Decisions decisions.

[Randys]

I purchased a 125 gallon Aqueon ensemble from Petsmart and trying to make a decision on how I want to filter it. After my 300 gallon build (sump, bean animal, dc pump, etc) I'm not really in the mood to build another stand from scratch so I'd like to use the Aqueon stand. On a side note, it's amazing how light this particle board stand is built to hold 1,000 pounds of water. Judging from this my 300 gallon stand could hold three Greyhound buses!

So, I've been analyzing and comparing pros and cons of HOB, canisters, and another sump in my specific situation.

Most people like the Aquaclear 110 HOB but I find the 70 I have on my 30 gallon to be kinda finicky. It can be hard to start sometimes and noisy. What other HOBs rank up their with the Aquaclear?

I don't have any experience with canisters and I can definitely see the inherent drawbacks. But if I WERE to go with a canister I'd buy the biggest one available. Does anybody know if the Eheim Classic 2262 or Fluval FX6 will fit in a stand with a 23" tall vertical opening? I can find the size dimensions online but they're not clear if this includes any plumbing coming out of the top. They both look to be fairly tall and even if they DID fit, would it be too tight and awkward to work on during maintenance?

A sump wouldn't fit in the stand without some alterations but I think I could cut an access door in the end, remove a shelf, cut more holes in the partitions, and then reinforce the stand with vertical 2x4s. This would allow me to slide in a 40 gallon long. I've got experience with sumps since I run them on both my 90 and 300. But then again, this would require a lot more work than a HOB or canister. BUT, I'd recoup that time in ease of maintenance.

I'd appreciate any input.
Thanks!

 

[esoxlucius]

I purchased a 125 gallon Aqueon ensemble from Petsmart and trying to make a decision on how I want to filter it. After my 300 gallon build (sump, bean animal, dc pump, etc) I'm not really in the mood to build another stand from scratch so I'd like to use the Aqueon stand. On a side note, it's amazing how light this particle board stand is built to hold 1,000 pounds of water. Judging from this my 300 gallon stand could hold three Greyhound buses!

So, I've been analyzing and comparing pros and cons of HOB, canisters, and another sump in my specific situation.

Most people like the Aquaclear 110 HOB but I find the 70 I have on my 30 gallon to be kinda finicky. It can be hard to start sometimes and noisy. What other HOBs rank up their with the Aquaclear?

I don't have any experience with canisters and I can definitely see the inherent drawbacks. But if I WERE to go with a canister I'd buy the biggest one available. Does anybody know if the Eheim Classic 2262 or Fluval FX6 will fit in a stand with a 23" tall vertical opening? I can find the size dimensions online but they're not clear if this includes any plumbing coming out of the top. They both look to be fairly tall and even if they DID fit, would it be too tight and awkward to work on during maintenance?

A sump wouldn't fit in the stand without some alterations but I think I could cut an access door in the end, remove a shelf, cut more holes in the partitions, and then reinforce the stand with vertical 2x4s. This would allow me to slide in a 40 gallon long. I've got experience with sumps since I run them on both my 90 and 300. But then again, this would require a lot more work than a HOB or canister. BUT, I'd recoup that time in ease of maintenance.

I'd appreciate any input.
Thanks!

Reading through your post I think you know exactly how this is going to play out. Sump all the way. You're already familiar with the many benefits they offer. Other than the initial adaptations to your stand it should be plain sailing, so my advice would be to stick with the tried and trusted.

 

[FreshyFresh]

I think it also depends on what you want to spend and if you've got hardware on hand already for a sump. I get the awesomeness of a sump, they truly are. I've never owned one, but I don't see how they are inherently more problematic than a canister. Both have lots of parts and can put water on your floor.

The rim of that 125g will only fit the largest of HOBs. I've got a few AC 110s and 70s. They can for sure be loud and rattly. I also run a Seachem Tidal 110 on my 75gal tank. The Tidal is a lot smoother/quieter than an AC110, but they're ugly because the pump portion sits in the tank. You can run your own media configuration in the Tidal as well, it's just that if you want to make it OEM shape, it takes some doing because of the odd media basket shape.

I've been all over the map with canisters with name brands and Chinese no-names. I just had a little sunsun 302 die on me after 8yrs of constant use. It didn't really die, it's just that the impeller cover broke on me. It had become brittle over time. Given I paid under $50 shipped, it wasn't worth trying to source parts for it. I replaced it with an Eheim 350 (2215), but to be honest, the build quality of current day Eheim classics is no better than something like a Sunsun.

I really wanted an Oase Biomaster thermo 350 canister because of the ease of maintenance with them, but couldn't justify spending ~$260. That quick access pre-cleaner on the Oase canisters is brilliant.

 

[tlindsey]

If it was me I would waterproof the inside of the stand before putting anything under the stand. AC 110's if you don't want to use a sump. Personally never used Cannister filters.

 

[biguebs]

I have 3 125s running on 3 penguin 350s apiece - with my own media, not the dumb cartridges.. I hate canisters and these tanks are stacked so I can’t really sump them. Weekly 50% WC in each with the python and parameters test out just fine each week.

I have like 8 AC110s/70s in my attic because I got sick of them. Just too finicky. The penguins are extremely cost effective and I painted the back of the tanks black so they blend in pretty well AND most importantly they just keep on trucking. To me the slight performance edge of AC when running wasn’t enough to justify always wondering if they were in fact running. I think I would try tidals next... I won’t go back to the ACs.

 

[FJB]

Not defending, not talking bad about any one type of filter.
For what is worth, I bought the same tank and stand you have, which was a good deal used. I have an FX6, which sits in the center space (with door). The canister sits inside a high-wall plastic pan, which gives some protection in case of minor leaks. So far very happy. Additional filtration are a Penguin 350B and an AquaClear 110. Although I feel the tank is not overstocked, I would have any less filtration in it.
I don't consider that stand the best, but it works in a dry environment and if there are no leaks. Otherwise not recommended. After all, it is particle board.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I am a big fan on one AC 110 and a large canister. the AC gets cleaned weekly, the canister gets cleaned every few months. On my 150g i run 1 AC 110 and 2 Rena Filstar XP3s which are no longer made. If i were setting up today I would simply go with 1 AC110 and Fluval FX4. you don't need more than that on a 125.

 

[Gpdriftwood]

If u don't go with a sump, an fx6 is just under 21" tall to the top of the valves on top.

 

[Oughtsix]

We decided to go against the Aquaclear trend on my daughters axolotl tank and tried the SeaChem HOB filter. We are VERY happy with the choice to try the SeaChem. It is SELF PRIMING!!!, has an adjustable surface skimmer and a bunch of other really nice features. It is like they took all the AquaClear complaints and engineered a HOB to eliminate them.

I have a 20 year old Penguin Emperor that still works perfectly. The SeaChem does have an easier to configure media compartment and holds more media for the size of the filter. I always liked my Penguin Emperor filter though!

I GREATLY prefer a HOB to a canister filter for ease of maintenance but my first choice is a sump when possible.

 

[duanes]

I hate crawling and contorting under kitchen sinks and in cabinets to repair traps, or do maintanece, which may happen only once or twice per year.
So you can imagine how doing regular maintenance of a sump grates my gills a once per week, or a couple times per month (or worse a canister with inherent user "un"-friendliness) . A couple decades back I started taking sumps out from directly under tanks to a more easily accessible off set position, this provides unimpeded access, for removing pumps, media, anything, so less chance of screw ups that spill water on the floor.
Admittedly, sumps aren't the most attractive pieces of feng shui, but can be camouflaged and mildly interesting if planted, or used as refugiums for invertebrates or fry.

Below one of my first attempts, a 75 gal scratched up tank as an offset sump.

One of my latest experiments in off set vein, is placing a 125 gal just a little lower, and to the right of a 180 gal, and using about 6 inches of the 125 as a sump area for both tanks, with the pump and some media, separating it from the rest of the tank with 2" of Porrett Foam.