Older Magnum 350 Canister vs. Emporer 400 HOB (55 gallon)

Need help Magnum 350 Canister vs. Emporer 400 HOB (55 gallon)

HI everyone,

New to this forum, used to be on another one years ago and this site seems more active. At any rate...

I've had a 20 gallon and two 10's for quite a few years now, until last weekend I 'adopted' a 55 gallon from my brother. In the past I've always used HOB filters since I had small tanks. His tank came with a Marineland Magnum 350 canister, I just set it up with a new bonded filter sleeve. Just turned it on and it's a little leaky, which is probably an easy fix, but I'm a little apprehensive as this filter is most likely 15+ years old. The media I bought for it was around $30 and I'm thinking just buying a new filter might be worth it.

However buying a new canister filter is a little more than what I'm able to purchase atm. I've heard the Emporer 400 is pretty nice and if I return some items it's only $10 or so more for this HOB.

Just wondering if I'm better off with the emporer instead of the hassle having to tinker with the cannister, and possible leaking as well as buying more stuff to make it water tight etc. Or if the canister truly is worth fixing up?

I only have a few fish right now (I've had them for a few years, so now it's onesies and twosies. They used to be in larger groups)
3 black skirt tetras
2 cherry barbs
2 glolight tetras
1 zebra danio

I plan on upping in numbers of above and adding:
Corys
Cardinal tetras
BNP
And either an angelfish or bolivian rams

I don't plan on getting anything bigger fish wise anytime soon.

Thanks for any input,

Harlow

 

Welcome! I prefer canisters for a few reasons, the biggest one being how much media they hold, but they aren't the holy grail of filters, and they can be more expensive. The Aquaclear HOB filters are great choices too with models that can easily handle a 55 gallon tank. The Aquaclear 110 would give you about ten turnovers of your tank every hour which would be plenty for the stocking you have I think.

 

Thanks vociferus I will look into the aquaclear, and see what I can possibly do with the leak

 

I have the penguin 350s, and I hate them, bio wheels are a constant headache for me. Been replacing them with aquaclears and canisters.

 

Thanks Jocelyn, have 2 hobs from the previous tanks running. I plan on fixing the leaks on the canister because it should be an easy fix. Then eventually I'll upgrade my hob to an aquaclear