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I've decided to upgrade my choice of filter for a new 30 gal to a larger canister filter instead of the small HOT magnum, but I don't know too much about canister filters and I'm not sure of which I should get. I have narrowed my selection down to either the Rena Filstar XP1 or the Fluval 205.

I can get the fluval at Petsmart for $85 because of my discount ($90 at Big Al's not including S&H) or I could get the Rena at Big Al's for $68 including S&H. I honestly don't care about the price though, I just want to get the better filter for my tank.

Having played with both brands in the past I say go with the fluval. Now they could have changed them with in the last 2 years, I don't know about that, but I do know I liked mine. Renas are considered by some to be easier to use but mine always had something wrong with it. No, the only problem I have had with my fluval was the occasional priming problem and I would take that over my renas impeller malfunctions(not to mention the fact that the intake and spraybars were useless). Also I hate Rena filter media, I mean I hate the stuff.

Though I have "graduated" from canisters and use sumps for most everything now-a-days.

If you can afford the extra go Eheim yes it cost more but it will be a far better quality and certainly do the job for a lot longer with out any problems.

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Keith

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Actually, I think looked at the Eheim filters on petsmart.com and some were less expensive than the Fluval I was looking at.

Which Eheim would be best suited for a 30 gallon unplanted? Petsmart.com says that the Eheim Ecco 2232 is rated for up to 35 gallons but the Eheim website says its only rated for up to 100L which, I beleive, is a little over 20 gallons. The next size up is the 2234 which on petsmart.com is rated for up to 60 gal but on Eheim.com its rated for up to 200L (a little over 50 gallons).

I'm wondering how petsmart can say its rated for one thing when the Eheim website says its rated for something less.

Hi there,
Having one each of Eheim and Rena, and 2 Fluval filters,
I can say, the best of them all is the Rena XP-3.
It was easiest to install, is totally silent, works so well the tank is crystal clear.
Amazing filter.
The Xp-3 is running on my 75g with my Eheim 2217, and
does an equal, if not better, job than the Eheim.
The eheim was a pain to set up, instructions were vague and tiny, and it is a real pain to get going every time.
The Rena Xp-3 was a delight to install, and is self priming.
I would recommend the Rena over the Eheim, for quality and value, and hope to one day run all rena xp's on all my tanks.
Fluval - save your money. These filters are e to trouble. Relatively easy to set up and clean, but need frequent impeller replacements.



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The Eheim ecco 2231 is rated 100lt 35USg
the next model is the 2233 200lt 60USg

There could be later models and the Eheim WWW is the best place to look, or contact them they have an excellent service.


Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Wouldn't an XP 3 be too large for a 30 gallon tank? The XP 1 is rated for 45 gallons and the XP 2 is rated for 75 gallons but you say that you have an XP 3, which is rated for 175 gallons, on a 75, so I'm guessing that the XP 2 would be OK for my tank?

I use an Eheim ecco 2234 for my 25g tank along w/ an Eclipse hood. Though the Eheim is rated for a much larger tank, it's flow rate doesn't add much to the current that is produced by the Eclipse hood.

OK, I think I'm going to go with the Rena xP2. I'm kind of curious about the different kinds of media that I could use though, there's so many of them and I'm getting quite confused about what I'd need in my filter.

I think the filter comes with all the pads needed (both the 20 and 30 ppi foam pads and the micro-filtration pad) and Bio-Chem Zorb is also included.

I'm thinking about using the Bio-Chem Stars instead of just regular ceramic rings. All of the filter medias which Aquarium Pharmaceuticals makes are also on the page. Which do you all use and recommend?

I'm not going to plant my tank. My future tank inhabitants are 3 yoyo loaches, 10 or so neon tetras, possibly some ottos and 2 angels which can be moved to a larger tank when the time comes. Any thoughts on which filter media I should use?

I forgot to ask a question that I have about the stars. The website says that one 20 count bag should be used for every 100 gallons. Does this mean that I can't use them because its for a tank much larger than mine or that I will have to do the math and take the appropriate number of stars out of the pouch? Or can I just use 20 stars?

Hi there,
Im my opinion, You can never have too much filtration.
On my 75 I dont just run the XP-3 suitable for 175g,
but also an Eheim 2217 which is good for tanks to 125g,
so Im getting 300g of filtration on 75g tank.

In my Rena Xp-3, I used the pads it came with,
then I also put in it, more filter floss (the bulk kind),
peat granules (1 pound), and eheim brand EhfiSubstrat,
which is equivalent to the BioChem stars youre looking at.

I would say go ahead and use the whole pouch. You cant overdo biological media for filtration.

For neons and angels, Id suggest using Peat in your filter to soften and acidify the water.
Keep in mind that your angels may eat neons in the future as they grow. Mine was raised from a tiny size (pea size) with neons and soon as she got big enough she started eating them.


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In regards to the angels and tetras, I've heard that if bred and kept in a tank with hard water and a high pH, fish that prefer softer more acidic water will adapt and can thrive in the harder water with the higher pH. I know that the both the angels and the tetras that are sold at petsmart are tank bred and the water in the tanks there is very hard and has a pH of almost 8. The Petsmart that I work at is the only place in my area where I have seen extremely healthy angelfish and neon tetras (and no, I'm not bragging because I work there lol).

If they are already in such a high ph and hardness
they should be fine.
Peat softened water will still get them
to show their best colors though.
The p-smart near me seems to be a dud ...
every fish ive bought from there has died of all very strange diseases except 4 ghost shrimp and 3 neons.


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