ADA Super Jet Filter series is the high-end canister filter for planted tanks and its appearance is often said to be the most sophisticated and pristine. I have been using ES-150 for my Wabi-kusa Wall 60, and ES-300 for my 60P aquascape for over 2 years. Today, I would like to take a closer look at these products and deliver a long-term review.


1. Spec

Specifications/
Silent design pump
Operation noise: less than 35dB (at the distant of 1m)
Operation frequency: 50/60Hz

Filtration Media/
ES-150 Ver.2 Anthracite 1L (supplied in net), Bio Cube 0.5L
ES-300 Ver.2 Anthracite 2L (supplied in net), Bio Cube 1L

Pump Specification/ ES-150 Ver.2 Flow Rate 3.5L/min, Maximum Pump Head 1.3m
ES-300 Ver.2 Flow Rate 6.0L/min, Maximum Pump Head 1.5m

Voltage/
ES-150 Ver.2 3W(12DCV)
ES-300 Ver.2 6W(12DCV)

ES-150 Ver.2 Spin type accessories/
Lily Pipe Spin P-1 (Ø10), Lily Pipe Mini V-2 (Ø13), Spring Washer SS, Clear Hose Ø10 (9 / 12mm), Clear Hose Ø13 (12 / 16mm), Hose Band Ø10 x 1, Hose Band Ø17 x1, Stabilization Mat, Cleaning Powder

ES-300 Ver.2 Lily type accessories/
Lily Pipe P-1 (Ø10), New Lily Pipe V-3 (Ø13), Spring Washer SS, Clear Hose Ø10 (9 / 12mm), Clear Hose Ø13 (12 / 16mm), Hose Band Ø10 x 1, Hose Band Ø17 x 1, Stabilization Mat, Cleaning Powder

ES-300 Ver.2 Spin type accessories/
Lily Pipe Spin P-1 (Ø10), Lily Pipe Mini V-2 (Ø13), Spring Washer SS, Clear Hose Ø10 (9 / 12mm), Clear Hose Ø13 (12 / 16mm), Hose Band Ø10 x 1, Hose Band Ø17 x1, Stabilization Mat, Cleaning Powder

* New pump needs its designated top panel. Power adopter has been updated as well.

ADA official site

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2. Appearance 

The beauty of this filter is controversial for certain people, but supposedly, Super Jet Filter is the most stunning canister filter in the world. In fact, since its design has not been changed for over a decade, I think it's safe to say it is very popular among aquascapers.

The aspect which stands out the most is the stainless material of the body. The design is revolutionary, but there is no wonder how ADA got their eyes on stainless. The head office is located in Niigata prefecture, which is famous for being a major production area of metal materials including stainless.

Speaking of Niigata, it used to be one of the largest production areas of glass material. Lily Pipes are hand-made products and they create an ideal flow of water in your tanks.

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3. Setup

The anthracite and Bio Cube are included in the product as the default media.

Bio Cube (from the official site):

Bio Cube is biological filtration media, made of polyurethane. It has a large surface area for microorganisms to colonize. Great durability for long and stable performance.

I think these filter media are totally reliable for your first filtration. After a few months, I changed the anthracite to Bio Rio just like recommended by ADA. Here is the description of Bio Rio from the official site:

Bio Rio is the basic of biological filtration. With live bacteria on Bio Rio, Biological filtration starts quickly after the initial setup. Mainly made of pumice stone with a porous surface, which is ideal environment for beneficial bacteria to colonize. It also enables long, stable filtration.

The setup process was simple and I could finish within 10 minutes. I assume Super Jet Filter is a perfect canister filter for beginners due to its simple design. However, the glass pipes are extremely delicate and fragile. It literally breaks much much easier than you expect... But you will get used to it and master how to treat them. In fact I bloke three Lily Pipes in the first few months but after that, I haven't broken any for over a year!

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4. Maintenance

Maintaining Super Jet Filter is mostly cleaning the glass pipes. And this is where you are most likely to break the glass! The detachment of the Lily Pipes requires concentration and pulling it will easily split the pipe into two pieces. Once you have successfully detached the pipes, use Spring Washer to clean the inside.

To keep the pipes perpetually clean and clear, you need to clean them at least once a week. On the other hand, the filter media only needs to be washed once a month and that is why I think the canister filters are recommended for beginners. With Super Jet Filter, you can make a beautiful aquascape without spending your precious time on maintenance. While it makes the water clear for you, you can sit and watch the elegance of your creation.

5. My Thoughts on the Product

I am a huge fan of Super Jet Filter and ADA but that does not necessarily mean I only choose ADA for all of my scapes. For Mini S, I am currently using EHEIM 2211 and 2215 for the 90P. The biggest reason I chose EHEIM for some of my scapes is the price. Though I could afford a Super Jet Filter, which is more than twice as expensive as the EHEIM Classic Series, I decided to save some money and purchase more plants. By doing this, I was able to create an aquascape with a variety of aquatic plants. The canister filter is the heart of Nature Aquarium. But I am OK with choosing something different from ADA only if I can make some improvements to what's INSIDE the tank.

I hope this article will help you choose your canister filter. Several months ago, I wrote an article on the comparison of the EHEIM Classic series and ADA Super Jet Filter. Check it out now and develop your ideas for your scapes!