Opinions on canister?

[Peppy_11]

Hi guys, getting a new tank in about a months time (EXCITING), so i'm gathering stuff so I can set it up as soon as I get it. Mainly cos im impatient lol. So its a 190L tank, with a mesh & glass divider, and I plan on running one canister and also sponges in each side. I was thinking of getting an eheim 2226 as I have previously owned one and loved it, but was wondering if it is going to be too much or not enough for the tank. It will be hooked up to an inline heater, chiller and maybe uv. The canister that I chose has to have 12/16mm hoses as all my inline gear is that size. When I had this canister on my 55x55cm cube, the flow was too strong so I just drilled out the holes in the spray bar and it slowed the pressure of the water coming out, but didn't affect the amount of filtration which was perfect. Any info/imput would be greatly appreciated as id hate to spend the money and regret it. Thanks in advance

[Squiggle]

Ehiems are da bomb, I'm such an Ehiem snob when it comes to canisters, lol. I Have a 2028 & 2224 & they are both working perfectly after 15yrs, I think you will be right with a 2226 but I am a big fan of over filtration so I think you should go the 2228 just for that little bit of extra oomf, you can always drill out the spray bar again & it's definitely better to have too much than not enough. :victorious:

[BlueBolts]

+1 on eheims... I have the classic 2211, 2215 & 2217. Love em !

+1 on over filtration. Most of my tanks are 8+ time tank volume p/h... One of my 25 lt nano's has a eheim 2211 (300 lt) and Totto Filter (270 lt), that's x23 times ! Shrimps love it ! Bhahahhaha

[Squiggle]

You're a madman BB!! Love your style, hahaha:smiley_simmons:

[Peppy_11]

Thanks for your info guys. Does anyone have a 2228 and can tell me the hose size?

[BlueBolts]

A good alternative is instead of having one filter, you have 2... my breeding racks are all setup this way...and I clean the filter out alternatively...so one filter is always maintaning the water balance/bacteria etc ... a bit over the top, but I'll always have this as my insurance....

[Squiggle]

I'm pretty sure they are the same size as the 2226. :victorious:

[Peppy_11]

As much as id love to run two canisters, my mum is already having a fit that I am setting up another tank and running another chiller. She would throttle me if I set up 2 more canisters lol. And trust me, she will definitely know :/

[jayc]

Whatever filter you settle for ... just remember that adding a mesh filter or sponge filter to the intake will reduce the flow a bit. So get a filter with more media capacity. Even if it's over powered on paper for your tank size, there are ways to reduce the flow, but you cant increase flow (or can you). As already mentioned, drilling more holes at the spraybar and adding a mesh/sponge prefilter to the intake will reduce flow. The benefit of more media is ... more real estate for beneficial bacteria to colonise.

2x Eheim 2215's cost the same as one 2228.

But 2x 2215s double (approx) the filtration capacity.

You could even swap the 2215 impeller for a 2217 impeller to increase the flow rates of a 2215.

Yes, the impellers from a 2217 will fit a 2215. But since the 2217 impeller has 6 blades as opposed to the 2215's 3 blades (or is it four, can't remember now), it boosts the flow rates of a 2215 canister.

I did this to my 2215. After adding an prefilter, in line heater, CO2 diffuser, flow rates can drop. And I don't even have a chiller. Think of it as a cheap turbo boost for a 2215.

Something to think about.

[fishmosy]

I prefer Fluval filters and highly reccomend them, but go with what you have had experience with.

JayC makes a good point about the filter being slowed by the mesh/sponge over the intake. Definitely go bigger than what you think you will need. its much easier to slow a filter down than to try and speed it up.

[Wraithie]

I also have ehiems :) super quiet!

[b00f]

The 2217 impeller mod to 2215 is possible the best thing you can do to the 2215.

Also, if they come with media baskets, throw em away and just stack the media yourself. Yes, you might lose the simplicity of just plunging the basket in a bucket of tank water, but you can fit alot more media in there ;)

Go the bigger, if you cannot run 2, why not just go bigger ;) Mum cannot complain then ;)

[KiwiBigD]

I've just brought an Eheim 2215 myself with a 2217 on my 140L 2 footer, they really are great filters, can be a tad noisy but better than most other brands.

[CNgo2006]

+1 on eheims... I have the classic 2211' date=' 2215 & 2217. Love em !

+1 on over filtration. Most of my tanks are 8+ time tank volume p/h... One of my 25 lt nano's has a eheim 2211 (300 lt) and Totto Filter (270 lt), that's x23 times ! Shrimps love it ! Bhahahhaha[/quote']

BB have you found that the super over filtration has caused the Benibachi soil to lose it's buffering capacity early? The reason I say this is I have a 40l with a 2217 on it and the substrate only 5-6 months old has lost it's buffering..I slowly added fulvic grains (2 packets) that worked for around couple months but then again the ph went 7+?