to maintain canister filters, and I would have no idea (other than the very helpful post above) about what to put in it media wise, other than what they provide with the filter. I also think maybe I need 2 on my 40. Did I say I have mystery snails, and more than I should and they are piggies. I currently have two 70 G AquaClears on this tank, but the baskets constantly ride up on them and it is driving me crazy. I have big gallon tubs of bird seed sitting on the top of the filter cover to keep it from popping off and allowing the basket to come out and water to spill out. I just cannot stand it. I clean the filter out weekly (really really squeezing out the foam pad in there over and over again in old tank water), but by 5 days it is floating out again (even took the basket out and it is still trying to float out of the filter). My Tidal filters never did that, also have a basket, but it has a skimmer and cannot lower the water level for my mystery snails or the skimmer screams.

I was thinking of going with Marineland Penguin 350's and modding with my own media, but reviews are pretty bad on Marinelands.

So confused.

There are literally only 4 or 5 types of HOB filters, I own 3 of them, and they all have something wrong with them.

The Canisters are cost restrictive and I am not knowledgeable about them at all.

Oh, forgot to mention you could always get like you know those doors that fold and can place them anywhere in the house to create a wall or separate room area, something like that to just cover the filter and equipment you have there. Nothing to intricate, just like 2 boards put together in like an L that you just move away when you need to get to your stuff if the wife is really bothered by it.