Tho i do like the EHEIM 2080 PROFESSIONAL 3 and the FLUVAL FX5 if your on a budget and have a pump i think that the NU-Clear is a good deal that takes up little space and dose a good job. That and if your using a tank with a overflow system the NU-Clear is shorter so you can take the top off and get inside with ease without having to move the unit, and i have not tried it but i hear that the other two are harder to hook up to a overflow system.