First notice that I will NOT say: "You Should Have". Whether it's FW or SW fish poop is fish poop and a sump and skimmer is NOT the only way to remove the nutrients from a FOWLR tank. If it was, a lot of suppliers would be out of business.
yes fish poop is fish poop but compare a clownfish poop to tang poop, which is gonna create more ammonia or the need to export it? probably the bigger fish. A canister filter will work OK on a normally stocked tank but he's gonna be stocking his tank on the heavier side.
I'm merely suggesting an easier way to maintain your system without all (what I call) hassle. Hassle (if only to me who likes to keep it as simple as possible) that is totally unnecessary. Requires less space if space is an issue (and even if its not) Less water needed. Less to worry about. IMO much easier to maintain. Offers a wider verity of uses both biological and chemical. Good husbandry is also the key here. Proper timely water changes on a well stocked fish only tank is a must no matter what your using for filtration
I would like to clear up the misconception that having a sump is a hassel. I've had bother a canister filter and a sump and i will never use a canister filter again. In my opinion sumps are the easiest to maintain. If you research and set up the sump the correct way, all you will have to do is empty your skimmer cup every week. Maybe once a month or everywater change clean your return pump. If thats a hassel...than this is the wrong hobby to be in.
Can canister filters be useful and work? Sure... but they require the same amount of maintenance as a sump does, sometimes more. When i had my canister filters there were times i had to clean the entire thing every couple of days.
Having said all this IMO it comes down to what is best for your fish and you. What's best for your fish can be had by several different methods period. What's best for you only you can say Good luck and have fun!
have you ever used a sump?
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Most of the time fish die from disease because of poor water quality. Can a canister do the job? Sure, if maintained correctly. You want to be able to provide the best water quality possible for your fish to live in.
say you live in a area that has a lot of air pollution, you'd wanna make sure your family has the best air quality available to them and you'd want do whatever it takes to get that for them.
ok i think im going for a sump lol. i would feel safer going that way
So if i were to use a 40long would that be ok? and how would i do about seening how to put baffels in? and would a small fuge work in sump too?
if i go with the over flow kit listed earlier. what would be a good return pump? also looking for advise on the skimmer
thanks again
I agree with Russ & Bill on this one. Sump is the way to go. I understand corals produce a very small bioload but the heavy bioload people talk about are from fish...period. I would be more apt to run a junk canister filter on a reef only tank vs a FOWLR tank. Those are going to be some big fish and a big bioload. Why wouldn't you want a big skimmer to clean it up? HOB skimmers are junk too.....it's so much easier with a sump to not only hide the equipment, but more water cycling through the system, chaeto to help with nutriants. I don;t understand how you can get that from a canister filter.
ok i think im going for a sump lol. i would feel safer going that way
So if i were to use a 40long would that be ok? and how would i do about seening how to put baffels in? and would a small fuge work in sump too?
if i go with the over flow kit listed earlier. what would be a good return pump? also looking for advise on the skimmer
thanks again
40 long would work. if there is a petco by you, you should hit them up they have a 1$ a gallon sale on tanks.
make sure that you would be able to fit in your stand , though im sure you wouldn't have an issue with it.
i'd google how to put baffles in a sump, its easy to do.
as far as pumps i'd recommend a quiteone 4000, though otheres might have advice as i've only used quiteones, i have a 4000 and 3000 in my system.
If you want Mark, you can go buy the sump tank and have a glass company cut your baffles for you. You bring all your material with you the meeting this Sunday and we can do a "how to build a sump" class.
40 long would work. if there is a petco by you, you should hit them up they have a 1$ a gallon sale on tanks.
make sure that you would be able to fit in your stand , though im sure you wouldn't have an issue with it.
i'd google how to put baffles in a sump, its easy to do.
as far as pumps i'd recommend a quiteone 4000, though otheres might have advice as i've only used quiteones, i have a 4000 and 3000 in my system.
cool i was just looking at that skimmer, i think im going to go with it
Now that link above you posted with with overflow, is that that size i should get? and would i need 2 holes for intake? then just one for return?
i will keep the quietone pumps in mind
---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:35 PM ----------
Originally Posted by bluwc
If you want Mark, you can go buy the sump tank and have a glass company cut your baffles for you. You bring all your material with you the meeting this Sunday and we can do a "how to build a sump" class.
i prolly wouldnt have tank by then. we can for sure do it at the meeting next time. Can demo drilling my tank too by then lol
I have a quietone on my cube mark, its a nice pump. You will need a bigger one than me, but I only have a 20g sump with about a 700gph going through it.
---------- Post added at 11:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:37 AM ----------
You should get the tank before next weekend....the sale only lasts until the 17th or 18th....petco $1 a gl sale.
cool i was just looking at that skimmer, i think im going to go with it
Now that link above you posted with with overflow, is that that size i should get? and would i need 2 holes for intake? then just one for return?
i will keep the quietone pumps in mind
---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:35 PM ----------
i prolly wouldnt have tank by then. we can for sure do it at the meeting next time. Can demo drilling my tank too by then lol
The way its setup, the 2 wholes for the overflow are used for the drain.
Here's a link to my buddies tank, in the first post you can see how he set his up and how i would recommend you doing yours, but maybe 2 returns, one in each corner.