StringerBell wrote:
My impression is that the Eheim 2227 and 2229 are canister filters that
gave
some of the benefits of sump, or bio wheel filters.

They are wet/dry filters. They perform only biological filtration. They require
special media (which Eheim sells). The media is expensive, but you don't have to
ever replace it. When you're pricing these filters, make sure to include the
price of the media.

Most reef tank owners avoid wet/dry filters because they do not process
nitrates. For FO or FOWLR tanks, they're acceptable; if you're setting up a new
reef tank, however, a refugium seems to be the way to go. That said, I have had
a 2229 on my 125 gallon for many years and like it a lot.

I need to know specifically if the 2227 or 2229 are acceptable ways to go to
filter f a 65 Gallon Marine tank,
and if the 2229 is CLEARLY a better way to go.

The 2227 will handle tanks up to about 95 gallons, and that's what you should
have. The main difference between the two is the size of the media box; they
both circulate the same amount of water. Spending the extra bucks on a 2229 (and
its extra media) won't get you anything.

I was looking into the Tunze
reefpack 500---but uts a bit out of my budget. Would that simply BLOW-AWAY
the Eheims that I am looking at?

They're completely different. According to the Tunze web site, these are
basically a combination of a protein skimmer and a particulate matter filter.
The Eheim wet/dry does none of this type of filtration, and the Tunze does no
biological filtration.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.