What Cannister filter are you running ?

So I bought a Dophin about 5 years ago . Been running well until I noticed a leak at the head by the seal . Bought a new seal put it in and it still leaks .Bought a second hand tetratec about 3 years ago ,still runs great but there are not alot of spares available . so I forsee a new cannister in the near future .

I had a VIA AQUA as my first cannister it ran for 11years with no problems ,I eventually sold it to a friend . Its still running today .

There are many brands to choose however as much as i would like a EHEIM pro 3 or similiar its quite expensive .

So I would like to find out what members are using and what lasts , as I dont see myself going with dophin again . Unless there is a solution to my problem.

Thanks in advance

 

I have been running a Cascade 1200 on my 4ft for about 5 years now.
The head unit started leaking last year, to such an extent that I put the canister in a plastic container that we would empty every time we fed the fish.
The filter would only leak when it was switched off.
A thorough cleaning by taking the canister outside and using a hose pipe to fill the head unit and then dumping the water and repeating until the unit was properly clean stopped the leak as well.
I suspect that there was pressure building up inside the head unit that caused the filter to leak when it was switched off.

For me the following are important when it comes to filters:

• Ease of operation. In this case it is a matter of installing, priming, and switching on.
• Ease of priming. (I have only ever had to prime the Cascade 1200 once, when it was originally set up.
• Noise level. The Cascade is silent. There is no gurgling sounds, no engine noise, nothing.
• Removal of filter for cleaning. Here I close the inline taps on the inlet and outlet hoses, unscrew and turn off the filter. Putting it back is in reverse.
  
• Spares availability. Most LFS can order parts for the Cascade series of filters, if they don't keep them on hand.
• Adding filter media. I have added Seachem Matrix to 2 of the baskets, with the bottom basket containing course and fine sponge, and the top basket containing filter wool.

I use Cascade filters in all my tanks.
On my shrimp tanks I have Cascade HOB filters. They are also silent, and are self-priming, as long as the water level in the tank does not drop too low.

 

Hi i had same problem on my dophine c500 eventually found the fault it was also leaking and looked like main seal but when i opened the top and i replaced the orings where you screw the flow valve on and it stoped the leak

 

Repair cost me like 5 rand

 

Thanks for the feedback !! Anyone here running a Fluval FX6 ?

 

seconded on the cascade, have a 1000 and super simple and reliable, once you realize priming works better with return out of water, and that closing taps before removing pipes for cleaning sorts priming out for you its been the easiest filter i own.
got it second hand too, best R500 i have spent in ages.
one question, you mention only leaking when off, and emptying bucket with feeds which i assume were daily...so did you turn filter off daily?

 

i know @Reafer runs an fx6 on his 400l, haven't had experience myself

 

I have 5 canister filters, one dolphin C-1600, two Cascade 1500, one Cascade 1000 and a Cascade 500, I have only had one issue with the one and that was the priming pump on top which broke, I managed to take apart and repair with some special plastic glue and some silicone. I have great respect for canister filters as some I have only cleaned nearly a year after stating it up. The Cascade and Dolphin are great value for money and worth every cent. I buy second had when available and keep as back up.

 

I’m running a Fx4, and as a first canister filter it’s been fantastic. This year marks the start of its 3rd year running, and I’ve had no issues.

I’ve kinda of taken the “set and forget” mentality with it, with very little cleaning/maintenance. Would definitely recommend!

 

As a quick fix I put my leaking cannister in a bucket as mentioned by @Pezulu . And guess what ?? It stopped leaking

 

They have been known to do that....
Take it out of the container, and it will probably start leaking again.

 

I ran n Eheim Pro 3 1200xl on my Juwel vision 450 with no issues. Lovely filter with lots of space for media, quiet and not heavy on power. Just sad to have to sell it due to not running a big tank anymore.

 

Running a Tetratec EX600 Plus for almost 2 years now not a single hiccup. Before that, I had a SOBO and Dolphin and those gave me endless trouble dumped them in the garbage paid a bit extra for a good quality canister:

 

I picked up a Tetratec EX1200 second hand for R800 2 years ago . Also not a single problem .The back -up support isnt the best IMHO ,needed a shut -off valve a while back and nothing was availabe . I managed to fix it myself though . But this is a a great cannister .

 

Shut off valve should have come with it though. Or was it broken?

 

I am running a DoPhin C-1600, which is fantastically quiet. I have run it for under a year, but I did extensive research beforehand and I really think it is the best choice. My LFS stocks every spare part imaginable for DoPhin, and a fellow fishkeeper strongly recommended DoPhin after having constant issues with Eheim.

 

Do you still get Eheim in SA ? My 5 is still working just fine, but so is my very old JBL.

Later Ferdie

 

No, not that I could find a couple of months back. I think you would have to either find a second-hand one floating around or find someone who would import it. I think the only canistor filters that I found were once-off imports. I am not sure why they aren't imported when other Eheim products are.

 

$$$ yeah the last time I could get Eheim was probably 4 plus years ago - maybe more. Love the Pro 3e's being able to dial down gives power savings for something that runs 24x7.

Later Ferdie

Ok so my first Eheim was 2013 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/4ft-clear.16043/#post-218560 ... other than the one issue on that first one https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/eheim-canister-flood-warning.30194/#post-380261

All good.