The Best External Canister Filter to Buy Is?
A lot of factors are at play when choosing to buy an external canister filter. However, if you dread filter changes and find it highly inconvenient, a wet/dry filter in a sump will best suit your need. It is mainly an under the tank filter that almost never needs filter changes.
Wet/Dry Filters Anyone
There are many great wet/dry filter brands in the market and one of them is Eheim. They say one can never go wrong with it. It used to be hard to prime but the Pro 2 series has great priming mechanism.
| Rena 723 Filstar XP4 Canister Filter |
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| Retail Price: $220.04 |
| Amazon Price: $169.99 |
Marineland Filters and Cichlids
Another interesting brand well worth the look is Marineland. Many aquarium hobbyists love its retro design and the trays are great with cichlids. The fact that the water level in the display tank remains the same is another plus for this setup. Water changes are done partially by diverting dirty water from the tank by adding a WYE and a ball or a gate valve.
Gradual Water Changes
One good thing about this method of changing tank water is that, aside from its being highly convenient, it is not causing as much negative effect to the fishes as the new water is gradually introduced from the sump instead of a 50% water change. In other words, its method of changing water is not too shocking to the living things in your aquarium.
Rena and Cascade Filters
Other great brands you can check out are Rena and Cascade. The Rena Filstar has a quick release valve for the hoses, although a little tough to prime. Cascade is great – wonderful prime mechanism. However, there’s no quick release for the hoses.
Guess you can’t have it all. So weigh it on the features and what you can afford and go for one most convenient for you.
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