Eheim Vs Hydor Canister Filter

I am playing around with the idea of buying a new bigger canister filter due to when I added a CO2 reactor, I lost some flow in my 60G aquarium. Further research revealed that it is about a 20% flow rate lost and considering that the 350 has a flow rate of 280GPH and filled with media reduces to 210GPH minus an additional 20% = 168GPH (ouch).
I am on the edge between Eheim Pro 4+ 600 and Hydor Pro 600 due to both have their pros and cons. I have personal experience with the Hydor Pro 350. What are some personal experience for those with Eheim Pro Canister filters?

Thank you for any inputs. Although, I probably already answered my own question by listing technical breakdown, I will still like to hear some personal experience to help come to a finalize purchase decision!

Technical Breakdown:

• Hydor Pros:
  • Easy DIY filter media cut out
    
  • Super Silent
    
  • Swivel intake / outtake
    
  • Reduce flow through the ball joints
    
  • Very Easy Prime
  • Maintains relatively high GPH with full media
  • Outtake customization, 4ft spray bar or straight jet
    
  • Outstanding Customer Service
• Hydor Cons:
  • Removing intake / outtake hose causes water to come out
    
  • Stands Taller which might be a problem with the 600 series due to the height is 24"
    
  • The trays must be fitted perfectly or the motor housing will not secure tightly

• Eheim Pros:
  • Highly energy efficient, lower power consumption
    
  • Engineered for superior durability lastly many years
  • Maintenance is hassle free, does not cause water spillage
    
  • Not as tall; therefore, can fit inside the aquarium cabinet
    
  • Superior biological media
• Eheim Cons:
  • Spray bar length is subpar which seems to only benefit if mounting on the side of the aquarium
  • Prime button doesn't always work? (Questionable)
  • Subpar customer service from what I read
  • Not DIY filter cut out friendly
    
  • GPH is consistence once full with media due to videos showing high flow, others saying it loses a lot of flow. Personal experience will be nice!

GPH Video (Hydor Pro 350 vs Eheim Pro 4+ 350) - Starts at 4:25

 

I have an Eheim Pro 3e (2074, I think, no longer being made) and I love it.

Don't count the spray bar as a con - most people take them off anyway. I took mine off.

I have no issues with the primer button not working if my filter is full and the lines are full. If the lines aren't full, it just takes a minute or two.

I use DIY filter media in it, both mechanical and biological, with no issues. No difficulty at all there.

I haven't noticed a big loss in flow from filter media, even when I go a little too long without cleaning it.

So the one I have is different than the one you're looking at, but if my experience with this one would translate to that model, I'd go for it. It's also super quiet, add that to your pros list. I can't hear it unless I stick my head under my cabinet and put my ear close to it.

 

I have an Eheim Pro 3e (2074, I think, no longer being made) and I love it.

Don't count the spray bar as a con - most people take them off anyway. I took mine off.

I have no issues with the primer button not working if my filter is full and the lines are full. If the lines aren't full, it just takes a minute or two.

I use DIY filter media in it, both mechanical and biological, with no issues. No difficulty at all there.

I haven't noticed a big loss in flow from filter media, even when I go a little too long without cleaning it.

So the one I have is different than the one you're looking at, but if my experience with this one would translate to that model, I'd go for it. It's also super quiet, add that to your pros list. I can't hear it unless I stick my head under my cabinet and put my ear close to it.

Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience TexasDomer! From what I know, the Eheim Pro 3E is very similar to the 4+ without the controversial "Xtender" feature.

 

I know they aren't in your list for comparison, but I'm not hating my Sunsun 404B ($90). Haven't had a single problem with it. Fits inside my 75 gallon cabinet. Has 4 huge trays (flow goes bottom to top). I don't think I would ever buy an Eheim/Fluval/Marineland canister vs. a Sunsun. You can buy 2 Sunsuns and have money left over from buying 1 of the others. Only thing I can hear is the water trickling/bubbling in the tank. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
I'm not sure about actual gph with all 4 trays properly filled, but mine still has visibly high flow rate and probably wouldn't want any higher current in my African cichlid tank. I don't use the spray bar and the flow is very high. It says 525 on the specs, but I'm sure it is more than comparable with the 330 of the Eheim pro 4 ($220)

 

I only tried a SunSun once, and it was enough to make me never want to try it again. It was so, so noisy. No idea what was wrong with it, I troubleshooted everything. Had to return it because it was too loud for me to sleep.

 

I only tried a SunSun once, and it was enough to make me never want to try it again. It was so, so noisy. No idea what was wrong with it, I troubleshooted everything. Had to return it because it was too loud for me to sleep.

That's no good, I've had 2 and no problems with either one. I had a marineland emperor HOB and that thing was super noisy had to replace the impeller 4 times. Haven't had a single issie with my Sunsuns though and still haven't spent as mich on them as one fluval/eheim/marineland. lol

 

I bought my Eheim and Fluval used, so they were very cheap for me - cheaper than SunSuns even

 

I know they aren't in your list for comparison, but I'm not hating my Sunsun 404B ($90). Haven't had a single problem with it. Fits inside my 75 gallon cabinet. -snips-

Hey Eric, I appreciate throwing it out there about the SunSun; however, after reading several good / bad reviews, I concluded that I cannot take a chance on the filter despite the price. I always thought that I spend a considerable amount of money for the aquarium tank equipments and inhabitants, but I do not want to take a chance on cheaping out on something vital. I also noticed that both Hydor and Eheim has great quality control where a chance of malfunction or detective unit is relatively low.

I decided to proceed forward with the Eheim Pro 4+ 600 filter since it is only 18" High vs 24" High (Hydor) which will not fit inside my aquarium cabinet. I look forwards to writing up a review as well as show flow since there are way to many videos out there of unboxing and setup and almost no videos of it in action.

 

I am very, very, very curious how this filter turned out. I am debating between a Hydor 250 vs Eheim Pro4+ for a 20 gallon planted tank.