buying new 46gal tank soon(which filter to use)

[sudz]

I very much have a bias for aquaclear. I've had nothing but good experiences from them. They are VERY quiet, Have large biomedia capacity. One HOB i would NEVER get again is elite. Its loud, WEAK, and has 2 TINY sponges for mechanical filtration. I have a 44 gallon Pent Tank, and have an AC 70, with a 201 powerhead to make some current. If you have to worry about bubbles/oxygen, the powerhead has as hose you can bring to the surface that has an adjustable air inlet. Overall, BOTH of these are cheaper than a canister. I got my AC 70 for about 45 US, and the powerhead for 14.97 (sale at Pj's pet center)

HTH

[Musket]

I'm running an aquaclear 70 hob on my 46g. The filter compartment is HUGE. I have a 70 sized sponge, 70 size carbon, 70 ceramic rings-they call them biomax, a 30 sized sponge and a 30 sized carbon from an existing filter to help with the seeding.
I have it running on low and it kicks. On the other side of the tank I have a dirt magnet sr for extra bio filtration - it runs with an air pump. I recently added a flexible weighted bubble bar, but that is just because I like the bubbles and the fish seem to as well.
My tank cycled in less than a week (I seeded my new filter on an existing tank and used some seeded materials in the tank as well, I also after that week just to be safe added some bio-spira) and has had happy inhabitants for 3 weeks now. I'm just getting ready to finish stocking it.
Good luck on your choice. I know the agony you are going through.

[severum mama]

Yep, Aquaclears are great for HOBs. The ones I use have 2 sponges stacked in the media compartment with the Biomax on top, and no carbon insert. Since they use the sponges instead of cartridges, they are much cheaper to use in the long run because you can rinse the sponges out in tank water (and ONLY tank water) to clean them.