I run a fluval 304(over 10 years old). They are pretty nice canisters and never gave me any real problems. In the over 10 years of running the fluval, I only had two problems, I broke the ceramic rod to the motor($10) and I had to replace the propeller(another 10-15$) All in the last two years, they last. Canisters are certainly a bit different than HOB and it took me a bit to actually get mine running the first time, but once you figure it out you will love it. I now use a canister on all my bigger tanks along with a few HOBs