SunSun Canister Filter: a Perfect Combination of Quality and Inexpensiveness
Author Aubree Rose Reading 1 min Views 19 Published by
Keeping a large aquarium is undoubtedly rewarding. Watching those colorful and vibrant pets swimming in the tank soothes nerves and raises one’s mood. However, maintaining an aquarium is totally another story. Perhaps the most tiresome process is cleaning the tank. In case you own a big aquarium, you can’t rely on an ordinary hang-on filter. Instead, it’s wiser to opt for a canister. SunSun HW-302 Three-Stage External Canister Filter can be a perfect choice. The model is popular among fish keepers, and we have found out why. Take a couple of minutes to go through our detailed review of this equipment.
Table of Contents:
What SunSun Canister Filter Is. How It Works
Comparison Table
Unpacking SunSun HW-302 3-Stage External Canister Aquarium Filter 264GPH
1. SunSun HW-302 3-Stage External Canister Aquarium Filter 264GPH Review
How to Set Up the SunSun Canister Filter
How to Prime the SunSun Canister Filter
Verdict
With a reliable construction, cleaner look and a much more affordable price than many other models offered in the market, SunSun HW-302 3-Stage External Canister Aquarium Filter 264GPH is the best canister aquarium filter for plenty of aquarium enthusiasts. This model can compete with those manufactured by more popular brands such as Eheim, Marineland, Fluval, etc. in many points.
Despite being constructed merely from plastic, the canister has a dependable construction. All the parts are well put together and won’t break off soon. The equipment has a sleek design and looks great by the side of a fish tank. Besides, it filters larger amounts of water than ordinary hang-on-back models. Another significant advantage of the tool is the impressively quiet operating. In fact, you can’t tell if it’s working unless you put your hand on it to feel the vibration even if it’s running at the maximum capacity.
The canister uses high water pressure to force it through the dense filter media. Using a pump, it draws water to run from an under-gravel filter into the canister thus providing a double filtration.
Overall, this model is an amazing choice especially if you have a tight budget.
Product Dimensions | Gallons per Hour | Recommended Aquarium Size | Mechanical Filtration | Chemical Filtration | Biological Filtration | Accessories Included | |||
SunSun HW-302 3-Stage External Canister Aquarium Filter 264GPH | BUY NOW AMAZON | 10 x 13 x 15 Inches | 264 GPH | Up to 75 gal. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Barrel Head, Main Canister Body, 5 Feet Lengths of Flexible Tubing, Draining Trays, Input and Output Curvy Bars, Connected Bars | |
Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter | BUY NOW AMAZON | 17 x 11.5 x 10 Inches | 265 GPH | Up to 100 gal. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Filter Trays, Start-Up Filter Media & Input/Output Tubing | |
Fluval External Filter | BUY NOW AMAZON | 7.6 x 14.5 x 17.8 Inches | 383 GPH | Up to 100 gal. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Aquastop Valve, Multiple Filtration Baskets, and Rim Connector Assemblies | |
Marineland Magniflow Canister Filter for Aquariums | BUY NOW AMAZON | 14 x 11 x 18 Inches | 360 GPH | Up to 100 gal. | Yes | Yes | Yes | All the Media, Carbon Bags, Sponges, and Pad | |
200 Gallon Filter Aquarium Tank Fish Canister 9 W Sterilizer 525 GPH | BUY NOW AMAZON | 11.5 x 11.5 x 19 Inches | 525 GPH | Up to 200 gal. | Yes | Yes | Yes | All the Media, Carbon Bags, Sponges, and Pad | |
EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter with Media | | BUY NOW AMAZON | 8 x 6.3 x 14 Inches | 116 GPH | Up to 66 gals. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Spray Bar, Inlet Pipe, Hose, and Installation Accessories |
Hydor Professional External Canister | | BUY NOW AMAZON | 10 x 8 x 19 Inches | 280 GPH | Up to 100 gals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Coarse Foam Filter, Fine Filter, 2 Baskets, Spray Bar, Intake Tube (telescoping), Inlet and Outlet Tubes, Shutoff Valves |
Unpacking the canister filter by SunSun is an exciting process as you know soon your dear little fish will enjoy fresh and clean water. The box includes the unit, the intake tube, all hose connections, the outlet bar, and the instructions manual. From the first sight, you will notice that the product is a sturdy one and not a Chinese knockoff. The box does not include the filtration media. That should be purchased separately for each of the three media trays.
The product by SunSun brand is a wonderful alternative to expensive models. It efficiently filters saltwater and freshwater aquariums. The flow rate is quite high (264 GPH) and the pump power is 18W. The equipment is designed for fish tanks with up to 75-gallon capacity. SunSun canister comes with a self-priming pump and provides three-stage filtration.
Due to the quiet operating, this canister is a great option for bedrooms, offices and living rooms. Setup and maintenance are really easy. Overall, the model is perfect for those aquarium enthusiasts who have a fish tank with up to 75 gallons’ size, yet can’t afford a canister filter by a more expensive brand. Surely, there are a couple of downsides, but those are minor to note.
The setup instructions provided with the product are very bad. In fact, one can’t assemble the filter only based on the manual. Instead, there are videos on YouTube to help you make out of the process easily.
Overall, there’s nothing difficult or time-consuming with the assembly especially if you have worked with such a product before. The model is compact and comes pre-assembled. Just put the intake and outlet tubes in the right places so that they don’t disturb the fish and live plants in the aquarium. Mind that the hoses are a bit stiff at first, but soaking them in hot water for a while will make them much more flexible.
The filtration media must be changed several times every year.
The canister filter comes with a self-priming pump. The latter works quite well. However, once you find it needs some manual priming, a couple of pumps on the priming button will be totally enough. And before you do that, you’d better fill it with some water.
The SunSun HW-302 canister filter is an ideal variant for an aquarium owner who searches a quiet and durable model, which does the job well but costs inexpensive. This product can compete with other high-capacity filters at a fraction of the cost. It needs little maintenance, serves well and won’t break down for years to come.