55 Gallon Tank Newbie looking for canister filter recommendations

Hello everyone! I'm pretty new to this hobby. I have a 55g, planted tank (see picture) that's about 4 months old. When I first got started all the info out there was rather overwhelming so I decided to go with a HOB filter to make things easy. I currently have a Penn Plax Cascade 300 running. As far as I can tell, it does what it's supposed to do, my water is clear and my parameters are fine. But while the filter was whisper quiet in the beginning it has increased in noise level ever since. Also, the flow is not quite what it used to be - I have to turn it up all the way to get the same flow I used to get on half that. I am now taking this thing apart and cleaning it every few days which seems to quiet it for a little while before it gets worse again. To be honest, I'm tired of it. I have attached a pre-filter sponge because I thought that might help, but it did not. So I was thinking about getting a new filter - but if I'm gonna get a new filter I thought I might as well upgrade to a canister filter.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good canister filter? Something quiet? Also, do I need a spray bar? Is UV filter necessary?

Thank you!

Oh, in case that's important: Currently, I have 6 Celestial Pearl Danios and about 10 fry in there, along with 6 assassin snails and lord knows how many bladder snails who hitchhiked their way into the tank. In my quarantine tank, I have 6 Red Neon Rainbowfish, 6 Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish, 4 clown killifish, 3 amano shrimp and 3 blue dream shrimp - they'll join the CPDs in the main tank in a few weeks. So basically I'm planning on having a big nano fish tank

 

Just stoping by to tell you you have an amazing tank! I have a big tank with a million nano fish too!

 

Hello everyone! I'm pretty new to this hobby. I have a 55g, planted tank (see picture) that's about 4 months old. When I first got started all the info out there was rather overwhelming so I decided to go with a HOB filter to make things easy. I currently have a Penn Plax Cascade 300 running. As far as I can tell, it does what it's supposed to do, my water is clear and my parameters are fine. But while the filter was whisper quiet in the beginning it has increased in noise level ever since. Also, the flow is not quite what it used to be - I have to turn it up all the way to get the same flow I used to get on half that. I am now taking this thing apart and cleaning it every few days which seems to quiet it for a little while before it gets worse again. To be honest, I'm tired of it. I have attached a pre-filter sponge because I thought that might help, but it did not. So I was thinking about getting a new filter - but if I'm gonna get a new filter I thought I might as well upgrade to a canister filter.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good canister filter? Something quiet? Also, do I need a spray bar? Is UV filter necessary?

Thank you!

Oh, in case that's important: Currently, I have 6 Celestial Pearl Danios and about 10 fry in there, along with 6 assassin snails and lord knows how many bladder snails who hitchhiked their way into the tank. In my quarantine tank, I have 6 Red Neon Rainbowfish, 6 Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish, 4 clown killifish, 3 amano shrimp and 3 blue dream shrimp - they'll join the CPDs in the main tank in a few weeks. So basically I'm planning on having a big nano fish tank

I would recommend a fluval canister. I currently run the fluval fx6 on a 75 gallon. With the size of your tank you could do the fx5. I wouldn’t suggest a uv filter, they have a really bad habit of burning out and melting stuff. With a canister filter you only have to clean the actual filter every 3-6 months depending on your stocking. I absolutely love my fluval and flow is not problem. I point one head down the back glass and the other facing up to agitate water surface. I also have an underwater river ran with an airstone. The fx series are pricey, but so worth it with the little maintenance they require.

 

HI hazyvonne, I recently bought a Fluval 207 which I like a lot. You would probably need the 307 or. It's very quiet and easy to use. The only negative I can think of is that it does not come with a spray bar. However, you probably don't need one if the HOB was doing the job ok. Spray bars help with water flow in your tank, making sure there are no dead spots and that your plants get the co2 and nutrients they need. You can buy one from fluval if you want one. I ended up keeping mine set up without a spray bar. My fish seem to like it better. and I like not looking at a spray bar.

Also, you can control the filter output from a lever on top of the filter.

This is a lower priced alternative to the FX series that Sb092 mentioned. I think it just depends on what your needs are. Like Sb092 said, maintenance is minimal on a canister filter. You can decrease it even more with a prefilter.
Also want to mention that when you get your new filter you should leave the HOB running for a few weeks so the new filter media can get populated with bacteria OR you can do what I did and put your old filter media from the HOB into the new filter along with the new media (sponges, ceramic etc)

 

Nice tank, I love lots of small fish in a big tank.
In my 55gl I ran a Fluval 306 with the spraybar for over a year, and with the small fish and bioload it will do a great job.
Just just got a 407, only because I am prepping for a tank upgrade. The flow difference is pretty astonishing.
Either of these filters gets the job done in your tank.
For UV, the green killing machine is my choice.