Just had a CF500-UV delivered! Review

[angelsword]

Originally Posted by Calmia22

The sunsuns are rated mainly for the uk 220v, but work on 120v and have a 2 prong cord. The aquatops have a 3 prong cord and are rated specifically at 120v. I have also heard that the plastic canister itself is flimsy on the sunsun, but I haven't been able to verify that since I have never seen a sunsun in person. Other then that I believe they are exactly the same.

My Sunsuns have a three prong plug. And, yes, they are flimsy, I've had the handles on the trays break. I'm still able to pull them out though. They work perfectly and silently and I've been happy with them. Compared to the absolute nightmare of dealing with my Marineland C Series (I have the 360 and 220), the Sunsuns are fabulous. They've never leaked, the primer buttons aren't permanently stuck down, the hoses connect easily, they don't constantly spit air.

I'm sold on replacing the Marineland C Series filters with more Sunsuns. I'm just wondering why I should buy the Aquatop version? After having phone calls and emails ignored by Marineland, if Aquatop offers even minimal customer service that would be incentive enough for me to go with them. Does anyone know if they back up the filters they sell?

By the way, how is this thread still up? I thought vendor reviews were forbidden. I updated my Marineland thread from July with a crazy person rant and it was immediately shut down.

[Evilgrin]

Originally Posted by Calmia22

The sunsuns are rated mainly for the uk 220v, but work on 120v and have a 2 prong cord. The aquatops have a 3 prong cord and are rated specifically at 120v. I have also heard that the plastic canister itself is flimsy on the sunsun, but I haven't been able to verify that since I have never seen a sunsun in person. Other then that I believe they are exactly the same.

Actually I have a sunsun 303b w/uv running on my 55g and it came with a 3 prong plug and rated for US 120volt at 60Hz (I'm an Electrician by trade so I do know the difference). As for the plastic of the canister itself it's thicker then the plastic that was on my old Fluval 305 canister and the latches are much more robust then the old Fluval / Eheim style latches from about 15 years ago. The handels on the media trays do leave a bit to be desired the handles do tend to pop off pretty easily but the media trays can be removes with out them just takes a bit of side to side shifting then it comes right out. I've looked them over side by side since I know someone with an Aquatop canister and they are virtually identical some cosmetic color differences and sticker colors as I mentioned previously but they are the same as I can tell with out dissembling them any further.

I researched canister filters for a good month before deciding on the Sunsun I personally saw no reason to spend almost double on an Eheim / Fluval simply for a major brand name emblazoned on the side of my canister that will be hidden from view under my stand. Not to knock the quality of higher end canisters I know they work very well or they would not be so popular but as with all things in this hobby the manufacturers can and do charge extra because they can this is a nitch hobby although very popular it still occupies a relatively small segment of the overall population so if it goes in your tank they charge extra, for example a regular 20oz paint ball tank sells at wallmart for about 20$ that same tank labeled for fishtank use at the LFS retails for 80$. this happens over and over again don't get me started on the cost of T5HO tubes at the LFS swing by an electrical supply house if you want to see the price difference. Or the ridiculous markup for LED fixtures, 400$ for LED's I built my own for under 100$ puts out about the same amount of light and uses less power overall and I can add to my system down the road if I so choose.

But I digress Canister filters are all very similar as long as they get the job done and they keep the fish happy and don't leak that should be all that matters I just see no reason to spend almost 200$ on one when the 70$ model does the same job leaving me cash in hand to get more Flora/Fauna.

[In.a.Box]

Good filter ... Good filter ... Sunsun stand right on top with eheim.
Maybe even better since the price is awesome.

For a down up filter I would pick the sunsun anyday.
For filter like the fx5 that suck water from the middle.
I go with the fx5 brother the cfs500

People who never ever use one shouldn't write a review.
Don't believe everything you see online.

[mott]

Originally Posted by In.a.Box

Good filter ... Good filter ... Sunsun stand right on top with eheim.
Maybe even better since the price is awesome.

For a down up filter I would pick the sunsun anyday.
For filter like the fx5 that suck water from the middle.
I go with the fx5 brother the cfs500

People who never ever use one shouldn't write a review.
Don't believe everything you see online.

When a sunsun/aquatop/perfect can last 20+ years you might be able to make that claim, not knocking the thing in any way just sayin.

You must put into play that the Eheims come with all the media so your not saving that much, granted you could fill it with pot scrubbies but you can't deny Eheim produces top notch media along with the product.

[Evilgrin]

Originally Posted by mott

When a sunsun/aquatop/perfect can last 20+ years you might be able to make that claim, not knocking the thing in any way just sayin.

Well considering they have only been available for less then 5 years yes time will tell.

You must put into play that the Eheims come with all the media so your not saving that much, granted you could fill it with pot scrubbies but you can't deny Eheim produces top notch media along with the product.

Even still the cost of the media does not make up the approximately 100$ difference in cost. Eheim makes great products as the great majority of the other manufactures out there do or they would not still be in business.
There are many things that can be put into a canister other then purpose made materials that will work just as well for a fraction of the cost that have been well documented over the last few decades. It's up to the individual to think outside the box and do the research to find what they are or find new and inventive solutions with new materials as they become available.

As my old teacher used to say there is more then one way to skin a cat. (figuratively not literally)

[In.a.Box]

Originally Posted by mott

When a sunsun/aquatop/perfect can last 20+ years you might be able to make that claim, not knocking the thing in any way just sayin.

You must put into play that the Eheims come with all the media so your not saving that much, granted you could fill it with pot scrubbies but you can't deny Eheim produces top notch media along with the product.

coming from a eheim fan I not surprise
eheim break down just as easy and just as fast

people these days are to sucka for name brand

Like a car all you need it to do is get to point A to point B

[mott]

Originally Posted by In.a.Box

coming from a eheim fan I not surprise
eheim break down just as easy and just as fast

people these days are to sucka for name brand

Like a car all you need it to do is get to point A to point B

I not surprise either, I a fan of filtration in general! Don't know why I just love it!

Every brand has a few lemons, I didn't chime in to start a flame war I just thought your claim was ridiculous, buy a classic and you'll understand what I mean.
Although you ain't no to Sucka so you probably will never own one.

Oh and my car is better than yours to na na na na!

Ps, jus Havin fun wit ya....good luck!

[secuono]

Love the Sunsun.
Mine pushes water up 4ft, never needs fancy priming like all other canisters I've had and currently have.
And I agree, it's the most silent canister ever.