20 gallon sump better then two fluval 404's?

[Colin0714]

Are do it yourself sumps that much better then the store bought canisters? Are the pumps quitter then the canisters? I've got an 20 gallon tank sitting in my garage that I've been thinking about turning into a project. Would be nice to be able to hide the heaters under the tank. My tank is a 90 gallon with two oscars and a pleco, nothing as fancy as some of you on here but I like em. The return pumps you use are they just power heads? I notice my tank is alot quitter with just the heads running and the filters off. It'd be nice if it were that loud all the time. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Tilapia Buttikoferi]

I would also enjoy to hear input on this subject, as I myself am running a Fluval 404, aquaclear 200, and penguin 170 bio wheel, and powerhead all on the same 100 gallon tank. Water quality is very good, but I wonder if I could get more BB power with a sump and some polishing pads/socks etc..

 

[Liam]

well you've got to consider that they are two completely different filters in the way they filter our water. so, Imo, it's unfair to compare them.

well in a canister you have anaerobic(?) beneficial bacteria
and in a sump you have aerobic beneficial bacteria.

and with a canister imo you'd get much more bio room for two canisters then a 20 gal sump.

I see it Canister - more potential for bio filtration
Sump - Much better water polisher and mechanical filter.

remember that you can have different size sumps and canisters, set up your canisters and sumps differently so it WILL vary from each sump to sump and canister to canister, and it depends on your bio load aswell. Remember you can mix and match filters aswell.

 

[heavyhitter]

well in a canister you have anaerobic(?) beneficial bacteria
and in a sump you have aerobic beneficial bacteria.

and with a canister imo you'd get much more bio room for two canisters then a 20 gal sump.

I see it Canister - more potential for bio filtration
Sump - Much better water polisher and mechanical filter.

I disagree.
Your HOB, canister, or sump will ALL contain aerobic nitrifiying bacteria.
A 20 gallon sump can hold more media than 2, 404's it is all how you design it.
Do you want to include a wet/dry into the sump?

 

[Colin0714]

I think I would. In those fluvals there's just the one big sponge filter for and then those little ceramic pieces. I would think you could get more media into a sump. Does it matter if its aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, it all works toward the same result. Ideally, I'd like to have the algae screen set up going with the lights.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180385

So the answer to my first question, more media in a sump will work better then two canisisters. I guess my last question for the board would be are there sumps pumps out there that are queiter then the fluvals?

Thanks for your responses.

Colin

 

[wow_it_esploded]

Does it matter if its aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, it all works toward the same result.

They are completely different bacteria and they do completely different things.

 

[Tilapia Buttikoferi]

They are completely different bacteria and they do completely different things.

Then explain, I'm waiting..

 

[CJB]

I see it Canister - more potential for bio filtration
Sump - Much better water polisher and mechanical filter.

I think you have these mixed up.

 

[Liam]

I see it Canister - more potential for bio filtration
Sump - Much better water polisher and mechanical filter.

I think you have these mixed up.

I don't think so? well if I had a sump I'd set it up for water polishing. imo, just the way I see it, I see sumps are loaded with scrubbies, bioballs and a heck of a lot filtersocks/filter floss/50 micron things. and scrubbies and the others (bar bioballs) would be used as mechanical (scrubbies both). I wouldn't put any of those in my canister, except for maybe filterfloss. If I'm wrong enlighten me.

 

[Liam]

I disagree.
Your HOB, canister, or sump will ALL contain aerobic nitrifiying bacteria.
A 20 gallon sump can hold more media than 2, 404's it is all how you design it.
Do you want to include a wet/dry into the sump?

yes, but what I meant was you'd find more anaerobic BB in a canister.