What's A Good Canister Filter for 55g?
- Thread starter AiWen
- Start date
If you are just going to get a single canister, go with a Rena Filstar xp3 or an Eheim 2217.
A better route to go would be to get a pair of filters, whether it be 2 canisters or a canister and and hang on back (HOB). Using 2 filters will give you backup if one were to fail, as well as providing a high turnover rate (this is how many times the total volume of the tank goes through the filters per hour. Depending on your stocking, you should try to get a turnover rate between 5 and 10 times per hour (i.e. for a 55gal: 275 to 55 gph)
For the 2 filter option you could go with a pair of Rena XP2s or eheim 2215s, or pair one of them with an Aquaclear 70 or 110 hang on back.
If you plan to upgrade tanks in the future, you could always buy larger filters now to save money in the long run.
A better route to go would be to get a pair of filters, whether it be 2 canisters or a canister and and hang on back (HOB). Using 2 filters will give you backup if one were to fail, as well as providing a high turnover rate (this is how many times the total volume of the tank goes through the filters per hour. Depending on your stocking, you should try to get a turnover rate between 5 and 10 times per hour (i.e. for a 55gal: 275 to 55 gph)
For the 2 filter option you could go with a pair of Rena XP2s or eheim 2215s, or pair one of them with an Aquaclear 70 or 110 hang on back.
If you plan to upgrade tanks in the future, you could always buy larger filters now to save money in the long run.
In my opinion… the best reason for using a canister is the level of silent filtration easily possible… Therefore combining a canister and an HOB removes the biggest benefit offered by the canister that I paid extra to have…
Therefore in my opinion, if you have one HOB you might as well safe the money and go with all HOBs…
I don’t know of a single canister I would use as the sole filter on a 55 gal… as the 350 gph range canisters are (IME) not strong enough and the FX5 would be a bit of overkill…
Two canisters in the 350 gal range would be just what I was looking for though… if heavily decorated I would consider a (Koralia) powerhead for additional current to move waste to intakes…
Therefore in my opinion, if you have one HOB you might as well safe the money and go with all HOBs…
I don’t know of a single canister I would use as the sole filter on a 55 gal… as the 350 gph range canisters are (IME) not strong enough and the FX5 would be a bit of overkill…
Two canisters in the 350 gal range would be just what I was looking for though… if heavily decorated I would consider a (Koralia) powerhead for additional current to move waste to intakes…
It's not all GPH for canisters. . . I keep an Eheim 2217 on my 60 gallon with a 200 gph Wal-Mart powerhead & a sponge pre-filter on the powerhead. My tank is spotless, even with feeding a minimum of 60 live feeders a week and feeding pellets every day. My 2217 will be going on a bigger tank soon, and when it does, I'll probably buy a 2215 for the 60 gallon.
for the price I like the casecade brand canisters.
a 1500 would be fine for a 55. and if you decide you needed more current in the tank just get a power head.
a 1500 would be fine for a 55. and if you decide you needed more current in the tank just get a power head.
I second - - or third? - - the dual Eheim idea
I have two 2213s on my 30G tank, and I have two 2217s and a 2215 on my 90G tank . . . I use sponge filters on the intakes, which keeps 'em running longer between maintenance . . . no complaints from me (or the fish) . . .
FWIW, I like Eheims mainly because they are very simple and very flexible . . . and they have been largely trouble free IME . . .
I have two 2213s on my 30G tank, and I have two 2217s and a 2215 on my 90G tank . . . I use sponge filters on the intakes, which keeps 'em running longer between maintenance . . . no complaints from me (or the fish) . . .
FWIW, I like Eheims mainly because they are very simple and very flexible . . . and they have been largely trouble free IME . . .
I already have 2 HOBs running on the tank. I would just like to add extra filtration since everyone's set up seems to have one. The idea of getting one doesn't seem to hurt.
My stocking is:
- 2 pairs of marbled convicts
- 4 sajicas
- 6 BNs
- a pair of kribensis
- 3 rainbow cichlids
I would like to keep my budget within $100-$150.
See, I would do a sump since my ex-employer gave one to me but my house is elevated and I don't know how to use it. I also don't like the idea of 55 gallons plus like 20 in one spot at the side of the house.
My stocking is:
- 2 pairs of marbled convicts
- 4 sajicas
- 6 BNs
- a pair of kribensis
- 3 rainbow cichlids
I would like to keep my budget within $100-$150.
See, I would do a sump since my ex-employer gave one to me but my house is elevated and I don't know how to use it. I also don't like the idea of 55 gallons plus like 20 in one spot at the side of the house.