Help me choose my next filter(s)

[Trevelyan]

Ok, When I purchased this tank used, it came with a Tetra Whisper 60 Power Filter (obviously not enough for this tank) so a friend was good enough to give me a Magnum 350 to supplement. This worked out for a while (but I hated maintaining the Magnum), until the magnum died. Now I am on the hunt for new filtration. I want to get rid of the HOB tetra, and switch to full canister setup. I have been around and around and I just can't decide for myself, so I came here for some good advice. Here is what I am thinking:

Budget: around $180
What I want: one or two canister filters to support a non-planted 90 gallon tank with a medium-load of fish. These canisters should be quiet and easy to maintain. Power-efficiency and customize-able media is also a plus.

What I have found so far:

A single canister of the following
AquaTop CF-500UV canister filter with UV9W Sterilizer - 525 GPH
Fluval 406 External Filter
Cascade Canister 1200
EHEIM Classic 2217

Or

Two of the following:
AquaTop CF-400UV Canister Filter with UV9W Sterilizer - 370 gph
Cascade Canister 1000
EHEIM Classic 2215
Rena 721 Filstar XP2 (probably used)


Or something I hadn't thought of yet! Any recommendations or advice would be welcome (but because know people will suggest it, I think an FX5 is probably overkill, and is above my price range anyway).

Thanks all!

PS: Current tank inhabitants are a 12"+ Tire track eel, Ctenopoma acutirostre, Synodontis eupterus, Angel, Common Pleco, and a half dozen Giant Danios.

 

[Slade]

I have an Eheim 2217 AND Aquaclear 110 on my 55 gallon. While I love the 2217, it won't handle 90 gal on its own.

The Aquatop CF500 is your best bet for a single canister filter within your budget, although 2 CF300 (264 gph) gives you the same flow with redundancy at a slightly cheaper price - unless you care about the UV. Or for a little more cash, many people here swear by the FX5 for larger tanks.

You could also consider the odyssea CFS 500 for a budget filter, its cheaper but it has mixed reviews.

FWIW, if my Eheim died, I'd go with the Aquatop/SUN SUN.

 

[manbeast]

I currently have a Rena xp3 running a 90 gal. tank lightly planted stocked with 7 cories 3 or 4 otos and @ 150 guppies flow is good no dead zones, I can use any media I like, and you can find them new @ $180

 

[foster53]

I run Rena Filster XP3's They are the best canister filter I have used. They are super easy to maintenance, and do an excellent job. Pet Solutions has them on sale right now for $149.00. I have 9 of them from XP2 to XP4.

 

[TeamTrash]

I have a Cascade 500 for my 28G tank (FOWLR w/a couple corals). It has worked great so far. It is easy to change the filter media, and what I have in it certainly isn't what it came with. Getting it set up and shut down for cleaning is also fairly easy (at least I can do it all on my own with minimum-to-no water spillage). The only thing I'm annoyed about is that the intake and outtake are attached with suction cups on the outside, and these keep on getting loose. I think I may tape them on... aside from that, it's been a great filter for me.