Hi, I'm currently in the process of setting up a 150 gallon ca/sa cichlid tank. I'm thinking of having the overflow run right into filter socks, that being my mechanical filtration and then having a large section for biological filtration filled with fluval biomax ceramic things..... Then a small section for carbon and stuff like that.... Then a last section for my return pump which will probably be a quiet one pro 4000. Being that I'm a kid money is kind of tight.... The reason for me using a 20gallon long is that I have two just laying around the house. I'm just not sure if it'll be big enough. Does anyone see an issue with my setup?
20 gallon sump for 150 gal cichlid tank?
- Thread starter Devin VandeVelde
- Start date
I was also looking at one of these.... http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0089...sr=8-2&pi=SL75_QL70&keywords=sun+sun+canister
20G is fine. Why would you think it's too small while at the same time looking at a filter that is much smaller than 20G?
You don't even need to go with chambers if you don't want to. An open tank setup will work almost as well, and better than in some designs I've seen. There's lots of good info already on site, do a search for sump and start reading.
No carbon needed usually.
You don't have a location listed, but if you live in or around the UK I'd recommend alfa grog over the fluval, it has more surface area and is much cheaper.
You don't even need to go with chambers if you don't want to. An open tank setup will work almost as well, and better than in some designs I've seen. There's lots of good info already on site, do a search for sump and start reading.
No carbon needed usually.
You don't have a location listed, but if you live in or around the UK I'd recommend alfa grog over the fluval, it has more surface area and is much cheaper.
Something to consider is how low your overflow is in the tank and how much water that would displace incase of a power outage. Once you start filling your sump with media it will hold less than 20 gallons. If the power goes out and your tank continues to drain and you don't have enough room in the sump for excess water you will have a flood. 20G seems on the small side to me.
I have a couple of these units, and they work well. For a 150gal tank, you should use at least 2 of these units....although, I would recommend 3 for optimum filtration.
+1. If you choose to go the sump route, I would use at least a 55gal.
