canister filter suggestions please?

[virginiadiver69]

I want to add a canister filter to my new system. It will mostly be used for carbon and the occasional polishing filter. Total system volume is 200 gals.
Could I get some suggestions please? I am not looking for something that is sleek and sexy. Just a good solid filter for a reasonable price. I have looked at the Fluval filters but do not know how they stack up. Is self priming a common feature? Will I need to supply my own pump/power head or are these incorporated into the design?

 

[splateee]

I run 2 x fluval 404's on our 240 FOWLR and a skimmer. I run carbon and a little bit of bio material. I have had my fluvals for about 8 years and have had them running on all kind of setups and haven't had any problems yet. If you are going to just run carbon then you will be fine, or you could just use a hangon tank power filter for the carbon, it would be alot easier to do cleaning and changing of the carbon. I also ditched the foam filters that came with it because of nitrate build up it would cause.

 

[virginiadiver69]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9198437#post9198437 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by splateee
If you are going to just run carbon then you will be fine, or you could just use a hangon tank power filter for the carbon, it would be alot easier to do cleaning and changing of the carbon.

I also want to be able to use a "polishing filter". Can that be done in a HOB power filter? It would be great if I could. I could eliminate the Canister.

Do they(canister) come w/ a pump?

 

[virginiadiver69]

bump

 

[complexbooger]

fluval. i love them. i throw in some chemipure, and some coarse foam. i throw it on for a day. then empty it and put it in storage. i find it to be a great polisher. been using the same one for about 2 yrs.

use a powerhead on the intake and push water in to prime it faster.
unless you wanna pump the primer about 200 times.

my2cents

=JonBlazes

 

[virginiadiver69]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9199140#post9199140 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by complexbooger
use a powerhead on the intake and push water in to prime it faster.
unless you wanna pump the primer about 200 times.

my2cents

=JonBlazes

Would you please be specific? I am new at this and a little slow on the uptake with all of this

Thanks
Chris

 

[TropTrea]

Gee UI had both Fluvals as well as Magnums in various sizes. If
I were buying a new one I would not even consider the Fluvals and would definatly jump at the MAgnums.

For starters

I have gotten 20 plus years of use out of Magnums with none of them ever ding on me. Thius is through constant use 24/7 only shutting them down for cleaning. On the Flurvals I had not had one that lasted a full 2 years with the same amount of wear and tear.

The other thing with the Flurvals your constantly going back and buying there products. On the MAgnums you can fill them up with any media you desire. And believe me in some special applications there are some different medias that can be used.

Dennis

 

[zacharytrimble]

I love my Rena Filstar xp 3. Rena's are a great, customizable filter and they are cheaper usually than fluvals

 

[virginiadiver69]

Thanks all

 

[mistermikev]

got a fluval 404 and mag 350 dlux. fluval is more powerful despite the fact that they are both rated for 350gph. fluval has a well designed disconnect - mag doesn't. fluval is set up to allow you to place input and output apart - mag is'nt. fluval has single pressure adjustment - mag requires individual input/output one. fluval has fantastic customer service and was ready to send me a new unit if I wasn't satisfied... not sure about marineland.
mag uses clear tubes so you can see if obstructed or in need of cleaning - fluval doesn't. mag primes itself - fluval doesn't. mag has 100% gauranteed throughput... ie all intake passes through media - fluval doesn't.
Like em both. Both have there ups and downs. I like the fluval more as it can hold more media, has more powerful stream, and is easier to clean IMO.