For starters has anybody ever used one, and what was or is your opinion on it. Second, and most importantly mine is still spilling out small air bubbles with occasional burst. Any ideas?
I've used them in freshwater tanks. They are fine canister filters, but being canister filters, they aren't the filter of choice for reef tanks (does okay with fish-only). Just make sure to clean out the sponge regularly.
Yours is spitting out bubbles because you have trapped air in it. It may be trapped in the media and slowly seeping out, or it could be at the top of the canister, gradually escaping. It should go away with time. Another possibility is that you have a small leak in the hosing. This could draw in air like the venturi effect. However, the occassional bursts of air likely indicates it's simply trapped air in the canister.
I've used them and I fricking hated it, it would occasionally get an air bubble or something stuck in the impeller and make a horrid grindind sound (ironically when I pounded the top it'd often fix it), but you need to have it in a bucket or something because every time you need to open it (and you will need to open it quite frequently to clean it out or change the media (carbon) you will spill water all over the place. Much more of a pain in the ass they they are worth IMHO
