The canister filter is one of the most reliable types of filtration systems ever created. Novice fish keepers are impressed by it and experienced fish keepers swear by it. It has been used in the hobby with great efficiency for decades and there are no signs of it ever slowing down. They come in different shapes and sizes but, when it comes to filtering your aquarium water, they always get the job done.
Canister filters work by sucking water from the aquarium with a pump from the aquarium into the “canister” or a sealed and pressurized box which contains all of the filtration media. Various medias can be used such as carbon pads, filter floss, and a variety of biological filtration. It is extremely reliable as it is a type of an external filtration that could be serviced without having to actually move things from the tank. Moreover, being an external filter, it helps unclutter tanks as the only thing physically attached to the tank are the return and input water lines.
Today we will discuss the 4 best canister filters available in the market today. However, with so much innovation and new technologies available, we will first narrow down our selection with the help of the following characteristics a canister filter must have to be considered as one of the best available:
- Reliable Pump
- Good Filtration Rating
- Customizable medias
Pump it!
The lifeblood of the canister filter is the pump. Its what keeps the canister filter running. No matter how impressive it may look nor how loaded are its contents, a canister filter just won’t work without a good and reliable water pump. Hence, we should initially take into consideration the type of pumps used in these canister filters to be able to properly determine which is best.
Pump it up!
Canister filters are rated differently. Some are rated for as small as 20 gallons while some may be able to filter up to 400 gallons. The most fatal mistake a hobbyist can make is to get a filtration system that is not rated for the size of his tank. More specifically, a canister filter that is rated lower than the actual size of the fish tank. We need a large enough filtration system to be able to accommodate various tank sizes to eliminated this peril in choosing a canister filter.
Medias
When it comes to aquarium filtration, it is in the media where the actual filtration process happens. Generally, they are places where solid particles are trapped and collected or provide housing for beneficial bacteria that convert toxins to less toxic by-products to propagate.
In Canister filters, the amount of media and how they can be customizable to the need of the owner matters. The more media that will fit, the more efficient the filtration is. On the other hand, if the content is customizable, the keeper may be able to tailor fit it to his own needs.
Now that we have discussed the 3 main characteristics we are looking for…
…here are the 3 best canister filters in the market:
Fluval 406 Canister Filter
The 406 canister filter is made by Fluval, one of the best known and trusted aquarium accessory brands. Its pump is able to move 383 gallons of water per hour making it able to handle tanks as big as 100 gallons.
Another feature that makes the Fluval 406 a good choice is its square shape which allows it to carry 30-50% more water and media.
When it comes to content, the Fluval 406 does not disappoint either. It comes pre-equipped with Mechanical (foam and polishing pads), Chemical (activated carbon) and Biological (Bio Mats and Biological Media). It holds up a total of 8.5 liters of media which is definitely one of the highest capacity out of our list.
Indeed, the Fluval 406 is one of the best canister filters in the market.
Eheim Professional 4+
Eheim is one of the most reliable and well known aquarium accessory manufacturers around the world. German engineering at it’s finest, Eheim pumps are known to continue working for decades after decades. With it’s high performance ceramic axle, the professional 4+’ pump is designed to be one of the most durable aquarium pumps in the market. Lastly, it is rated for 160 gallons which is the largest in our list.
It is also shaped as a box unlike other Eheim canister filters to be able to hold more media. It comes with a pre-filter media that helps trap solid particles to avoid clogging of the biological filtration and loss of effectiveness. It comes pre-packed with Eheim’s ceramic rings and other filtration media that are among the industry standard for aquarium filtration. Thus, the Eheim Professional 4+ is one bad ass filtration system deserving of our recognition.
Hydor Professional 600 External Filter
Another reputable brand, Hydor is known for it’s breakthrough takes on staple products. It gave the same treatment to the Hydor Professional 600 External Filter. It has a very reliable and durable pump that can move 290 gallons of water per hour and is rated for up to 150 gallons of aquarium water.
What’s most impressive about the Hydor Professional 600 is how large it’s media capacity is. It has the largest media capacity at 12.2 liters. With that much room for media, any hobbyist may opt to add a little bit more to what is pre-equipped with this canister filter. It comes with 5 stackable trays with standard mechanical filtration media on the first and last tray and 3 large trays dedicated to biological media.
With it’s huge unparalleled media capacity, the Hydor Professional 600 makes our list as one of the best canister filters available in the market today.