My 180 is under filtered and i want to add more filtration. I'm broke currently so looking to do it for as cheap as possible. Right now I am running an eheim 2217 and fluval g6. I don't really like either filters and wold like to do a sump. However my tank is not drilled and I have no idea how sumps work or how to set them up. So any sump info would be highly appreciated. is it even possible to hook one up to my tank without drilling into it? my other option is to save up for a nice canister filter like an FX5 to go along with the sump or just trying to save up for two FX5's. any advice would be greatly appreciated.
180 gallon tank filtration
- Thread starter ColeFishing
- Start date
It's possible but definitely not ideal. If drilling your tank isn't an option you can try a DIY pvc overflow, but you'll need to know exactly how everything works before you even start designing your own plumbing. An alternative to that is a HOB overflow, but that will wind up costing more than twice as much as the DIY route and most work via siphon, which has a much greater risk of flooding after a power outage than a drilled or pvc overflow. There are ways to minimize that risk and the hob style will look nicer than pvc in your tank, but if price is a concern that might not be worth the added cost. A hob overflow would also be easier to setup though so it's all something for you to consider. I've spent the last 2 weeks researching sumps and still haven't decided on a final design or whether I want to just keep dealing with annoying canister filters, which after looking into diy sumps they just seem like overpriced 5 gallon buckets. For around the same price of an fx5, I can build a sump with twice the flow rate (2000gph vs 900) and like 10 times as much bio filtration. Fx5's are great for mechanical but they're a pain to clean regularly and aren't nearly as flexible as a sump. This kit by eshopps is only $70 more than an fx5 and includes everything you need for a hob sump setup besides the pump http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003OY922G/ref=mw_dp_sim_ss2?pi=SL500_SY125
How broke are you and how badly does it need more filtration? Bio or mechanical? Sponge filter would be hard to beat for cheap bio, or a second hand fx5 if you can find one for a good price. Plenty of cheap DIY options, you could build some sort of overhead trickle tower very cheaply, pump would be the only big cost
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get an overflow box(http://www.petsolutions.com/C/Wet-Dry-Aquarium-Filters/I/Overflow-Boxes.aspx) and a tank off craigslist and build a sump, its not hard you can find all of the info you need on here.