Why canisters instead of wet/dry

[NDsuperduty]

I am just wondering why everyone seems to prefercanister filters instead of wet/dry's.  Is it the cost of one over the other, or do ya'll feel canisters do a better job?  

When I first got into fish i went exclusively to "Ultimate Fish" and alexs seems to prefer wet/dry's on his big tanks so I followed suit.  I have had canisters but honestly didnt really like all the in tubes going everywhere.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

Canisters are cheaper, quiet, simple, abundant.


I would not set up a med-large tank without a wet/dry, I find that they are the absolute best filtration for large tanks.....Also I have heard talk about dormant pathogens/bacteria that flourish in tanks with canisters vs. wet/dry cause the high o2 produced by the wet/dry kills them off... I heard this from a reputable person but am waiting for him to show me the articles he found on that.

I have wet/dry filtration coupled with canisters on my big tanks and could not imagine or settle with another large tank without it.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

Gotcha.  I was planning on get a wet/dry for the tank im about to purchase, but Geoff was recommending eheims or fluval.  I was not sure if that was because of cost or if most people actually feel the canisters work better.  Personally I feel the wet/dry's are kind of a hassle at times, but they do such a good job I deal with it.  I would rather have HOB filters than another eheim.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

Different people prefer different things...

I personally think HOB's are the least effective next to a sponge filter compared to all the others available....

Eheim canisters are about the best canister filter you can get..... IMO they set the standard for everyone else....




I think the Wet/dry's I have are about the simplest filtration I own....super easy to clean and hassle free! I have one that has been running non-stop for about 14yrs now and all I have ever done to it was occasionally slide the filter pad out and rinse it but I have replaced it quite a few times. None have ever lost siphon which I think you would have to intentionally do in order for it to happen with the U-tube design and none have overflowed on me since I have all of mine set up correctly and took the time initially to set it up right.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

I guess when I think about it, it was not really a hassle.  The only issues I would have, is when I went out of town I would have to get a friend to come ad water to the tank or it would run dry.  Maybe its different with larger tanks, but the pro clear 125 would go dry every 5-7 days on my 75gallon tank.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

What return pump do you have on it?

I have the pro-clear 400 on my 125g with a 1200pgh pump which would do the same thing so I split the return to try and slow it down some and have a ball valve on it with it slightly closed just a hair and it will go about two weeks before needing more water.....you could also set up an auto top-off to fill it....gravity fed to keep cost to a minimum.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

I may do that with this next tank.  I had a rio pump, but not sure what size.  I had a ball valve on my return and kept it about 1/3 closed.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

The only reason I prefer canisters over wetdry is the noise level, fry going over the overflow, and people telling me of having hard times keeping syphon or they get plugged and overflow somehow.

There is no doubt in my mind, that in large tanks really the best filtration is a wet/dry.  Honestly, I wish my 180's had one, but I have been holding back because of the reasons I just stated.

There is the Eheim wetdry 2229 that is really quiet so I hear.  I never tried one before.

You might ask around for people's opinions on that Eheim product 2229.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

Screenname just got the 2227 wet/dry might wanna ask him.

I had a few fry make it over the sureface skimmer(which is awesome at removing protein film) but the pre-filter kept them in the overflow so I just netted them back out. I am gonna make a screen for it soon though since I have more females holding again.

[Mzungu]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

Well, I really don't have a place in this discussion - my biggest tank is 40g.  :)

But, just to give you another point of view, it would be kind of silly to have a wet dry on such a "small" tank. That's why I stick with HOBs and canisters. Plus, canisters (eheims, at least) are soooo silent, which I like. And you don't have to deal with so much evaporation, IME. Also, since I have smaller tanks (and thus smaller fish), like Geoff said, it's just a bit too powerful for my little guys.  :)

[CichlidFan]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

I like W/D's too, I have them on almost all my aquariums. I like Emperors for my own reasons, but I also own Eheim cans as well. I like to think, the more filtration that can be provided without creating a unrealistic environment is fine. Truth be known, I feel the emperors' are just easier to maintain and do a very good job at keeping my tanks water parameters constant.

I have not mastered the W/D by any means, there is still a lot I need to learn about them, but, I am a believer in them.

CF

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

My 30g cube will have a wet/dry on it. :wink:

[sproett]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

I've never even considered getting a wet/dry for my tanks, this is an interesting topic.  Ek, when you say "large tank" what size do you mean?  I am just trying to see when they are considered worth it for a person new to wet/dry.  My largest tank is a 60G but our next tank will be 100G or more (not sure what we're keeping but we know we want a huge tank) and I'm curious to know if I should consider wet/dry.  I have one canister filter, a fluval and I HATE it.  It's a pain to prime, and a bigger pain to take apart/put together.  When it stops working I do not plan to have any more canister filters (unless it is proven to be a million times better than my old fluval).

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

I think any tank would benefit from a wet/dry system.

You can get a smaller pump if the flow is too powerful so it would work for anything really.

Cost effective though some small tanks wouldn't be too good but if you got the money why not?

I have two 6' tanks and both have wet/dry systems as well as supplemental canisters...I have a 30g that will have a wet/dry as well and if I could I would put them on all my tanks. Ideally though I would not start a tank 55g or up without a wet/dry.

The additional water being held is always a plus and you can hide all the equipment in the sump.

[sproett]

Re: Why canisters instead of wet/dry

That sounds like the way to go then.  Now I'm off to do some research...