Good day fellow Fish Geeks

Well a little about myself. I have had a freshwater aquarium for
several years. Probablly for a 20 years off and on. I am purly a
hobbist and just love to have fish in my living space. The tank social
structure is just awesome. Once I bought my first canaster filter there
was no turning back, I have mainly used Fluval. Just due to price and
they have always done me real well. I still have a 03 series and it is
still in better shape then the o4 I own. Here were in lies my question
my 120gal needs a new filter and I am torn. My fluval 404 was a
dispointment the quality just was not there.

Choices?

1. Ehiem
Big Price every store owner always tries to sell these. But I
know absolutly noone with one.
so my question is are they worth their high ticket price. any
major opinions about these canasters?

2. Fluval FX5
New filter design being the Mechanic I am (pumping fluids is in
my trade) I real like the new design with the pump out of the lid and
at the bottom. To me this means way less cavitation the killer for
centrifical pump. Has anyone purchased this filtration system, or have
an educated opinion on it.

3. an other recomendations on filtration?

"WebBoardSurfer" wrote in
ups.com:

Choices?

1. Ehiem
Big Price every store owner always tries to sell these. But I
know absolutly noone with one.
so my question is are they worth their high ticket price. any
major opinions about these canasters?


2. Fluval FX5
New filter design being the Mechanic I am (pumping fluids is in
my trade) I real like the new design with the pump out of the lid and
at the bottom. To me this means way less cavitation the killer for
centrifical pump. Has anyone purchased this filtration system, or have
an educated opinion on it.


Eheim is expensive, but they make good filters. You can usually get them
much cheaper second hand, btw. Since there isn't much that ever breaks on
an Eheim, a used one is just as good as new. The only thing I've ever
broken is an impeller shaft due to mishandling. I don't trust their thermo
filters though, their just too gimmicky.

Eheim is especially good because of the kind of hyper-porous rubble rock
like media they use for the bulk of the canister volume. You can use Eheim
media in other, cheaper filters, but the flow rate is usually too high for
the media to be used optimally.

My experience with Fluval is that they break a lot. The pump fails or it
clogs and then the pump fails, etc. The media for it is second rate as
well. Their bio-media gives off dust constantly and it traps large chunks
of waste that never really break down any further, plus sponges will always
eventually clog.

I admit I don't know much about the FX5. I do know enought that I'd have
to see it in action for a while before I'd trust it completely.

"WebBoardSurfer" wrote in message
ups.com...
Well a little about myself. I have had a freshwater aquarium for
several years. Probablly for a 20 years off and on. I am purly a
hobbist and just love to have fish in my living space. The tank social
structure is just awesome. Once I bought my first canaster filter there
was no turning back, I have mainly used Fluval. Just due to price and
they have always done me real well. I still have a 03 series and it is
still in better shape then the o4 I own. Here were in lies my question
my 120gal needs a new filter and I am torn. My fluval 404 was a
dispointment the quality just was not there.

Choices?

1. Ehiem
==============================
Just my opinion, others may disagree,... but I would never have another
Fluval. The quality just isn't there. Spend more and get the best filter
you can afford.

I would go with the Ehiem.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Bottom posted.
dc wrote:
"WebBoardSurfer" wrote in
ups.com:

Choices?

1. Ehiem
Big Price every store owner always tries to sell these. But I
know absolutly noone with one.
so my question is are they worth their high ticket price. any
major opinions about these canasters?


2. Fluval FX5
New filter design being the Mechanic I am (pumping fluids is
in my trade) I real like the new design with the pump out of the lid
and at the bottom. To me this means way less cavitation the killer
for centrifical pump. Has anyone purchased this filtration system,
or have an educated opinion on it.


Eheim is expensive, but they make good filters. You can usually get
them much cheaper second hand, btw. Since there isn't much that ever
breaks on an Eheim, a used one is just as good as new. The only
thing I've ever broken is an impeller shaft due to mishandling. I
don't trust their thermo filters though, their just too gimmicky.

Eheim is especially good because of the kind of hyper-porous rubble
rock like media they use for the bulk of the canister volume. You
can use Eheim media in other, cheaper filters, but the flow rate is
usually too high for the media to be used optimally.

My experience with Fluval is that they break a lot. The pump fails
or it clogs and then the pump fails, etc. The media for it is second
rate as well. Their bio-media gives off dust constantly and it traps
large chunks of waste that never really break down any further, plus
sponges will always eventually clog.

I admit I don't know much about the FX5. I do know enought that I'd
have to see it in action for a while before I'd trust it completely.

How do you feel about the magnum 350? It has it's motor / pump in the bottom
like the fx5 and the magnum 350 is probably the best VALUE out there. I
might buy one for myself soon after I get my 3 tanks automated (water level,
feeding) with my project to do so. Gill here will most likely let us all
here know about her soon to happen experiences with the fx5 as she is
starting a new extra huge tank and will most likely use her fx5 soon if not
yet. Good luck and later!

Daniel Morrow wrote:
Bottom posted.
dc wrote:

"WebBoardSurfer" wrote in
roups.com:


Choices?

1. Ehiem
Big Price every store owner always tries to sell these. But I
know absolutly noone with one.
so my question is are they worth their high ticket price. any
major opinions about these canasters?


2. Fluval FX5
New filter design being the Mechanic I am (pumping fluids is
in my trade) I real like the new design with the pump out of the lid
and at the bottom. To me this means way less cavitation the killer
for centrifical pump. Has anyone purchased this filtration system,
or have an educated opinion on it.


Eheim is expensive, but they make good filters. You can usually get
them much cheaper second hand, btw. Since there isn't much that ever
breaks on an Eheim, a used one is just as good as new. The only
thing I've ever broken is an impeller shaft due to mishandling. I
don't trust their thermo filters though, their just too gimmicky.

Eheim is especially good because of the kind of hyper-porous rubble
rock like media they use for the bulk of the canister volume. You
can use Eheim media in other, cheaper filters, but the flow rate is
usually too high for the media to be used optimally.

My experience with Fluval is that they break a lot. The pump fails
or it clogs and then the pump fails, etc. The media for it is second
rate as well. Their bio-media gives off dust constantly and it traps
large chunks of waste that never really break down any further, plus
sponges will always eventually clog.

I admit I don't know much about the FX5. I do know enought that I'd
have to see it in action for a while before I'd trust it completely.


How do you feel about the magnum 350? It has it's motor / pump in the bottom
like the fx5 and the magnum 350 is probably the best VALUE out there. I
might buy one for myself soon after I get my 3 tanks automated (water level,
feeding) with my project to do so. Gill here will most likely let us all
here know about her soon to happen experiences with the fx5 as she is
starting a new extra huge tank and will most likely use her fx5 soon if not
yet. Good luck and later!


Hi All,

I haven't set it up yet...but yes, I went out and bought the FX5...still
got to watch the DVD that came with it on setting it all up and it's
capabilities....

Once I have it up and running, if you like, I'll post something on my
experiences...probably in a couple of weeks...

Gill

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
.. .
Daniel Morrow wrote:
Bottom posted.
dc wrote:

"WebBoardSurfer" wrote in
groups.com:


Choices?

1. Ehiem
Big Price every store owner always tries to sell these. But I
know absolutly noone with one.
so my question is are they worth their high ticket price. any
major opinions about these canasters?


2. Fluval FX5
New filter design being the Mechanic I am (pumping fluids is
in my trade) I real like the new design with the pump out of the lid
and at the bottom. To me this means way less cavitation the killer
for centrifical pump. Has anyone purchased this filtration system,
or have an educated opinion on it.


Eheim is expensive, but they make good filters. You can usually get
them much cheaper second hand, btw. Since there isn't much that ever
breaks on an Eheim, a used one is just as good as new. The only
thing I've ever broken is an impeller shaft due to mishandling. I
don't trust their thermo filters though, their just too gimmicky.

Eheim is especially good because of the kind of hyper-porous rubble
rock like media they use for the bulk of the canister volume. You
can use Eheim media in other, cheaper filters, but the flow rate is
usually too high for the media to be used optimally.

My experience with Fluval is that they break a lot. The pump fails
or it clogs and then the pump fails, etc. The media for it is second
rate as well. Their bio-media gives off dust constantly and it traps
large chunks of waste that never really break down any further, plus
sponges will always eventually clog.

I admit I don't know much about the FX5. I do know enought that I'd
have to see it in action for a while before I'd trust it completely.


How do you feel about the magnum 350? It has it's motor / pump in the
bottom
like the fx5 and the magnum 350 is probably the best VALUE out there. I
might buy one for myself soon after I get my 3 tanks automated (water
level,
feeding) with my project to do so. Gill here will most likely let us all
here know about her soon to happen experiences with the fx5 as she is
starting a new extra huge tank and will most likely use her fx5 soon if
not
yet. Good luck and later!


Hi All,

I haven't set it up yet...but yes, I went out and bought the FX5...still
got to watch the DVD that came with it on setting it all up and it's
capabilities....

Once I have it up and running, if you like, I'll post something on my
experiences...probably in a couple of weeks...

Gill

I find the Rena XP3 series of cannister filters to be great !
They do a great job, and there is plenty of room for spare media.
No problems priming either.

I have two, an XP3 with a 400ltr and a XP2 with a 240ltr tanks.

Peter

Ok the margins on ehiem must be sick. Cause getting someone at a fish
store to talk about anything but that damn filter is like pulling teeth
from a chicken. Anyways after a couple stores and finding a good sale
on the Rena filter and someone to open a box for me I was impressed by
its build. So Take my XP3 home and do a complete tank reno. which it
was in need of. I set up my new filter which is great I forgot just how
much I love the spray bar for discharge.

I will post my issues with this filter as they arise but so far I am
very impressed I really like its construction

Chad