Canister Filter!

[1clicc]

Is a canister filter better then a bio-wheel filter? I need help because i'm going to the lfs about 2 hours! Thanks a lot.

 

[A.K.A Zak]

no bio wheels are, they hold a lot of benifficial bacteria and areates your watter, andit takes away a whole lot more impurities.

 

[1clicc]

thanks, i'll go get a bio-wheel filter instead of a canister filter.

 

[Cian McLiam]

We dont have bio-wheels over here but the theory behind them is very good. You still need good mechanical filtration too so I would look for a seperate filter also or a pre-filter.

Ken

 

[smb]

IMO, bio-wheels are superior to canisters.

 

[fisherman9844]

OK, I know I'll probably get killed here but...why is a bio-wheel better than a canister? Bio-wheel manufacturers claim that bio-wheels support 30,000 times more bacteria. Sounds impressive but my question is, so what?

The biological filter in a tank, any tank, will grow only to the size supported by the food source - in this context, ammonia and nitrItes. A filter that will support 30,000 times more bacteria is really only pertinent in a tank that has 30,000 times more ammonia/nitrItes. The same principle applies not only to bio-wheels. For example, some of the "ceramic" type filter media claim that their product has a bazillion square inches (feet, yards, miles, whatever) of area for supporting beneficial bacteria. Again, sounds impressive. But the reality is that the vast majority of aquariums simply do not produce the ammonia/nitrIte that will support enough bacteria to colonize anywhere near that amount of surface area.

I'm not "down" on bio-wheels or ceramic bio media. I just wonder how many folks are victims of marketing professionals who, in order to make the sale, convince them that they "need" this kind of capacity when that is simply not the case.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

I agree 100% with the previous post.

I'd also like to add:

The bio-wheel holds a lot of bacteria in a small area, but canister filters hold much, much more media in the first place, making them at least as effective as bio-wheels.

Canister filters do the same job without the added complication of the bio-wheel. Overall they do it more quietly because the output is submersed underwater, and there are no unnecessary moving parts.

The output of the canister filter can be placed anywhere in the tank to create optimum water movement.

The design of the canister filter allows for much more flexibility of the medias used in it, and holds much more of it. Overall it makes for a superior mechanical filter as well.

Bacteria does not need to be exposed to air to get oxygen - if you don't have enough oxygen in your water to feed the bacteria, how can you have enough for your fish??

I will not by a bio-wheel filter again - it works well, but no better then the traditional filters, and it is only a better filter on paper.

 

[Tolak]

I don't have any experience with the biowheel filters, but I do have 2 tanks with canisters. After setting up my 55 gal with a canister to replace the hob the difference in water clarity was apparent, as well as the reduction of "fish debris" left on the bottom. I believe this was helped by increased water flow from one end of the tank to the other.

As thecichlidaddict stated the variety of media is a plus, as well as increased intervals between maintainance due to the greater media capacty. If you have multiple tanks much of the media is common between filters. I was able to cycle a 20 gal tank in a week by taking a handful of the media from the one canister and putting it in the new one.

This makes me wonder if you could get better flow across the tank from a hob by putting a piece of flexible tube on the suction end and placing it across the tank from the output. Sounds like something new to play with.

Tolak

 

[A.K.A Zak]

no, no, i think why bio wheels are better is that when you do fiter changes you still have benicial bacteria in the wheel, so your not completly taking all the goodies out, but thats the only difference i see, oh and that they are quiter.

 

[Moe]

I totally agree with the last few posts. I think canisters do a much better job filtering the tank. Biowheels are only used for biological filtration they do have the potential for tons of bacteria but they are usually lacking on mechanical filtration which gets out the debris out of the water. I think canisters have enough biological filtration and they have far more mechanical filtration as well as options for chemical filtration. I just got a canister filter (Filstar XP1) on my 20G and the difference is unbelievable. There are no small particles floating in the water, it is crystal clear. my canister.

 

[A.K.A Zak]

i have a mini bio wheel for my 5 gallon, when i put in the new sand the water was so cloudy ( it was washed first ) after about 1 hour looked at the tank and it was crystle clear. same with my 10 gallon with the cannister, i think both work reallly good, but i personally like the bio wheel, ( mabey just cause i like the spinning wheel, dunno. ) 8)

 

[smb]

I just wonder how many folks are victims of marketing professionals who, in order to make the sale, convince them that they "need" this kind of capacity when that is simply not the case.

Well, I fancy myself a very informative person or I wouldn't talk about what I like so much.

The biological filter in a tank, any tank, will grow only to the size supported by the food source - in this context, ammonia and nitrItes. A filter that will support 30,000 times more bacteria is really only pertinent in a tank that has 30,000 times more ammonia/nitrItes.

If you keep large and messy cichlids, this is a huge plus and is most likely needed.

Canister filters do the same job without the added complication of the bio-wheel.

Why do you say this and why do I see others say this? What is so complicated about a bio-wheel? You take the media out and rinse it and put it back in..how hard is that? OTOH, I always see tons of people complaining about canister filters leaking etc on many forums.

Overall they do it more quietly because the output is submersed underwater, and there are no unnecessary moving parts.

This is all personal preference but bio-wheels are VERY quiet. I have to lean my ear to it to even hear my Emperor 400.

Bacteria does not need to be exposed to air to get oxygen

No but since air has a million times more oxygen ppm than water, it's better and far superior.

I will not by a bio-wheel filter again - it works well, but no better then the traditional filters, and it is only a better filter on paper.

Again, personal preferences, and that's fine but it's not just on paper that a biowheel is superior.

Biowheels are only used for biological filtration they do have the potential for tons of bacteria but they are usually lacking on mechanical filtration which gets out the debris out of the water.

No, this is totally false. Biowheels aren't just used for biological filtration, they have a lot of mechanical filtration also. In my one filter alone I have 4 media pads for mechanical filtration.

 

[A.K.A Zak]

I just wonder how many folks are victims of marketing professionals who, in order to make the sale, convince them that they "need" this kind of capacity when that is simply not the case.

Well, I fancy myself a very informative person or I wouldn't talk about what I like so much.

The biological filter in a tank, any tank, will grow only to the size supported by the food source - in this context, ammonia and nitrItes. A filter that will support 30,000 times more bacteria is really only pertinent in a tank that has 30,000 times more ammonia/nitrItes.

If you keep large and messy cichlids, this is a huge plus and is most likely needed.

Canister filters do the same job without the added complication of the bio-wheel.

Why do you say this and why do I see others say this? What is so complicated about a bio-wheel? You take the media out and rinse it and put it back in..how hard is that? OTOH, I always see tons of people complaining about canister filters leaking etc on many forums.

Overall they do it more quietly because the output is submersed underwater, and there are no unnecessary moving parts.

This is all personal preference but bio-wheels are VERY quiet. I have to lean my ear to it to even hear my Emperor 400.

Bacteria does not need to be exposed to air to get oxygen

No but since air has a million times more oxygen ppm than water, it's better and far superior.

I will not by a bio-wheel filter again - it works well, but no better then the traditional filters, and it is only a better filter on paper.

Again, personal preferences, and that's fine but it's not just on paper that a biowheel is superior.

Biowheels are only used for biological filtration they do have the potential for tons of bacteria but they are usually lacking on mechanical filtration which gets out the debris out of the water.

No, this is totally false. Biowheels aren't just used for biological filtration, they have a lot of mechanical filtration also. In my one filter alone I have 4 media pads for mechanical filtration.

you tell em' lol! hey, stop looking at me!!!! *runs away*

 

[smb]

you tell em' lol!

???

Apparently, it looks worse than intended? If so, then I apologize as I never meant any of my post to sound that way.

 

[fisherman9844]

Smb, I 'd be interested in your thoughts regarding why bio-wheels are an advantage or even necessary with cichlids compared to canisters. Let me say up front that I know nothing about cichlids. Do you believe that cichlids can produce enough waste to exceed the capacity of canisters? I'm not disagreeing, I'd just like clarification of your thoughts.