The BEST CANISTER FILTER Tips I've EVER HEARD!

A virtual Master Class on Canister Filter set up. Experts and beginner canister filter users will get something out of the tips in this video. Don't miss the key bonus tips at the end. They are vital.
I hope you enjoy this video. It's essentially everything I've picked up over the years on how to set up a canister filter to get the best (quiet and strong) filter performance. Some of the tips are all me but many were borrowed from my favorite fish keepers over the years.
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[@mjs805]

Great tips as always! I’ve “pimped” my FX6 similar to what you did here and I’m extremely happy with the results.

[@willparsons32]

Something we rarely hear; "If it works, DON'T fix it!!" Excellent advice!!

[@debbiekirk8765]

Thankyou so much.! I'm using a cannister filter for the first time. I love it and wish I'd been put onto them years ago. But... I was finding it hard work having to fine tune constantly.i Googled so many different instruction videos until I found you! Simple step-by-step instructions fixed ALL my problems ! You made it so simple! Thankyou!

[@BenOchart]

I’m glad it helped.

[@brianmarshall1762]

Some good tips Ben. I have just the one high end canister filter on one tank and haven’t had it running for more than a few months so far, so I learned a few new things today.

[@tracycarter1185]

Wonderful tips n tricks! Thank you as always 🙂

[@bigatya]

Thanks Ben, I needed a refresher course for my sun sun 704b !

[@Thepreacher1960]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@MrPaulmilk]

Another great video 📹

[@MFTAQ]

Ben great tips and info, I have my Cascade 1500 set up exactly like this and it works great I just clean the pre-filter sponge once a month and the canister every 6months on my 2" dirted 3" pool filter sand substrate 55G planted tank.

[@scottgordin9709]

Very informative video, I have a 704b in storage for a back up. I had it set up for about a year before it started to have a hum to it, the hum was so annoying I went out and picked up another FX6, pre-filter sponges are a great idea and who ever thought of it is a genius and should get some kind of award for their ingenuity. I kind want to get another big tank just to hook up the 704b, maybe a 75 or 90 gallon for my fancy goldfish since right now they're small enough to be in a 32 gallon Biocube, but within the next few months I know they're gonna be too big for it. another great video Ben, keep up the fun videos as I really enjoy watching on my days off after weekly Maintenance on all my tanks.

[@reginaphalanges7331]

Great Video Ben!! Thanks 🙂👍

[@BenOchart]

I’m glad you liked it😀👍🏻

[@jakekenneway3460]

Great vid

[@superaquatics]

Excellent Tips. Thanks for Sharing. 👌👌👌

[@brianp6180]

Nice shout out to the Pond Guru and KG tropicals. I used to follow the directions that came with the filter. These guys helped set me on the right track. Makes so much sense now that I use this type of set up. On another note I hate that 704 B. I have one I took out of service. Very loud. It does hold a lot of media. Maybe I just got a bad one. Used it for a few years. I keep it as a back up just in case

[@larryc835]

Siporax and Matrix are top notch. Nice tanks and filters👍👏💯.

[@manfish86]

I've had aquariums for almost 40 years. All you need to do is put your FINE FILTERING medium BEFORE the water gets to your biological medium. This will prevent any gunk from getting into biological filtration. You will get crystal clear water and superb nitrification. You don't need all that expensive and excessive medium and you won't have to ever clean your biolgical medium. You can get EXCELLANT results without spending a shitload of money.

[@awilderireland]

That's an option. But if you do that you will have to get down into the guts of you filter frequently. Unless you have a lightly stocked tank. Messy fish like many cichlids will have that fine medium clogged in no time. Neither option is wrong. It's down to personal choice.

[@ArsenicShooter]

Very true

[@djhogan65]

I would love to know from an old hand, do you have any recommendations for Cannister filters for large aquariums (8ft x 2ft x 2.5ft)?

[@kennethshaheenjr.1164]

​​@@djhogan65 A tank that size is probably best for a sump. Otherwise, I would prefer two or three smaller canisters at both ends and the middle instead of one huge monster. This adds more media and better circulation, but is just my preference. Binge watch Pondguru for advice on filtration.

[@towermoss]

@@awilderireland Wouldn't that depend on your flow direction?

[@markbaumgardt2868]

Well said this is the way I do it as I've always said any brand has potential for falling love the video Ben

[@eues803]

All information's passed by you are correct in my point of view, I hope that everybody saw that you have only one tray with matrix, and at the bottom, the rest is only sponges, that also hold a huge amount of bacteria's for the tank, and if washed correctly you won't lose them, once again very nice video.

[@henrybowman7887]

I agree with you on the pre filters, I have them on both my hang on the back Marnielands and removed the the cartridges and replaced them with sponges...In the near future I'll be replacing one of my hang on for a canister for more flow... Not sure of which brand yet..

[@geraldoyo1]

WELL DONE BEN!

[@xAmarKumarDas]

Thank you so much Sir, I had doubt about the water flow direction. Searched many videos, but you explained it nice and clean with the mechanism. Very informative.

[@BenOchart]

I'm glad that you found it helpful.

[@pamelaromer7727]

Do you have a video about cleaning the canister after it’s been running a few months? Thank you for this one.

[@Bountyless]

This video is so “supple” lol love it.

[@catfishcave379]

My hot tip: make sure your water hoses are long enough to be able to completely pull out the disconnect valves and the canister from under your cabinet.

[@danm8004]

Optional with many modern canister filters, see for example Fluval's aquastop valve

[@nawmsayin8017]

The 'real' PIMP my filter. Ordered my SunSun HW-3000 and cannot wait.

[@robertsowinski164]

I have 6 Sunsun canisters 1 FX6. I have one of the sunsun 304s that no matter what I have done it continues to leak between the top and the body. I put a new o-rings I have used the lubricant on the o-rings and nothing seems to correct it other than that I love them.

[@davidshepherd4410]

Hi there Ben nice video, I ve been keeping fish for over 40 years now and in the late 1960,s i was made aware of Siporax. This is i understand a derivative of the oil refinery process, it being used to filter high temperature gas flows It was so good that it became available for use through various sources including the fishkeeping fraternity. I was surprised to see you load the Siporax in the bottom of your canister, I have always kept mine just before the fine filter material with a view to keeping it clean and free from detritus. This allows the Siporax to do its work in a more efficient manner and you only have to rinse it to clean it Just my thoughts and experience with it Regards Dave S

[@BenOchart]

I believe I loaded crushed coral in the bottom tray. Sera Siporax is in the sump under the 300 gallon AC tank and is the last thing the water touches before returning to the tank.

[@1206theskippy]

Hello Ben hope all is well I was wondering if you have any videos dedicated just to the FX 6 canister I am curious on how you have those setup I just recently bought a couple for my 220 gallon tank

[@ArsenicShooter]

Another good tip is to get a prefilter unit (sometimes called a booster) where all your mechanical filtration gets down from coarse to medium to fine before your canister filter, so you can entirely use your canister for biological filtration. It also makes the maintenance a lot easier as the prefilter is much smaller in general. Just a little tip 😊

[@terineckel5740]

So I am partial to the FX6, however I have been watching Dr. Kevin Novak. He seems to prefer the ADA SUPER JET FILTER ES2400 and or the Fzone 15L Astra-Stream Stainless Steel Filter. Mainly because of the fact that they will last forever, but he makes tons of modifications that do not need to be made for the FX6, plus let's not even mention the price. I am curious to hear your ideas on these canisters as compared to the FX6...pros and cons. Thanks and keep up the great work.

[@mycatmax9658]

OASE Indoor Aquatics Biomaster is a good one

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

As much as I dislike cannister filters I am converting all my HOB set ups to SunSun cannisters. They are remarkable for the price

[@bobgibson1358]

Great tips mate but what light are you running on your tank behind you i like the purple on the drift wood thank you

[@BenOchart]

It’s covered here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWS4hpmFp6aob6c

[@roberthelbing2794]

Sera Siporax is meant to be the last filter media so that it will not clog up and do its job. It is porous to be available for bacteria to grown on and in. When it's clogged up it won't be able to do much.

[@Mysterious328]

I bought one last week to barely flowing..it’s definitely not cleaning I’ve watched many videos followed all instructions. I’ll try again tomorrow. I’ve heard nothing but great reviews I’m old got tired of changing the water all the time i really want this to work 😢

[@davidshepherd4410]

Hi Ben, Had a look at the video again it seems like you have loaded Siporax but hey in the fishkeeping world no one is ever the same in how they manage their systems Regards Dave S

[@roderickverga6517]

I have been using sunsun 602 and 603 filters as prefilters, I put some bio balls at the bottom of the 603 when the standard 3 sunsun Sponges then I put an even finer sponge on top to catch the fine particles before the water runs into the main canister filter which is filled with biological material in all the trays. This means that I clean the 603 canister about once a month and then don't touch the main canister for a year. It is much easier to clean the smaller 603 or 602 (which ever you want to use), than cleaning the main filter every month or 2. So far I have had no trouble, I have a 6 foot Sunsun tank with a Sunsun 703 and a 303 with the 603 canister prefilers. Has anyone else used this system as well..?

[@dsanford12]

With your order of media you have bio on the top and the bottom 👍

[@kenmacpherson4405]

just bought my first one, any tips on how to make the out flow faster ?

[@BenOchart]

Make sure the hoses are cut so they are not too long, don’t stuff the trays with too much media and don’t include anything like fine floss that can clog up in a few days.

[@anthonygray5581]

Got a UV unit but no uv tube installed

[@sidneywhite749]

On my bottom basket I have three sponges, coarse-black, medium- blue and fine-white. The gunk accumulates on Top of the fine white filter, shouldn’t the gunk be on the bottom of the white fine filter?

[@lawrencecafasso664]

Ben, any video on priming a eheim canister filter?

[@BenOchart]

Never owned an Eheim

[@mikejejenich7116]

Hey ben ! Great. Tips as usual…….. 🐠 💦. 💯

[@janerose9349]

Thank you for these tips, I am about to choose a new canister filter for my tank, is it worth considering the ones with a pre filter that you can rinse out without taking the lid off? My existing canister filter has run continuously for 9 years (obviously paused for servicing!) and think they are amazing, but as I am doubling the size of my tank my existing filter is too small. Also is it worth saving the bio media from the small one and transfering to new one? All this because my geophagus brasiliensis has grown into a monster fish!!! ps his lady friend was taken back to the fish shop along with 18 beautiful babies I grew on for 9 months last year 🤣

[@BenOchart]

First, yes, that media in the established tank is gold. Are you referring to the Oase canister? I like the pre-filter over the intake, very easy to work with.

[@janerose9349]

Thank you Ben I had a look and I love all the features on the Oase biomaster thermo but wondered which one for a my new 230 litre tank.... would the 350 model be over kill? I would love to add another fish or two when all is settled 😁

[@edcctf]

Honestly, I'm terrified every time I seal up the FX6 and open the valves. One mistake and I'm syphoning 120 gallons right onto the floor.... but it's an amazing filter and I'm just very careful with it. So far so good! :)

[@coreymelanson6729]

I would compare my learning how to use canisters properly to my learning how to drive A standard transmission or drive a vehicle in general. At first it seems impossible; I'm blaming the damn cheap car just like the canister filter for not working properly. In hindsight it was just me not operating (or setting up in the case of the canister) them properly. Like anything else I just needed to practice & learn. After a couple months of experience, it leaves you wondering why you ever had problem in the first place. Just like there were dents on the car & a new clutch being required for my first standard vehicle, there will be water on floor while learning to use canisters. So, a few bath towels being handy is always a help & A plastic bin as seen in the video likely would have helped also. Good Luck!!

[@edcctf]

I agree with both of you, it's the best out there, but every time I'm opening those valves in the back of my mind I'm thinking that if I didn't push down quite hard enough and one of those connections pops off the top of the canister I now have a syphon that would be very difficult to stop... but, knock on wood, I've never had a problem so far.

[@BenOchart]

Check out my Fluval playlist. It’s entirely about all the ins and outs of FX filters.

[@edwin_chew]

Hi sir, i like to know if any other type of form and sponge can be use as a filter.. Form like those used for sound proofing.. Thank you

[@BenOchart]

Stick with Pond and aquarium specific sponges. You never know what other types of sponge material might have been treated with.

[@markmikruk5646]

Hey Ben have sun sun canisters. Any tip on after I clean it and connect the hoses and start it. All kind of crud flows in I guess from hoses. Any way to stop this.

[@BenOchart]

Unless you remove and clean the hoses, they usually blow out crud when you first fire it up. You can hold a fine mesh net over the output to catch it. It settles and clears up quickly regardless.

[@ViciousSadistic]

My old tank i installed a button on the front of my stand. said "Food". push it when feed. pump shuts off on a 30 min timer so the food has a chance to fall to the bottom of the tank where the fish and plants can get to it. Imme be doing it on my new tank

[@robertmiy]

I have a fx6 on a 125 I upgraded the filter pads and added a pre filter the problem I'm having is i got floating particles still that I can't get rid of

[@BenOchart]

This might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX6bgn17lrCUg9E

[@Jesus.Is.My.Captain]

Could you please tell me where you get the silicone grease from? (17 minute mark in the video). The websites I found it on do not ship to my country. I am very new to these types of filters and I have had mine for only just a few weeks and I want to make sure I get the correct stuff. Thanks in advance.

[@BenOchart]

I got mine on Amazon but any “food grade” silicone lubricant will work

[@claytonshocklee9429]

Have you ever tried Odyssea cfs canisters? If you have, have you liked them?

[@BenOchart]

I believe I saw them at a show, like Aquashella, and liked the build. But I've never used one.

[@reneesnugent3358]

I'm trying to figure out what canister or filtration exactly to put on my new 75-gallon aquarium . I need one that is good for angelfish fish. This means that want give too much water flow for the fresh water angelfish . What would you recommend?

[@BenOchart]

You can place canister outputs near the top, at the water line and this will minimize flow that can stress the angels. But with a 75 gallon you can also get a great, easy to work on, result with a couple HOB filters. Alternate maintenance and you'll eventually have a very stable tank (especially if you have 4" of sand substrate and a bunch of plants).

[@irecruitfish7410]

Wouldn't covering the sponge with an intake make the motor work more?

[@BenOchart]

Haven’t seen indications of that

[@lr1902]

That canister can be use in 25 gallons tank? Or it's to much?

[@DatMartinBoy100]

Where can I find the sponge material and what brands are they?

[@BenOchart]

Check out the cut-to-size “egg crate” sponges at my Amazon store (amazon.com/shop/benochart) or on eBay.

[@MrDanAng1]

Nice setup! The water will be extremely polished with three full baskets of succesively finer sponges. I would personally use coarse and medium sponge in the bottom basket, half the hight of each, then fine sponge and the polishing material in the second. Then you have double the amount of space for biological media. This setup would have SOME shorter service intervalls, probably about every 7-8 weeks instead of every 8-9 weeks, but to the gain of double the amount of biological media. BTW, I would think there is about the same amount of beneficial bacteria per square inch surface area everywhere in the aquarium, any difference would most likely be more due to waterflow (and cosequently, the amount of nutrient) available. In the filter, there is most of the surface area and the most flow, so the amount of bacteria will be wastly bigger in the filter, although there is about the same amount of bacteria per square inch, or only slightly more.

[@davidsmith-tb2yy]

Hi could you please let me know if I can run two cannister filter currently running one with bio media and mechanical media,I want to run another canister filter with just bio media would that be ok

[@BenOchart]

Don’t go all bio in a canister. Put some sponge to filter the water before it hits the bio so that the bio media doesn’t get all mucked up. Otherwise, yes, that set up would work well.

[@MrMavhen]

Agreed on everything what you said, except for the polishing pad/filter floss placement that you suggested on Sunsun or FX6 which is definitely the wrong place to put, lol

[@BenOchart]

Wrong for you but right for me based on my experience 🤣

[@selcatanks]

Coarse or fine sponge for intake?

[@BenOchart]

Coarse or medium. Not fine (it clogs up too quickly).

[@olthousem02]

What does a sump do how is it different from a filter

[@AndrewSparkfish]

Plenty sump explanations on this channel....

[@MrMavhen]

should be in this order, course-medium-fine-polishing pad-biomedia-water back to the tank. Biomedia are always the last thing that water hits before spits out to the tank. In case of FX6, your fine pad or polishing pad should be place on the very top of the 3 baskets, not on the bottom or middle

[@BenOchart]

Tried that with the FX-6 for easy access, clogged and slowed the flow in one week. Nope, not how I do it. But if it works for you, awesome!

[@PeterKnopp-ih8ie]

Pond guru would disagree with your polishing pad placement

[@nitramdf]

What is the actual model of that Sunsun filter Ben?

[@AndrewSparkfish]

He mentions the model in the beginning of the video.

[@BenOchart]

704-B

[@jackiemoore9095]

Them tubs have saved my A$$ a few times when I didn’t close them right

[@neutronshiva2498]

How do you get original Matrix? In my country (Poland) all distributors basically sell random junk rocks that arent even porous. Everything packaged into what looks like original seachem matrix bucket... Possibly thousands of people were swindled like this.

[@BenOchart]

You're going to have to ask Seachem that question. I wonder if they were aware of the fraud.

[@Bellyup6969]

I guess I’m a bit backwards,, I use a prefilter, then heavy sponges then medium then charcoal then bio media “rings” last just for the beneficial bacteria. Seems to be working fine,, might change it on one of my tanks to see if I notice a difference

[@BenOchart]

If it works for you I would suggest to leave it alone.

[@willparsons32]

Sera products (including their fish food flakes) I hate to say - are for millionaire fish keepers.

[@BenOchart]

As distribution has increased and they are now carried in big box pet stores like PetCo and PetSmart, the prices are coming down.

[@barnygeroll1700]

Siporax only achieves its full performance if it is not silted up, so placing it as the first stage is not expedient!

[@BenOchart]

All bio media is subject to clogging which is why it should be the last thing water touches before returning to the tank, making sure it stays as clean as possible got as long as possible.

[@arthurpellett9256]

It’s not as clean as possible unless you polish before the bio media

[@BenOchart]

“Polishing” is just an extra step, like adding chemical filtration, to give that “floating in air” look to the water. Truth is that correctly set up sponges, from coarse to fine, make the water clean enough to run over your bio media. Also, keep in mind that anything superfine is going to clog pretty quickly and require digging into the filter to swap it out.

[@jimmyrado72]

Yay bidenflation rate 😂💀 Thanks for the tips!!

[@GSP-76]

Here's the absolute best canister filter tip of all time - Don't use them. Get a sump.

[@BenOchart]

Sumps are the king of filters, but not for everybody. People fear them more than they fear canisters!

[@GSP-76]

@@BenOchart Yeah most people don't understand how they work, etc...but it's very simple when you take the time to understand...all I know is I could never go back to canister filters again...sumps make life so easy to maintain.

[@AquaNoxLTD]

The rings your using in the bottem are the wrong type your using bio rings when tlyou need to use mechanical rings like eheim mech rings the bio rings will clogg causing nitrates and ammonia nitrites ECT

[@BenOchart]

Have used in the past with no issues. I’ll keep an eye on them, thanks!

[@dabigmoe]

I see that you don't use chemical filtration like CHEMI-PURE elite, why is that?

[@BenOchart]

Sometimes on a new tank. I have Seachem Purigen in the sump under the 300 gallon. But I don’t use it on mature tanks. They look fine without it.

[@richardhill2702]

I like u Ben but u have alot of paid promos ? Looking for, best bang for the buck canister on Amazon? No disrespect intended.. thanks brotha

[@BenOchart]

You want bang for the buck consider a SunSun. The 704-B, if still available, is a proven workhorse. Watch some of my SunSun videos for the best ways to set it up.

[@richardhill2702]

@@BenOchart thanks brother

[@k9feces]

Filter floss isn’t needed.

[@BenOchart]

Neither is chemical, but some use it to get rid of that last little bit of dust floating around. I don’t use either on established tanks.

[@ZazrianZinZee]

where do you buy your sponges?

[@BenOchart]

Canister sponges on eBay (“pond filter sponges”) and my bigger sump poret sponges I get from Swiss Tropicals.