which canister?

[the Undone guy]

ok, my 20 gallon is severly neglected. I can spare maybe $100-150 to get a canister filter for it....but i need some reccomendations on which is the best? I'm looking for one that is going to be low maintenance and easy to use, not to mention efficient at doing its job. Do you guys have any reccomendations so i can get my order in before the 22nd?

It has to be a canister due to the type of 20 gallon it is....thanks everyone!

[sherm71tank]

The Magnum HOT is easy to use and cheap.

[LVfishguy]

XP's are my favorite. I haven't had one break on me yet. Should be able to get an XP1 a t a pretty good price

[the Undone guy]

well i want to get it off of marinedepot for the drygoods order, they dont carry the xp's it looks like. Does anyone else have any reccomendations? How are the fluval ones?

[the Undone guy]

and is there any way to get a skimmer built into the canister?=P My 20 gallon doesnt have the capacity for a HOB skimmer=/

[TippyToeX]

Have you thought about a lee's skimmer (small, cheap,good enough for a nano tank), and putting in a HOB filter such as a AquaClear? :) One of the best 20g nanos I have ever seen had that setup and he loved what that little skimmer could do.

[the Undone guy]

lee's counter current skimmer? the little $25 one that goes IN the tank with an airstone? http://www.foryourfish.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/FYF-PR2.htm

I cant put a HOB filter on my tank because there is a "pitched roof" that overhangs the side of the aquarium...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/mons00n/fish/withflash.jpg

you cant tell but the top is made out of bamboo and is pitched, i really think the only thing i can have is some sort of canister unfortunatly, otherwise i would have already gotten something HOB style~ I'm probably going to end up getting the fluval 204 since it's only $65 bucks, but i want someone to tell me if they're any good or not! I'm really just not sure if ehiem or fluval would be better~

[TippyToeX]

:) I wish I knew if they were any good for you.

Have you done a search here on RC? Might turn up some feedback.

[the Undone guy]

i just updated my post with a link, is that the skimmer you were talking about?

[TippyToeX]

Yep, thats the one. :) They come in small, med. and large. For anything over 20g the are not worth a dime. Yet in small tanks they really can do a great job.

[the Undone guy]

thanks amy~ i think im' going to go with the fluval 204, havent found but one person who doesnt like them. And i plan on picking up one of those counter-current skimmers, just gotta measure how tall my tank is. liveaquaria and marinedepotlive dont carry them anymore=(

[LVfishguy]

Fluvalswork good but I end up having to get a lot of repair parts for it. impellars and other things break a lot with those. I can't believe that marine depot doesn't carry them. Ehiem's are good but I have had very little experience with them. Not many people sell them out here so I don't see them much.

[the Undone guy]

hrm, so you've had excellent luck with the filstar xp's? I'd be getting an XP1....tell me that they rock and i'll just get it from liveaquaruaria, they have a discount for reefcentral ppl right? ugh i cant decide =)

[LVfishguy]

I'd go with the Xp. I have used them on dozens and dozens of tanks.

[the Undone guy]

i hate you for being right=) thx chris i appritiate your feedback bigtime. XP1 it is! (are the 1's ok? hahaha)

[LVfishguy]

ones are cool you only get the one basket though so your media space is limited...not worth the extra $$ to got up to a 2 though.

[Razing Kane]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/mons00n/fish/withflash.jpg
I picked up a Bamboo tank like that in 1992 from a garage sale in Green Valley for 50 bucks. gave it to an ex GF nice tank, a 20g?? I'm almost afraid to ask where u got that one but very nice tropical decor

[the Undone guy]

i got it from your gf!! haha kidding~ Nah my dad got it when he was in the phillipines back in the day...