Your Suggestions For A Canister?

[Winterlily]

Okay - I've got a 20 gallon Long tank with apple snails in ("mystery snails"). They are currently the only residents. They are dirty little creatures and need heavy filtration (recommended is a 10x an hour turnover). Right now, I've got an AquaClear 70 on there which is fine filtration-wise, but I have 3 big problems. The first is that snails require that the waterline be left a minimum of 2 inches from the top. The sound that the AC's waterfall makes going down that far is maddening. Second is that after a waterchange, the filter will not prime unless the tank is filled to the top. So I have to fill it all the way up, let the filter prime, then remove a bunch of water - doing work for nothing. Third is that they need a lot of aeration, but they (mine anyhow) don't like a lot of current - they just close up and don't want to venture out. The AC 70's current is STRONG for this tank - actually completely clears a big round spot at the bottom of the tank. Not good. I have a "current killer" on there now (same DIY I use for my betta tanks), but I'm not sure what it's doing to the aeration issue, and the other 2 just-mentioned issues remain.

So! Canister, I guess, is where I have to go. I think that'll solve all the problems above? (Meaning, I can set it up so the spraybar is not way above waterline, and somehow turn it so the current isn't making the snails nuts yet keep the water aerated?? If yes, here's what I need - wondering what kind you guys recommend.

-It's a 20gallon "long" tank and I need 10x per hour turnover
-Has to be relatively idiot-proof to set up, run, and maintain, as I've never used a canister before
-Not be ludicrously expensive

I was thinking the Rena XP2? I really don't want a Fluval (sorry Fluval people...) just because I continue to hear not-so-great things about them overall. I know little about Eheim except they are nearly always recommended, but there are so many different kinds of them - wouldn't even know which ones to look at? And cost is an issue too.

What do you think?

 

[OldMan47]

You are asking the filter to do the impossible Winterlily. You can't have 10x flow without a current. The 10x defines the current. I run my 29 gallon tanks with Rena XP1 filters and it is plenty for lots of fish. I have the 29s fully stocked. I would expect that a 20 would seem to have fairly high flows with an XP1 but I have never run one on a tank that small. If you do not want any snail poop on the substrate, the 10x may actually be needed, but I figure my job is using the gravel vac, I don't expect the filter to prevent poop from reaching the substrate.

 

[Winterlily]

I guess I miscommunicated this. Of course there will be current - I'm not looking for a magical filter that will do a 10x turnover without current. Neat trick, but doesn't exist - obviously. What I meant was that with the HOB's waterfall, there's less room for making a current more manageable as opposed to a canister. At least with a spray bar, one can lower it under the (lowered) waterline and direct it toward the wall etc. That's why I said that one of the things I'd hoped a canister (versus HOB) could do was have a way that the inevitable current could be managed so the snails weren't being thrown around.

And I've no problem with snail poop on the substrate - I never said (or even insinuated) that I wanted the filter to handle all of that. I, like you, know that my one of my jobs is to keep the gravel vacuumed - and I do. But these big snails are messy - much like goldfish - and, much like goldfish as an example, require a much heftier filter than you'd think in order to cope with the bioload. That's all I said, or meant.

 

[OldMan47]

I got it now. The XP1 has a substantial biological filtering capacity. If that is your worry, it should be enough. If you also want a strong mechanical filtration, the XP2 may be OK but I am used to using an XP2 on a 55 gallon and needing to be careful where I direct the flow in tanks with slower fish like angels or a betta.

 

[Winterlily]

Okay - good information to know - thanks!