you shouldnt just jump the gun on 3 different experiances..go the extra mile for the Eheim 2217 and you will be flabergasted!..and like stated, expect 20 years from it.. that is if you do your part..and make sure you buy from an actual known dealer, not some cheesy place..like..petsmart.com or somthing.. 159.99$
If you go Ehiem Canister what ever you do dont get the ecco biggest pos i ever bought I got the 80gon have it on my 55 and it plugs constantly, I recomend fx5's or emperor 400
The best way to keep canisters running basically forever is to use a pre-filter over the intake to catch poop and other waste before it enters the filter.
If you're using your canister for mechanical filtration...and you're not cleaning the mechanical media regularly, you're basically running your water through poop for months at a time...which is no bueno.
I primarily use air-driven boxes and sponges on my tanks...as well as over the tank "dump" filters (basically a sump above the tank). Quit using boxes or HOBs a long time ago...
