Filter selection

[molocha]

well im about to get rid of my 20 gal and 10 gal to start a new 20 gal long or a 30 gal long...i was reading up on the different types of filters...such as under gravel filters, canister, corner, and some other ones....

which one do you guys think is the best....and something that also looks nice or isnt noticeable like a filter u hang on the back...

and which one should i get....i dont care that much about the price...

[MexicanFish]

get a canister filter, after a long time using HOB filters, I bought a rena xp4 and never looked back, and undergravel filters are good for oone thing, to keep poop and uneaten food where you cannot clean it.

[madugo]

i would just pop a aquaclear on the back..

[molocha]

yea i was thinking about a rena xp1.....because i want my tank to look professional...but i hear there is some other brand canisters that is better...

[grillmasterp]

...but i hear there is some other brand canisters that is better...

Eheims have a very good track record -

[supadave]

Pretty much any canister will work fine on a small tank like a 20 gal.

[danielp]

Anything by eheim is rock solid. I've had a 2213 on a 30 long for 5+ years and it's been problem free. I'm also running 2217's and professional II's on larger tanks.

I recently purchased a aquaclear hang on the back for an office tank and I'm really pleased with it. Picked it up at Pet's Mart.

For a good selection overview go to bigalsonline.com

[molocha]

im thinking of buying a 33 long what type of canister filter is good and also not that expensive...like can some1 make me a list?

[stevenallenbarnard]

go to http://www.petsmart.com and just follow the links through the fish section. it will have one for filters, and then you can pick the type of filter (i.e. canister, hang on back etc....) they give you a brief description, price, and will tell you how many gallons the filter is rated for.

[molocha]

from everyone's personal experience what is the best brand?

[grillmasterp]

Eheim for canister
Aquaclear for HOB

[Mzungu]

Eheim. Definitely.

[stevenallenbarnard]

for canisters, Ii would definatly say either Eheim or Rena. just get the model that fits you budget needs the best.

for hang on backs I'm partial to Marineland (penguin). I think a marineland 200 or 350 would be more than adequate for the tank you're thinking about running. but aquaclears are made of clear plastic, which you mentioned you didn't want something that necessarily "looked" like a filter.

canisters cost more, and hob's can get loud, especially if your water get's low.

[Nickintex]

Stay away from Fluval canisters. I've had some bad experiences with them. For HOBs, I like the Penguin/Emperor Bio-Wheel series. I stopped liking Aquaclear filters when the media would pop up like waffles in a toaster, causing water to continuously spill on the floor, especially when I was away from home.

[molocha]

thanks for the feedback...i think ima go with either a eheim or a rena