SunSun canister filters?

Hallo! It's been a while, but I'm baaack! With more frustrating questions

55 gallon with currently 4 mbuna cichlids.

I'm having some frustrating issues with my HOB filters. Or, just one of them, really. It keeps failing, and then I take it apart and clean it (taking it apart the FIRST time broke some tiny plastic bits, and now it just fails more often...) It's being really unreliable, and I'm just done with it. I was toying with the idea of getting another of the Aquaclear 110 (the other filter that continues to work great!) To work alongside it, but I was also taking into consideration that I wanted to add one of those wave maker/power head things in to really add to the flow. I didn't realize this before, but the canister filters intake and outward flow can be on opposite sides of the tank? That sounds awesome!! And like it would potentially fix two issues at the same time.

So I went on a search and found the more budget friendly SunSun canister filters. They sound really promising, from what I have read. They seem to last a long time, and be pretty reliable. Also, they look like they might actually fit on my stand... But I'm always wary about buying cheaper products, because things are usually cheaper for a reason.

Except when you're dealing with generics that are made basically the same, just without a name brand to bring up the price.
And gems likey car, which has proven to be more reliable than many cars half or even a fourth its age.
And sponge filters, which are super cheap, but continue to amaze me.

So I figured I'd ask here to see if anyone else has experience with them? Or if you have a canister that you swear by? Looking at you, Fluval. I mean, I really like the Aquaclear 110, and it's made by fluval. So conflicted

 

I don't have either, but like with cars, a canister filter is probably only going to be as good as you take care of it!

 

I don't have either, but like with cars, a canister filter is probably only going to be as good as you take care of it!

This is true! I know people who have never changed their oil/didn't know oil needed changing

 

This is true! I know people who have never changed their oil/didn't know oil needed changing

As far as HOBs go, both of mine are the cheaper ones from walmart....but i keep the impellers clean and keep the media unclogged, they have lasted for about 4-5 years at this point. I would imagine similar for canisters. And fish for that matter. Take care of it and problems should be minimal. Too bad same doesn't quite apply to heaters....

 

As far as HOBs go, both of mine are the cheaper ones from walmart....but i keep the impellers clean and keep the media unclogged, they have lasted for about 4-5 years at this point. I would imagine similar for canisters. And fish for that matter. Take care of it and problems should be minimal. Too bad same doesn't quite apply to heaters....

That was the issue with this one. I was trying to reach the impeller for maintenance, and it... Had plastic bits holding it together in opposite ways. No matter how I worked it, one of the pieces was stopping it from coming undone (or snapping during my struggle )

Which is another reason I am liking the SunSun. I saw a video about reaching the impeller vs the fx6 impeller, and it looks super accessable. It looked much more basic in design, and therefore easier to disassemble? Granted, the HOB one may have been as well, and I just did it wrong? Idk