Fluval 404 vs wet dry

[Burbotman]

Filtration Question
Currently on my 180g I am running 2 fluval 404's. I have always used the fluvals with few problems. I am reading that allot of people swear by wet/dry systems.

Is the wet/dry superior for filtration?
Is a wet dry easier to maintain?
In short what is the advantage?

Thanks for the responses

 

[stotty]

A Wet and Dry mix’s the air and water, as water trickles over an exposed filter media. Biological filtration and gas exchange occur as the water flows in over the media surface. The rapid oxidation of ammonia and nitrite makes these filters extremely efficient. (so it said on the box)EHEIM make a canister the "Professional Wet/Dry Filter (2227, 2229) " they are meant to be really good on marine set ups I have on of these in my collection of Eheim in my fish room and fined it no better or worse than my other Eheims.

 

[johno27]

What he said. There is very little to any air inside your canister filter making it a very good mechanical filter but a very poor biological due to the lack of air and high water flow. Instead of replacing the whole system a slightly less expensive route may be to add bio-wheel water returns to you existing 404's but a wet dry would be better in the long run.Right now I am running two aqua clear 110's on my 90 witch is in no way ideal but it gets the job done for sure

 

[Sunpoe]

I have a 2227 wet/dry canister that worked great for a year and then I had nothing but trouble with the regulator valve. I am not a huge fan of these filters, I think there canisters are great; I never have a problem with them at all. I have even let one, by accident, run dry for a couple of days and it still works but the wet/ dry they are kind of finicky.

 

[Pangong_ilong]

Wet/dry system are very easy to maintain. just replace the filter pad every month and your good.

 

[Catfish_Junkie]

Though I have never run wet/dry filters I have a 404 and an Ehiem 2213 which I am planning to install biowheels on. I have never run into big prolems or what I would consider poor bio filteration with the canisters. Even without a biowheel and a large bio-load. The bio wheels would probably be cheaper than building an entirely new filter system.