Reddit reviews SUNSUN HW-303B Canister Filter with 9-watt UV Sterilizer
We found 11 Reddit comments about SUNSUN HW-303B Canister Filter with 9-watt UV Sterilizer. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Canister filters for aquariums use high water pressure, from a properly powered pump, to force water through the dense filter media. A pump can draw water from an under-gravel filter, and run it into a canister for double filtration3 media trays capable of handling your choice of filtration media; Comes with an adjustable spray bar. This is a helpful feature if you want to adjust the output flow from the filterBuilt in 9 Watt UV sterilizer to help kill algae spores and bacteria, promoting crystal clear waterConvenient self-priming pump that eliminates the need for manual siphoning; Single valve disconnect & priming pump ease routine maintenanceProvides quiet, efficient filtration for fresh and saltwater aquariums is great for living rooms, offices or bedrooms
The top review on Amazon for your filter says this:
> [This filter works great when setup properly. Most people set them up wrong. All filter pads must go on the bottom tray. Coarse, medium and fine filter pads.(none on top) This only comes with 3 Medium pads in each tray. And then your bio media in the middle or top. (Bio media not included) I just fill the top 2 with bio media.]
(http://www.amazon.com/4-Stage-External-Canister-Sterilizer-Aquarium/dp/B00896IILA#customerReviews)
So make sure you are setting it up properly and buy a biological filter right away.
From Amazon
If you want a canister, I would suggest this or this. We have two of the 535 gph canisters and they have been awesome. They are almost identical to Marineland filters (we buy Marineland filter pads and bioballs to fill them) but these will save you money.
As for lights, I really like CurrentUSA (we buy them from petmountain.com) but don't have any experience with LED. Your tank is pretty tall so you may need to go for something with more output than that though, so it may be worth forking over the big bucks for a good brand like Coralife just to get the additional intensity their better lenses/bulbs provide.
With those plants yes you do need c02. And very high lighting. That light probabaly won't be enough. I'd guess you'd need two of those. Personally if you're trying to save money I would just go buy a 48 inch t5-t12 4 bulb shop light and hang it above the tank. For the c02 if you want to save money you could buy a paintball c02 tank, a small adaptor, and then a regulator/solenoid for that. And then you will want to buy and diffuser/atomizer/reactor. Personally I would go with an inline reactor you'll save a ton of c02 and there for more money. All of these things I just mentioned can be bought on amazon.
Lighting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GWAJGW0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_Xvk-wb1EQ4JXR
(Bulbs for lighting: www.amazon.com/dp/B005OLL5IG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_yyk-wbCP0NEWE)
C02: (tank) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_Bzk-wbCKB2M5G
(Adaptor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M49QDC/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_DAk-wbPXGA6R8
(Regulator) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydroponics-Extoic-Injection-System-Regulator-Grow-Room-Flow-Meter-Control-CO2/221446697164?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35626%26meid%3D2b21bf0137344d8aa2d826341e206413%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D321217917654
(sorry for the long link)
(Reactor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DGJDXQ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_2Ck-wbWCH2VM5
^you do need a canister filter for that so if you don't have one of those here's a cheap one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00896IILA/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_VGk-wbNBS50GK
Realistically this is just the beginning of things you'll need to get a tank like that. But that is a cheap and good start. If you have any questions feel free to ask. It can be daunting but it's worth it!
Believe it or not, the green water is helping keep your fish alive. Many pond keepers intentionally cultivate green water to reduce ammonia. I also see your setup relies heavily on an undergravel filter. That's really oldschool. One of these bad boys will do your tank a world of difference.
Get a bit more flow. Probably 2 smaller 300-400gph filters in that case. I have several of these I like a lot on a few different tanks. Never had an issue beyond a dirty impeller from several by the same manufacturer in several sizes. Have an original one from when the prime button was a lot smaller that works perfectly still 5 years later.
what about this one?
http://www.amazon.com/4-Stage-External-Canister-Sterilizer-Aquarium/dp/B00896IILA
and since ive never used a canister filter before what else do i need to buy?
I just got this bad boy the other day http://www.amazon.com/4-Stage-External-Canister-Sterilizer-Aquarium/dp/B00896IILA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415644309&sr=8-1&keywords=sunsun+303b
Its super quiet and pumps out a lot of water, has an (underpowered) uv light, a skimmer and you cant beat $37 for a canister filter.
Im gonna say its a filter like:
http://www.amazon.com/4-Stage-External-Canister-Sterilizer-Aquarium/dp/B00896IILA
I have one and it has the same intake and output rack...
This is what I had on my 55gal when I had four fancies. I've since upgraded tanks and got a second filter. Both are great but I'll admit, I really like the extra power of the second one and kind of wish I had two of those rather than one of each.
FYI I have a canister filter that looks exactly like that but branded as sunsun. Looks like the sunsun brand is cheaper