Tropical Fish Forums

[innatrance4556]

Whats the difference between Canister and BIO wheel Filters?
What is your opinon about these filters?

[Cinder]

OK, someone else can get technical for you but just a simple answer:
Canister filters sit under your tank and are, IMO, much better at filtering a tank. They are generally used on 40plus gallon tanks.
Bio wheel filters are also good. They hang on the back/top of your tank. They are generally used for smaller tanks. I have heard of more problems with bio wheels than just regular HOB (hang on back) filters. I've never used a biowheel so I can't personally address that. I have HOB and canister filters.
I've heard of people using them in conjunction with each other also.
This is one of those 'personal preference' questions. My personal preference is a canister filter except for the smaller tanks.
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135 gln. freshwater tank
29 gln. freshwater tank

[fishlover888]

My problem with bio-wheels is that they ctuck from time to time. It is useless if it does that.

HOB filter can be easily serviced, you don't need to open up the filter to do tha. The down side is that it has much less filter media, which means the capacity of such system is limited, so used in small tanks are good.

Cannister filters have large volume of space for filters. They can be set up for tanks over 100 g without any problem. The problem is that it is harder to service it. You have to take it apart in order to change the media.

Hope this helps.
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125 g discus tank 13 discus, 5 Sterbai cory, 3 clown loaches, 1 Albino BN pH 6.3 50% WC x2/wk
2 g nano tank 3 Danio, pH 7.6 80% WC/ 2 days

[innatrance4556]

I was thinking of getting a Fluval 305 Canister Filter for a 45 gallon aquarium.
What kind of media does that need?

[Cinder]

I don't know how many spaces there are in that filter but you want some type of sponge or floss, some bioballs to grow beneficial bacteria and (if you don't have live plants) you could put in some carbon. I don't use carbon in my tanks unless I want to give them a 'special' cleaning and then only leave it in for a couple of days. I use a sponge and filter floss along with the bioballs in my Fluval.
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135 gln. freshwater tank
29 gln. freshwater tank

[rfosgategt]

[fishlover888]

I have a 304 and 404, which are the older versions of 305 and 405. They both are good. I did have to replace the impeller on the 404 since it was making too much noise.

You need to put in some fine floss in the media to catch the small particles in the tank. You can get this at PetSmart or something like that.
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125 g discus tank 13 discus, 5 Sterbai cory, 3 clown loaches, 1 Albino BN pH 6.3 50% WC x2/wk
2 g nano tank 3 Danio, pH 7.6 80% WC/ 2 days