Canisters for 4-5 gallon tanks

sjuapseorn · 04-01-2011, 12:58 AM

Hey all!

I'm looking to upgrade my stock HOB that came with my Finnex 4g.

I've seen that Finnex makes a canister filter for these tanks, but I've also seen that Toms has a mini canister.

What is the best one for the money?

Im a broke college guy and can't really afford a Fluval or Eheim filter

thx

-Jason

mott · 04-01-2011, 01:49 AM

I like the zoo med 501 on my 5.5

JamesHockey · 04-01-2011, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mott

I like the zoo med 501 on my 5.5

I second that

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sjuapseorn · 04-01-2011, 02:24 AM

Ok..
Does it have the baskets and stuff? or do I basically just make bags and cram it in on top of each other?

JamesHockey · 04-01-2011, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjuapseorn

Ok..
Does it have the baskets and stuff? or do I basically just make bags and cram it in on top of each other?

It comes with loose ceramic media, some carbon in a bag, and a sponge inside the canister, I was very happy that it did not have baskets

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sjuapseorn · 04-01-2011, 02:50 AM

Cool..
I went ahead and ordered one...

I'm not happy with the Finnex HOB.. Someone told me a month ago that I would eventually have upgrade to a different filter

lol!

So I guess I should run both for what? about 2 weeks or so to get the new one started good?

JamesHockey · 04-01-2011, 02:57 AM

3 to be safe

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sjuapseorn · 04-01-2011, 03:26 AM

Awesome thanks!

**macclellan** · 04-01-2011, 03:28 AM

no, take the media out of the old one and put it in the new one.

sjuapseorn · 04-01-2011, 04:19 AM

Well.. I guess I could do that too since I have a baggy of BioMax in my HOB..

**Higher Thinking** · 04-01-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjuapseorn

Well.. I guess I could do that too since I have a baggy of BioMax in my HOB..

That would certainly work and on top of that you could wring out any of your old sponges in tank water and soak up your new sponges with that water.

Ben. · 04-01-2011, 05:41 AM

Just try to get as much bacteria from the old filter to the new one, but still run both for awhile.

Zac · 04-01-2011, 02:56 PM

I'd throw new sponge in there now to get a head start. Once the new filter comes in, throw that sponge in the canister plus the Media in the HOB filter into the canister. Running both canister & HOB will probably be too much flow in a 4G unless theres a flow control IMO.

sjuapseorn · 04-02-2011, 12:42 PM

I don't have a sponge for that canister. I had to order it from Amazon since the pet superchain store wanted more money for it. lol

I'll just stick the biomax and fitler media from my hob in the canister when it comes in and fire it up. At the worst it will cycle again... not a big issue as this tank has no livestock right now, just plants and dirt.. lol

sjuapseorn · 04-02-2011, 11:31 PM

btw does anyone know right off hand the size of the hoses that go into and out of this canister?

I'm thinking about ordering a Hydor inline heater and I have to know which one to get lol
there's 2 different hose sizes and there's no sense in adapting and creating multiple leak points if I don't have to..

thanks

04-01-2011, 12:58 AM	#1
sjuapseorn Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blacksburg, SC Posts: 232	Canisters for 4-5 gallon tanks Hey all! I'm looking to upgrade my stock HOB that came with my Finnex 4g. I've seen that Finnex makes a canister filter for these tanks, but I've also seen that Toms has a mini canister. What is the best one for the money? Im a broke college guy and can't really afford a Fluval or Eheim filter thx -Jason __________________ 4g Finnex (New Shrimp Tank) 29 Gallon "The Matrix"

04-01-2011, 01:49 AM	#2
mott Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (31/100%) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: nj Posts: 1,756	I like the zoo med 501 on my 5.5 __________________ EHEIM Pimp Club Member #250 2217,2026,2236

04-01-2011, 02:24 AM	#4
sjuapseorn Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blacksburg, SC Posts: 232	Ok.. Does it have the baskets and stuff? or do I basically just make bags and cram it in on top of each other? __________________ 4g Finnex (New Shrimp Tank) 29 Gallon "The Matrix"

04-01-2011, 02:50 AM	#6
sjuapseorn Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blacksburg, SC Posts: 232	Cool.. I went ahead and ordered one... I'm not happy with the Finnex HOB.. Someone told me a month ago that I would eventually have upgrade to a different filter lol! So I guess I should run both for what? about 2 weeks or so to get the new one started good? __________________ 4g Finnex (New Shrimp Tank) 29 Gallon "The Matrix"

04-01-2011, 02:57 AM	#7
JamesHockey Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Cleveland Heights,Ohio Posts: 1,354	3 to be safe Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk __________________ SunSun Pimp #44- HW-302, Eheim Pimp #457-2232,2213 My Nanos' My Tanks Greater Than 10 Gallon currently looking for a co2 system,i have plants,shrimp and live food cultures to trade

04-01-2011, 03:26 AM	#8
sjuapseorn Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blacksburg, SC Posts: 232	Awesome thanks! __________________ 4g Finnex (New Shrimp Tank) 29 Gallon "The Matrix"

04-01-2011, 03:28 AM	#9
macclellan H+ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (208/100%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxkilla Posts: 5,060	no, take the media out of the old one and put it in the new one.

04-01-2011, 04:19 AM	#10
sjuapseorn Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blacksburg, SC Posts: 232	Well.. I guess I could do that too since I have a baggy of BioMax in my HOB.. __________________ 4g Finnex (New Shrimp Tank) 29 Gallon "The Matrix"

04-01-2011, 05:41 AM	#12
Ben. Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (25/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: AZ Posts: 927	Just try to get as much bacteria from the old filter to the new one, but still run both for awhile.

04-01-2011, 02:56 PM	#13
Zac Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Allen, Tx Posts: 46	I'd throw new sponge in there now to get a head start. Once the new filter comes in, throw that sponge in the canister plus the Media in the HOB filter into the canister. Running both canister & HOB will probably be too much flow in a 4G unless theres a flow control IMO. __________________

04-02-2011, 12:42 PM	#14
sjuapseorn Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blacksburg, SC Posts: 232	I don't have a sponge for that canister. I had to order it from Amazon since the pet superchain store wanted more money for it. lol I'll just stick the biomax and fitler media from my hob in the canister when it comes in and fire it up. At the worst it will cycle again... not a big issue as this tank has no livestock right now, just plants and dirt.. lol __________________ 4g Finnex (New Shrimp Tank) 29 Gallon "The Matrix"

04-02-2011, 11:31 PM	#15
sjuapseorn Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blacksburg, SC Posts: 232	another question btw does anyone know right off hand the size of the hoses that go into and out of this canister? I'm thinking about ordering a Hydor inline heater and I have to know which one to get lol there's 2 different hose sizes and there's no sense in adapting and creating multiple leak points if I don't have to.. thanks __________________ 4g Finnex (New Shrimp Tank) 29 Gallon "The Matrix"

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