Has anyone every used canister filters as return pumps from a sump. I currently have 2 fluval 305's set up on my 75 gal and a extra 20 gallon siting around. I was thinking I could set the 20 up as a sump with an overflow to keep equipment in and use my canisters as return pumps to still get the filtration out of it. the concern I have is if I set it up like this the intakes would be a couple feet below the outlets and don't know if the canister would have enough power to pump the water up to the main tank with out the help of gravity on the intake?
canister as return pump
- Thread starter aceyoda
- Start date
Most canisters are designed to run with intake/output within 1 to 2 feet. You may be able to get 4 feet of head pressure out of a canister filter but it is ill advised as it will put a lot more strain on the motor and you will run the risk of back-siphoning if you lose power or your pump burns out. I tried running a small Eheim from my sump to the tank and my flow was greatly reduced. I now have it running from the pump side of my sump back into the filter sock. Id say invest in a solid pump as it will be much more efficient.
I agree with samplexample, buy a pump. Look up Laguna max-flo pumps. They're very efficient and very quiet.
I was thinking about doing something very similar. I have a 50 Gallon & two FX5s going on my big tank. I also have a hige table with plenty of space behind the tank. If I put a FX5 pulling from the big tank dumping in the 50 gallon and the other FX5 pulling from the 50 gallon back into the big tank would this increase filtration at all or just be an annoyance. Obviously I would fill the 50 gallon with media & sponges
There is a good chance of a flood if you do that. What if one canister pump fails? Also there can be differences in output flow. The one canister pulling from the main tank will fill up with more debris much faster then the canister used for the return and will eventually effect it's flow. Trying to match up flow is going to be a pain in the butt. You're better off using both canisters as the return and using a hang over the back overflow or a PVC overflow for the drain. But i think you might run into problems between the tank and sump height for the overflow to work unless you drill.
Haha yeah I got thinking about it later today lol
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