ohf or canister is a better means of filtration?

[CRS]

any bros can advise? thanks

[Crystal Red Shrimp]

if you buy those OHF that can put trays i think its about the same as canister if not canister filter will be better.

[globalcookie]

Even with trays, I don't think the effects can be the same as canister. Canister is pressurized, where tank water will be forced through the medias. OHF wise, water only pass through and doesn't really go through the media thus benefitual bacterial doesn't get to work on the water as much in a OHF.

[Crystal Red Shrimp]

well its still up to how much the user willing to spend but personally i still prefer canister filter.

[thinbluelinesafari]

I would prefer Canniter as it more easy to clean

[juggler]

On top of that, cannister is better if it is a planted tank as the OHF dissipates the CO2.

[CRS]

thanks for all the help and advises. one more question, is a canister more of a bio filtration whereas ohf is more of a mech filtration type? thanks

[reagan022]

well i use both now. find that canister is better. You can better manage the type of medium you use in it. easier to clean. lolx won't catch fire like OHF (newspaper got report)

others facts i like about it
1) does not block top of tank, allows air to flow
2) looks cleaner, lesser things on your tank, can hide the pipe
3) have very good brands like eheim and juwel(can't rem the brand name)

bad things about it
1) if your canister is leaking, it will empty your tank in your living room. Happen to me but i saw the leak so i placed it inside a tub to monitor. never trust those lousy brands since then. eheim (have a 3yr old) still the best.

[CRS]

i have always tot thought canister is easier in terms of taking out medias and putting them?
its just to remove the top cover, whereas for canister i would have to stop the power and then remove the cover in which some water may flow out, which makes it more troublesome?

[lyan]

Small fishes use canister, no need to wash or change media so often. Big fishes use OHF, use and throw media wool. no need to wash solid media. Both are as good provide you use the correct media for the correct fishes. I have sum tank, canister, top filter, OHF. All working fine.

[s2matt]

personally like the canister filter.. my experience with eheim has been very good so far.. a bit expensive but low in maintenance,.. can run for long.. 3-6 months before needing to clean the filter.

[Gucci]

i personally prefer eheim as its very durable and easy to clean simple carninster classic series are easy to get like 2213 or 2215 . They are easy to start with.

[marle]

Canister is better than ohf but the best kind of filtration should be a sump tank with a huge volume.

[Jimmy]

for what tank size? you also need to see if there is any space restriction.

[Fingerling]

My thoughts are a proper OHF filtration system has the flexibility of adjusting the type of pump you intend to use for better flowrate, thus higher rate of filtration in your tank. Something a canister and sump tank filtration is not able to achieve. If you are worried about water not flowing through the medias properly, you can add a biosponge layer to break and disperse the flow of water.

An OHF filtration system also provides the flexibility to the amount of media you want to use, ( you can stack more trays for higher bioload ) it provides more filtered water through media compared to a canister and doesnt lose out to a sump tank in terms of filtering. It is much easier to maintain and keep up with this system as its much easier to wash and take apart, no priming required compared to canisters and you dont have to turn off the pump when doing a water change as compared to a sump tank setup. It agitates the water through water falling from the OHF increasing rate of gaseous exchange CO2 to the atmosphere O2 into the tank etc. Lowering of water level if required ( curing of fishes, or a vivarium setup ) in a OHF filtration system is much more flexible compared to a sump setup or canister.

Its also a much cheaper filtration setup as compared to a canister filter or sump.

Possible disadvantages of an OHF filtration system would be
1) you have to know the strength of your bracing to judge how much media-compartments your tank can hold.
2) It may look out of place, but this is subjective.
3) Sound of falling water from the OHF into tank.


I would not think a canister filter would be able to provide as much filtering efficiency compared to a OHF system. Probably looks neater, more practical for use in smaller tanks at a higher cost.

[CRS]

thanks so much for the input bro. thanks.