For brands I really like my eheim. It's a good idea to check the head loss for any model you are looking at, the diff designs of pumps mean that some handle height better than others. So like if you need 2000 gph with the pump level to the stand, or you only need 300 gph but it has to pump up from the basement, it makes a diff what type you buy. Basically, if you picture a curve where it gets less and less strong as the pump is lower than the tank, some models drop off faster than others.