5 REASONS to GO WITH a CANISTER FILTER and some [CANISTER MYTH BUSTING!]

Are you considering a canister filter? Is it the right way to go? Watch this first. It might be the perfect filter solution for your set up. But then again, it might not be. Perhaps a different kind of filter or a combination of filters would be a better choice for your particular set up. Here are 5 things to consider before you determine if a canister filter is your best option, along with some myth busting about canister filters.
Are you currently using a canister filter? What do you think about the points I make in this video? Share your thoughts and tips in the comment section. We all learn from each other at this channel. Remember to always be learning and don't ever forget that you reading this right now - YOU ROCK!
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[@jacquesgauvin6247]

More expensive but the Oase Biomaster and Biomaster Thermo are superb filters. What makes them so much better is the massive sponge prefilter that you can remove and clean without opening or moving the canister. Bib, big game changer in my mind!

[@BenOchart]

A variation on that pre-filter theme I’m such an advocate of👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@brockg6194]

Thanks Ben.

[@howardlea417]

I have been researching on KZbin for three months trying to find the truth about canister filters and you are by far the best source that I ran into. Thank you so much I will be following you from now on and I will share.

[@BenOchart]

Great to hear! Thank you!😀👍🏻

[@AussieAquatic]

Great to see some canister filter love Ben, they have kept me happy for over 40 years :)

[@andytchir8601]

I am disabled so I take any steps that allow me to 1) Be able to keep fish and 2) Have healthy tanks . The canister allows me to customize filtration and add alot of media, kind of like a sump. I agree with you Ben, cleaning a canister takes steps but it doesn't need to be cleaned often at all. Great video

[@jonas2431]

I'm disabled as well and have made things easy for me when keeping my fish tanks

[@daveylarson2060]

Call me crazy, I have a Fluval 207 on my 20 long, Community Tank, does a great job !!! Thanks for the info Ben !!!

[@BenOchart]

I think we’re all a little crazy…in a good way 😉🤣👍🏻

[@jonstfrancis]

Tried various filters over the years but my favourite is canister filtration. I probably clean mine like once a year, yes a bit of a chore but at least I'm not rinsing out dirty sponges every week now.

[@adkgaladkgal1799]

I love seeing your gorgeous fish. Canister filters do work great. I have smaller tanks so I don't use them but I tried them before. Thank you

[@paulouzman7267]

Get yourself a Oase Biomaster canister. Built in heater and prefilter. Game changing.

[@druwmac4109]

Hello Ben, I have a 125 and I use a Fluval 407 which is filled with foam and Bio-FX, and an Aqua Clear 110 which is filled with foam & Chemi-Pure Elite. I have been using canister filters for 30 years and I love them. “Can’t stop won’t stop”. Thanks for the informed videos.

[@DjPosey3]

Thanks for the info Uncle Ben

[@edwardsdeacon]

🤔 I clean my canister filters when I notice a reduction in the flow. That usually roughly 5-7 months. I really only keep sponges with different PPI stack lesser to greater in the direction of the water flow. I use canister filters if I have a goldfish tanks, larger South American tank and my large Central American tanks. Basically on fish that get to a large size and have a heavy bio load. These are usually backed up with a trickle filter or H.O.B. That will have some finer sponges and Activated carbon/ Zeolite and water softener pellets. Most people do t like canister simply because they are just to lazy to do the maintenance on the filters and because they add a bunch of extra stuff. Into them which make it necessary to open up the filters more often. It is what it is. I simply can see them not being a part of my hobby. 🤷🏽‍♂️👍🏽

[@BenOchart]

All sensible 😀👍🏻

[@brianp6180]

They are heavy but they also hold way more media tan an HOB. I triple filtrate my 2 - 125 tanks. 2 canisters and a Seachem Tidal 110 in the middle. I know sounds like a lot. My my water is very clear. Very good water movement and tanks look great.

[@BenOchart]

Sounds about right if you're well stocked 😀

[@32cichlids58]

I have to sunsun 304b and love them🤘

[@BenOchart]

Solid proven platform 👍🏻😀

[@XCaliKev]

👍😎 I liked my Magnum 300’s I had years ago. Cleaned them like once a year, same time I took tank outside and scrubbed it with Simple Green. Didn’t know any better then. When they died couldn’t afford new ones.

[@oscarstrelkov4705]

Very timely video! I have a 55 running 2 good HOBs, but just today I started researching canisters and your video popped up. Thanks for the info, I enjoy your channel

[@BenOchart]

Hope it helps Oscar😀👍🏻

[@peasandhapsforever110]

On my 125g I have a fluval Fx6 and an Fx4 and my 75g I’ve got a fluval 406 & 407, my 50g has a fluval 306 and all of the canisters are excellent and I love them. Great video Ben

[@CyborSica]

125 g and I have filtration fx6 fluval 407 and sunsun 304b lava rock and everything Perfect

[@markfranklin8831]

I agree with you

[@timwinkel72]

I prefer the Eheim classic series, the filter has zero water bypass.

[@BenOchart]

Someday I’d love to try an Eheim

[@PriceTagAquariums]

Thanks for the upload Ben! I think a good start for a canister filter (from my experience) is with my 75G with Peas/Haps. I currently have the SunSun 303B for it. I was uneducated with canister filters up until a few months ago, but since then, I'm glad I invested in one!

[@BenOchart]

I was running 2 SunSun 302-Bs on a 60 gallon in California. That tank was rock solid.

[@jayfuller3709]

Hi! I am running a Fluval 407 & aTidal 75 on my 75G Angelfish tank. I have 15 large angels in there. The canister has 2 trays of Seachem Matrix in it. The Tidal is for fine filtration, the Fluval is for tank stability. It helps with Nitrate levels!!

[@danrude5418]

I am running a FX6 on my 125g now with a wave maker. I previously had a FX4 with an old Magnum HOT 250. The Magnum was my first system x 3, with under gravel. Well discovered my FX4 stopped working, but the Magnum kept going. Have no idea when it quit. Had bought the FX6 at a great price, so hooked it up. Trying to get a warranty claim on the FX4 now for the motor. Overall, everything is working great. Use pinky floss that I change out monthly at the top of the FX6.

[@edmundooliver7584]

I have a sump and two small Sicce pumps with a built in pre filter

[@Rick-xy4bt]

Ben, what's your favorite set up for the canisters with regards to input and output? Opposite ends? Intake centered in tank, with output on one end? Perhaps a wave maker to displace detritus on substrate, depending on kinds of fish? Just wondering what ideal positioning would be.

[@BenOchart]

Opposite ends when it’s the only filter, with the output breaking up the surface. With multiple filters creating a lot of water movement the positioning, IMO, is less vital, especially if you have one or two Wavemakers.

[@timadams306]

As a fairly new keeper. I'd say a canister on a 55 on up. Fluval 307 would be perfect. Currently have 2 407s on a 89 gallon frag. So easy to clean. And you don't have to fill the canister back up like a hob.

[@migueleespinosa2632]

Have 2 fx6s and a fluval 407 (polishing/chemical) running on a 120g full of mbuna and a few mix Peacock, a Venusus, 2 tropheous, 5 sliver dollars + catfish and clown fish. The fx6s are maintenance about every 3 months. Everything works in harmony. My stand is a standard pine 28in high which makes for a tight fit for the fx6s and that an error my next tank (a 210g) will not have. I will get a 36 inch high stand and make life easy for maintenance. I will put them on carts to roll them in and out of the stand. Life will be sweet. A sump is in the future but I will not drill the tank. I will use an overflow and standard over the frame returns for flexibility. Its a "Tentative" plan...lol.

[@superaquatics]

Excellent video Ben. Great points 👍👌 Sunsuns are great filters. The only issue I have had with them is sucking in air. I changed the o-ring and made sure all pipes and everything is connected properly so no air leaks then I discovered the intake pipe where the quick disconnect attaches was cracked so I modified it to ensure it doesn't suck in air from there but the problem still persisted and I even ended up siliconing the lid to create an airtight seal & prevent any air entering from the lid but it still sucks in air and I have now given up trying to find where it is sucking in air. In case you have any suggestions for solving this please let me know.

[@BenOchart]

Have you lubed the o ring?

[@dominic9279]

I run 2 tidal hang ons on one end giving a flow straight across the length of the tank and that's the only way imo to have them. Plus I have a 2000litre an hour cannister on the other end plus sponge filter and wave maker all facing the same direction.

[@markbaumgardt2868]

On my 150 I have 2 Eheim classic XL 1500 I have a heavy stocked tank and I think you need that kind of turn over my nitrates are between 10 to 20 parts

[@BenOchart]

Hi Mark! What’s keeping those nitrates so low? Those are great results.

[@markbaumgardt2868]

@@BenOchart thanks brother it's hard work after a 12 hour shift doing water changes on the African tank I also do my Discus tank the nitrates are at almost zero love your vids mate keep up the good work all the best 😊👍

[@markbaumgardt2868]

@@BenOchart thanks brother it's hard work after 14 hour shift but it's all about my gorgeous mates

[@markfranklin8831]

First

[@joeader6046]

Nobody talks about the Marineland I absolutely love them I have a big one on my 55 gallon and I just picked up a Marineland c220 for my 36 gallon bow front they do a great job and they are completely silent

[@BenOchart]

I’ve never tried their canisters. I’ve run their Emperor 400 HOBs for years and they’re battleships.

[@joeader6046]

The one I have now on my 55 is a c360 when I get my 125 I intend to use a Marineland Christmas 530 which is the biggest one I can go six months not cleaning it and when I do the water is still clear inside and very little muck of course I run an intake Sponge Filter on it

[@joeader6046]

That's supposed to say c530 not Christmas 530

[@brianmizway9324]

When I get my 75 gal I could go with hob still but I might just go right to the fx6 even on a 75. If someone doesn't want to do a sump, I've seen people with 125-200 gallon tanks go with 2 fx6.

[@BenOchart]

Then when you get that big monster tank you can move the FX right over.

[@richardhill2702]

Good video Ben. Setting up a 120 gal. 48x24x24 . Thinking about small to medium size fish. what do you recommend 1 canister + a sump ? & what size sump? Thanks ben..

[@dominic9279]

Hey Ben

[@brianmizway9324]

A yr later now if i get a 125g or a 180g i wonder if i can just do 3 tidal 110s or aquaclear 110s on them instead of the canister.

[@BenOchart]

Sure you can. You’ll get as much water turnover and media with one big canister and have less pipes in the tank, but if you’re uncomfortable with cans, 3 HOBs will do a good job.

[@jaymilo8425]

Question fir you Ben I currently have a sun sun 304b in my 65 gallon tank, is that overkill because I also have a hob witch is quite large.

[@BenOchart]

Depends on how you plan to stock it, your water change and filter maintenance schedule. Lots of moving parts. I had 2 SunSun cans on my 60 gal in California. It was rock solid.

[@jaymilo8425]

@Ben Ochart I have about 7 peacocks 2 bristlenose and 1 A$$hole Oscar named Derek Fisher currently in there

[@andrewdefty6044]

I have a 60 Gal with a medium stocking of Platies, Danios and Cherry Barbs, which I could double up on and still lean towards being Mid-Stocked as many have said... I run a Aqua One Ocellaris 850 canister (I know they are seldom reviewed and are considered cheep) yet so far, touch wood... It's been fine. I've never had to service it for many months, and it keeps my tank really clean. Even though I have been badgered to get a Fluval and/or other so called "Top Price" canisters by friends in the hobby, I feel that it does right. I often see reviews of the Sun Sun filters on YT, and they often get slated too, yet you have run them in the past... I also have looked into them, and some would give a better turnover of LPH than my Ocellaris 850, and for the same price too... Yet I'm still unsure about their reliability... How do you see them in such terms? Great vid, and "On the level" info as always, Ben. Have learned quite a lot from you over the last few months that I have watched your vids. Keep up the great work, and I hope to learn much more from here onwards. Keep it "On the Level", Ben!

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

Far more important than turnover is the volume of filter media in the filter AND the type of filter media. With pot scrubbies and foam/sponge filter media any filtration choice is optimized with respect to both biological activity and detritus holding capacity and longer the time interval before cleaning. The focus on flow rate is misinformation for beginner and intermediate aquarists in my opinion.

[@BenOchart]

This video was not about filter media. It is about the many features and advantages of canister filters of which a high GPH is one. I have dozens of videos on media, in particular sponges. Check them out. Thanks for watching.