Always go with the larger tank. Unless both is an option.
125 vs 180 pros & cons
- Thread starter aussieman57
- Start date
Have to agree if money isn't an issue I'd go 180
Sumps are easy - Just imagine your canister filter is now a fish tank!
Your return pump is effectively no different than the output on a canister.
The big advantage of a sump is the sheer amount of options and space you will have for different media types and styles, dependent on how you set it up you can add a refugium which will drastically reduce your nitrates and number of necessary water changes - dependent on what you use for your mechanical filtration you can easily pull and clean sections of filter floss, sponges etc to remove as much waste as possible before it breaks down, everything is basically just much more accessible.
Biggest thing would just be to always make sure you've got plenty of water in the system before leaving town, if things were to evaporate below your overflow your return bump will run the sump dry, burn itself out and you'd lose your BB in the process
Sumps are easy - Just imagine your canister filter is now a fish tank!
Your return pump is effectively no different than the output on a canister.
The big advantage of a sump is the sheer amount of options and space you will have for different media types and styles, dependent on how you set it up you can add a refugium which will drastically reduce your nitrates and number of necessary water changes - dependent on what you use for your mechanical filtration you can easily pull and clean sections of filter floss, sponges etc to remove as much waste as possible before it breaks down, everything is basically just much more accessible.
Biggest thing would just be to always make sure you've got plenty of water in the system before leaving town, if things were to evaporate below your overflow your return bump will run the sump dry, burn itself out and you'd lose your BB in the process
I do above-the-tank sumps (AKA dump filters) - don't requiring drilling or dorking with overflows, can run even a large tank on a relatively small pump or powerhead (because there is very little head loss). They can even look nice if you use of a planter or some nice looking container.
As for 125g vs. 180g I'd go with the 180g any day - much larger tank and same 6' space that it will fit into. No matter the size of the tank - 125g or 180g - you'll still need to have a quarantine tank / tank for recovery after fish get beat up. The kinds of fish you describe aren't usually that nasty but breeding can result in hyper-aggression to other fish and to females of pairs, especially.
As an aside, other than maybe G. balzanii I wouldn't mix Gymnogeophagus with Amazonian cichlids like Heros. Gymnos won't thrive in the constant tropical temperatures.
As for 125g vs. 180g I'd go with the 180g any day - much larger tank and same 6' space that it will fit into. No matter the size of the tank - 125g or 180g - you'll still need to have a quarantine tank / tank for recovery after fish get beat up. The kinds of fish you describe aren't usually that nasty but breeding can result in hyper-aggression to other fish and to females of pairs, especially.
As an aside, other than maybe G. balzanii I wouldn't mix Gymnogeophagus with Amazonian cichlids like Heros. Gymnos won't thrive in the constant tropical temperatures.
I guess I have to do a little research and see pics of what these systems look like. As far as the Gymno's they are all in species specific unheated tanks.
I would argue that the return pump on a sump is somewhat different than a canisters. With a closed loop system like a can you dont have to worry about head losses, effectively water in=water out.
Whereas on a sump your head height plays a significant role in choosing the size and power of your pump. Complicated plumbing will also restrict the flow from your pump so you must factor that in as well.
When setting up your sump you also have to make sure it has enough volume to contain the drained water from your tank in the even of a power outage...dont have to consider that with a can.
They are a bit trickier than cans but once set up right they are superior in almost every way.
Whereas on a sump your head height plays a significant role in choosing the size and power of your pump. Complicated plumbing will also restrict the flow from your pump so you must factor that in as well.
When setting up your sump you also have to make sure it has enough volume to contain the drained water from your tank in the even of a power outage...dont have to consider that with a can.
They are a bit trickier than cans but once set up right they are superior in almost every way.
Bigger footprint is better for most cichlids. They'll have more room to set up territory and setting up vertical sight breaks and safe spaces is much harder.
My 150 is the exact dimensions you are looking for...
But I turned it into my sump?
But I turned it into my sump?
Same general concept, but yes you're absolutely correct gotta factor in for the max water below the overflow line
