I'm guessing that your opinion is solely based on a bad experience YOU had with a sump. That's fair enough if somethings died down there but a sump run properly and maintained regularly DOES NOT smell. That is a fact.
2 canisters vs sump for 180-210 gallon tank
- Thread starter midasman714
- Start date
I'm guessing that your opinion is solely based on a bad experience YOU had with a sump. That's fair enough if somethings died down there but a sump run properly and maintained regularly DOES NOT smell. That is a fact.
of course, if you read my previous post again it clearly says IN MY OPINION. and thats a fact
This is a good point though. How does a Sump smell different then your tank water? If your sump smelled bad your tank water would smell bad too. Ive never had a Sump smell bad or any different then a fish tank. Now my skimmer on my salt system.....wow that was a bad smell soooo bad. But all skimmers that are doing their jobs smell bad.
I think the main point is weight. But you are going to get a 180 or 210 so I guess you are aware of the weight behind big tanks. For a tank of these sizes you would probably run a 75 to 125 for a sump, another possible thousand pounds or so to add to your weight calculations.
Second point for me would be if drilled already or not and type of glass. Since you can't drill tempered glass at all.
If it was me and weight was not an issue. Predrilled or not would make the determination. I don't think I could do it, drill a tank I just paid a mess of cash for.
Second point for me would be if drilled already or not and type of glass. Since you can't drill tempered glass at all.
If it was me and weight was not an issue. Predrilled or not would make the determination. I don't think I could do it, drill a tank I just paid a mess of cash for.
In our house there's lots of peculiar smells. The dog stinks when it's been out rolling around, the guinea pig always stinks, my 14 year lad, boy does he stink at times, I even raise an eyebrow at the wife on occasion. And me, when i've had a curry, oh yes, I reek. But never ever do my fish tanks smell.
i have 2 x 180 gallon
1 is 6ft x 2.5ft x 2ft - filtered with 2 canister. A ejet 3388 and a jebo 104
1 is 5ft x 3ft x 2ft - filtered with a sump that is 5ft x 1ft using a sunsun 5800l/hr sub pump
if i have the space, i would prefer using the sump but the sump would means i can only have 1 tier.
Pro: easier maintainence and more media allowed
Cons: waste of space as compared to my 2 tier tank
the canisters would allow me to have a 2 tier tank which is what i currently have.
a 6ft x 2ft x 2ft at the bottom and the 6ft x 2.5ft x 2ft at the top. both filtered with 2 canisters each.
1 is 6ft x 2.5ft x 2ft - filtered with 2 canister. A ejet 3388 and a jebo 104
1 is 5ft x 3ft x 2ft - filtered with a sump that is 5ft x 1ft using a sunsun 5800l/hr sub pump
if i have the space, i would prefer using the sump but the sump would means i can only have 1 tier.
Pro: easier maintainence and more media allowed
Cons: waste of space as compared to my 2 tier tank
the canisters would allow me to have a 2 tier tank which is what i currently have.
a 6ft x 2ft x 2ft at the bottom and the 6ft x 2.5ft x 2ft at the top. both filtered with 2 canisters each.
Sump doesn't have to be below the tanks it can reside next to it or in the basement or behind or even above, as long as water can flow into it then it's all good. Above is a good option only problem is you need a pump in your tank.
Any space the sump takes can be substituted with a tank...
I use sumps, with about 20 different tanks, on many different tiers (levels), with about 5 or more tanks per sump.
I find although canisters to do a good job at sequestering detritus, and making a tank appear to be clean (clear), that often masks the real degraded water quality issue of the sequestered (swept under the rug, yet still in the tank) detritus sitting in uncleaned cans, so unless that detritus is regularly purged from the can, produces high nitrate, clear water, yet chemically saturated.
To me the accessibility of a sump for maintenance far out weighs the non-user friendliness of cans.
I also often don't always put sumps right under tank, they can be off set, or even in another room, on a lower floor, in a closet or even in a basement to avoid water movement noise.
I also like the many more filtration options (restricted only by ones imagination) offered when using sumps.
An example in the pic below.
An off set sump, with a 4ft tall biological/fractionation unit in it, all heaters, filter socks and other unsightly gear in the sump away from display tank view, yet totally open to ease in maintenance.
I find although canisters to do a good job at sequestering detritus, and making a tank appear to be clean (clear), that often masks the real degraded water quality issue of the sequestered (swept under the rug, yet still in the tank) detritus sitting in uncleaned cans, so unless that detritus is regularly purged from the can, produces high nitrate, clear water, yet chemically saturated.
To me the accessibility of a sump for maintenance far out weighs the non-user friendliness of cans.
I also often don't always put sumps right under tank, they can be off set, or even in another room, on a lower floor, in a closet or even in a basement to avoid water movement noise.
I also like the many more filtration options (restricted only by ones imagination) offered when using sumps.
An example in the pic below.
An off set sump, with a 4ft tall biological/fractionation unit in it, all heaters, filter socks and other unsightly gear in the sump away from display tank view, yet totally open to ease in maintenance.
