Best Canister Filter Reviews For 2023

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Cascade Canister CCF3UL Filter Review

If you are searching for a new filter for your aquarium, we know that finding a good aquarium filter is easier said than done, especially if you need a filter for a large tank.

However, there are some great brand names, with Penn-Plax being one of them. This article reviews a filter from Penn-Plax, so let’s take a closer look at the Cascade CCF3UL Canister filter to see how it stacks up.

Cascade Canister CCF3Ul Filter

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Keep in mind that this filter comes in various sizes. However, we will look at one of the largest available, the CCF3UL. This is a simple yet effective external canister filter designed for large tanks.

If you like external canister filters, this is a prime choice. It can handle large tanks; it’s easy to maintain, durable, and affordable too.

Who Is This Filter For?

This aquarium filter is designed for anyone with tanks between 50 and 100 gallons.

Be aware that this filter can also be used for freshwater and saltwater aquariums. This is an impressive feature, as most filters cannot be used for marine environments.

Moreover, this is an external canister filter, so it does not take up any space inside a tank. Therefore, it is ideal for people who want to save as much real estate in the tank as possible. Seeing as it is a very efficient filter, it’s also designed for tanks needing maximum filtration power.

There’s also a spray bar, required tubing, a directional spout, and the necessary filter media. It comes with mechanical and biological filter media – everything you need to get started.

Overview of Features

Right off the bat, this is an external filter. While it does require space outside of your tank, it takes up no space within the tank, helping save valuable real estate for aquarium plants and fish. That said, it’s not all that large, so your aquarium cabinet doesn’t need to be huge; it should fit most spaces.

What’s Included?

You get a canister filter that measures 11.5 by 17 by 10 inches. It has state-of-the-art 360-degree flow valves and comes with three media baskets for a variety of media

You will appreciate how silent this filter is -it’s one of the quieter canister filters available. On that same note, this unit is very energy efficient, which is good for your wallet.

This unit is designed for tanks up to 100 gallons with a maximum flow rate of 265 gallons per hour. Therefore, if you are using it for a 100-gallon tank, it can process the entire tank over 2.5 times per hour. In addition, the flow rate is adjustable.

The filter performs all three major types of water filtration – chemical, biological, and mechanical. The result is immaculate and clear water that is healthy for your fish.

Three media baskets are included to customize the media that you put inside the filter. It also comes with a coarse floss pad and sponge for mechanical and biological filtration. That said, keep in mind that it does not have chemical filtration media.

It is also worth noting that this aquarium filter is built of very sturdy, high-quality plastic. It also has a sturdy base that is tip-proof to ensure that it does not fall over while in use. In addition, there are easy-lift alignment clamps to open the top, allowing for easy access to the interior for maintenance and media changing.

There are dual 360-degree rotating valve taps for easy setup and placement. In addition, a simple primer button makes for ease of operation. All in all, we think this might be one of the best filters out there.

How to Use It

You do have to set these filters up the right way, which can be a bit complicated, So, we’ve provided a tutorial video on the matter. Follow this video for a detailed tutorial guide on setting up this cascade canister filter.

Pros

  • Very durable design
  • Won’t fall over
  • Doesn’t take up much space inside or outside the tank
  • Reasonable price
  • Good flow rate + adjustable flow rate
  • Stackable media baskets
  • Very easy to set up and maintain
  • Comes with bio and mechanical media

Cons

  • No chemical filtration media included
  • May leak if not correctly set up

Alternatives

Suppose you aren’t happy with the canister filter reviewed today. If that’s the case, there are many other options to go with.

For instance, if you need something more extensive and more powerful, the Penn-Plax Cascade Max Flow 820 GPH Aquarium Canister Filter is a good one. This one has more media included.

If you prefer a small and affordable HOB filter, the MarineLand Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter is also a good choice.

Conclusion

The Cascade Canister CCF3Ul Filter is efficient, silent, durable, and highly user-friendly, all for a reasonable price. It might not be the largest aquarium filter, but it gets the job done.

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Jenn Frazier
Aquarist & Writer 22+ Years

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