Fed up with Eheim and Fluval canister filters

[bigignatz]

I'm absolutely fed up with the Eheim filters I've been using on my tanks, both planted and unplanted for the past several years. I have similarly given up on Fluvals because they were even more cheaply built (all that plastic) and am now looking for alternatives. The industry seems to have trained us all to believe that it's OK for a filter to cost hundreds of dollars and then slowly lose power and eventually fail (and yes I keep the impellers clean and otherwise maintain the filters) after a year of use. I'm generally fed up with all of this overpriced Chinese made crap in the aquarium industry (including lights - another topic altogether) and am looking for alternatives.

I've noticed on a couple of videos, generally from Asia, that there seems to be a stainless steel canister filter that is being made somewhere...and am wondering if anybody here has seen these or know what brand they are. I'm assuming that if the canister is stainless the motors/design will be better too, and probably just as expensive as can be imagined. Ideas, anybody?

 

[Linuxman]

These might be the ones you're looking for:

http://www.adana.com.sg/productsPage/ada_filtration.html

Seems' to be really nice, a bit too expensive for my taste. For the money you'll have to pay for one you could get a really big and well made sump.

 

[Secretninja]

ADA are the only metal bodied canisters I have seen. ADA stuff is stupid expensive though. Who the hell would pay 700-1500 bucks for a canister filter?

I don't get whey people think metal>plastic. If you have issues with build quality of eheim classics I think you will have issues with just about any manufacturer. I can't speak for those fancy eheims with all the bells and whistles, but they generally get slagged on for being overpriced and of shoddier build quality than the classics.

 

[F1 VET]

Yea when technology expands so do better material and rubbers used in manufacturing like fiberglass/carbonfiber/resins etc.

Its a purpose built machine and if your not gentle and drop your canister then yea a plastic molded bin will generally crack hence the need for bullit proof cans i guess. Try throughly cleaning ur hoses and couplers in hot water with a shotgun cleaning kit, i get into every nook on my xp4 when i break it down and everytime i do the flow increases not to mention bio media gets clogged after awhile too.

Or if that doesnt work replace your seals, impeller/motor hosing .
Just something to consider.
Cheers

 

[12 Volt Man]

I have had two Rena XP3s now for the last 5 years and have had no trouble at all.

very user friendly. you might want to look into the renas.

 

[Hot Slime]

I love the Eheim classic series. You could try building your own wet/dry. Then all you really need to do is find a really good pump.


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[Tworottz72]

My 2 cents, i bought a used 125g about 6 months ago, which included a Cascade 1500 canister. Tho this is my first canister and i havent had it for a long period of time, i am very happy with the Cascade. And will be adding another Cascade when my Oscar and tankmates get some size on them.

 

[peepertoad]

go veg filter
it is so easy
say your tank is 4 feet by 2 feet so you need a container that is 4 feet by 1 foot and set it on the back half of your tank
have two holes one at one end the other at the other end
water pumps up through one and dumps back into the tank at the other
cup the water intack with some filter medium
the out take needs to be raised to half the container hight
fill the rest of the container to just under half with lava rock
this will act as the bio for the microbs to live in
then go buy as many plants as you can they don't have to be expensive
they don't have to be water plants either
i found bagonas and peace lillys and pothos are the easyest and cheapest
but just about any plant grows amazingly well in these conditions
you will have to experiment and test for yourself
so when you find the plants you want you set the pot in the water for a week to let the plant get used to it
then take the plant out of the pot and set it dirt and all half in the lava rock
and thats it
you can put as many plants as you can fit you dont havew to worry about spaceing them or anything
there is always enough nutriants to go around
while the plants are getting estabolished you will get algae blooms and have to do a few extra water changes but once they get going your water will stay clear
you will not have to do as many water changes as well
but once a year you need to conect the out hose to a bucket and flush out the box to get excess build up down and get water running clear again
i am useing this on all my tanks
300 gallon
270 gallon
125 gallon
104 gallon
45 gallon
20 gallon
and no problems
most of my tanks are over full with my koi and channel cats for my ponds and it keeps them clean
so it should work for any fish

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

I've had similar issues with canisters. They simply just decline in function too fast for their price. I have over the backs that are over 20 years old that still push water at what appears to be the same insane volume. Mean while my relatively young marine land seems to struggle to push water when in pristine order.

I'd just give up on canisters. The ADA filters are not for normal people but people with money to burn. I'd say if quality of filtration and functionality is your concern its time to sump! You can build a very efficient easily serviced superior sump alternative for not much money with a simple visit to target and homedepot.

 

[DIDYSIS]

I vote for the fx5 great filter. I would recommend it even if it's overkill on your tank. Amazon best price for extras and the filter.

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