need help choosing a filter(FW)

BigRedSpecial · #1 12/28/2007, 12:19 PM

I want to pick up a new filter for my 29g planted FW tank, but can't make up my mind, so I'm asking you.

The tank is small, but I plan to keep it fairly heavily stocked so I'm going way overkill on filtration. Right now it has an Aqua Clear 70 that I want to turn into a fuge for my reef.

I haven't even narrowed down between hob or cannister yet, but my choices are:

HOB:
1. Aqua Clear 110/500, $63 - I've always used AC filters, and have gotten excellent service out of them

2.Emperor 400, $50 - I've always been impressed with the design of the emperors, but have never owned one.

Cannister:
1. Eheim 2215, $129

2. Rena XP2, $99

3. Magnum 350 pro(with dual biowheels), $140 - the most expensive, but I like the biowheels and the micron cartridge

4. Eheim 2213, $90 - price is right for a cannister, but I'm concerned the 116gph flowrate won't be enough.

does anyone have any preferences/comments on any of these?

Mr James · #2 12/28/2007, 12:49 PM

Although this is not a FW forum, I would definitely do the Eheim. I currently use one on my saltwater system. Don't do the HOB's, they suck!!

sjm817 · #3 12/28/2007, 01:33 PM

I spent some time looking at canisters to use for running carbon. There is not a lot of info on it here, but I did find good info on http://www.cichlid-forum.com/reviews...php?CatID=104. After looking at the reviews, I decided on the Marineland C-160. They are nice units.

BigRedSpecial · #4 12/28/2007, 02:56 PM

thanks for the response, I know it isn't a fw forum but I asked here because good fw forums are hard to find, and I know lots of people on here use them.

USC-fan · #5 12/28/2007, 03:13 PM

fishgeeks has a nice FW forum you might want to check out.

http://www.aquaria.info/modules.php?...BB2&file=index

BigRedSpecial · #6 12/28/2007, 03:42 PM

Sjm817: Thanks for that link; I read through it and now I've narrowed it down to either the eheim or a Marineland; that makes things much easier.

USC-fan: I'll check them out, thanks

aaron7405 · #7 12/28/2007, 03:45 PM

I rether the rena Quality is exceptional I had a XP3 and really happy with the result and quiality of the product, stay away from fluval

BigRedSpecial · #8 12/28/2007, 03:48 PM

I was leaning towards XP2 at first, but I'm turned off by the overall external size(width).

aaron7405 · #9 12/28/2007, 03:55 PM

They are knd of square. but defenily a quality product. quite, excelent plastic a lot of configuration. I really like it. I just had it for 3 month has been sitting since then (not use for a salt water system)

sjm817 · #10 12/28/2007, 04:19 PM

When i looked at the user reviews, the Renas get very good reviews. The Eheim is old school. Very solid, good unit, no bypass, but not so user friendly. The Marineland unit seems to be pretty good. Easy to service, no (or very little) bypass, very easy to prime. The Magnums dont seem to be liked as well.

BigRedSpecial · #11 12/28/2007, 06:25 PM

I've marked the magnums off the list(along with the hob's). The Marinelands are looking really good, and the eheim still sounds good - I'm a mechanical engineering student, so I'm not so worried about user friendliness.

The Renas would be perfect, good flow, good media and best price of any cannister I've seen, but they are just so damn huge, and there is nowhere for me to hide it.

pkmg · #12 12/28/2007, 08:36 PM

Is this going to be a "high-light" or a "low-light" planted aquarium. I suggest you to pick out your ideal landscape first and decided which way you want to go.

If you go for the high light plants you are going to need to run CO2. In which case your only option would be a cannister filter since CO2 does not work with HOB filters. I have tried the majority of filters in the market.

The Eheims are considered top of the line, you can never go wrong with a eheim cannister, but they are expensive. I have never tried a Rena before. I have heard a few complaints about noise, but most people claim they are silent. The Magnum's are actually nice filters especially with the biowheel upgrade. Not to mention that it doubles as a micron filter and you can even put DE powder into it. Downside to the Magnum is that many people find it hard to service and to reseal the cannister. If you ever consider the fluval cannisters, I consider them to be a piece of crap. The cannisters always leak, and it takes forever to prime.

For the HOB filters I really like the emperors. The biowheels can handle such a huge bioload and they are really easy to service.

Having said all that I think you should go with the Rena XP3. The XP3 is under $100, and is big enough that you can always upgrade your tank later down the road. The Eheims would be good too, but it would be much more expensive for a model that does the same GPH as the Rena XP3.

PSam · #13 12/28/2007, 08:54 PM

I've had a Rena XP3 running on a 75 planted for probably 5 years now? No problems - Only issue I have is it sometimes takes a few tries to restart after cleaning, although I only clean it about 3x per year.

Kentanner11 · #14 12/28/2007, 09:32 PM

I would def. say canister. You could DIY one! Use a 5 gal bucket W/lid and a pump with filter media in the bucket. you would need it to go
tank>pump>bucket>tank. That is what I am going to do with my 20g planted FW tank as well.

Creetin · #15 12/28/2007, 09:52 PM

I like my ehiem cannisters. The proII models are sweet.
I would get the 2215.

BigRedSpecial · #16 12/29/2007, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pkmg
Is this going to be a "high-light" or a "low-light" planted aquarium. I suggest you to pick out your ideal landscape first and decided which way you want to go.

If you go for the high light plants you are going to need to run CO2. In which case your only option would be a cannister filter since CO2 does not work with HOB filters. I have tried the majority of filters in the market.

The Eheims are considered top of the line, you can never go wrong with a eheim cannister, but they are expensive. I have never tried a Rena before. I have heard a few complaints about noise, but most people claim they are silent. The Magnum's are actually nice filters especially with the biowheel upgrade. Not to mention that it doubles as a micron filter and you can even put DE powder into it. Downside to the Magnum is that many people find it hard to service and to reseal the cannister. If you ever consider the fluval cannisters, I consider them to be a piece of crap. The cannisters always leak, and it takes forever to prime.

For the HOB filters I really like the emperors. The biowheels can handle such a huge bioload and they are really easy to service.

Having said all that I think you should go with the Rena XP3. The XP3 is under $100, and is big enough that you can always upgrade your tank later down the road. The Eheims would be good too, but it would be much more expensive for a model that does the same GPH as the Rena XP3.

Thanks for your reply, this is the kind of response I was hoping for. The tank is currently low light( 65watts NO over a 29) but will soon be moderate light, as I'm building a custom canopy and will include four 20w fluorescents (should be fine on a 29 I presume). I am already running CO2; It's DIY(sugar-yeast) but suits my needs as the water from the tap here is at a pH of 6.0-5.0 depending on time of year.

As far as noise from the renas; I would like a relatively quiet filter, but by relatively I mean compared to an aqua clear HOB. I'm also not concerned with difficultly of servicing the magnums; I'm sure I can handle it.

As for Fluval, they aren't currently price competitive, so I didn't consider them.

I agree with you on the Renas; For the price no other cannister comes clost to the performance. I just wonder where I'd fit one, given my limited space,.

Despite the outside size, I'm still heavily considering the Renas, since I can get an XP3 for the same price as a Marineland C220. My choices now are essentially the XP3($129) for overall value/dollar; Marineland C-220($129) for top choice; and XP-2($99) for top value.

EDIT: One additional factor; the substrate is extremely fine sand, so I don't want extreme flow.

BigRedSpecial · #17 12/29/2007, 03:14 AM

One other quick question... I've been reading manufacturer material: Am I reading it correctly that the Renas come with a spraybar? That would help my decision(considering the fine sand).

kdblove_99 · #18 12/29/2007, 02:26 PM

I did freshwater for many yrs, Had all the HOb and also just about every brand canister from Eheim to Fluval.

By far my favorite was the rena's. They are so very nice and hold a ton of media. That $99 for an XP 2 is pricey i can find much cheaper places

here you go $74.99 and its $5 off if you order this weekend and they are a sponsor!

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...canisterfilter

BigRedSpecial · #19 12/29/2007, 02:30 PM

The $99 is at Canadian retailers, including Big Al's.

Does the rena come with a spraybar or similar diffuser though?

kdblove_99 · #20 12/29/2007, 02:32 PM

They have the spraybar .

BigRedSpecial · #21 12/29/2007, 08:23 PM

I've narrowed it down to either the eheim 2215 or the XP2 or 3.

kdblove_99 · #22 12/30/2007, 04:22 AM

Get the XP2 or 3. I have owned all these canisters at one time or another, love the RENA

BigRedSpecial · #23 12/30/2007, 03:05 PM

I went ahead and ordered the filter; I was leaning heavily toward the XP3 but in the end I took the cheap route and ordered the eheim 2213.

It's smaller than I was originally intending, but the price was right($102 shipped, vs. 148 for the 2215 or XP3), and it's small enough that it won't be an eyesore like the XP3.

The other thing is one of the reasons I wanted it was so I could take the AC70 off and mod it into a fuge for the 10, but the difference in price is more than the cost of a new one, so I'll keep the AC in addition to the 2213, and buy two new AC's for fuges in a few weeks.