Fluval FX6 High Performance Aquarium Filter, Canister Filter for Aquariums up to 400 Gal.

The Fluval FX line of filters is a real work horse which rarely goes wrong if you do the upkeep on it. I use one on the tank I have my turtle in, and it keeps the water crystal clear, even though the old boy digs a lot an tries everything he can to cloud up the water. If I take it off line for cleaning (which is a breeze) or maintenance, it will get the water clear again within an hour if the turtle has been very active while it was off, and much sooner if he wasn’t moving around too much. He’s a very active turtle, and a very messy eater, but he’s neither active enough nor messy enough to overwhelm the FX-6.I also use an FX-6 on my hillstream tank which requires a lot of flow. It pushes the water through at a very good clip so that the stream has a pretty good current for my hillstream loaches and for my rainbow shiners to run in when they’re getting ready to spawn. I have the FX-4 on a 20 gallon tank which is probably just a bit overpopulated, But again, it is a good enough filter that it keeps the water quite clean. With surface skimmers on my tanks, even the water’s surface is clear.To clean the filter media, all you need to do is lift the media baskets out, the use the filter’s bucket to clean the sponges and reusable media, replace the media which has broken down too much to be reused, or which uses chemical treating, then either empty the old water out and replace it with fresh clean, or keep the old water if it’s not too bad (it is almost always too bad). The reason you clean the media in the water the filter bucket has in it is so that you don’t loose any of the beneficial bacteria which is growing in it.The FX series of filters have variable flow valves, which is a nice feature, though many filters have that. If you close the valves before opening the lid of the filter, you don’t have to worry about draining the hoses, and they will be good to go when you turn the filter back on and open the valves. No priming needed. Everything in this filter is easily repairable if something goes wrong. If something happens which wears out the impeller, it’s very easy to take the old impeller out, and drop a new one in. It’s also easy to replace all the O-rings when they get old and start to loose their ability to seal the unit. If you’re unlucky, you might need to do that once a year, but it’s more likely that you’ll just need put new lubricant on them. I am mechanically challenged, so if I find it easy to take care of, I’m sure just about anyone will be able to do it.I have had problems with several of the other big brands of filter makers, but I have never had a Fluval FX series filter go south on me. I recommend them to anyone who wants to keep their fish’s environment clean and healthy. If I ever start another tank, I’ll definitely be buying another Fluval FX.