whats the best filter these days??

[redsouthdu]

Its been almost 10 years since I have last had a tank. I had a 58 Gal reef tank and a wet/dry trickle filter running on it.
I know that things have come a long way since then.
Are wet/dry trickles still the way to go? Or are canister filters better?
Also where is a good place online to purchase this item?
Im about to start up a 45 Gal tank.

Thanks

 

[roka64]

Wow! That is an open ended question. I imagine you will get many different opinions. I am relative new, but I have the fluvial 304 canister. I picked the canister, due to space restrictions and didn't want a HOB (have cats, that might like to dig around in it).
There are plent of places to look, I have ordered from all of these places. I believe most online stores might do price matching, but not all of them.

http://www.animalworldnetwork.com/
http://www.petsolutions.com/
http://www.liveaquaria.com/ (I haven't ordered from here but others have and I haven't seen anny bad reviews)
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/
https://www.thatpetplace.com/ (my fav)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/ (great prices)

Well, I hope that helped, at least a little.

 

[boxxmann]

I prefer wet/dry sumps w/ a refugium. I know people who have had canister filters and they were phosphate factories. I personally have never had one, though.

 

[Zagz]

I prefer cannisters for any tank over 33 gals myself. I have several fluvals with no difficulites. For HOB's I prefer AquaClears.

 

[drobertson]

I'm real happy that I made that switch to Rena XP canister filter. It does a great job. For HOB I use Aqua Clear. Both of these filter types have great media options.

 

[Shelby_Tempo_GT]

I'm happy with a canister (Rena)

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Love my XP's. I have both an XP2 and an XP3. Great filters and very easy to maintain.

 

[andywg]

Cannisters are ok, but the best will always be a sump system unless you are after a FW planted aquarium.

The sump increases the volume (Adding stability) and with a wet dry can handle the messiest of predatory fish (FW or SW). In SW you can then add on a refugium and grow macroalgae or lay down a DSB to control nitrates and aid nutrient export.

If I am doing a reef i tend to leave out a wet dry, but otherwise they are still one of the best ways to go.