How to Set Up a Fish Tank Canister Filter

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For those hobbyists getting serious about aquarium keeping, high quality filtration is top of mind for keeping the best fish only and planted tank systems. While hang on back power filters have their place in freshwater community setups, there are setups with heavier demands like planted and predator tanks that require a high end filtration solution. This is where canister filters come in.

There are many canister filters out on the market, so it's difficult to determine what are the best canister filters on the market. This blog post covers all the major candidates and hopefully after reading this you can select the best canister filter for your aquarium. Let's first start with a simple question

Which Aquarium Filter is Best for Me?

You may be thinking about getting started on an aquarium and wonder to yourself what filtration system you need. This blog post is mostly going to cover the freshwater side of things as saltwater tanks have totally different criteria (though in the canister filter's defense canister filters do make good filters for a fish only saltwater tank).

Determining the best aquarium filter for you comes down to several factors:

• What fish are you planning to keep?
• How concerned are you about noise and aesthetics?
• How large is your tank
• What is your budget?

Canister filters are often considered the best aquarium filters for freshwater tanks because they offer superior mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration – often times at a reasonable price. They are also well suited for terrariums and turtle tanks since the intake can go down further than power filters.

Benefits of Using a Canister Filter

Choosing a Canister Filter over a hang on back power filter has multiple upsides to it.

High Water Flow Rate

Depending on the canister filter you select, there are some models that have higher water flow rates than others, which make them great for tanks that need a lot of filtration flow like African Cichlid tanks.

Some also come equipped with spray bars or outlet tubing that you can run on the surface of the water, which eliminate surface scum and aerate your tank. This can eliminate the need for a noisy air pump.

Flexible Filter Media Selection

The Best canister filters hold a large amount of filter media space. You have the freedom to add multiple types of media in a canister filter. Most people will go for carbon, but there are other media such as additional biological filtration media, Chemi-pure, phosphate removers, and ammonia remover. These are just several examples of chemical filtration media you can add to a canister filter!

Easy Setup Process and Cleaner Setup

Canister filters are pretty easy to setup and go into your aquarium cabinet making them easier to access when needing to maintain them. A well designed canister filtration system will have auto off or drain options that allow the unit to be cleaned without causing a giant mess.

Cleaning used to be the Achilles heal of canister filters of old, but as you will see, many of the best canister filters I have listed here have features that make it painless to perform cleaning and easy to prime again (some you don't even need to prime!).

Long Lasting

The best canister filters offer long warranties and are expertly built in countries like Germany and Italy. Both countries are very well known for building quality and durable aquarium equipment that has stood the test of time with 1,000s of successful field results.

We do have a budget built system listed that is made in China, but they were included because several hobbyists have reported good results and not everyone is on a bigger budget.

Quiet Operation

This is the big separator between hang on the back power filters and aquarium canister filters. The best canister filters are very quiet and you avoid that annoying vibration noise from a hang on the back filter. If you need a quiet area or sleep light, a canister filter should be on the top of your list for consideration.

Clean Aquarium Presentation

Most people who keep aquariums, especially in high traffic areas like living rooms, restaurants, family rooms don't want filtration parts sticking out like a sore thumb. A canister filter hides your major piece of filtration in your cabinet and you can work in an inline heater system to heat the tank without putting a submersible heater in the tank. You also have the option of not having to run an air pump with the aeration a canister filter provides. There really isn't anything much better in regards of hiding equipment aside from using an overflow and sump, which is a whole other topic and level of filtration spend/budget.

Canister Filters for Aquariums (The Line Up)

There are many aquarium canister filters out on the market. The list below were handpicked by my years of experience in the hobby and through various client builds. Many have unique features and others have great brand names behind them. The great thing about the freshwater hobby is that it has been around for a long time, which has given the industry time to develop high quality filtration products.

In a hurry? I recommend the OASE Biomaster Thermo!

Below is my list of the best canister filters in the industry:

Picture	Name	Best For	Link
Editor's Choice!	OASE Indoor Aquatics Biomaster Thermo	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Click For Best PriceBuy On Amazon
Best Value	Fluval Canister Filters	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Click For Best PriceBuy On Amazon
Budget Option	SunSun Pro Canister Filter with UV Sterilizer	Freshwater Aquariums	Buy On AmazonBuy On Chewy
	Aqueon Quietflow Canister Filters	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Buy On Amazon
	Cobalt Aquatics EXT External Canister Filter	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Buy On Amazon
	Eheim Classic Canister Filters	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Buy On AmazonBuy On Chewy
	Eheim Pro4+ Canister Filter	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Buy On Amazon
	Fluval FX Series Aquarium Canister Filter	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Click For Best PriceBuy On Amazon
	Hydor Professional External Canister Filters	Large Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Buy On Amazon
	Marineland Magniflow Canister Filter	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Buy On AmazonBuy On Chewy
	Penn Plax Cascade Canister Filter	Freshwater or Fish Only Marine Aquariums	Buy On AmazonBuy On Chewy

The 11 Best Canister Filter Reviews 2021

1. OASE Indoor Aquatics Biomaster Thermo – The Best Canister Filter

Editor's Choice!

TheOASE Indoor Aquatics is a canister filter that has been quietly getting buzz among planted tank hobbyists. It is a very high quality canister filter that is made with German Engineering. OASE itself has been around since 1949, but they haven't been in the US that long, debuting in 1994. This is a high end canister filter with a unique feature as it can hold a heater inside the canister.

I also like the pre-filter in the Biomaster Thermo as it can be removed with no mess. It is foam based, making it longer lasting for the user and saving you money long term on mechanical filter media. There is also a flow regulator on the unit so you can adjust the water flow. It is easy to prime and the filter overall is very well designed.

The filtration process is exactly what we are looking for in a canister filter. It flows correctly into the 1st mechanical stage then to the other parts of the filter. This is a function I see with all top end aquarium canister filters and the Biomaster is no exception!

There is a standard BioMaster filter, but I feel that the Thermo model really stands out with it's integrated heater. The heater fits right into the filter. This keeps your heater out of your display tank. This takes that ugly heater out of your display and keeps you with a proven heater technology versus an inline that can be hit or miss. The heaters themselves are excellent quality and backed by 3 year warranties.

It does have a high price tag, but it is superior to the high end Eheims and Fluvals of the world. The main downfall is they are hard to find in stores. It is worth purchasing this professional external canister filter online given its lack of availability locally.

Pros

• Has a chamber to hold heaters
• No Mess removal of mechanical filtration
• German engineering

Cons

• Expensive
• Hard to find in stores

2. Fluval Canister Filters – Classic Canister Design with Italian Made Aesthetics

Best Value

For those of us who have been in the aquarium business for a long term, we are very familiar with the Eheim vs. Fluval battle. Both of these manufacturers have been debated among the community as to who makes the best canister filters and for a very good reason.

TheFluval Canister Filters are quality Italian made units. I really wish I would hear more about Italian and German made equipment in the Reefing side of the hobby with all the Chinese manufactured equipment, but I guess the freshwater community gets all the good names.

The Fluval Canister Filter steps up with this new design that now comes with flex ribbed tubing versus the cheap vinyl you are used to seeing with canister filters. It brings water down into the chambers of the filter to ensure the first chamber filters first as it should and it has a nice check valve feature on the drain preventing a flood in the event of a power outage or motor failure.

Like all the other high end canister filters, the Fluval has great filter media capacity. The instant prime system allow for quick start up and the lift-lock clamps make it easy to access.

The main downfall I see with this unit is that it does not have valves so you cannot adjust the flow or easily drain it when maintaining. The flex hosing also keeps you from installing an inline heater unless you modify the plumbing. Fluval also debuted a new407 Model in late 2019 so you can pick that model if you want the latest and greatest.

Pros

• 3 Year warranty
• All black design makes it easier to hide pipes in aquarium
• Uses flex tubing instead of cheap vinyl

Cons

• More on the pricey size
• Due to the flex hosing – you can't integrate an inflow heater without modification

3. Sunsun Pro Canister Filter – Cheap Canister Filter with Loaded Features

Budget Option

If you are looking for a budget canister filter, theSunSun Pro Canister Filters are just what you are looking for. This canister filter provides a lot of generous features for the money. The main feature is the UV sterilizer that is included with the unit. This provides additional water clarity, algae control, and some parasite and bacterial control for your aquarium. It has your standard 3 stage filtration and the gallons per hour rating on these filters is surprisingly high compared to canister filters on this list.

The main thing we do not like is the build quality. The included filter media is pretty cheap and almost suspect on a more demanding system. The canister filter does not have a stage separating feature so you will have water going through the stages, and some uses have reported issues with the motors. We also feel that the UV is a under powered, but we believe the purpose of it was really water clarity from the manufacturer.

Pros

• Cheap with lots of features for the price!
• 5 stage filtration that comes with a UV Filter
• High water flow rate

Cons

• Motor has been suspect in long-term field usage
• UV is under powered
• Not adjustable

4. Aqueon Quietflow Canister Filters – Featured Loaded with a Budget Friendly Price

Aqueon's new QuietFlow Canister Filters offer good mix of features and value. This is a really solid unit that sports a 3 stage filtration process with plenty of media space. It's first stage uses a sponge instead of filter floss or a filter sheet, which will save you money in the long run on mechanical filtration (you can clean the sponge in a bucket instead of throwing it away). It comes with two biological filter media baskets with media included that gives you additional bioload capacity.

The Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Flow has quick disconnect valves that are adjustable for easy cleaning and flow adjustments. It comes complete with multiple outlet options. You can either use the spray bar, flow director, or connect it to the included water polishing unit.

The water polishing unit has is essentially an Aquaeon Power Filter that hangs on the back of the tank. You would use the mechanical filtration packs to clean water. I actually think this is an unnecessary piece of equipment as mechanical filtration should come first not last. I would have really liked if this had a diatom filter option. It's a nice attachment nonetheless if you want more widespread surface agitation.

The canister filter only comes with a 12 month warranty.

Pros

• Well built and Aqueon name
• Valves for easy clean
• Ample filter media space

Cons

• 12 month warranty only
• Water polishing unit feels unnecessary – should have been a diatom filter instead

5. Cobalt Aquatics EXT External Canister Filter – Uniquely Designed with An External Pump

The Cobalt Aquatics EXT Canister Filter is the most uniquely designed canister filter on this best of list. There are several features that makes me really love this unit.

First, The canister is designed for a proper filtration process. The water flow will go each of the 4 stages separately. With lesser quality canister filters, the water flows through the unit on one side and out the other which can lead to debris filtering into the other stages. The Cobalt canister filter pushes water one stage at a time resulting in cleaner chemical and biological media.

Second, the canister filter is equipped with an inline pump. Most canister filter pumps are inside the canister, which make it messy to clean and more prone to clogging. This also gives it the incredible feature of being able to fully move water while the canister itself is being maintained. This makes the unit very easy to open and quick to maintain. It also is easier to replace if the pump ever breaks. The flow on the unit is easily adjusted with a dial at the top of the unit.

Third, is the ample media space. The total canister volume here is 1.85 gallons and Cobalt does a disservice rating this only to 55 gallon. It should be rated for more, but they are a pretty honest company and they offer a great 3 year warranty.

There are shortfall that we see in this unit however. I really don't like that the 4th stage finishing floss is at the end of the canister, it really should be in the 2nd stage. The unit also only comes in a single size, meaning you will need multiple units for larger aquariums. It is also expensive given its rating.

Pros

• Unique features like the inline pump
• Great filtration design pushing water flow through each stage one at a time
• 3 year warranty

Cons

• Expensive
• No spray bar if you want one
• Only one model available

6. Eheim Classic Canister Filters – German Design with Legendary Durability

The Eheim Classic Canister filter is a throwback to the original canister designs. It is a old, but proven design and with a brand name that backs it. Eheim is best known for its canister filters and pumps. Their quality engineering, design, and durability are unmatched in the industry.

The Eheim Classic Canister filters offer a lower priced option while getting the quality Eheim name. The Eheim Classic canister filter pumps are extra silent and extra energy efficient, so much so that it is possible to run even the 600 model off a simple UPS for several hours during a power outage. That means you can run your entire filtration unit during a power outage – that's a pretty stellar feature!

The main downfall with the Eheim Classic canister filter units is the design. It just looks ancient and ugly. It hasn't been updated in years and the tubing is a algae green color. It doesn't exactly hide well inside your aquarium.  It screams classic canister filter. It also only comes with the mechanical and biological media, meaning you have to purchase the chemical filtration media separately.

Pros

• Canister filters are what Eheim is known for – incredible durability
• Quiet operation
• They use very little power

Cons

• Ugly looking Canister
• Green tubing shows like a sore thumb in tank
• Hasn't been updated in years

7. Eheim Pro Filters – High End German Design for the Aquarist That Demands The Best

For those looking at a higher end upgrade to the Eheim Classic canister filter, the Eheim Pro Canister Filters answer the call. This square model provides extra media capacity and suitable for larger aquariums.

The pro units come with a self priming feature which allow for the unit to quickly and easily start. The also has the ability to control flow with it's Xtender control function and also has the ability to redirect water flow from different chambers to extend media life.

Because of the high quality bearings and ceramic axles on the pump, this is one of the quiet and durable canister filters. Eheims have withstood the test of time, with many hobbyist reporting Eheim canister filters operating 10+ years with no setbacks. They come with a price tag, but it is as one and done as you get with a filtration solution. You will not be disappointed choosing Eheim!

Pros

• Massive media baskets
• Self priming design
• Designed for high bio-load and large aquariums

Cons

• Quiet operation
• Hard to find
• Expensive

8. Fluval FX Series Canister Filters – High Flow and Designed for Monster Fish Keepers

Great For Large Tanks

The Fluval FX Series canister filters are a top of the line canister filtration system for those with aquariums with high demands. The filter is built to last with it's Italian made design, external pump design, and high quality parts.

The FX Series filters are well known for its high flow, with the FX4 model having a water flow rate of over 700 gallons per hour while the FX6 pulls 925 gallons per hour. This power makes it ideal for larger fish that produce a ton of waste in the aquarium. The media baskets and tray design give the FX the greatest capacity of all the aquarium canister filters on this list.

The filter also comes with a multi-functional utility valve drain that makes it possible to empty the canister for maintenance and also to drain water out of the aquarium seamlessly without having to bust out your siphon. It also has a gravel vac accessory so you can vacuum though the filter.

The largest model, the Fluval FX6, is rated up to 400 Gallons making this ideal for folks who keep large fish tanks. The twin output nozzles allow for customized flow and prevents surface scum from building at the top of the aquarium. Fluval really has thought of everything with this design.

The main drawbacks with this wonderful filter is the price tag. It is easily the most expensive canister filter on the list, but rightly so given the features and performance. I also do not like that provide a carbon pad instead of actual activated carbon. The flex hosing also makes it more difficult to incorporate an inline heater (though in full disclosure you would need multiple heaters for a large tank anyway). The industrial like design all makes it time consuming to maintain.

Pros

• Built for larger systems – larger model goes up to 400 gallons
• High flow
• Italian built with external pump design – 3 year warranty
• Flush valve and adjustable valves

Cons

• Expensive
• Annoying to maintain with the industrial level design
• They are massive – won't fit in tight setups

9. Hydor Professional External Canister Filter – Loaded with Features

Hydor is a new player in the canister filter market, but well known for other equipment — especially for marine equipment. They really have thought up of a well built canister filter with the Hydor Professional External Canister filter line.

The main thing I like about the Hydor Professional canister filter is the safety lock design. While we don't expect kids to get into our filters, there also is a risk they may get in your cabinet to knock something around so this is added piece of mind.

The Hydor Profession external aquarium canister filter comes with a no water bypass design, which means that you don't have to worry about water passing down a filtration chamber. This is a feature we have seen with the higher end canister filters. The ball valves allow for you to adjust the flow of the filter. It has a rubber feet design to reduce noise as well.

The main drawback with they Hydor professional is the warranty is only 2 years versus the 3 years we usually see with the Fluvals of the world. It is also a bit messier to maintain compared to the the other models we have looked at.

Pros

• Adjustable media cambers
• Flat design makes it easier to store in cabinet
• Adjustable flow with valves

Cons

• Only a 2 year warranty
• Higher price than other mid-level canister filters
• Louder than the other filters

10. Marineland Mangiflow Canister Filters – The Successor to the Incredible Magnum 350 Canister Filters

The Marineland Maniflow Canister Filters are the successor to the Magnum 350. For those of you who weren't in the hobby before the Magnums were around, the Magnum was considered one of the more versatile canister filters. The main downfall of the old magnum was the lack of media space options with its limited media space.

The new Marineland Magniflows addresses the media space issue with this very well built canister filter. The new magniflow have a stack and flow filter tray feature which keeps water flow from moving into the various stages prematurely. The canister lid is a quick latch on and off function with a better seal then the old mangums. What I really like is the quick release function which immediately shuts down water flow and separates the motor for quicker and less messy cleaning.

Marineland also does a great job with the starting media that comes with it. They use foam for the mechanical filtration, which is reusable and the bio-balls are a good mid-tier media. The water polishing media is sizable and cheap to replace, but I would have liked it after the mechanical filtration to keep our chemical and biological media chambers cleaner. Another thing I really miss is the diatom feature of the old magnum filters. The diatom filter option was great for water polishing, ich management, and removing dinoflagellates. That's what made the Magnums so you unique and it's really an underrated filter feature. It's a shame it could not be included.

Pros

• 3 year warranty
• Auto shut down feature makes for quick cleaning
• Quiet and clean operation

Cons

• I REALLY miss the diatom filter option on the old Magnum 350 filters
• Filters only go up to 100 gallons
• No valve switches to adjust flow

11. Penn Plax Cascade – Family Owned Business Does Canister Filters Right

Family Owned Business

Penn Plax Cascade

The Penn Plax Cascade is a competent and capable filter. Penn Plax is a family owned business. A great purchase option for those wanting to support an American business

Buy On Amazon Buy On Chewy

The Penn Plax Cascade Canister Filter is a filter with a lot of features with a great price attached to it. While I can talk about what the filter has, the big draw to me is the story of the Company itself.

Penn Plax is a family owned business operating since the 1950's. Started up by an engineer turned pet store owner, he brought his family into the business who still operate the Company to this day. Their main product was fabricating their own mold plastics to create a business making plastic pet products. If you are familiar with licensed pet products from Disney, Penn Plax's name is all over them. They are masters of licensed pet products. The story itself is very much in the spirit of American entrepreneurship and being part of a family of entrepreneurs they hold a special place in my heart.

Going back to the Penn Plax Cascade filter, you get a number of higher end features like flow rate control valves, hose clamps, and a nice rubber feet base to make the canister study and quiet. The Penn Plax cascade canister uses simple filters like sponges, which cuts down on costs and provides flexible space to put whatever you want in there. The price for these units are very attractive and worth a consideration.

There isn't really much to say about cons here except that the filter looks cheap vs. the modern designs of the Marinelands and Fluvals.

Pros

• Family owned business
• Price
• Features

Cons

• Cheap looking design
• Filter media not as readily available as bigger brands

What Is The Best Canister Filter? (My Recommendation)

There is no doubt in my mind that that OASE Biomaster Thermo is the best canister filter you can buy today. It's German designed with an integrated heater. It is the easiest filter to maintain due to its quick release mechanical filtration section. The Fluval canister filter continues to be a best value buy with it's solid name brand and reputation. For budgets, the SunSun offers a great price with a UV sterilizer that will combat green water in freshwater aquariums.

How to Choose the Right Canister Filter for Your Aquarium

We have listed out a number of good canister filters to choose from. Now the question is which one would be right for you? Lets talk about decision making factors.

Size of Aquarium Aquarium and Space

The size of your aquarium is a major factor in your decision. If you have a larger aquarium over 100 gallons, the Fluval FX and Eheim Pro series are strong considerations or even a multiple canister filter setup. You will want to measure the space you have in your aquarium cabinet to see if you can fit these inside.

Motor Adaptability and Durability

The motor is everything to a canister filter. If the motor breaks early, you are out of a filter. To us, the motor quality is the biggest factor of our purchase, which is why we lean on Italian and German built motors. You run the risk of getting a faulty motor purchasing a Chinese made pump and manufacturers who do not have a multi-year warranty on their canister filters should be seen as suspect. We believe the OASE, Eheim, Fluval, and Marineland, and Cobalt canister filters offer the most well built pumps of the bunch and they are all backed with 3 year warranties.

The next factor is adaptability. We want our aquarium canister filter to have the ability to adjust its flow with a ball valve. Some units on this list do not have ball valves and that does limit the ability to adjust your flow and quickly shut off your canister filter drain.

Your Aquarium Budget

Everyone has a budget and what they are willing to spend. You should take all the factors we mentioned in this post to determine the best budget canister filter to buy. If you simply want the cheapest canister filter out there, the SunSun's would be the best to go with while the OASE BioMasters are the best canister filters to go if you are operating on a higher end budget.

Canister Filter – FAQ

We included this section here to answer some frequently asked questions about canister filters. See the responses below:

What is the best canister filter for saltwater aquariums?

All of these filters can work in a saltwater aquarium, but we feel that canister filters are best in a fish only setup. This is for multiple reasons:

1) Live rock and Dry rock are far superior biological media providers in saltwater aquariums than a canister filter can provide and is natural.

2) In a reef aquarium, a canister filter's biological media could lead to excessive nitrate production, which would result in more required water changes and non-idea parameters needed for corals.

3) Many saltwater aquariums are built off a reef ready system or a sump, which do not really fit well with a canister filter
There are other uses a canister would be great for in a saltwater tank however. Using them as a media reactor or to feed water into a UV sterilizer from the display or additional flow would all be good uses for a canister filter.

What is the best canister filter for freshwater aquariums?

The OASE Biomaster filters are top notch and their 4 year warranty is great piece of mind. The OASE Biomaster is the best canister filter on the market if you have no budget concerns. For the best value, the Fluval 407 filters the the best for price value. The SunSun is the best budget canister on the list.

How often should you clean your canister filter?

It does depend on your bioload and type of fish you have, but you will want to replace or clean your mechanical and chemical filtration media at least once per month. You will want to clean the canister and motor at least every 3-6 months to keep it running well. We do have a preference of running foam/sponges over consumable mechanical media like filter floss to save on monthly expenses and to hold more beneficial bacteria.

Wrapping Up The Best Canister Filter Round Up

We hope we were able to provide you with the information you need to make the best informed purchase. There are good reasons for these canister filters to be listed as they represents the best available in the industry. They all have their place in an aquarium depending on your needs.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment in the comment section. Thanks for reading :).

How to Set Up a Fish Tank Canister Filter

Source: https://aquariumstoredepot.com/blogs/news/best-canister-filters-reviews

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