Fluval vs. Eheim

[myjohnson]

It's called quick disconnects.

[Fire_chair]

Have em.

[algarciajr]

I have two Eheims and they are GREAT, as long as they're plugged in and primed. I HATE cleaning them with a passion. They are almost impossible to get re-primed. My 2213 isn't that bad, but my Pro-2 is a nightmare. I truly hate that filter when it's time to clean it. I won't buy another Eheim unless it's a GREAT deal.

When I clean my Eheim filters, I leave the intake and output bar on hanging on the tank with the quick disconnects closed. I take the cannister outside, clean it and then bring it in, connect hoses, open valves and wait for it to fill with aquarium water or fill it outside and bring it full. No need to ever prime filter.

[dustin]

Pro’s: Easy to clean with individual media baskets. There aqua stop makes removing the canister from under the aquarium a breeze. Very Easy set up. Includes all needed media( no extra cost). Great flow rate.Has a plunger to help prime the unit. The 04 series is an affordable canister for an aquarium.

Cons: Basket is made out of a flexible plastic the will cause the pump head to not seal right over time. 04’ series will normally leak when the power is off, because the canister requires a vacume to keep it properly sealed. The way the media baskets are designed allow for a lot of bypass. I never cared for the ribbed hoses that catch a lot of debris and when you restart the canister it pumps the caught waist back in to your tank. Sometimes hard to prime. I have also had the aqua stops leak on me as well…
What I think… on fluval 04 series. Not a bad filter for the money. I personally keep mine sitting in a 5 gallon bucket just in case it leaks.
Fluval FX5…
Pros: Easy to clean with individual media baskets. There aqua stop makes removing the canister from under the aquarium a breeze. Basket is built like a tank, and one of the few canister filters that can handle the pressure of being set up on a bottom drilled tank. easy setup.
Cons: As everyone knows the pump is on the bottom of the canister. If you happen to suck in a lot of sand it can destroy the impeller. Design allows for some bypass. The aqua stops are easy to break and can leak. Does not include all media (extra cost). The smart technology of the filter is annoying. If you unplug the filter ie for maintenance and then go to restart it. The fx5 will run for around 30 seconds to a minute and then shut off making you think it has stopped working. When in fact it is trying to let any air get to the top to be purged out. Neat but annoying.
What I think FX5. Awesome filter for the money. Just do not use with any aquarium that has sugar sand and do not keep the intake close to the substrate and it will give you years of great service.

[Lori]

Hey Dustin, great info on the sand. Especially being that alot of people do use sand. I'm guilty. Quick disconnects on the Ehiem is great. Can't knock it. But, every time i screw them back on, one of the hoses always pull's loose. I've had to cut my hoses over a period of time after being in place for awhile. They keep there shape so, it makes it easier for them to slip. No biggy I guess. Can't really complain about them otherwise. I guess it's like the old saying goes, If it ain't broke, don;t fix it. So, I guess i'm saying is. If Ehiem has been your go to and never let you down, why change. Might have to just use some of my own advice.

[myjohnson]

When I clean my Eheim filters, I leave the intake and output bar on hanging on the tank with the quick disconnects closed. I take the cannister outside, clean it and then bring it in, connect hoses, open valves and wait for it to fill with aquarium water or fill it outside and bring it full. No need to ever prime filter.

Exactly what I do too. If you got disconnects you shouldn't have to reprime.

Even still, you can use a python to suck the water from the output side will make re-piming a non-issue in my book.

[dustin]

Eheim classic series
Pros: Great at cleaning your aquarium. little to no bypass in this filter. The Eheim quick disconnects make removing from under your aquarium easy. Include all media needed. The basket is made of a super ridged plastic the does not flex so your canister stays sealed.
Cons: Expensive. A pain to clean since there is nothing to separate the media. A pain for the beginner to set up with unclear instructions. The 2211 and the 3313 have a less than desirable flow rate.The newer china models are built a little cheaper and have had issues breaking the nipples off of the pump head. Parts and hard to come by and expensive, sometimes hard to prime.
What I think Eheim classic…I keep coming back to this filter. It is a tried and true filter that if properly maintained it will give you years of service.
Eheim 2260-62
Pros’ Awesome filter. Little to no bypass for great filtering. Quick disconnects make removal from under the tank easy. Tried and true filter. One of the few canisters that can handle being set up on a bottom drilled tank. Baskets are built like a tank Pump is on the top of the filter for easy cleaning.
Cons: Expensive, and does not include media. A pain to clean. A pain for a beginner to set up with unclear instructions.
What I think. A versatile filter that gets the job done period.

[dustin]

when i have issues priming any canister filter i use a power head or the hose to push water through them . this usualy gets the job done...

[Darbex]

I never have a problem priming my 2260/62. All I do is open the propeller plate a little and let the pressure from the water push the air out until it starts dripping water then I tighten it back on and plug it in and its up and running.

[algarciajr]

Eheim classic series
[FONT=Tahoma]Cons: Expensive. A pain to clean since there is nothing to separate the media.

I use the blue Eheim sponge to separte my media, and when I clean the media I use two 5 gallon buckets and pour each of two different bio-media into their own bucket.

[lilmissruffcountry]

Eheim's and sponge filters......that all I use.

[WhiteDevil]

I have several filters. I use magnum 350's,eheim pro 3 2080 and wet/dry sumps.

As far as canisters go, eheim is the best bang for the buck. the pro 3 flows more then the FX5 is is 5x easier to operate, lets put it this way its like buying a car, you want it loaded but can only afford a middle of the road car, eheim's are that middle priced car with all the options.

I personally will never buy any canisters but eheim's again. They have proven themselves over the others, including g6 and fx5 fluvals.