Canister filters

[ritzgirl34]

I have a 55 gallon cichlid tank. I'm upgrading from a whisper power filter 60, to a canister filter. Which of these are the best (and preferably quiet)? Or possibly any others that I haven't listed within my budget (around $100)...

Marineland Magnum 350 Micron Filter
Marineland Magnum 350 Pro System (is the bio wheel 60 worth the extra $30?)
Fluval 304
Fluval 404 (would this be overkill?)
Penn Plax Cascade 1000 Canister Filter
Eheim Ecco Comfort Canister Filter- 2236
Hydor Prime 30 Canister Filter

[flynngriff]

I have a rena filstar xp3 and a fluval 404 on my 125 gallon. They're both good filters, but I think I prefer the fluval 404. It's good, quiet, and reliable.

I don't think it would be overkill to have one on your 55... I generally go for double the recommended filtration, and have had good luck with that...

[DavidDoyle]

When it comes to canisters, Eheim is the best hands down. However, I suggest you up you budget 50 bucks and get the Pro II 2026. The only way you know its is working is to look at the flow meter or put your hand on it.

[Mr Aquarium]

Just a note to start with,

"Marineland Magnum 350 Micron Filter
Marineland Magnum 350 Pro System (is the bio wheel 60 worth the extra $30?) "

The Magnums come with everything "not the bio wheels unless it;s a pro"
But the magnum 350 micron filter.......
the 250 and 350 cans both come with this, i'm sure you know it;s the paper filter
"micron cartrage" to polish the water, and I have used them on the 250s and they do there job...

I have never ran a 350, but if they are as reliable as the 250s, that would be my choice for the money.
I been running my 250 hot mag not long after i bought my tank- was like in 93,,,,my Moms hot mag has been running I think like 8 years maybe.....and hers has ran the whole time and never had an impeller put in it, mine has had one impeller put in it....and the sleeve was replaced once in both, and theyneed it again now....
So you figure on spending 90 bucks for the Magnum 350 and I'm sure they are as good at going as the 250s "never heard anything to conflick it" and your talking about maybe 120 bucks for a filer that will last what seems forever......
Ive never got any other micron cartrages after these where done, I'm so tight I grind when I walk not sqeek....But I am going to brake down and buy a couple here soon.....cleaning and re-using them Micron carts aint a big deal at all, and they last for some time also......And a last word, If I had to buy them again, I
would go with the Pro set up, then you will have good bio as well as machanical filtration.
IMHO

[Osiris]

i agree with Mr. A, pro setup on the 350 way to go, otherwise w/o it it's just made for polishing water. Though the fluval 404 is very cool,u can put tons of different types of media in it and has four sponges, it's good can get for $100 on Drs F&S.

[turtlehead]

Eheim period.

[malawi4me2]

Get the Eheim!