Hydor Professional External Canister Filter – Aquarium External Filter – Telescopic Intake Tubes, Easy Priming – EcoSystem in a Box – Biological, Mechanical, Chemical Filtration – 190 to 345 gph

Have you been fumbling and futsing with an old filter that hangs off the back of your tank making noise, forcing you to move the tank away from the wall to make space, laughing at you and mocking you every time you have to change the nasty smelly carbon filters? Then it's time to do yourself a favour and give your tank an upgrade. I've had many tanks over the years and i've always done what a lot of people do, aggravate myself with the old faithful Top Fin and the like filters. Never being satisfied with the water clarity and just about controlling myself from throwing it out the window as i'm changing a filter. Not to mention the bottles and bottles of Advil i've downed over the years dealing with the noise those filters make. I've seen canister filters in the local pet shops and I was always intrigued by the concept, and then blown away by the amount of money the stores were charging. But I upgraded my tank with a larger one and decided to upgrade my filtering system too.I found this filter on Amazon for half the price that the commercial pet stores are charging for comparable filters, so I did some investigation and decided to take the plunge and purchase this beauty.Firstly, it's amazingly simple to set this filter up. Open the package, take all of the filters and bio pieces out and place them in the trays (wash them off). Place the trays in the filter and secure the top. Place the filter under the tank, measure and cut the water tubes and attach to the filter and to the intake and output assemblies. Push on the priming button on the top a few times until water fills the chamber then turn it on. That's it!Secondly, it's quiet. It's super quiet. For the first couple of days I had it running I had to look to make sure there was water coming out of the discharge nozzle because it was so quiet.Thirdly, it's very powerful and processes a lot of water. I had to turn down the output because it was so powerful. That's a good thing.Lastly, and most importantly, it is amazing at how well it filters and cleans the water. Canisters are biological filters unlike the old fashioned that are carbon filters. Now you can put carbon in this filter, but that should only be for a short period of time. Once you get the biologics going and go through a good nitro cycle you'll be amazed at how crystal clear the water is. I kick started my tank with some bacteria chemicals and ran it for a good 3-4 weeks with no fish. Then after testing the water and getting the ph and other levels to where I needed them I introduced a school to get the nitro cycle going. I got a good bacteria bloom that lasted for about 2 days and then the water turned crystal clear and has been crystal clear ever since. It's unbelievable how clear the water actually is. I've never seen water so clear in any of my other setups over the years using the hang off carbon filters.This filter is fantastic. I'd recommend to anyone wanting to upgrade their setup.(UPDATE - 7/20/2016) - I've had this filter for almost 5 months and i'm happy to say that I am still amazed at how well this filter works. It works so well that i'm on Amazon to purchase another for my daughters tank to replace her hang off carbon filter. Even though the tanks are almost the same size, same PH, nitros, etc. and almost the same stock level and feeding schedule and same water change schedule, her tank is and always has been slightly cloudy and not quite clear. My tank is still crystal clear, and I mean crystal clear. This Hydor filter has worked and worked and worked and is unbelievably quiet. This has to be the best purchase I have ever made for any of my tanks.(UPDATE - 1/23/2017) - It's been a year since I purchased and I am still extremely satisfied with this filter. It is excellent. It just runs and runs. And I do have a tip for those that have had issues with filter cleaning and the water spillage when you remove the hoses. Here is the process I use and I don't spill a drop of water:1) With the pump still running close the inlet valve.2) After a few seconds close the outlet valve.3) Unplug the pump.4) Remove the hoses.That's it! Closing the inlet valve will cause the pump to pump out water remaining in the pump chamber. When you close the outlet valve and unplug the pump, the water level will be lower than the nozzles so you will not spill any water. Works every time for me. Also, remember to only rinse out the ceramics with tank water. Do not rinse with clean water, you will lose the biologics in the filter. I have found that the white filter media needs to be replaced every couple of months. I rinse out the filter every 3 months and replace the white filter pad when I do.

I purchased this over a year ago after going through many canister and hang on back filters. I started with fluval, hated the hose connections and cleaning. Moved on to marineland magnum and the bio-wheels, worked ok but getting the air out after a filter clean is a nightmare. I still use the magnum filter for gravel cleaning.The tank I use this on is a 55 gallon long glass tank. The tank houses 26 cichlids, many that are 4+ inches long , they have been my pets for about 6 years so I am really attached to them and take their health seriously and that means good water quality.The filter sets up like most canisters, an intake hose connects to a drop pipe that ends with a strainer inside the tank and another hose connects to the output side of the canister and to a return pipe you mount on the aquarium side. There is a spray bar that you can use to return the water across the surface for better surface water agitation. I don't use the spray bar because if the water level is not kept up the water splashing sound can get sort of loud, I just have the water returning out the pipe onto the surface. Priming is easy, just push down the prime button a few times and let it fill up, plug it in and let it purge the air on its own. After it is flowing I like to lightly tap the sides of the canister to cause any air to flow out.The filter keeps the tank clean and you can use any media you like in the baskets. I use the biological media that comes with the filter, and I use sponges for particle filtration . I don't use charcoal since I go about 3 months between filter cleanings and charcoal is only good for about a few weeks tops and then it is just a barrier to water flow with no benefit.Cleaning is easy, just remove all the baskets that stack inside and rinse the contents in non-chlorinated water (very important or you will kill the beneficial bacteria in the filter) . When they say no bypass they mean it. I had a situation where I knocked off the strainer cap on the intake.I was cleaning the filter and in the bottom basket before the first filter media I found a surprise. A baby fish ! He was all white since he had never seen daylight, about 1/4 inch long , but healthy. He is in the main tank, has full color and is about 2+ inches now !Noise , none, it is silent .Other than washing it out ever 2 months or so and plugging it in there hasn't been any extra cost or maintenance.If I had to say anything bad it would be the way the tubing connects to the valves, the system works but it takes a little bit of time to put together the first time.