Equipment Review and Discussion :: Best canister filter?

[Ashley]

Within two days the ammonia went from being super high, to really high, to completely normal!
Yay!

[VeipaCray]

Yay! Now to watch the nitrites.

[jenhowd]

I just got my second filter off ebay and have no complaints. Buy it now is definitely preferable to auction as I was outbid in the last few minutes every time. I'm having good luck with the cheapo brand (sunsun/perfect) which has the added benefit of hilarious instructions/translations. A suction cup is a "sucking disc for fix", the intake strainer is the "dirtiness entrance", and you are invited to "TOUCH THE PERFECTION". The thing to look out for on ebay is the shipping charges.

[mikee]

I would agree that the FX5 is too large for a 55 , however you can make it work if you split up the intake and the discharge. The size is an issue if you don't have the room. What ever you get size it by gph and nothing else. You should have at least a 5 time the water volume exchange to work properly. Fluval would work fine but will not be large enouth for a 100 gallon tank. I have 4 Marineland 350 Magnums and they do just fine. I have one that has lasted me over 20 years and it is still good. I now use it as a back up for the others. You have to make sure the filter is completly full of water you get started and it will work fine. They are an older design and is a little noieser than the Fluval but puts out more gph. Good Luck!