Quick answer
Choose the AllPondSolutions 1400EF+ if green water is part of your problem, because it pairs the 1400L/H canister with a built-in 9W UV stage. Choose the EF2 if you want the same flow rating in a design rebuilt around the parts that fail first, and you do not need UV built in.
What separates these two 1400L/H canisters
On paper the headline number is identical: both are rated at 1400 litres per hour and both are intended for tanks approaching 600 litres. That is where the similarity stops being useful. The 1400EF+ spends its design budget on filtration stages and UV; the EF2 spends it on the hardware you touch during maintenance.
The 1400EF+ holds biological, mechanical and chemical media in separate layered baskets, so each stage has its own job rather than competing for space in one compartment. The EF2's story is different: AllPondSolutions rebuilt the seals, fittings and priming mechanism, the parts that tend to fail first on a canister that runs for years. Neither approach is automatically better. They solve different frustrations.
The UV trade-off is not free
A built-in 9W UV system is the clearest reason to pick the 1400EF+. It gives you an external filter with UV in one unit, which means one power lead, one place to service, and no separate steriliser plumbed into the return line. If your tank regularly turns green, that convenience is worth real money.
The trade-off is complexity. UV adds a lamp and a quartz sleeve that need occasional attention, and it is one more system inside the canister. If your water is already clear and you simply want reliable mechanical and biological filtration, the EF2 keeps the job simpler. UV is a tool for a specific problem, not a mandatory upgrade.
Price and value in context
At catalog prices of USD 56.94 for the 1400EF+ and USD 59.49 for the EF2, the gap is small, and the 1400EF+ actually sits slightly lower despite carrying the UV hardware. That makes the decision less about budget and more about which design matches your maintenance habits and water issues.
Do not read the prices as a quality ranking. They reflect two different build priorities, not a tier list. Check current pricing before ordering, since catalog prices can change.
Decision rules and trade-offs
- If green water keeps returning: Pick the 1400EF+. The built-in 9W UV stage targets exactly that problem and saves you from plumbing a separate steriliser into the return. Confirm the lamp and sleeve are serviceable before you commit.
- If you want the simplest long-term canister: Pick the EF2. Its design focus is the seals, fittings and priming mechanism, so routine maintenance involves fewer systems to think about. Keep spare seals on hand; they are the first wear item on any canister.
- If you are near the 600-litre ceiling: Both filters are rated for tanks approaching 600 litres, so neither leaves headroom for a heavily stocked tank much beyond that. Match the filter to the tank, not to the hope of upgrading later.
Product facts at a glance
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AllPondSolutions 1400L/H + 9W UV Aquarium External Filter 1400EF+: 1400L/H external canister with a built-in 9W UV system and separate layered baskets for biological, mechanical and chemical media. You get UV and staged media in one unit, which suits tanks fighting green water without adding a separate steriliser.
AllPondSolutions 1400L/H + 9W UV Aquarium External Filter 1400EF+
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AllPondSolutions 1400L/H Aquarium External Filter EF2: The 1400L/H EF2 is part of a range rebuilt around the seals, fittings and priming mechanism, rated for tanks up to 600 litres. If long-term servicing and priming reliability matter more to you than built-in UV, this is the version designed around those wear points.
AllPondSolutions 1400L/H Aquarium External Filter EF2
Which one fits your tank?
Best for
- Aquarists with recurring green water who want UV built into the canister
- Owners who prefer one integrated unit over a filter plus separate steriliser
- Tanks approaching 600 litres that need staged biological, mechanical and chemical media
Not for
- Keepers of clear tanks who want the simplest possible canister and no UV upkeep
- Anyone prioritising priming and seal reliability above all else, who should look at the EF2
- Tanks well beyond 600 litres, where neither filter is rated
