Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is my first canister filter for my 32 and 50 gallon fresh water aquarium. After buying the tank, stand, rocks,heater,decoration and needed supplies I couldn’t afford the 200-300 canister filters you can get at the pet stores. So I did some research and came across this Polar Aurora and a Sun Sun canister filter. Okay first, I realize this is overkill for my 50 gallon but I have always heard and read you always double the size so you can create the needed bacterial balance within the canister filter. I purchased this Polar Aurora for my 50 gallon and the SunSun 304 for my 32 gallon again doubled the size for the bacteria balance. Here are my findings between the two and something to keep in mind when buying ANY canister filter. Overall impressions: The main unit on both appear to be the same quality but of course the Polar Auror is bigger The “in and out” green hoses are the same quality Both units are quite and if they aren’t quite there is a problem, it’s normally the propeller is not seated correctly or there is an air leak, either way for the life pump you must find the issue and correct it. The Polar Aurora does have a stronger more robust plastic hang-over the tank hooks, that have holder screws to hold it securely to the tank. A+ The Sun Sun hang-over tank hooks are pretty flimsy and would crush pretty easy.... there is no holder screws to hold them in place. But I guess if your careful these will be okay. C- The Polar Aurora does come with a spray bar and a nozzle for the outlet into the aquarium however, there is no elbow so you can direct the water outlet to direct the water. Currently the only option I have for my pentagon corner tank is to have the spray bar stick out across the tank or use the nozzle to direct straight across the tank..... I would like to have the spray bar run along the glass and use the suction cup that it came with, but since there is no elbow to place on the end of the output I can’t use the suction cup to attach the spray bar to the glass.....boo C- On the SunSun there is an elbow so I can use the spray bar in any configuration needed. Yay! A+ I wish the elbow from the SunSun would fit the Polar but it’s smaller in diameter. ****ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS: When setting up any canister filter ALWAYS Check the propeller by taking it out and look at it.... take it apart and see how it works. Then put it back in and make sure everything is seated tightly and the propeller housing is snapped close.... by twisting the outside closure until you feel or hear it click. ALWAYS: UV light - ALWAYS when installing the bulb use a towel to grasp the bulb and push it straight into the socket you will feel it “snap” or “seat-in” I thought I was going to break it.... but I didn’t it just go straight in and push slowly and it will snap in.... you will know when it’s seated correctly once you feel that “snap” it’s in. Once you install the UV bulb ALWAYS place the glass UV bulb housing over the bulb (line up the little glass ears on the bulb housing with the notches in the plastic housing ) press down slightly then twist the housing so it locks it in place.....this is VERY IMPORTANT to get done correctly if you don’t water will get up inside the housing and blow the bulb or burn the electrical out in the entire unit. If you don’t get it the first time try again by removing and trying again. IT WILL seat in the ears and go down a little, then turn to seal the housing unit over the UV bulb. Just be gentle but firm. ALWAYS check the rubber o-ring gasket around the head-unit make sure it’s in-place it has a grove it goes in. I have read to use pure Vaseline on it every time you clean the canister. Now you’re ready to install the media into your baskets.... Remember the water comes up from the bottom so start with your mechanical filtration first (remove the big chunks of debris) I placed prefliter media small pieces of lava rock in the bottom of the canister to help breakup the water flow. No higher the 1/2 inch deep (use small pieces of rock)......Don’t make it too deep otherwise the baskets won’t seat as the should.....This will also help extend the life of your other media Bottom basket I placed a cotton filter and then poured Fluval’s pre-filter media on top. Next basket up I placed a cotton filter and the poured Fluval’s Bio-Max cylinders Next basket up I placed a cotton filter and the place a Seachem Purigen Next basket up I placed a cotton filter and the Secachem Phosguard *****Make sure the top basket top rim lines up with the flare of the inside wall of the unit.... if it goes over the the flare the lid won’t seal.... you might have too much media in the very bottom or the baskets aren’t seated correctly. Now place the lid on top and carefully seat it straight down.... stand over the unit and press down firmly and you will see the canister and lid come together.... if there is some resistance STOP and check the top basket top rim....if it’s over the flare remove some of the media from the bottom. Once the lid seats properly it will be snug....claps all four outside closures. When you place the inlet outlet hoses on top please check the direction of the flip handle.... flipped up closes the water flow and flipped down opens the water flow.....when filter is in operation the flip handle must be down flush against the lid.... Only Raise the flip handle AFTER you power off the canister filter when you want to discount the canister filter for cleaning. Also make sure you have the “in and out” attached the hoses accordingly. The “in” is where the water comes from the aquarium and the “out” is where the water from the canister go into the aquarium. Now with the canister unplugged and all hoses in place the flip handle closed, lid sealed and all four handle closed. Fill aquarium with water....once filled do the following for EASY filter priming With filter unplugged open the flip handle on top, to open the water flow (push it flush with the top of the filter) Then press the big top, press it fully two to three times.... you will hear water starting to fill the canister. Once the water filling noise stops, plug in the canister filer and your done. Replenish the water in the aquarium it will be low.... Once the filter is on If there is any noise at all after a few seconds carefully rock to filter there might be air trapped, if that doesn’t solve it.... you will need to unplug it...close the flip handle, pick up the filter take it to a tub or shower open it and check the propeller. Once you have it correct this thing works great!