Love Oase filters. Yes, they need maintenance on the pre-filters otherwise the flow decreases, but it's easy and, depending on placement, you don't need to physically move the canister very far. I can tip mine slightly in the cabinet to get a better angle to get the pre-filter out. There might be a drip or two, but no major leakage. Easy to prime. As a bonus, shrimp seem to have no problem living for extended periods in the pre-filter. (Yes, I have a sponge on the intake but...). I have the thermos which have replaceable heaters in the canister. I probably over-filter (since I'm not always punctual on maintenance). On the larger "fish" tanks (90 and 125) I run both the Oase canisters and Aquaclear hang-on-backs and titanium heaters so I have backup if a filter/heater fails (none have in 5 years). On the 120p aquascape, a single Oase. They also have good lift capability (from the floor to the top of the 90 on a tall stand.) I also have smaller Fluval canisters (307s & 407s) running on axolotl and turtle tanks. I like them but they are not quite as easy to maintain, especially on the turtle tank that has a bunch of debris. While they do the job, they just aren't quite so elegantly designed (if that matters to you). If tanks are in a living space (esp hardwood floors) I'd go with Oase for sure. In a fish room both brands get the job done. Cost is a bummer. Operating costs seem in line with other filters.
Always thought I would never go canister. Then I got two nearly new FX4 canisters w/media for a total of $250. I replaced the two big HOBs on my 75 gallon with them for now. I have 38 Filament Barbs. One FX will move to another 75 I acquired that I just need to finish getting sealed. For a heavily stocked tank, they are great. I do want to add pre-filters on them soon.
Is it possible to love your aquarium's filter? I never thought it possible. But I LOVE, love really love my little Fluval 207 from the minute I unpacked it. It is so smartly engineered. It was like getting an iphone for the first time. SO easy to set up. Gratitude flows from my heart to all the engineers that thoughtfully put this together! I resisted spending $$$ for a filter. Thought it was something for the "pros." But when I upgraded size to a 40 gal breeder, the HOB filter wasn't hacking it any more. I saw at PetSmart I could buy a fluval 207 for around $150, so I took the leap! Best money spent. No more water quality issues. Really awesome at maintaining a good strong bio filter. Love how I can customize and re-use the media. Filters a lot of water quickly and quietly! Easy to regulate the flow. Easier and less frequent water changes. I'll never, ever go back to a HOB. I did not know about Oase canister filters, but having inline heater and C02 is very attractive, if /when I set up another tank. I like the idea of less C02 waste. Thank you Bentley for this and all of your informative videos!
Looking forward to the rest of the series. You’ve given me an idea on a new filter design. Taking the pros and cons of each type to try to make a better mouse trap, so to speak. I’ll be sharing the design on the side to you, Bentley, for your thoughts. If nothing else, it makes you think about filtration in a much deeper way that what marketing materials say. Thanks!!!
I was going to get a tidal for my 75g but due to the size of the cut outs (it's an acrylic tank), the intake motor wouldn't fit into the tank. My main reason was really just being concerned about leaks. But after considering my options I went with an FX4 and couldn't be happier I did. Visually, the rear of my tank is black so the hob would really be as hidden as the canister but it's quiet, low maintenance, and the flexibility of media has really been a big deal.
Great Video Bently! you summed it up very well....I like the Oval shaped OASE they have quite the powerful motor which allows me to run my inline reactors....but I'm a sump man mainly.
I have a 150 gallon tank with 2 huge oscars and a huge Bichir in it. The poop from these fish is quite large. The oscars won't allow plants to be in the tank so the media capacity is needed in this setup. I use an fx6 and it has the power to actually filter out a lot of their poop. I feel like I made a good decision with filtration even though it was expensive.
I have 4 tanks and they are all running canister filters, Fluval 06/07 series. Tomorrow I will be servicing all of them. I anticipate it will take me under an hour to do the lot. An hour may seem like a lot but I have not touched any of them for the last 4 months, I defy anybody with 4 tanks running either HOBs or sponge filters to do less than an hour maintenance total in 4 months. I'm not even convinced that some of them actually need servicing, there is no decrease in flow and water quality is excellent.
I hope you are still going to do Mattenfilters, to me they are the true Rolls-Royce of filters when kept in the German fashion, where you don't clean it at all until you have no flow.
I had a FX4. I sold it and bought a couple of Fluval 407 filters. I freaking love the things. I feel that the 407 is easier to maintain and move. Plus, I can clean the impeller with out the use of a screw driver unlike the FX series.
Truely enjoy the content you provide Bentley. Currently running Sponge, HOB, and Canisters. On the rack Sponge filters, or combos of Sponge and HOB are my go to. They require Maintenance weekly or by weekly. Have a 40 and 75 gallon running HOB, They require maintenance weekly or by weekly. the rest of my 75's have canisters which generally require maintenance every 90 to 120 days. Can't say Brand wise as i have some of these some of those and one or 2 of them. All of which do the job.
I use fluval 306/406 on all of my tanks that have a cabinet; 90, 60, 29. It just seems to be the best choice for me. All of the benefits and the cannister is neatly hidden away:)
Been really considering just breaking down and buying one for my 50 gallon. Have two hang on the backs on it currently. They work just fine but they take up space.
I have been a fluval 06/07 user since I started fish keeping in 2015. The thing that keeps me coming back is the ease of maintenance. Altho, on my next tank (a 15 gallon) I might try an Oase 100 for no other reason than "it's another toy I want to play with". My backup plan being a few of them corner plastic encased sponge filters which I absolutely looooovvvvveee for the flow factor alone. Question tho, which I never thought about till now. Should we be figuring in the water volume canisters hold into our fertilizer calculations? I know this is splitting hairs for canister volumes, it's more about accuracy.
i used fluval internal filters on 3x 100 litre tanks i was forever cleaning them fish getting stuck behind them kept falling off the side of the tank and i replaced the lot for fluval 307… so much less hassle and clean them around every 3 months other than that i dont touch them
Unfortunately, my betta never got better. The suffering was too much, so I used clove oil to perform euthanasia. I had tried to treat her for what I believed was ich, but nothing I did worked. It got too bad too quickly, and I felt like I had no choice.
Bentley, maybe a follow up or addendum would be something like the smaller "nano" canisters designed for the aquascape tanks and the fancy things. I know UNS has em, zoo med, oase, sicce, and even fluval sell the 107 and stuff smaller tanks. I just got my first canister. I have a lot of opinions and frustrations. :(
I feel like I’d be more prone to using a canister if the sink in my basement was already set up - and if I had big glass display tanks and wasn’t planning on doing racks etc etc
For whatever reason, I really really want a blue crayfish. Where I am in Utah, I think they're illegal to keep, but I am determined to get one, even if they require a permit. I am not sure how much experience you have, but would it be okay to keep a blue crayfish with a bunch of other fish? I've got around 10 platies, three mollies, three guppies, five bettas, 3 African dwarf frogs, and 6 neon tetras. Could my tank even handle a single crayfish? I'm curious what you'll say.
Why would you want a prefilter not to filter? A larger pour sponge will pass more water, and it will also pass more gunk into the filter. Prefilters are easy and quick. I clean mine once a week, with a 10% water change. I clean the filter every 2-6 months, depending on the load in the tank. Water drips? Grab a towel before you start.
How dare you defend a Canister! Unsubbed! DWL. Seriously though, great video series. Interestingly, even while defending the Canister you are still left with the question of whether you should just bypass it and upgrade to a sump.
Love Oase filters. Yes, they need maintenance on the pre-filters otherwise the flow decreases, but it's easy and, depending on placement, you don't need to physically move the canister very far. I can tip mine slightly in the cabinet to get a better angle to get the pre-filter out. There might be a drip or two, but no major leakage. Easy to prime. As a bonus, shrimp seem to have no problem living for extended periods in the pre-filter. (Yes, I have a sponge on the intake but...). I have the thermos which have replaceable heaters in the canister. I probably over-filter (since I'm not always punctual on maintenance). On the larger "fish" tanks (90 and 125) I run both the Oase canisters and Aquaclear hang-on-backs and titanium heaters so I have backup if a filter/heater fails (none have in 5 years). On the 120p aquascape, a single Oase. They also have good lift capability (from the floor to the top of the 90 on a tall stand.) I also have smaller Fluval canisters (307s & 407s) running on axolotl and turtle tanks. I like them but they are not quite as easy to maintain, especially on the turtle tank that has a bunch of debris. While they do the job, they just aren't quite so elegantly designed (if that matters to you). If tanks are in a living space (esp hardwood floors) I'd go with Oase for sure. In a fish room both brands get the job done. Cost is a bummer. Operating costs seem in line with other filters.
oase offers coarse sponges for the prefilter too.
Yes sir canisters for all my tanks! Oase biomaster thernos are my go to
love my Eheim Experience 350 ( noise free due to ceramic components). perfect for my 50 gallons tank
Always thought I would never go canister. Then I got two nearly new FX4 canisters w/media for a total of $250. I replaced the two big HOBs on my 75 gallon with them for now. I have 38 Filament Barbs. One FX will move to another 75 I acquired that I just need to finish getting sealed. For a heavily stocked tank, they are great. I do want to add pre-filters on them soon.
Is it possible to love your aquarium's filter? I never thought it possible. But I LOVE, love really love my little Fluval 207 from the minute I unpacked it. It is so smartly engineered. It was like getting an iphone for the first time. SO easy to set up. Gratitude flows from my heart to all the engineers that thoughtfully put this together! I resisted spending $$$ for a filter. Thought it was something for the "pros." But when I upgraded size to a 40 gal breeder, the HOB filter wasn't hacking it any more. I saw at PetSmart I could buy a fluval 207 for around $150, so I took the leap! Best money spent. No more water quality issues. Really awesome at maintaining a good strong bio filter. Love how I can customize and re-use the media. Filters a lot of water quickly and quietly! Easy to regulate the flow. Easier and less frequent water changes. I'll never, ever go back to a HOB. I did not know about Oase canister filters, but having inline heater and C02 is very attractive, if /when I set up another tank. I like the idea of less C02 waste. Thank you Bentley for this and all of your informative videos!
Great one, Bentley!
I use a little bit of everything depending on the inhabitants, tank set up and size. I love Fluval canisters.
Looking forward to the rest of the series. You’ve given me an idea on a new filter design. Taking the pros and cons of each type to try to make a better mouse trap, so to speak. I’ll be sharing the design on the side to you, Bentley, for your thoughts.
If nothing else, it makes you think about filtration in a much deeper way that what marketing materials say. Thanks!!!
I was going to get a tidal for my 75g but due to the size of the cut outs (it's an acrylic tank), the intake motor wouldn't fit into the tank. My main reason was really just being concerned about leaks.
But after considering my options I went with an FX4 and couldn't be happier I did. Visually, the rear of my tank is black so the hob would really be as hidden as the canister but it's quiet, low maintenance, and the flexibility of media has really been a big deal.
I use Oase canister thermofiilters. Biomaster 350 and 250. Filtosmart 200 and 100.
They are awsome filters.
Great Video Bently! you summed it up very well....I like the Oval shaped OASE they have quite the powerful motor which allows me to run my inline reactors....but I'm a sump man mainly.
I have a 150 gallon tank with 2 huge oscars and a huge Bichir in it. The poop from these fish is quite large. The oscars won't allow plants to be in the tank so the media capacity is needed in this setup. I use an fx6 and it has the power to actually filter out a lot of their poop. I feel like I made a good decision with filtration even though it was expensive.
I have 4 tanks and they are all running canister filters, Fluval 06/07 series. Tomorrow I will be servicing all of them. I anticipate it will take me under an hour to do the lot. An hour may seem like a lot but I have not touched any of them for the last 4 months, I defy anybody with 4 tanks running either HOBs or sponge filters to do less than an hour maintenance total in 4 months. I'm not even convinced that some of them actually need servicing, there is no decrease in flow and water quality is excellent.
I hope you are still going to do Mattenfilters, to me they are the true Rolls-Royce of filters when kept in the German fashion, where you don't clean it at all until you have no flow.
I had a FX4. I sold it and bought a couple of Fluval 407 filters. I freaking love the things. I feel that the 407 is easier to maintain and move. Plus, I can clean the impeller with out the use of a screw driver unlike the FX series.
For a first timer I love my Sunsun 3000 .Just need a inline heater for it .
Truely enjoy the content you provide Bentley.
Currently running Sponge, HOB, and Canisters. On the rack Sponge filters, or combos of Sponge and HOB are my go to. They require Maintenance weekly or by weekly. Have a 40 and 75 gallon running HOB, They require maintenance weekly or by weekly. the rest of my 75's have canisters which generally require maintenance every 90 to 120 days. Can't say Brand wise as i have some of these some of those and one or 2 of them. All of which do the job.
I have a oase thermo 850/600 awesome filters the pre filter is a game changer.
I don’t like big tanks! I love big tanks and I really can’t lie lol love this series
I use fluval 306/406 on all of my tanks that have a cabinet; 90, 60, 29. It just seems to be the best choice for me. All of the benefits and the cannister is neatly hidden away:)
Been really considering just breaking down and buying one for my 50 gallon. Have two hang on the backs on it currently. They work just fine but they take up space.
I love my FX filters with the auto prime but would love a prefilter like the oase.
I have been a fluval 06/07 user since I started fish keeping in 2015. The thing that keeps me coming back is the ease of maintenance. Altho, on my next tank (a 15 gallon) I might try an Oase 100 for no other reason than "it's another toy I want to play with". My backup plan being a few of them corner plastic encased sponge filters which I absolutely looooovvvvveee for the flow factor alone.
Question tho, which I never thought about till now. Should we be figuring in the water volume canisters hold into our fertilizer calculations? I know this is splitting hairs for canister volumes, it's more about accuracy.
i used fluval internal filters on 3x 100 litre tanks i was forever cleaning them fish getting stuck behind them kept falling off the side of the tank and i replaced the lot for fluval 307… so much less hassle and clean them around every 3 months other than that i dont touch them
Unfortunately, my betta never got better. The suffering was too much, so I used clove oil to perform euthanasia. I had tried to treat her for what I believed was ich, but nothing I did worked. It got too bad too quickly, and I felt like I had no choice.
Please do an updated fish food inventory video haha
how can you say canister filters suck then praise them?
I have a Sunsun and love it.
Bentley, maybe a follow up or addendum would be something like the smaller "nano" canisters designed for the aquascape tanks and the fancy things. I know UNS has em, zoo med, oase, sicce, and even fluval sell the 107 and stuff smaller tanks.
I just got my first canister. I have a lot of opinions and frustrations. :(
I feel like I’d be more prone to using a canister if the sink in my basement was already set up - and if I had big glass display tanks and wasn’t planning on doing racks etc etc
Yay
For whatever reason, I really really want a blue crayfish. Where I am in Utah, I think they're illegal to keep, but I am determined to get one, even if they require a permit. I am not sure how much experience you have, but would it be okay to keep a blue crayfish with a bunch of other fish? I've got around 10 platies, three mollies, three guppies, five bettas, 3 African dwarf frogs, and 6 neon tetras. Could my tank even handle a single crayfish? I'm curious what you'll say.
I would be more concerned that the crayfish would kill some of the other fish in your tank.
👍🏻👍🏻
Fluval weather it’s HOB or canister it’s been the old reliable for me past 30 years
Why would you want a prefilter not to filter? A larger pour sponge will pass more water, and it will also pass more gunk into the filter. Prefilters are easy and quick. I clean mine once a week, with a 10% water change. I clean the filter every 2-6 months, depending on the load in the tank.
Water drips? Grab a towel before you start.
have but don't use ...why I don´t know.
But don't you have to drill a hole in your tank?
No, there are ways to do it with overflow boxes that hang on the back of your tank and create a gravity siphon.
You may be thinking of a sump
How dare you defend a Canister! Unsubbed! DWL. Seriously though, great video series. Interestingly, even while defending the Canister you are still left with the question of whether you should just bypass it and upgrade to a sump.
Have you seen how expensive sumps are?
Also people can have a preference