Biopro 800 External Canister Filter Review

Whether you’re in the market for your first filter or your tenth, the Biopro 800 External Canister Filter might just be the one for you. It’s quiet, easy to set up and get started, and makes the water crystal clear.

But not everyone speaks of a good experience with this filter. Some users have found that it didn’t trap enough waste for them, that the instructions were difficult to understand, and that it was cheaply made.

However, before you make the final decision about whether this product is for you, let’s take a more in-depth look at the Biopro 800 External Canister Filter.

Biopro 800 External Canister Filter: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 9 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1 x 8.7 x 12.2 inches.
• Filter Capacity: 40 to 80 gallons.
• Flow Rate: 210 gph.
• Media Stages: Three-stage media filtration; chemical, mechanical, and biological.
• Self-Priming or Standard: Self-priming.

Features

Three-Stage Media Filtration System

The three-stage media filtration system uses chemical, mechanical, and biological media to help remove all the waste and particles from the water, ensuring your fish have the cleanest environment possible.

The system works in both fresh and saltwater, so no more picking and choosing filters based on this requirement!

Should you move the filter to a different tank, or change the set-up of your current aquarium, you can trust the ceramic noodles, activated carbon, as well as fine and coarse filter pads to capture even the finest particles.

15-Watt Motor

The Biopro 800 also comes with a 15-watt motor, which allows the filter to cycle through up to 210 gallons of water per hour.

The water is brought into the canister and then filtered through the different media, starting with the sponges and wadding in order to capture the large debris.

After this, it will proceed through the ceramic noodles to add the good bacteria your fish and aquarium need. There is also the active carbon and the Bakki balls, which help cycle out any last particles.

Finally, the water is pushed back out into the aquarium.

UV Light

With the Biopro External Canister Filter, you have the option of adding a UV light to up the ante.

This UV light will help will help to control both algae and diseases that may be floating around your tank, helping to disinfect your fish and other items in your aquarium.

Priming

Priming a filter can be time-consuming – and puzzling. However, with the Biopro 800 filter, there is no need to struggle with this process.

It is self-priming, so all you have to do it set it up and plug it in. For the most part, it will do all the work for you.

Priming can be, at times, the most difficult part of a new filter, but you don’t have to fuss with this one. Biopro made sure you will have it going in no time!

Set-Up

Setting up the Biopro may take a bit of time, so be sure you’re not rushing through the process.

First, make sure you have all the parts that are listed. At times, things can be left out and it is better to know that beforehand, instead of when you’re almost done and have ‘spare parts.’

Once you’ve decided where to place the filter on your tank, open up your filter to insert the media, beginning with the mechanical one first. These will be your sponges.

Next, put in the biological media, which includes the ceramic noodles and the balls.

Finally, install the active carbon. Then you should connect the hosing with the right intake and outtake connectors.

Once all of this is complete, you’re ready to plug in and turn on your filter! You’re all set.

Accessories

• Filter media.
  • Fine wadding.
  • Coarse sponge.
  • Ceramic noodles.
  • Bakki balls.
  • Activated carbon.
• 5 mm intake and outtake flexible hoses.
• Rubber clips.
• Spray bar.

Biopro 800 External Canister Filter Review

The Positives

Quiet

Our testers loved how quiet this filter is. You don’t have to worry about putting the aquarium somewhere no one can hear it, which opens up your home’s decor options and keeps you from having a shouting match during a conversation.

You can place it in your bedroom (or your kids’ room), and it won’t keep anyone awake at night. Where a lot of other filters can sound like a fan is running, you will barely know the Biopro 800 is operational.

Inexpensive

Several users also mentioned how inexpensive they found this filter to be. At under $100 on Amazon, this Biopro is much more affordable than other filters of its kind, while still providing similar levels of filtration.

When aquariums and fish already cost you quite a bit, a filter that is affordable and still accomplishes all the necessary tasks is a pretty great deal!

This is a great note for beginners and those on a budget who worry about their fishy friends burning a hole in their wallets. The Biopro gives you room to cut costs.

Easy to Use

A number of users also mentioned how easy the Biopro 800 is to set up and use.

You simply have to put the media in; cut, adjust, and connect the hoses included; and then plug in the filter and turn it on. It’s as easy as that.

The 800 is a self-priming filter, so you don’t have to worry about priming (the most difficult part!).

And the fact that it comes with everything you need to get started, makes it all the easier for both beginners and advanced users to get set-up and going without the frustration or added costs.

Easy to Maintain

Biopro wants you to take care of your canister filter without worry. They’ve made their filter easy to disconnect for cleaning and maintenance so you’re not left fumbling about.

We all know how daunting the cleaning process can be, but the Biopro Canister Filter takes some of the pain away.

Good Customer Service

When things go wrong (as they can for any purchase) it’s good to know a great customer support team is there for you.

Fortunately, Biopro’s customer service lives up to this standard. Any problems or concerns users had were addressed or fixed quickly and to their satisfaction.

No more headaches or tense phone conversations; just explain your issue and have it resolved!

Versatile

The 800 filter is very versatile. It works on tanks that hold anywhere from 40 to 80 gallons, works on both fresh and saltwater, has a three-stage filtration system, and it’s also easy to clean.

There is not much that this filter can’t do. Many testers have reported that the Biopro does its job very well too, leaving tank owners with cleaner aquariums after use.

Also, because the media baskets are separate, it’s easy to change and clean them out without additional hassle, while still enjoying the added filtering power!

The Negatives

Doesn’t Trap as Much as it Should

A manufacturing defect worth noting, while many users were happy with the Biopro’s performance, a few users did mention the filter was unable to remove enough debris or dirt from the water.

One even mentioned the filter was always clean, meaning it just circulated the water without filtering it. Seeing as that is its main purpose, this is definitely something worthy of concern.

This seems to happen mostly to owners of a larger tank, so be sure to double check the filter’s process in the early days of your purchase, so you can exchange it with a new model, should the issue arise.

Plastic Pieces 

A few testers found the plastic build of the filter was not as durable as they anticipated, resulting in cracks and leaks. This may be one reason for its affordable price tag.

While this wasn’t a problem for all users, it’s worth keeping in mind.

Difficult Instructions

Set-up can be difficult with any purchase – but it’s no easier when the instructions are confusing. While there are videos and helpful tutorials online, the filter really should come with a comprehensive guide.

If you are new to aquarium filters, you may want to look at those videos and tutorials before you decide if this is the filter for you.

Too Heavy To Handle

Another scenario that isn’t the case for all, some users found that once the media was filled into the Biopro filter, it became too heavy to easily handle.

While a number of users mentioned their external canister filter being easy to handle for cleaning and maintenance, others found a heavy filter makes for easy messes.

No Marketing or Online Presence 

Unfortunately, there’s not much we know about the Biopro brand and that’s due to a lack of online (or in-store) presence and we really don’t see any marketing on their behalf.

A brand that’s lesser known causes a lack of trust from some buyers, and a lack of information on their company or products only lowers their brand awareness.

With products like the Biopro filter satisfying a number of customers worldwide, we hope to see much more of a brand presence from Biopro sooner than later.

Here’s a video showing what the Biopro External Canister Filter looks like out of the box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB3qCPoSiE0

Overall Verdict

After looking over all the positives and negatives, we are recommending the Biopro 800 External Canister Filter.

It’s quiet and easy to use, but the fact that some people experienced issues with its abilities and build is worth noting.

The whole point of a filter is to take the unwanted particles from the water. In such a case, a replacement should see an end to your problem and a continued happy experience.

Overall, the Biopro will suit those looking for a quiet and affordable external canister filter.

Where to Buy the Biopro External Canister Filter

With the aquatics market already filled with a number of well-known manufacturers producing external canister filters, it’s easy for the Biopro External Canister Filter to go unnoticed.

But thanks to its price, versatility and accessibility,  it’s garnered some attention from both aquarium owners and aquatics enthusiasts. That being said, this canister filter may prove hard to find both in-store and online.

While it’s always best to check pet and specialty stores, you can kick-start your search by checking out the following online retailers.

• Vet Equipment (from $101)
• Aluzon (from $101)

But of course, you can also find this canister filter on Amazon.

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That’s all for our Biopro canister filter review. Would you give this a try?