Eheim, Oase and Fluval - My thoughts on the 'Big 3'.

Great video! Wondering if it is possible to just build your own filter out of acrylic and choose your own media. Is that a realistic possibility or not worth the hassle?

The Oase biomaster internal filters are peerless in my opinion. The corner design is fantastic as are the larger ones that incorporate heaters.

Your story about the patent office is, pretty much, how the UK immigration and naturalization system works. My wife was applying for UK citizenship (been living here over 15 years). Applied and waited over 4 months. Got a phone call from what can only be described as a salesperson from UKBA. If you want a UK passport quickly, it will be another few hundred quid, otherwise the wait is indefinite.
Absolutely outrageous and they were told where to go.

Hello Sir ! Can you help me choose from Eheim pro 4+ vs Eheim classic 600, my budget is $200-250 if anything else you want to suggest for my 600LT pond

gös and gös and gös (years and years and years) :D
Gös means zander in Swedish.

Richard you are an honest influencer. I'm a Eheim Ecco Pro 300 convert following issues I had with fluval. So much so that I'm now running 2. One solely as a mechanical, the other biological and it's working well.

Man I'm bad at making decisions sometimes. 75 gallin turtle tank, 2 turtles not sure between fx6/5 or a oase biomaster, probably 850. Definitely going to try your recommended upgrades for either one. Also thought about putting a small internal mechanical filter in the tank that I'll clean more often. Any thoughts anyone

Eheim 2215 is a weak filter that dribbles out water not strong at all.

Very impressed with OASE new HOB filter. I know you don't do HOB's but they're high quality and you can get the baskets so you can "pimp" them. Cheers.

I've been using an Oase 600 on my 125gallon, it's been great except the heater takes too long to reach the 79 degrees that I want. The flow is low for a 125, but I plan to bore out the holes in the prefilter tube and get coarser filters for it (it came with fine sponges). I'm changing to an oase 850 soon and moving the 600 to a 60gallon tallboy tank. I like the integrated heater inside the canister, but it does take a slight bit longer to stabilize after water changes than a normal 'in tank' heater.

Hello, I love your informational videos. Keep up the great work. I do have a question and would like to get your thoughts. Is there any brand of canister filter, who states accurate and "actual" GPH specifications of their filters?
The reason I ask this, is because I have experienced an issue with Fluval and in my research to find a resolution, it appears that all manufactures of canister filters are doing the same thing. That is over-rating or over-spec the performance of their canister filters.
I have had a eastern painted turtle in a 75 gallon aquarium, (with only 40 gallons of water) for 20 years. My very first canister was the Marineland Magnum 350. I eventually replaced it with a Rena XL which I had for 15 years, until the motor housing got a large crack, and began to leak. So, I replaced the Rena with a Fluval 407. As soon I began using the Fluval 407, my water soon became cloudy. It appeared like Biological bloom. Yes, I used all of the bio media from the Rena in the new Fluval. I also added bio additive to the water and still the water has become cloudy and will not clear. Over the past FIVE (5) MONTHS I have tried everything to resolve this issue and have talked to several aquarium professionals. During my research to find a resolution for this problem, I found articles and videos on flow (GPH) test on various canister filters, which has shown that many canister filter manufactures severely over-spec their canister filters performance. So I decided to check the Fluval 407 that I had purchased, to see the actual GPH that I'm getting with this filter on my aquarium.
First I installed new mechanical foam filters, rinsed the bio media and cleaned the hoses. Then after purging all the air from the filter, I removed the diverter from the outlet hose in the tank and performed a flow test three (3) times. Then I removed all of the foam sponges, bio media and re-installed the motor head to perform the same flow test with NO filters, media or baskets. Just an empty canister and the pump head and performed the same flow test three (3) times. Here are my test results:
Flow test with media - 134.64 GPH.
Flow test WITHOUT media - 152.58 GPH.
According the manufactures specifications, the pump output has a max of 383GPH. The max output of the canister filter WITH MEDIA is 245GPH.

I understand there are many factors that will effect flow, like hose routing, pump distance to the water and distance from the top of the water to the rim of the tank. My set up matches Fluval's recommended set-up and configuration and yet I still had very low numbers. So my final test was to raise the canister filter closer to the top of the water in the tank, creating less resistance against the filter pump motor. My final test indicated only a 10 GPH improvement over the first test

I have been in contact with Fluval and they insist there is nothing wrong with the filter and that it is working correctly. There only suggestion is to install a UVC Clarifier in line with the pump. And Yes, I have checked the water condition. All the levels are excellent, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, etc...
In the twenty years I have owned this aquarium with this one 6" eastern painted turtle, I have never had a cloudy water issue, until I installed the Fluval 407. I have looked at other brands or models of canister filters to install in place of the 407, but many have a lot of bad reviews with leaks and failures, are too small or too large or are difficult to find replacement filter for. Your thoughts?

Eheim filters are like bulletproof, never breaks down

Love your video pal I've learnt so much from you

You're absulutely right about how some of this businesses are just now relying on name/marketing/maximum profitability and gave up on just making good quality and effective products. I've had the opportunity to have all 3 of the brands you've mentioned and by far I really like the Fluval for reliablity, price point and effectiveness. Oase do make a beast of a canister filter as far a build quality and innovative design, it is not perfect but really good. I like Eheim but for the price and so-so later design, it's seems like it's more of a gimmicky and are heavily relying on past reputation, but like their heaters-the older design (round ones-ehem!) are just more reliable, simple but functional and effective (adding trays on the 2217 would have been nice like the classic 2215). For me, Fluval is the product I'm personally happy with as a hobbyist, great design, reliable/functional, build quality/material is not much behind Oase's, but the price more than makes up for it. Good luck getting an intellectual property rights/patent respected in the country you mentioned as it does not exist. It's a shame really and not right in any way you look at it, but it is what it is and no one dares even mentioning without serious unjustified retaliation.

Thank you for your advice. I wanted eheim 4 at first, then the sales guy at my local shop wanted me to buy a fluval right off and then I researched and considered oase. After your reviews and insight I chose Oase Biomaster 350 and am looking forward to set it up.

I still think Eheim made a best product, the classic series are really simple and sturdy design filter. I know a lot of people prefer the tray system now day, but I find it more easy to clean with Eheim classic design.

Do you think flow rate is important?
I’m using a aqua one the flow is poor but I don’t really want to buy a fx4

Do you think flow rate is important?
I’m using a aqua one the flow is poor but I don’t really want to buy a fx4

Why didnt you mention fluval fx series at all?

Isn't Bio Home your product? You influenced me to buy it.

I love the way you are, is same's to me. Thank you.

Thank you for your advice on the Eheim professional 5e ,I totally agree, it is a waste of money, but can you recommend what is the best canister filter as I have been out of fish keeping for a long time,l am planning to get a 5 foot fish tank

Pretty Much Spot On... 🤷🏼‍♂️ Nailed the Patent Process by the way, and for the record those Patents have no teeth internationally. Again the patent office WILL follow the Money 💰💰💰 ☝️🤨

RIP Eheim... 🥀🙏

The upgrade on my biomaster 250 is a world of a difference also did my filter 200 and also much better thank for that all we want the best for our fish afterall and upgrading a mature filter is not healthy for fish so really shame from oase

You made a life of a difference for me and for my fish in the long term❤

You served the community more then ever by upgrading and your vision about them 🏆

This is a great topic, but I found the explanation to be very vague. I was hoping for more specifics about exactly why some of these filters are better/worse than the other.

Always straight to the point and love your honesty! I’m registered disabled so filter maintainence is an issue and Richard’s advice on the 850 Biomaster was a game changer for me

I enjoyed your honesty in this video, and I totally agree R&D and patents are very expensive even for an established company

What if you added sicce Whale?

I haven't had anything past a Eheim pro 3, great filter, heavy bugger when full and I love the classic range and the pickup internal range. Good quality and performance. I dont understand why you need wifi on a filter or a digital display, unless its got a heater in it. Have had Fluval a few times and have one of there aquariums at the moment running a 407. Not as good as Eheim but not bad and spares are easy to get.

There are factors, and then a users priority. Ive used eheim for a long time in aquariums, and they just run. I love that. Very quiet too.
Ive tried one other off brand and it did not last at all.
Trying a fluval now.
For me the priority is dependability over time.
New things are neat, but re-purchasing gear that stopped working (aka forced upgrade) really turns me off.

Those fluval fanboys are something trust me 😂.oase biomaster is awesome .fill it up with proper media and it’s 🤌🤌also the integrated heater is also surprisingly a really good idea .U get a more uniform even water temperature throughout the aquarium .also the pre filter with the proper sponge is 👌👌.yes they are expensive but so worth it .

2024 here, do any of you out there know if EHEIM had a price drop on the Professional 5e line? Because here in Brazil for instance, the Biomaster 850 is about the same price of the Professional 5e 700.

Any thoughts on the Aqua One range of external filters ?

Tetratec ex1500 plus is the best , is supersedes the ex1200 plus. More powerful yet less wattage at.17.5watts. Not available yet in UK as there's too many old ex1200 plus and parts to sell. Mine took 3 days delivery from Germany, shop called aquaritikshop.

Any thoughts

I've got Oase Biomaster 600 for 9 days in 160 l tank. It is really good, but a little bit to noisy for me. They add more holes it the tube for the prefilter allready.

Which heater is the best Fluval E200 or Eheim 200w?

Hello thanks for the good video.
As for Oase or any other canister filter, am I right to say one with internal heater is much more energy efficient Vs a heater placed inside a big tank? So I'm thinking smaller vol to heat up albeit continuously changing Vs a big Vol in a tank.

i ended up here as i was looking at buying the oase biomaster, you talked me out of it in the 1st 10 minutes. thank you

Can’t use oase in a planted tank. Has a major problem with air bubbles. Most of the injected co2 gets lost.

I like your honesty, So true with these big boys, I love your product, all my tank are running eheim canister with your biohomes and the tank runs lovely. The best filter media I have owned. and for 40 years running tanks I have had a lot of media. I even recently bought your bio orb upgrate kit and the water is crystal clear. I recommend your stuff to all my friends who have a tank.

Totally agreed with the ehiem, I still have my 2x 2080-1200XL and 2x 2075 all with biohome ultra inside, never had any problems. Oase is just being sore because of the lost of renew income. Sad but true.

I’ll want to ask and put you on the spot a bit, would you opt for oase or aquael canister filter when setting up your tank?

I like Big Butts and I cannot lie 🤣