What I think everyone here is trying to say, at least I am, is to not get caught up with simply flow rate when choosing the filter. You need to look at the media capacity of the filter as well. As you haven't provided a brand name or model its tough to telll exactly what the relationship is between the flow rate & capacity of each filter. I would still go with my recommendation of the larger (1400l/h) canister. Again, you can slow down the filter to get 1000l/h but the capacity of the filter media will be larger with the 1400l/h model than it will be with the 1000l/h model. There isn't any scientific equation you can use to determine what the appropriate ratio of flow to volume is, it just takes some educated guessing, close should be enough. Most canisters on the market should be close enough if you look at the Eheim Classics series as Darrel mentioned you can get an idea of what a good canister design is. I personally have been running a couple for almost 20 years now. Not the fanciest or the most feature packed but bare-bones, efficient work-horse.
Which canister to buy??
- Thread starter Plecomate
- Start date
Thanks everyone I have ended up getting 1 Eheim 2215, less flow (600Lph) but a good BRAND name and by many much better filtration and media than a generic 1400 that I was looking at through ebay.
Thanks
Thanks
Hi ,
I would have gone for the 1400lt flow one.
Your filter is like a cup and straw. If you fill you filter with minimal media the flow will be like sucking coffee or water through the straw and will be fast. If you however pack your filter with full or stuff and push it in, then your flow rate is slower, like sucking a milkshake through the straw. Also if you do not rinse it, as the filter materials also get clogged, the flow rate also slows down. Same applies with the hoses, as they collect algae and growth, if you also do not clean these every now and then, then they also reuce the rate.
you have a 3ft tank and now a 600l/ph filter, so you turn your water over roughly 3-4 times per hour. If you would have taken the 1000 or 1400 one it would have doubled your filtration which in my view is much better. You also talk about the Eheim having a better filtration material and media material, if I may say for all generic filters you can also add whichever material you want and change the generic material if you wish. We all suggested to take the 1400 lt. Anyway this is now your choice, the brand you bought is good, but I hope the 600l/ph is good enough. Cheers jk :thumbup:
I would have gone for the 1400lt flow one.
Your filter is like a cup and straw. If you fill you filter with minimal media the flow will be like sucking coffee or water through the straw and will be fast. If you however pack your filter with full or stuff and push it in, then your flow rate is slower, like sucking a milkshake through the straw. Also if you do not rinse it, as the filter materials also get clogged, the flow rate also slows down. Same applies with the hoses, as they collect algae and growth, if you also do not clean these every now and then, then they also reuce the rate.
you have a 3ft tank and now a 600l/ph filter, so you turn your water over roughly 3-4 times per hour. If you would have taken the 1000 or 1400 one it would have doubled your filtration which in my view is much better. You also talk about the Eheim having a better filtration material and media material, if I may say for all generic filters you can also add whichever material you want and change the generic material if you wish. We all suggested to take the 1400 lt. Anyway this is now your choice, the brand you bought is good, but I hope the 600l/ph is good enough. Cheers jk :thumbup:
I personally don't necessarily agree with this. While I agree with the basic logic that the higher flow rate can overcome some build-up of muck. I don't necessarily prescribe with the theory that the 1400l/h filter (other brand) would have been better. Eheim Classics have relativley low flow rates when compard to many other brands, a fact Darrel previously alluded to. However, taken all into account they are very efficient filters and don't necessarily require the high flow rates due to the media capacity & filter design (no bypass). I think for a biological filter the 2215 would do okay. The 1400l/h was my choice given the options provided but might not be the choice I'd make if asked to spec a filter. I'd still run another filter for the reasons I previously mentioned.
BTW, what capacities are 36 inch tanks & 48 inch tanks?
The tank that my filter is going in is 192l. Would have though the eheim would be better + already order it to come today
In a canister for a 3ft get the Eheim classic 2215. Not huge current but that what you have a powerfilter in the tank for. 
Again the Flow V biological debate is cured by a power head to move the water and as for brand i see no use for any filter apart from Eheim. all others are door stops to me.In a canister for a 3ft get the Eheim classic 2215. Not huge current but that what you have a powerfilter in the tank for.
Hi all,
If you use a Maxi-jet 1200 and a 12" x 4" x 4" coarse PPI10 sponge, when I want a lot of flow, but I'm not sure what you can get in Australia. If you have a look on the reef forums they should know.
The Koralia type pumps move a huge volume of water, but they don't offer any biological filtration.
cheers Darrel
Yes that would be my suggestion, plus a power-head and sponge. I use Maxi-jet power heads for the same reason I like Eheims, they last for ever and come in a range of sizes.
If you use a Maxi-jet 1200 and a 12" x 4" x 4" coarse PPI10 sponge, when I want a lot of flow, but I'm not sure what you can get in Australia. If you have a look on the reef forums they should know.
The Koralia type pumps move a huge volume of water, but they don't offer any biological filtration.
cheers Darrel
Its not only the flow to take into consideration, its the watts.
I had big otto450L canisters but they ran 24/7 with 32 watts or more.
I am replacing them one by one with eheim 2215 for 3fts and narrower 4fts, and 2217 for bigger 4ft tanks. The 2215 is only 15w and the 2217 is 20watts.
Now in heavy poop tanks and tanks with corys and endlers, the poop bogs the canisters in a few months and I am forever pulling cory, endler and shrimp fry from them so I am putting coarse AquaFX round sponge filters over the intakes. I just rinse that bit in wc water every so often.
For current I got cheap wavemakers of 5watts from Guppies when they are on special for only $18 or something. Don't worry, they don't really blow out 2000lph, maybe in a tube they might lol. Thats good in a 3ft with little debris.
For higher debris or for the opposite end of a 4ft as well, I am getting Otto power filters of 800plh from ageofaquariums. These have two filter cups and only run at 8watts. On the wider tanks I found I also need two of these filters. The idea is you clip off and rinse the filter cup sponges rather than fiddle about cleaning the canisters every month or two.
*Tip: Snip the few lines of plastic inside the sponges where they clip together in between the filter cups so both cups fill equally.
I did use 1200lph otto power filters and they were fantastic but found they were 32 watts and it sent my power bill up.
Another idea I use sometimes is the eheim pickup internal filters as the bigguns are only 6 watts. Not real high in current but with those you can even turn them upsidedown if you want and blow current right across the caves. Plec males love it.
I had big otto450L canisters but they ran 24/7 with 32 watts or more.
I am replacing them one by one with eheim 2215 for 3fts and narrower 4fts, and 2217 for bigger 4ft tanks. The 2215 is only 15w and the 2217 is 20watts.
Now in heavy poop tanks and tanks with corys and endlers, the poop bogs the canisters in a few months and I am forever pulling cory, endler and shrimp fry from them so I am putting coarse AquaFX round sponge filters over the intakes. I just rinse that bit in wc water every so often.
For current I got cheap wavemakers of 5watts from Guppies when they are on special for only $18 or something. Don't worry, they don't really blow out 2000lph, maybe in a tube they might lol. Thats good in a 3ft with little debris.
For higher debris or for the opposite end of a 4ft as well, I am getting Otto power filters of 800plh from ageofaquariums. These have two filter cups and only run at 8watts. On the wider tanks I found I also need two of these filters. The idea is you clip off and rinse the filter cup sponges rather than fiddle about cleaning the canisters every month or two.
*Tip: Snip the few lines of plastic inside the sponges where they clip together in between the filter cups so both cups fill equally.
I did use 1200lph otto power filters and they were fantastic but found they were 32 watts and it sent my power bill up.
Another idea I use sometimes is the eheim pickup internal filters as the bigguns are only 6 watts. Not real high in current but with those you can even turn them upsidedown if you want and blow current right across the caves. Plec males love it.
I love this outlook.. seriously.. if I had Eheim money I would use nothing else..
People used to look at me like I was mental when trying to sell them Eheim at every opportunity.
Sorry for the slight digression...
i also must admit, I have 90% eheim filters and they are the best. Downunder though they do cost twice as much as in Europe and with the cheaper others now on the market it is hard, but in my view worth saving up for. I recently bought a new other filter as a second one for the tank, I ended up returning it as I could not even open it, so swapped it for a new eheim 2217. wonderfull. cheers jk :thumbup:
Yea, Great filters. I find in my tank the only problem is I need extra current t push the **** off the floor into the filter. Where getting an external will come in handy
i just let the filter clean my water, then just sifon the poo off out. my theroy is im trying not to clog the filter up
Two points to be aware of with what we are calling Poo
Firstly in water the “problem” part of poo ie waste / bacterial matter ECT is absorbed by the water quite fast.
Secondly the fibres in poo is what clogs the filter
I myself work on this principle.
Water has absorbed the waste matter that is bacterially active thus the filter will break it down, the remaining matter is fibre and would have very little organic action on the water so I let it be.
But then I am not looking for a “clean” tank
Firstly in water the “problem” part of poo ie waste / bacterial matter ECT is absorbed by the water quite fast.
Secondly the fibres in poo is what clogs the filter
I myself work on this principle.
Water has absorbed the waste matter that is bacterially active thus the filter will break it down, the remaining matter is fibre and would have very little organic action on the water so I let it be.
But then I am not looking for a “clean” tank
Eheim (i.e. the classics) are great, simple, filters that last forever - 2217 for $170 from guppy's..bargain - seriously, who cares what plug it comes with.
I have used others in the past, but now (after 20 years of fish keeping) wouldn't buy a different external canister (I have 2x2217, 2x2215, 1x2211). The only thing i would do, is swap my 2215s for 2217s....!
If you already have a 2215 and want more flow - buy and fit the 2217 impellor...search the web, but you get something between a 2215 and 2217 in terms of flow.
Regardless of which one you have, you also get slightly more flow (but less pressure?) if you don't use the spray bar.
Also, make sure you clean the hoses as part of your filters maintainance. Build-up of biofilm seriously decreases flow (particularly in the 2215 which uses same diameter intake and return).
Also, for increased water movement, don't forget the aquaclear hang-on filters - the 300 (70) flows 1100L/hr and uses only (wait for it) 6W....$70-$80...No hoses, no wet hands, they take up no space in your tank and are super easy to clean...extend the intake to the bottom of the tank and use them for mechanical filtration.
I have used others in the past, but now (after 20 years of fish keeping) wouldn't buy a different external canister (I have 2x2217, 2x2215, 1x2211). The only thing i would do, is swap my 2215s for 2217s....!
If you already have a 2215 and want more flow - buy and fit the 2217 impellor...search the web, but you get something between a 2215 and 2217 in terms of flow.
Regardless of which one you have, you also get slightly more flow (but less pressure?) if you don't use the spray bar.
Also, make sure you clean the hoses as part of your filters maintainance. Build-up of biofilm seriously decreases flow (particularly in the 2215 which uses same diameter intake and return).
Also, for increased water movement, don't forget the aquaclear hang-on filters - the 300 (70) flows 1100L/hr and uses only (wait for it) 6W....$70-$80...No hoses, no wet hands, they take up no space in your tank and are super easy to clean...extend the intake to the bottom of the tank and use them for mechanical filtration.