Ive been using whisper filters for years in my 40 gallon tank. But my goldies, one fancy tail about 5" and balck moor slightly smaller, are sooo filthy and Im ready to try something else to keep the water clean besides changing filter cartridges twice a month and 25%water changes twice a week. I know that I wil still do basically the same maintenance, but I just think that I can get better water quality with a different type of filtration. The water usually looks fine but still it doesnt look like crystal. Any ideas out there in regards to a canister. The eheim look good and so does the magnam hot series with the optional bio wheel. My whispers have the sponge for bio filtration too.

Have you considered if you just don't have enough filtration? I had a tank with a rena xp3 canister filter and sponge filter, and it was cloudy. I added in an emperor 400 and it cleared it right up. A powerhead with some filter floss does wonders too.

I don't own either of those canister filters you mentioned, but personally I like rena xp series canister filters a lot better than the fluval canister filters.

Eheims are excellent canisters. I have an eheim classic 2213 and its wonderful. I've also heard that eheim pro's are very good (though I don't have one so I can't tell you from personal experience, but I'm sure others will fill you in ); however eheim ecco's I've heard aren't so great. Magnum H.O.T.'s w/ biowheel aren't that special, I had one on my 20 gal but switched to a penguin 330, which I'm liking much better.

Eheim Pros are the Bomb but they are pricey filters. but its well spent, they last a long time, and they are built very well. I have had mine now for about 3 years and its never done me wrong. I love them.....

Eheims are kina expensive for their GPH, but i'm a novice with canister, but the flauval ones look like a good value canister, u get high GPH with little money :0

I just bought an eheim pro canister. I heard that they are much easier to operate and more efficient than the others--especially fluval even though it is cheaper, it doesn't compare with the eheim pro.

Someone with a fluval said that there can be a problem getting it to start up again after cleaning but with the eheim, you just push the big button on the top and it is going.

I think the eheim pro is the best--worth the $$$. My mother used to say, "when you buy the best, you only cry once".

I guess your whisper is not suitable for GFs, maybe more for tropicals. I'm using the Ehiem Pro 2224 for both my 50 gallons and they are just great, very easy to clean and startup. I've five 3-4 inches lionheads in each tank and I never had water clarlity problems. My tanks have 1/2 inch medium gravels and some moon rocks, Anubias and Sword plants. I do a 30-40% water changes weekly to keep the Nitrate etc.. in control.

i would go for the one of the flauval filters but make show you get the right size for your tank

i have a xp3 does a geat job, easy to clean maintain

So Nancy I turned you into a Eheim lover .......I do say the Eheim if your going to be raising goldfish for a very long time in a tank that is over the 20 gal tank size, go for it! Its well worth it and easy to deal with

I got a filstar xp3 and it works great. I have been using this filter for 4 days now in place of my old filter and it went from a semi-cloudy 50gal tank to a very clear(like a 100% water change looking clear) tank in 3 days.

Most people will say it's a toss up between Eheim Pros and Filstar XP's. The Eheim Pros are quieter, have a water flow indicator, and a push-primer, but they are much more expensive than the Filstars.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/reviews/categ...104&sort=rating

I have a Fluval 304 on my 40gal stretch hex tropical fish tank. I'm moving 260gph on a 40gal tank. Not bad. The thing works beautifully. I can adjust the media as I see the need dictates. I can also adjust the flow rate. Within days I'll have a UV clarifier inline with the return. Couple this with an adjustable flow control and I can use the UV as either a clarifier or a sterilizer.

On my pond I have a Cyprio Bioforce filter rated for a 250gal pond with a Titan pump. This is where my goldies live. I'm turning 150gph on a 60gal pond. It also has a UV clarifier. The water is crystal clear and the fish are as happy as goldies can be. I am very happy with this equipment and would recommend them to people as something to consider.

Do your homework so you only buy it once. Enjoy the lifestyle.

The Canister filters I am currently using: Eheim Pro, Filstar XP3 and Via Aqua. I would have to say they are all pretty good filters. I have had the Eheim and XP3 for about 2 years and both have been trouble free. The Via Aqua I have had for about 1 year. It is does not have a priming mechanism but once started you never have to worry about priming anyway. Its saving grace is that the compartments for media is huge. I believe the best value to be the XP. It is priced right, does a good job keeping the tank clean, good GPH and very easy to clean and start right back up. All the filters are quiet in my opinion. I must say before I got larger tanks, I had two emperor 400 on my 75 gallon Goldfish tank and they kept the water crystal clear.

RME

Ive been very busy with summer night classes an just read all the responces> Thank you all so much! As I mentioned Im running 2 whispers and they look like they keep the water clean, but Im not convinced...I really dont care for the sponge thing that is supposed to add biological filtration. It gets very yucky, and then of course I rinse them out and they are fine. But it seems like I have to change the filter cartridges every other week, so I fgure that my goldies are just too ms=essy for these types of filters. I think that I will probably go for the ehiem beause that is what is available around here. I will reread your comments to see which model was recommended. I have a 40 gallon tank. Thank you all so much!