The FX6 Killer? Not Even Close. SunSun HW-5000 Canister Filter Review 

Nice one man. Keep up the good work! I don’t have tanks big enough for canisters, but people need to see this! Your info on the UV is spot on!

Thank you for a honest opinion! I would agree I have fx5 that I bought used. Replaced seals and never had problems. Always runs with way to many angelfish in the tank as grow outs. Two thumbs up 👍 👍

Such great work and diligence. Thank you Bentley. It's a great topic to address.

I was wondering why I haven't seen these filters for sale in awhile. Now I know. Great video. FX6 rule!

Sounds like you just had bad luck. I've had mine since it 1st came out never had one issue. Still Runs strong. And I use course medium and fine For my filter pads. When I service my canister filter usually after a couple of months I pulled them out And I can tell it's definitely doing its job. I also have the FX6 running in the same tank on A 125 gallo

love to hear good open honesty..lol funny thing is i brought one of these a week ago.. I've got it on a 300ltr tank with 3 Oscars.. for media I run bottom 2 trays with seachem matrix and in the top tray has that white pre made pad/poly fill and I cut a sheet of blue filter sponge at the top. I also did check all fittings an lube o'rings before I started for piece of mind. I must of got one that wasn't made on a Friday!!...cause the flow I get out of it is unreal for me...when I have it at full power it literally starts a whirlpool in their. I haven't got any error codes on the computer. Mind you I have only had it for a week so will see.

This review is great I’m pleased it popped up in my feed after watching your reviews for the Fluval plant 3.0 which were fantastic.. when this product came out all us FX6 owners all laughed out loud at the claim the SunSun was a FX6 killer....

I was looking into getting an fx6 for a few months now. I have a sunsun canister filter myself (not this model) and i was always thinking to myself how the dead leaves from my anacharis are ending up peaking through the spray bar. When you brought up the filter tray and path of least resistance it clicked in my head that thats exactly what was happening and explains the constant detritus. Thanks for the video.

Great review! To be fair to sunsun, I bet that 9w UV worked great at hour 9:45 before it shut down at hour 10. But honestly I’ve ran my FX5 for like 8 years now on my 125 gallon. Zero issues... ZERO. I modified the intake to use an intake sponge and I’ve let mine go almost 2 years once between cleanings. No noticeable reduction in flow at all. When I did take it apart for a cleaning, I said “well that was a waste of time”. Due to the intake sponge being cleaned every month or so I’m sure. Hasn’t been apart in about a year as of now. Maybe I’ll just let the thing go until it stops and see how many years it takes.

I appreciate your honesty, thank you!

Love the honesty man

Nice to see an honest review of a produce! New sub here.

I almost bought 1 to replace my 2 fluval 407...thank you for your honest review

Your facial expressions at 5:30 when you slide off the drain valve had me dying.

Subbed and love this rant the hobby needed this SALUTE to u 💪🏽👍🏽

Great review thanks for your honesty.

Orson Welles Clapping Gif. We need more honesty in reviews, just like this. Sir, I salute you!

I was thinking about getting one after seeing a RU-vidr/ pichman . But kept hearing others having trouble, and never purchased it. Now I'm glad.

I trust you! Thank you for the informations.

Glad this review came, I recently got this strange greenish paper stuff and I heard exchanging it for this would be a good way to be rid of it 😂

Oh man. I almost ordered 3 of these. The search for an affordable FX6 equiv continues (FX6 is a no go as I'm in Australia where it costs $700). Thanks for the money saving review!

Great video.couldn't be much clearer on where you stand!

I was beginning to think you might be a “pay to play” RU-vidr, this review seems sincere. I appreciate the honest review.

I don’t use canister filters but if i ever do I know which one to go with. Thanks Bentley!

Wow you leveled both berrells I really like that.

Good thing i haven’t got that one yet. I have been using the SunSun hw 3000 with some good luck but also they are only on 55-100 gallon tanks.

Thanks for taking one for the team Bentley.

Thanks for saving everyone hundreds of dollars. I know nothing about these type of filters but maybe one day I'll have a tank size that could use one. I'll save for the fx6 or whatever model they're up to then.

I've had several issues with my fx6 canister. I use it on a 210g Saltwater Aquarium. I stay on top of cleaning it and every now and again it some how loses water intake. I have a sun sun 5000 it works well for me just my humble opinion

Im glad they were out of stock when I went to get one.

I have never seen bentley this frustrated. I am glad I was saved the money of buying it though.

That was awesome! I have an FX4. It ran for almost 2 years (without cleaning) on my Oscar tank before the flow slowed down and I turned it off. I have arthritis in my hands and the beginnings of carpal tunnel. I physically can’t handle the FX4 anymore. I’ve gone to Ziss and sponges. I use a hang on the back occasionally to polish water. Those I can handle. No actual complaint about the FX4. It’s just something to know if your hands aren’t up to par.

Oh my goodness. Bentley! So proud of you! This will save people from buying inferior filters and wasting their money. If more people would speak up there would be less junk in the marketplace.

You need to do more of these! I like this Bentley, lol. When I was looking at canister filters as with anything I buy I research the heck out of it and found the sun sun was not reliable and that the fx6 was the best, however I ended up going with two tidal 110’s as I didn’t want to have to drag the canister out from under the tank stand.

The Bentley Unhinged! 😆 I need me some more.... This could be the start to a beautiful new series: “reviews of the worst fishkeeper products” 🤩

Now that I’ve watched: This is a Michael’s Fish Room quality epic rant! I looked at a Sunsun some years ago - it was an obvious no for something that holds water. I haven’t used a Fluval canister since the 403 days (Many problems) and have used various Eheims over the last 25 years; in fact, every Eheim I have ever had has never had a day off and is still running - some 25 years. I prefer the Classics and the Eccos. I clean them every couple years - and the ones I have set up for bio only.... um... I never clean. I have always run prefilters on them which I clean every 14 days. As an added plug that I hope Eheim reads - please bring the Pickup internal filter back to the USA! Best mechanical filter ever!

I had the fx5 filter , best filter I owned , when I get my new tank I would like the fx6 💯👍👍

So, did you caulk it and turn it into an office trash can, or did you put drill more holes in it and make a nice planter out of it? Thanks.

Cool review Bentley, cheers 🌿

So as long as there's vacuum it's sucking air, rather than leaking water? ✓

Only watched this video now. Bought one of these 2 weeks ago and will set it up on my 120 gal tomorrow. Already have 2 x HW 3000 running on it without any issues. Moving the one HW 3000 to a 60 gal and moving the 5000 in there. Will see how it goes and give feedback. Honestly the first negative video I've watched regarding the HW 5000.

I still have the old eheim canister built in the 80's that i have running and have never replaced parts. No joke.

Best filter used to date is Oase Bio Master. Great Video

My experiences with sun sun canisters and even the big ones with the UV were not the best. The filter tray will start to deteriorate and if you have the UV sterilizer and uses it a lot, the intake hole will be burnt to a crisp. So far all my fx6s has been pretty good. If you go cheap, it will go cheap on you and it will not last. For those that don’t have the bad experiences, you are the lucky ones.

Fx6 definitely is boss of canister filters..but I'm starting to lean towards the Seachem Tidal 110. It's so nice 😊

I can't give an opinion either for or against since I have never owned either of these filters, but I have run all sorts of filters of all sizes,and I have to say no filter is without its faults.im watching both FX and Sunsun RU-vid reviews while trying to decide which to buy,and the FX has as many disappointed users if not more in relative numbers of sales maybe more so than the SUNSUN.So still undecided.The only thing between them for me is the FX warranty and parts availability as apposed to the affordability of the SUNSUN and let's say throw away buy another still cheaper option (worth a go).I have a SUNSUN 704b 2yrs no problems at all it' replaced a terrible NEW EHEIM . Still undecided.GR8 video all the best

Nice job. Didn’t win the lottery exactly but brought some furniture from my nieces college apartment to a thrift store and they had a new five gallon tank for twenty five cents. So I broke my rule on nothing under ten gallons. Any tips on plants for a nano?

I've got an fx4, it's an absolute tank! Had it for about 4 years, only need to deep clean it once per year, still working like the day I bought it!

I had two issues with my FX6 but they were both my fault. Just didn't have the top screws tightened all the way and it leaked on a purge. Then I didn't have my intake low enough below the water line so it was taking in air. Love the filter wouldn't have anything else. $360 for years of good performance is well worth it.

Never owned an FX6 or an FX4 but I do have a 106, a couple of 206 and a 406. Obviously built to the same standard, just run forever. The only issue I have had is the auastop valve leaked on the 206 (it's 4 years old and has been running 24/7 all that time) and even then it was more of a weep than a leak, probably about a pint a week. We get plenty of power cuts in my neck of the woods and they always just start up again as soon as power is restored.

Do the fluval fx valves fit the sun sun 5000?

I have a Penn Plax Cascade 1000 and I love it. lol

Enjoyed your video, but for correct info, the fx6 drainplug, does come out, if you pull on it. Well, pull hard. It comes out.

I ordered one of these when they first came out had to return it because it leaked through the screw hole that holds the little door on the bottom it actually punctured inside the main compartment and left the hole I ordered the replacement and it had the same exact problem returned it it was just plain junk which is sad cuz I had high hopes for it I like that controller I have since switched to a sump with a DC pump and controller

I had an fx6 that failed right out the box.. would not power on.. took it back to PetSmart and exchanged it. No issues with replacement and it has run in a sand aquarium for 6 months. Gets nasty and sucks sand up from the Oscar’s however,, still tickin and rockin.

UNHINGED BENTLEY!!! Woo hoo!!! Now to watch...

Wait what are people complaining about the seachem tidal bypass? i was just thinking that thing is better than a aqua clear in absolutely every way.

Well... i bought a fx6 and it lasted for 12 hours till it turned itself off and it didnt turn on any more. I returned it and brought home a new one. Its great ever since. it sits next to an oase biomaster850

I have large aquariums and bought my first FX6 a few months back. My tanks have been setup with sumps, largest eheim canisters and SunSun 404B's. I have two issues with the FX6. they are overpriced for what you get and the cannister itself does not hold that much media. The FX6 internal plastic trays and foam brackets displace nearly 50% of the internal volume of the canister. As a big tank hobbyist, the more media the better - if one has to go with a large canister,. I have had my eheim 2262 classic for thirty years. It has 3X the media capacity of an FX6 for a little more money.

I vote for it to get the "office space" ending, because I know you wouldn't even give that to someone. I have had the latch pop on a fluval 207, that was exciting.

Hi Bentley I have the Sun Sum HW 3000 and every time we lose power it leaks water and it totally drained my whole entire tank. Do you know I can prevent it. The last time I lost power was from a few weeks ago when we had the wind storm here in Kent. I noticed the water was coming from the actual filter canister. This is the only canister I’ve ever had any issues with it leaking water. I’ve tired to contact SunSun customer service but it’s in China.

Sounds like a great filter, I’m heading to Amazon right now LOL

Can you criticize the marineland c360? I'm thinking about getting that one because i can't afford the fx6. Wondering how it does compared to the fx6

The main designflaw here is the top-down design. Look at the Eheim 2260. Water comes into the filter bucket in the bottom, so all coarse mulm settles in the bottom, in settlement media. Then it does not clog the sponges. I like this design much better that the FX6.

So entertaining!😂😂😂. I see you absolutely adore that thing!!😂😂😂😂😂😂

Even ignoring all the other issues the very fact that the drain is held in place by a prayer would be enough for me to remove the whole thing. I wouldn't be able to sleep in the knowledge that if a mosquito farted in its general direction it could fall out and drain the tank.

I’ve had good luck with the smaller SunSun canisters in the past but I certainly won’t be trying this one 😂

where can I buy this sun sun I cant find it anywhere

I really like this ranting honest review from someone who actually owned and used a product instead of calling an unboxing a review. Lot's of bullshit content on youtube!

I loathe sun sun filters! My boyfriend sheared the plastic off the priming pump the first time we set it up. It also leaked! Nothing tops an FX6.

Being running one of these for 2 years and it’s faultless!!

Not sure what you're talking about... I've got 3 of these running. Two of them have been running for the last three years... Never an issue. You just gotta be careful with it... For the price.... No, question. This is a great alternative and a much cheaper one....

When are you going to have guppys available?

Dear god the drain plug scares the shit out of me alone! I can only imagine a whole tank draining out of it. You just reinforced everything I have heard. I’d rather pay more and have! Thanks for your honest review. I can tell you’re peeved and for good reason. 😂👍 I’d never buy one.

Wow it is simple

So yeah got one about 1 year ago....drain plug fell apart filled room with water, silconed it. Then the lid leaked. In the bin now. Piece of junk. Agree fully.

Yep. I have an FX6 and nope I have never had a single problem with it, not one. As far as I'm concerned the FX6 is a beast, all BS aside if your looking for a reliable canister filter to have your back then it's going to be the FX6. Yes it is a bit pricey but remember you are also buying peace of mind and a piece of equipment you can count on. It will do what it was designed to do and it will do it well. When it comes to canister filters the FX6 is king of the hill. Bentley was also right when he said if you want better then you would have to build yourself a sump system which is exactly what I had to do on my other tank, and that filter setup cost far more than an FX6. A perfect example of "you get what you paid for".

I modified mine with a 1500 gph pump that I had laying around and if over performed anything fluval could make and I think the price tag is what's important here ..... Fluval is getting away with highway robbery at the current retail price of their larger filters!?!! And LED lights for that matter!!!!

The way you talk about this sun sun, is how I feel about the aquaclear 110.. everyone says it’s so great and it’s been junk since my first water change. After waking up for the 3rd time with it not running, nothing in the impeller area, it’s now under my tank not being used. Replaced with a sponge filter. Junk filter

My FX-6 leaked after I cleaned it the first time... Then I realized I left the drain valve open.

In 2024 and your review is correct, sun sun 5000 is a bad plastic bucket, after 1 yr of purchase and it is leaking

Okay guess you had a bad one ? Only reason I'm watching this review for is I was recommended one today by a guy whom came too pick up some fry from me now he owns a shop and on his personal aquarium at home has the sunsun he has had it a while as well as the fx6 apparently he's had loads of issues with the fx6 with leaks but nothing wrong with the sunsun 5000 so now I'm a little mixed on my opinion now also I checked amazon and they are being sold so not sure why you mentioned its no longer available. Can I mention the 9 watt uv your right it's no good as a steriliser but it is good for algea in the water colum regardless of flow rate just to mention I fully agree with build quality from fluval but a guy whom keeps fish for a living and uses a sunsun on his main aquarium at home really makes me think.. also so many youtubers have had leaking fx6 canisters I would say 90 odd % out of all the youtubers I have watched so that's pretty darn bad you must be a lucky one it's a very common fault which is undeniable Ben Ochart confirms it Mike's fishes uk has a good amount of them and has them leak from time to time but fixes the issue then when it starts again refixes it I think I remember kg tropical again confirm the amount of people having these fx6s leak

29 people bought a SunSun HW-5000 before watching this review :-)

Epic intro 🤣🤣🤣

I have been using the Sunsun 5000 for a few months now. Absolutely top both performance. Not sure why so much hatrate for the product. Your views are biased and not true.

The fx6 doesn't detect air in the canister. It's on a timer to purge. I agree that canister is junk. I wish you would have opened it up so we could see the pump and see the bottom of the inside of the canister. You have good content. My only gripe with your channel is you don't point the camera at the products you discuss while discussing them. Please put the product on a table and point the camera at them so we can see. Instead of the couple seconds we get to see here and there.

Bentley my favorite freshwater planted aquarium channel ,, get it

That's a waste of time. Good for the world you tested it though. Only if a brand has a dealership in your neighborhood you could go with that Cheaper filter, so service or replacement is guaranteed immediately.

Wait. There’s people that think sun sun is bette Ethan fluval?

Have the Fluval 307, TOP, everything from Fluval is quality , thanks for this video

Bentley have you ever messed with a Odyessa Ebay canister filter

I know some people love sun sun, i say to each their own! I have the "buy once cry once" philosophy especially when it comes to equipment that could easily ruin my entire living room in a matter of minutes. I have a FX4 and a 206 love them both! They have been running for over 2yrs now and not a single issue doing maintenance every other month. Thanks for sharing your frustration Bentley, hopefully you have woken a few people up and saved them a headache!

That legitimately looks like the 5 gallon home made canister filter Aquarium Coop does the video showing you how to make.

I laughed out loud when you pulled out that drain plug with zero effort. Being a Chinese company, I wonder why they didn't just copy the exact design of the fluval. They cut every corner possible to get it to a price point equivalent to the fx6 Black Friday price. You might as well make a diy 5gal bucket filter. My fx6 horror story: I almost bought a different filter

Lmao. A guy at work came up and told me he got one of these and it’s just like the FX4 and FX6. I replied, have you ever had a Fluval FX4 or FX6? No he replied and I just said we’ll see. Lol. As I left I thought to myself, well maybe he won’t see because he’s just taking Sun Suns word for it and has never had a fluval. What a shame. Lol. Glad I went straight to two FX4s when I set up my 125g and didn’t waste my time with anything else.

I love the FX filters (Have a 4 and 6 on my 125) because they are so easy to service....I do it about once every 6 weeks!! The way the top comes off doesn't require you to have to "pry" anything off (like the 06 models). It's that ease that doesn't make me hate servicing them. My only problem was with my FX6 when I used the bottom ball valve to flush out all the crap that was in the bottom. I totally cleaned the filter...only to notice a drip coming out of the valve when I was done. I simply cleaned the filter tub again, making sure I opened and closed the valve while CLEAN water was flowing through it, and it stopped leaking. I obviously closed some crap in the valve when I closed the valve the first time. Got my FX6 for $250 at PetSmart on sale....it's worth the $350 to. LOL

Wow if I didn't watch the review I would think you were talking about me for the first 10 minutes. Worrying about drain plug failing and not wanting to work

fx6 way overpriced I have the Sunsun filters and value for money they are brilliant,no problems so far on either of them I dont use the UV option on them because they aren't powerful enough I run a separate Green Killing Machine which in my view is better than any of the built in filter ones,the other issue here in Australia the fx6 is nearly $700 and the sunsun is $319 the fx6 is not twice as good as the Sunsun.

If you ask my opinion these canister filters are all over priced for what you get I'm sure I could build better myself. As for it breaking I think that's just bad luck I'm sure there are people out there that have had bad luck with the fx6 to

Fluval fx series had no problem for me and I like it a lot! I’ve used China canister before that I’ve maintain the canister every two weeks because it cause the flow decreases. Such a annoying product. Now with the fx series. ON GOD I just sitting and watch the thing work for month and month without A problem ! Don’t save any money for cheap products or you will get what u pay for .