Which filter would you recommend?

Nigelk8485

Gambusia
MFK Member
Oct 3, 2014
462
1
18
Louisville, KY
I'm setting up a 150 gallon tank here shortly. The guy I bought it from is giving me two Marineland Emperor 400 HOB filters with it. My current plan of stocking will be one tiger oscar, one featherfin catfish, 5 silver dollars, and two blue acaras. On aqadvisor, even though my stocking is at 88%, the filtration capacity with those two filters won't handle the bio load so I am planning on removing one of those and going with a canister filter. I've never used a canister filter before so any suggestions on which to get? Ease of use, efficiency, and cost are all things to be considered. I don't mind forking out $200 for one, but if I can get one that's comparable for half the price, obviously I'd prefer that.

The two I was researching were the Eheim 2217 and the Cascade 1200, both seem to have their pros and cons.


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reptilerescued

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 19, 2014
264
7
33
nepa
I'm using the cascade 1200 see my post here on what to do to make it " right"
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?590697-penn-plax-1200-canister

I cleaned it Oct. 10/3/14 for the 1st time was up 5 weeks running and added a bag of purigen.
canister was rather clean the water polishers needed sqeazed out that was about it.

I'm also using two HUGE HOB filters on the tank.
one is strickly a water polisher the other is a bio filter.

Water tests Oct 3rd showed 5 nitrate 0 everything else. with API drop tests.
if you want hardness and PH I can get those for you.

Pro's
American company that I've bought from off the self since the 70's when I was a kid.
quit
spare parts easy to get
filter baskets have a lot of room for added media ( I took advantage of that)
price 111.00 after shipping on amazon
easy to setup
comes with everything need to "start"
self prime bilge

Con's
Lots of bypass ( see my link above to correct it)
spraybar isn't long enough for my 6 foot tank
no off switch you have to unplug it from the wall ( maybe a good thing)
no flow regulation out of the box ( you would have to add your own)

I'm sure I'm missing a few pro's and con's.

This is my 1st larger canister filter until I figure out what to do with my sump.
I have to plumb it into the basement if I want to use it.

Tank is 160 G
stock is 11 inch Fla Gar
5 inch sens bichir
whip tail cat 4 inches
5 inch comet GF
and on any given day 30 or less feeders 3 inches or less.
tank is also planted ( medium)

HTH
Rich
 

Nigelk8485

Gambusia
MFK Member
Oct 3, 2014
462
1
18
Louisville, KY
Thanks for the information and link to your question. Unfortunately I'm not as handy as it appears you are, I may just have to keep researching for some that have a few less cons or manual adjustments that need to be made.


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Heretik

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2013
293
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0
The Great White North
Been using Eheim since i can remember. A 2217 will serve well for biological filtration.


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Heretik

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2013
293
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0
The Great White North
Im sure if you shop around used you can find a fx5/6 at a fair price. I have yet to go with a Fluval as my eheims have never failed, but i hear nothing but good things about them.


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ragin_cajun

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Sep 8, 2013
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South Louisiana
Eheim 2262.
 
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