Stuck between a rock, a hard place and in a corner.

Hi all.
So Iv'e been looking at getting a canister filter for some time now but I've got a few small problems. (I do have a spare Aquaclear 300 HOB filter that I could use and this would be the cheapest idea)

1st: Location, location, location- I have a small old kitchen cupboard that my 3ft+1.5ft are standing on.
The first idea was to have a sump but there was not enough space under it (so now I have UGF running-this got me to think about canister filters- buts that another story).
I could always "dis" the 1.5ft and put the canister filter there or something along those lines.

2nd:Make, make, make- I have seen many makes out there in the LFS around here. Resun, Fluval, Penn Plax, and so on.
Which is the best make and why? It's a 3ft so I won't need anything really big (still have to save a litt....lot to get one).

Should I rather just stick the aquaclear 300 on the 3ft and forget the canister idea?
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

dude.. imo, cannister is better than a hangon by far..

just the filter volume alone beats the hangon..

 

I agree with shihr on this one. Canister is definately the way to go if you not able to go a sump route.

 

Would an internal not do alright, spanning the width of the tank and about 15cm length ways? I know this would make the tank smaller but it's an alternative is it not?

 

Do you mean like the Humburg filters?

 

No, not like the HMF's. A glass divided into sections like shihr did,but on the side of the tank.

 

Yeah could work. Same principal as a Humburg but with glass and divisions.

 

Oh. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

it would work.. depends on how big the section for the divide for the filter is.. ive seen in my uni days, the bio dep fish tank, they also had a side filter division.. they incorporated that into the cabinet by covering it with wood and blending it to the cabinet? or u could also use a mirror? depends on ur taste i guess..

if u going the planted way and want to use CO2 fertilisation, i wouldnt use a sump as it aerates the water quite a bit driving out the precious CO2 that you try to diffuse into the water..

the only downside to internal filters is that it takes up more tank space and secondly, it has to take up a section of the tank which obstructs viewing from that side..

anyways, show us the progress! pics etc

 

Deciding to go with the hang on. I might get that small boyu canister filter as well. Just need to build a lid with place for the hang on. Thanks for the advice guys.