Equipment Review and Discussion :: Canister filter for 53 gallon tank

[PcBuilder14]

I am now wanting a canister filter for my 53 gallon!

I guess I should have listened to yall and saved my money to buy a canister filter! I would love to be able to get an FX5, but I know that those are way to expensive for me! I would like to get the cheapest/best value canister filter possible, because I really want to pay $150 at most! It would be ideal to find one for around $75. HELP!!!!!

[Chrisbarnett]

Dude. Search the forum, this has been answered so many times.

I just bought a Fluval 404 brand new on ebay.. $85 bucks shipping included. it's a steal. I've had it running for about 4 days and I like it so far. I had a Rena XP1 before.. and I must say fluvals are a tad more difficult to set up, but I think its a good filter. BTW I have a 55gal.

[PcBuilder14]

Why did you switch to a Fluval 404? I know it has, I was just to lazy to search for it!

Plus when I search I can only view the 1st page, when I try to go to another page it says webpage cannot be found?

[Chrisbarnett]

Because I wanted too and I'm a filter nut. I had heard good things about fluval, and wasn't blown away by Rena.

The XP1 was barely doing it in my tank with 250gph... so I got the 404 which is 340gph. Lots of flow.

I put the XP1 on my 10gal axolotl tank... 25x per hour turnover.. hell yeah.

[PcBuilder14]

Oh! LOL!

So, do you think I should get the 404? or the XP1? IDK!

[Chrisbarnett]

for a 53(just call it 55 for this) You need a 340-350gph filter.

So if your choosing Rena or Fluval, you have the XP3 or the 404/405. the 405 is this years model, and about 135 bucks new. Stupid to pay that price when the 404 can be bought brand new for $85 and it has only a couple differences. mainly the intake grate. nothing changed canister/motor wise.

the XP3 is usually about 130 bucks... the choice is up to you, but I like the fluval 404 better than my Rena so far.

[PcBuilder14]

I will probably start saving up for a Fluval 404 then!!!!

[PcBuilder14]

So, how is your axolotl holding up with that filter!

[mikee]

PcB -- I would suggest a Marineland 350 or a Fluval 405. You will need to think in terms of at least a 5 times per hour exchange of tank volume. I have both canisters listed above and they do just fine. Both pump around 300 to 350 gph and are adequate. m.

[Chrisbarnett]

So, how is your axolotl holding up with that filter!

At first he was way overwhelmed, but now he has learned to deal with it... at least it looks that way.

[PcBuilder14]

What pros and cons do you have with the Fluval 404 from personal experience so far?
I've read reviews on it and most of them are good! Problem is all of the bad reviews are all different!

[mikee]

For what is worth, my 405 does a great job and is very quiet. I has a little primer pump on the top to evacuate the air. I pumps about 300 gph and does very will. I like the quick connection on top. m.

[PcBuilder14]

YAY!!!!!!!

I want one so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chrisbarnett]

I gotta agree. Mine is very quiet, and surprisingly powerful.

My only con was priming. It was a tad difficult, because the priming pump wouldn't pull the water in the tubes up and over my tank rim. But I remedied this by filling up the canister with water, then hooking it up to the motor unit. Started right up.

[PcBuilder14]

Man I can't wait to get one!!!