FishProfiles.com Message Forums

ull be needing 2 filters for that tank...go with eheim, fluval or even odyssea...i heard bad things abt magnum though.

Though I dont personally use a cannister, IMO Eheim makes the best model. They did it first, and they did it right. I guess Fluval's are a good second, but I'd get my paws on an Eheim if I was you. Pricey but should work well. And try to order online, it'll end up saving you money.


-Ferret

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I hate to disagree with my little sisssy up there but I'd stay away from eheim]:|yes, they may have done it first, but the one I own is a total]:|]:|]:|]:|]:|to prime and get startedI have an odyssea (sp? used to be jebo) 4 that is wonderful...it's rated up to 125 gallons, but with a tank as long at 150 (6 foot right?) you really need to go with 2 filters just simply because of the length IME they prime (ie. start up easy) no matter what but sisssy up there has one thing right, find it online it will be cheaper...Good luck and have fun heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

yea 6ft long... and i'm looking at just getting 2 magnum 350s. one LFS said just one, but i'd rather get two of them just incase. and their not that expensive on big als either

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

I hated the magnums. Those are the worst canister I've ever seen. It's a pain to setup. Your fingers will be sore from trying to put the little rings on the big tubes. It took me 3hrs. Then the connections didn't even stay connected. I've had too many showers from that thing coming apart and wet floors. When I finally thought I had it working on my 55g it slow leaked about 20gallons across the carpet overnight. Magnums are glorified hob filters and have very little actual mechanical filtration or chemical filtration options. I would never consider a magnum canister again under any circumstance.
My jebo odyssea is working great so far and only cost the same as a magnum 350 except without media. It also took like 10mins to set up too. The gph is great. Almost too much movement for my 90g. I had to point the spray bar slightly up because it was moving the substrate around. Eheims tend to be the most commonly mentioned but I found them to be way overpriced. A jebo is basically an eheim copy with a cheaper intake strainer, output parts, and tubing. I've heard the tubing kinks a little easier but I straightened mine in hot water and cut it to fit exactly. So far no problems. You do get what you pay for but if you want to go with a cheap canister you are far better off going with jebo than a magnum 350. Magnum's also have no priming help. You fill it up as far as you can(spilled alot doing that), hook it up, plug it in, and hope it doesn't fill with air. Jebo's and eheim's have a button you push that shoves the air out and creates the suction needed to pull water in. I think the best comparison is that my jebo was up and running in 10mins without even recieving instructions and looking at the instructions constantly the magnum took 3hrs to setup and never did stop leaking or run quietly.

Jebo odyssea for $50 with free shipping: http://aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=47
I ordered eheim media to use in mine.

Last edited by sham at 31-Jul-2005 17:21

monkeyboy

I know Heidi and I will never agree on Eheims.

The larger Eheims have a pressure primer plate on the top of the canister. This means after you do the regular cleaning, fill it up to the correct level, fix the top and reconnect it again just a few simple pushes (usually 2-3) it is fully running again. Can any thing be easer than that, I dont think so.

The only downfall of Eheim is the cost. The larger Pro11 are fully made in Germany. If you want a quality canister there is no choice Eheim is a provern long term reliable unit.

Remember cost equals quality.

Hunt around they can vary in price. When you buy one make sure it is in a sealed box and has not been opened. (This tip came from a Eheim distributer)

The large grey button the top is the primer.
The small green ball is the flow indicator. Being fully enclosed this is an excellent gauge to see how it is working.

Keith

keithgh attached this image:


Last edited by keithgh at 31-Jul-2005 22:36[/font]

Last edited by keithgh at 31-Jul-2005 22:37

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

DO NOT get a fluval 404 they blow micro bubbles!! thousands every five or ten minutes!! 24 hours a day I returned it and complained!! I did everything right!! it was malfunctioning I got another new one--same exact thing i went through three finnally haveing the guy set one up for me!! all to no avail!! I just got a replacment: An XP3? any one had this before? (it was a free replacment)

When researching I heard few complaints about the xp3 except for noise. It's the loudest of the cannister filters but seems to perform well. The fluvals I've heard complaints on noise, priming, media bypass...
I don't even have to fill the jebo Screw the tubes back on, flip the switches to open, and press the button. Water goes in and air goes out. It's done that flawlessly three times now.

There's another complaint about that magnum. Opening the quick release valves back up took all the strength in my hands. They stick very badly. Several times I accidentally turned the whole tube and it came apart. Occasionally that meant a flood again.


Last edited by sham at 01-Aug-2005 02:17

I have a fluval404 and an aqua one CF1200 on my 4ft 115g.
I bought them both online and saved hundreds.

I actually prefer my aqua pro. They're probably the easiest filters to start and they're extra quite.
My fluval does a great cleaning job, but sometimes it's a pain to start. Also my 115g is in my bedroom and everynow and then I hear my fluval make all these weird sounds.

after doing more looking at prices on the Eheims, i'm finding there are more than I thought. at first all i seen where the more expensive models. but thanks for all the info and keep it coming. any is appreciated.

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

OK all, i'm needing some help. i just got my paws on a 150g last week and am starting to research what i need to get it going. and the only thing i cant find the right numbers on or help in LFS is a filter. Obviously i'm going with canister. my problem is i cant find one rated for a 155. I have been told to get a Magnum 350, but I seen it only rated for about a 100g.

anybody know of any rated for a 150g? or should I just go with 2 of the 350s? or maybe 2 for a 75?

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

right now i'm leaning toward two eheims. not the larger more expensive ones, but ones that will get the job done.

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Monkeyboy, do yourself a favor and if you insist on going with the eheim, make sure it has a primer button My 2213, did not and thus I am sure was the main part of my problem...No, Keith and I may never agree about eheim being worth the moneyI know the one I have does do a great job, but I sure as heck hate how long it took me to get the stupid thing up and running. I think I'll check out the site for the jeboes myself

Oh and Sham, you aren't the only one who has drained a tank repeatedly by trying to prime/start a cannisteryes another reason I hate eheim, there is only so many times you can drain you cannister into the livingroom and shower with it before you start to hate it

heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

The new eheims are great. Houston that your problem. You have an older one. The new ones prime super easy and are a breeze to work with. Though on a tank that size you should look a wet/dry filter. If you just buy the overflow online then you can make the actual filter part cheap. You'll save lots of money.

Last edited by greenmonkey51 at 01-Aug-2005 18:29

I have an Eheim 2217 and I agree with Heidi.
They are a real pain to get going holy cow
Try looking an ebay for the more expensive
models, I got mine for about 1/3 of the retail price
on ebay, brand new in box never been used. They are great filters for quality, but I am afraid of the days I need to clean the sucker because it usually takes 30 minutes to clean, but over an hour to get started again!
I even use one of those priming bulbs on the output end to draw the water in.Very tricky peices of work they are.
I have a Fluval 204 filter, it works great. Easy prime,
easy set up, work great. I have had no trouble with bubbles. If you have bubbles you should pump the prime until all the oxygen is out of the canister.
Rena XP3s I have heard nothing but good things about, they also have an easy prime system like fluval.
Magnum- heard nothing but very bad things about these filters.


Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

i use a fluval 304 for my 4fter and i hate it, seems to take 20 min to prime every time and on the odd occasion flood.

on top of this it took like 2 months to properly cycle. if i were to have my time over i would probably go eheim or jebo, probably more eheim than jebo as my mates who have used them report little problem.

as for how much filtration to use a good rule of thumb (and it varies between species) is the filter should pass the contense of the tank through 4 times per hour. (ie if your tank is 150g then you filters should pass through 600g per hour)

My canisters pump my tank water through 10x per hour,
and I think the higher the water turnover rate the better.
I have a Fluval 204 and an eheim 2217 on my 75g tank.
High levels of filtration on all my tanks.
25 is 12x per hour 2 angels 9 corys in there
10g is 8x per hour with paradise fish, hasbrosus cory and guppys and guppy fry platy fry molly fry
I am thinking about getting a 30g tall tank for the 10g occupants, minus the guppys and fry and + more hasbrosus corys ;-)
Whatever filtration you choose keep the turnover rate in mind.

Edited to include:
Oh yeah I just wanted to mention that both the Eheim 2217 and Rena XP3 filters are both rated for 150G tanks



Last edited by Sneaky_Pete at 01-Aug-2005 19:23

Last edited by Sneaky_Pete at 01-Aug-2005 19:25

Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

monkeyboy

One thing there are some large Pro11 Eheims around and you would only require one not two second rate canisters.

Another thing I think you will find some Eheims do not have such a fast water turn over but the results are excellent.

I have added an extra fine filter pad on the top and it has made a fantastic difference.

I also do a full canister cleaning every month, many will say this is unnecessary but by doing this it is always working efficiently. It does takes extra time to do this but it has payed off by the results I am getting in return.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

For 150g I would go with a Eheim 2028 and then a pair of AC 500s. The eheim don't have as big of water flow but that means more time for the water to have contact with the bacteria. A good place for eheims cheap is bigalonline.com. There a good place for cheap filters.

I have a Fluval 304. POS.. nothing more to say.

Get an Eheim Pro II and you'll be happy for life.