OASE BioMaster Thermo External Filter with Built-in Heater for Aquariums up to 160 gallons, Multi-stage Filtration, Easy Maintenance Prefilter, Quiet Canister Filter, German Engineering

This is my first external canister-type aquarium filter and I'm very happy with my purchase. Going from a 10 gallon tank with various hanging filters (Tetra, Fluval, Marineland) to a larger (50? gallon) tank with a red-eared slider was a big difference for me. Turtles are very very messy, so I knew I had to make the change when putting him into a bigger tank. I was nervous at first but now that I've had this for several months, I am comfortable with disassembly for routine cleaning. About 3 months into use, it started getting louder and louder. After ruling out air in the lines, I figured it had to be the impeller, but getting to it requires removing a housing that was impossible for me. Cleaning the impeller is part of routine maintenance so I knew it was not only possible but necessary- I just couldn't get to it. My hubby had to use the provided tool along with a little man-handling. Now that it's been removed once, I am able to to do it myself from now on, but it was just that first-time I couldn't untighten its cover. Again, I'm very happy with my purchase as it is quite easy to clean (now that my husband has loosened all the fittings) and it keeps the water super clear. It doesn't leak, is completely silent (when maintained properly), and is pretty straightforward to setup and maintain. The only criticism I have is that there's no indicator for the heater - there's no light that it's on and working, and even if there was a light you wouldn't be able to see it since it's internal. So your only indication of a burned out heater would be cold water. This hasn't happened yet but is something I think about.

I LOVE IT! I've been using two of these Thermo 250's on my freshwater 55 gal, for 3 weeks+ now. The Thermo 250 cost a lil more than most canister filters, but has 2 great features that make it worth the extra price. 1: It comes with a built in heater which is great, because that's less clutter in your aquarium. 2: It has a pre-filter on the intake that can be pulled out and cleaned separately, so you don't have to always clean the whole canister, and you can keep that good bacteria growing in the main filter trays. 3: It comes with 4 trays to add media too. 4: It's super quiet, my 60 gal rated air pump is louder then both of my 250Ts combined, and the air pump really quiet. I have not had to do any maintenance in my first month of running and the water flow is still very strong in my heavily fish stocked/planted aquarium. I have to be honest though; I'm only using the coarse circular intake filter pads that came with it, because I upgraded just about everything else. I also added jardli glass water intake and glass water outtake for that kool less clutter look. This is because I did some serious research on the net and good ol youtube. After a long search on all types of aquarium filters ie.. hang on back, canister, sponge, under gravel and sup, I came across this Thermo 250 Canister from Oase. Now just about all if not every youtube video on it was from a none english speaking country. Then I seen this random video that said "pimpmyfilter". I clicked on it and some British guy named the "pondguru" was giving a demonstration on how to make the Thermo 600 model more efficient. After watching that video I was completely hooked/sold on his way of making the Thermo Canister filter more efficient. I didn't do the drilling though, cause it doesn't seem to be needed, the water flow is still very strong. With that being said I can't give an honest opinion on how good the filter media is that came with it like the meduim and fine pads and the ceramic balls. Because, I pimped out both of my Thermo 250s from start. I am using the original black fine pads for the prefilter, because they work the best for trapping muck and not letting it through to the main filter. No matter what type of filter you get whether it's this one or another model or brand, I highly highly recommend that you go on YouTube and type "pimpmy(filter name here)filter" ie pimpmyoasethermofilter, pimpmyfluvalfilter, pimpmywhateverfilter. I promise you that that will be the most helpful thing you ever did when it comes to searching for and aquarium filter. No-one on the internet that I've seen is doing anything remotely close to what that guy does to aquarium fliters. He didn't pay me or ask me to promote his channel. He'll probably never know that I'm promoting his work. I'm just giving him mad props because he deserves it. Watch and see, and I bet you'll come back looking for this review to say that it really helped you.

The Oase Thermo Biomaster 250 canister filter has truly impressed me with its performance and features. Here are the key points I found noteworthy: Design and Build Quality: The filter is well-constructed, featuring a sturdy design that feels durable. The compact size makes it easy to fit in tight spaces, especially in my cabinet. The integrated heater is a game-changer, eliminating the need for an additional heater in the aquarium. Ease of Installation: Setting up the Thermo Biomaster was straightforward. The user manual was clear, and all necessary parts were included. The quick-release valves make it easy to detach the filter for maintenance without creating a mess. Performance: This filter provides excellent water clarity and quality. The three-stage filtration system (mechanical, biological, and chemical) works effectively to keep my tank pristine. The adjustable flow rate allows for customization based on the needs of my aquarium, which is a nice touch. Though I keep the flow rate fully open. Heater Integration: Having a built-in heater is incredibly convenient. It maintains stable temperatures, which is essential for aquatic life. The heater is reliable and adjusts quickly to changes, ensuring a comfortable environment. Maintenance: Maintenance is a breeze with the easy-access filter media trays. I appreciate the reminder for maintenance intervals, which helps me stay on top of cleaning without guesswork. Noise Level: I found the noise level to be minimal, especially compared to some other filters I've used. Conclusion: Overall, the Oase Thermo Biomaster 250 is an outstanding canister filter that combines effective filtration with convenient heating. It’s perfect for aquarists looking for a reliable solution for their tanks. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their aquarium setup!

This is the second Oase Biomaster thermo filter I have purchased. They are very well made and provide a large media capacity to fill with your choice of media. The internal pre-filter is a fantastic feature - super easy to remove and clean without disrupting the whole filter. Intake and outflow allow for adjustability with the flow to help fine tune your tank. They are extremely quite with no real noticeable noise. The internal heater is another feature that sets this filter apart from the others. I've used many other brands and some of them are great, but none of them have the features the Oase do or are as easy to use.

The pre-filter and the built in heater both make this lightyears ahead of any other canister filter. So easy to maintain, and very quiet, other than the occasional air burp. Only criticism, is that the GPH is measurably lower than the spec indicates. I wouldn't use this for anything bigger than a 90 gallon aquarium despite what the packaging tells you. I didn't knock a star off for this, only because this is something that seems to be true of all filters.

Buen filtro es el segundo que compro, pero el flujo reduce considerablemente, no pretenda mover 4-5 veces el volumen del acuario, fue diseñado para filtración qué debe ser hasta 4 veces el litraje del acuario, considere el más potente mientras le permita el bolsillo pemro también su gasto de luz. Y mas ruido entre mas potente...!!!

Really good external canister filter. I set this up for my 40 gal planted aquarium. I use two of the trays for bio medium, one for sponge and the last one with purigen. My water is crystal clear. Filter is very quiet. I am going to leave the main filter running for a few months but clean the pre filter every month as the pre filter can be easily taken out without dismantling the whole filter. The built in heater is very accurate. Now my tank has lots of room for aquascaping as before I had a Fluval submersible filter plus a heater. At first I thought I can save some money and get Oase without the heater but I heard fish can get burns bumping into the heater, I decided to get the thermal version and have not regretted it. I watched a lot of videos on different canister filters before buying this. All of Green Aqua's aquariums have this filter. Well built filter. Some day I might change the output to a Lily pipe but for now I use the included accessory to get surface agitation.

Al año dejo de funcionar correctamente. Gotea por la parte de la tapa.