Equipment Review and Discussion :: what's the best of the best?

[theartbook35]

I'm pretty lazy, not too lazy, but, pretty lazy for the most the most part. Besides Fluval, because I really don't want to spend the money on it, what are the other best canister filters out there?

I don't want one of those filters with a huge sucky intake thing, I'd rather not have my turtles have a run-in with that.

[trebzet]

why not just make a diy canister filter its cheapper than purchasing a readymade canister filter

[theartbook35]

Eh?

I've seriously never heard of making a canister filter...

[BullDog]

There's a sticky in the indoor forum (I think) on a DIY canister filter. You use 3 or 4 nesting buckets to create media baskets, and the canister itself. Pretty cool!

I only have experience with Fluval filters, but I always hear good things about Eheims (though they cost more than fluvals in general).

[mikee]

the-b-35 Lazy or not you want to make sure that your filter pump will pump at least 5 times the volume of water you have in the tank. That should be your first goal. Some have motor on top and some on the bottom. Some are louder than others, etc. You will have to make that choice. Good Luck!! m.

[theartbook35]

the-b-35 Lazy or not you want to make sure that your filter pump will pump at least 5 times the volume of water you have in the tank. That should be your first goal. Some have motor on top and some on the bottom. Some are louder than others, etc. You will have to make that choice. Good Luck!! m.

I'm one of the select few you doesn't care much about noise. Even if my mother's bedroom door is a foot away from the tank, I do not care.

I should be able to get something sometime this week. I wanna get it before I go on vacation, so my mother isn't alone with two turtles and a tank that needs a 100% water change.

Has anyone here gone through a few different kinds of canister filters? What ones should I watch out for?

[Azfar]

Alex, I was thinking to make DIY canister filter how bout you?? hehehe..

[theartbook35]

Alex, I was thinking to make DIY canister filter how bout you?? hehehe..

Meh... not my thing... I'm all for building an ATBA, cause it's just wood, screws and paint. Filters... I'd rather just buy made.

I wanna go get one tomorrow. I'm willing tomake the store people show me how it works, in water.

[suprchuck1]

Hey if anyone has any other suggestion, I'm actually looking into getting a canister filter too. I was just at Petsmart today and the manager there told me to check out thatfishplace.com. Said she shouldn't be telling me this, but that it'd be much cheaper than buying it retail in a store. I've got two sliders in a 29 with a pleco. They're not real big yet, but i'm looking to upgrade them to a 75 with a canister filter. The woman at petco said she used this one called a "magnum 350." i forget the company's name, but they had it right by the fluvals. It was about $160 to $220 for the various sized canister filters.

Does anyone have experience using any of the readily available canister filters out there, and if so, do you have any input?

Thanks!

Chuck

[marisa]

Online is much cheaper. I've used the Rena Filstar XP4, which was worth the money (they've unfortunately gone up in price, though). Check around on different sites to get the best price.

[theartbook35]

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/10576/product.web

I found this on that site you provided, suprchuck, and, it was the cheapest one I could find. I think 250 gph is pretty good. I wish it said on there was the preferred tank size is. I need something that'll work for 40 gallons.

[suprchuck1]

Wow, that's pretty cheap- $50. the ones at the store were like 200. I'm gonna try and look into this GPH thing... something tells me it's supposed to be like 2x your tank's size in an hour, or something, which would make this one an awesome deal

[Azfar]

Alex, I was thinking to make DIY canister filter how bout you?? hehehe..

Meh... not my thing... I'm all for building an ATBA, cause it's just wood, screws and paint. Filters... I'd rather just buy made.

I wanna go get one tomorrow. I'm willing tomake the store people show me how it works, in water.

Hehe.. okie dokie. I'm thinking to make DIY filter but lately ain't go so much time to think and go shopping.. better buy one

So hows your ATBA?? finish setup already? don't forget to post some pictures..

[adam85491]

The XP4 is 175 shipped on Ebay....I'm not sure if it is too big for a 40 gallon tank, but I can't justify buying an XP3 that is only 25 dollars cheaper.

[theartbook35]

Alex, I was thinking to make DIY canister filter how bout you?? hehehe..

Meh... not my thing... I'm all for building an ATBA, cause it's just wood, screws and paint. Filters... I'd rather just buy made.

I wanna go get one tomorrow. I'm willing tomake the store people show me how it works, in water.

Hehe.. okie dokie. I'm thinking to make DIY filter but lately ain't go so much time to think and go shopping.. better buy one

So hows your ATBA?? finish setup already? don't forget to post some pictures..

I don't have the money for it right now. Can't get started on it until I do. I did do more drawings of what I wanna put on it.