Canisters are nice IMO because they allow for greater flexibility (eg. the inline heater) BUT they certainly aren't necessary. They also have easier maintenance. One downside is you have to have space for them below the tank. I am of the school "keep as much 'junk' out of your tank as possible" (heaters, co2, etc.) so a canister was best for my "show" tank. If you are considering a canister filter I would recommend the Filstar series because them are good quality and are relatively cheap. Many people swear by Eheim filters but they were out of my price range. For me the Filstar has worked wonderfully and I am very satisfied. Shango Los <Shango@shangolos.com> wrote: Hello all, So this inline heater discussion has brought me around to the idea that maybe I should upgrade from my default AquaClear 50s on my two 29 gallon planted tanks to a canister filter with an inline heater. Looking at the canisters, they generally seem to be overkill for a 29 gallon but they look really reliable and efficient. Would those of you with canisters weigh in on what my considerations should be when deciding whether to make the jump or not? Thanks Shango _______________________________________________ GSAS-Member mailing list GSAS-Member@thekrib.com http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. _______________________________________________ GSAS-Member mailing list GSAS-Member@thekrib.com http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member