Drilled Fish Tank with Sump,

[AquaAlex1993]

As many of you know, I am on the market for a larger aquarium for my South American fish as I am desperately in need of an upgrade. I am looking at 6' 125-180 gallon aquariums but they only ones I can find are drilled with sumps. I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD ONE OF THESE TANKS NOR KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. I am simple fish keeper. Tank, Stand, Hang on Back filters, heaters, lids, and light.
The best tanks I find and am interested in, almost always are drilled and include sump and I'm like Damn, might have to pass on this deal. I really kinda feel like a freshwater tank does not need to be drilled or have a sump.... save that for saltwater. What the heck am I going to put in the sump for freshwater???
If I were to get the tank, what do I need to know and do? I know not using the sump is out of the question since the tank is drilled. I have never had a sump before. So basically this would be a newbie tank for me.
Does this mean I will no longer need HOB filters? What equipment would I need for this tank? How do I do water changes with a drilled tank with sump?
The money isn't the issue, most are priced awesome, it's just I am intimidated by the drilled tanks, afraid they will leak and I have no idea about anything with sumps.
But, time is of the essence here so I may just face my fear and get one. I am hoping MFK'ERS can help me learn as much as I can to prepare myself.

 

[Benno87]

Watch plenty of YouTube videos on sumps and do heaps of searching on here( there are plenty of awesome sump threads from start to finish on here) and you will soon realise how much better and easier they are. A couple of days solid research and everything will click for you. Heaps more water to play with, heaps more filter media and heaps easier than pulling cannisters and hob apart which equals happier fish. Water changes will be no different. You won't regret going with the sump.

 

[AquaAlex1993]

Watch plenty of YouTube videos on sumps and do heaps of searching on here( there are plenty of awesome sump threads from start to finish on here) and you will soon realise how much better and easier they are. A couple of days solid research and everything will click for you. Heaps more water to play with, heaps more filter media and heaps easier than pulling cannisters and hob apart which equals happier fish. Water changes will be no different. You won't regret going with the sump.

Good to know will do!

 

[AquaAlex1993]

So I know I will need to get a return pump.
What do I use for filtration? Are sponge filters good for sumps?

 

[Zanson]

Don't get a 125. It's like a 6' 55. Just too thin for the footprint especially with the overflows (assuming your looking at aqueon tanks)

I would go 180 (6x2x2), or a 120 (4x2x2)

I in the process of upgrading from a 125 to 2 120 gallon tanks. Checkout my build in the diy section for ideas. I'd be glad to get some videos on how I set it up if your interested.

For a sump, there are many ways you can set them up, but generally you can use filter pads (large black sponge blocks for mechanical filtration) or filter socks (felt like mechanical filtration) and a bio media of some sort. I use seachem matrix and love the stuff, but ceramic media will work as well. For a return grab a decent dc pump with 2000+ gph capacity and run it at half power. Gives you room to grow or reconfigure.

You can also put an area in your sump to grow plants that will remove nitrates from the water without worrying about fish pulling them up.

 

[AquaAlex1993]

Don't get a 125. It's like a 6' 55. Just too thin for the footprint especially with the overflows (assuming your looking at aqueon tanks)

I would go 180 (6x2x2), or a 120 (4x2x2)

I in the process of upgrading from a 125 to 2 120 gallon tanks. Checkout my build in the diy section for ideas. I'd be glad to get some videos on how I set it up if your interested.

For a sump, there are many ways you can set them up, but generally you can use filter pads (large black sponge blocks for mechanical filtration) or filter socks (felt like mechanical filtration) and a bio media of some sort. I use seachem matrix and love the stuff, but ceramic media will work as well. For a return grab a decent dc pump with 2000+ gph capacity and run it at half power. Gives you room to grow or reconfigure.

You can also put an area in your sump to grow plants that will remove nitrates from the water without worrying about fish pulling them up.

Good to know about the 125. I agree with you, it looks like Aqueon for some reason made the 125 thin and smaller.
I love the 120's. I use to have one of them, loved it. If I can find one I am going to grab it.
I would love to see some videos of you setting up your tank, that'd be cool.
I have used Seachem Matrix in my HOB filters and loved it, so will put it in my sump along with a few sponge blocks and maybe sponge filters.
On the plants, I'll do some pothos and maybe some easier plants. Is it true that in freshwater you can also use a sump as a grow out tank for small fish like in saltwater?

 

[Gourami Swami]

Good to know about the 125. I agree with you, it looks like Aqueon for some reason made the 125 thin and smaller.
I love the 120's. I use to have one of them, loved it. If I can find one I am going to grab it.
I would love to see some videos of you setting up your tank, that'd be cool.
I have used Seachem Matrix in my HOB filters and loved it, so will put it in my sump along with a few sponge blocks and maybe sponge filters.
On the plants, I'll do some pothos and maybe some easier plants. Is it true that in freshwater you can also use a sump as a grow out tank for small fish like in saltwater?

Just a word of friendly advice, a 120 will be no where near large enough for the fish you have in your 55. I would definitely spring for the 180.
And sumps are great, just think of it as a big open-top canister. I would just load it with filter pads and lava rock, the kind you get at home depot for fire pits. Great cheap DIY bio-media.
Alternatively if you really didn't want to bother with a sump, you could get some caps and close the bulkheads, then just use it as a regular tank. I did this with a 33 long I have that is drilled, I just closed it up and used an aquaclear. I would recommend using the sump though especially if the tank comes with it.

 

[duanes]

A sump is almost the same as a hang on the back, just much bigger, and able to handle much more media (bio, mechanical etc etc) it just sits somewhere else other than hanging on the back, so a much healthier option for larger tanks, and fish.
And because you are going for a bigger tank, much more flow will be needed, so the size pump that a sump can handle/fit, works to your advantage.
For my tanks I usually use a pump in the minimum 1500gph range.
Another good thing about a sump is all equipment, (heaters, pumps, filter socks etc media is out of sight (not in the main tank cluttering up the view), and can make maintenance easier.
I always put filter socks in the sump where they are easily lifted out and rinsed.
To do water changes, I open a valve, and instead of water flowing to the sump, it flows outside to my garden instead, then, when the level of the sump falls to pump intake level I open the line back up, and add water to the sump. In that way new (often slightly cooler water) is sent to the sump instead of the main tank where it mixes instead of, and before making direct contact with the fish.
One other perk, a sump doesn't need to be directly under a tank, it can be a a store room behind a wall, or even on another floor, in the basement below the tank, so maintenance can be done out of the way of the display.
I started my journey into fresh water sumps, almost 40 years ago, and would never go back.

 

[Zanson]

My 125-300+ gallon system thread... The 125 is now my sump/display tank. anything is possible with a sump

 

[AquaAlex1993]

Just a word of friendly advice, a 120 will be no where near large enough for the fish you have in your 55. I would definitely spring for the 180.
And sumps are great, just think of it as a big open-top canister. I would just load it with filter pads and lava rock, the kind you get at home depot for fire pits. Great cheap DIY bio-media.
Alternatively if you really didn't want to bother with a sump, you could get some caps and close the bulkheads, then just use it as a regular tank. I did this with a 33 long I have that is drilled, I just closed it up and used an aquaclear. I would recommend using the sump though especially if the tank comes with it.

If I do go the 120 gallon route, I will have to rehome some of my fish. I think the main fish I want are my silver dollars, my geos and fancy plecos.
What do the lava rock look like?
I think if I am going to pay the money for the sump, might as well just use it.

A sump is almost the same as a hang on the back, just much bigger, and able to handle much more media (bio, mechanical etc etc) it just sits somewhere else other than hanging on the back, so a much healthier option for larger tanks, and fish.
And because you are going for a bigger tank, much more flow will be needed, so the size pump that a sump can handle/fit, works to your advantage.
For my tanks I usually use a pump in the minimum 1500gph range.
Another good thing about a sump is all equipment, (heaters, pumps, filter socks etc media is out of sight (not in the main tank cluttering up the view), and can make maintenance easier.
I always put filter socks in the sump where they are easily lifted out and rinsed.
To do water changes, I open a valve, and instead of water flowing to the sump, it flows outside to my garden instead, then, when the level of the sump falls to pump intake level I open the line back up, and add water to the sump. In that way new (often slightly cooler water) is sent to the sump instead of the main tank where it mixes instead of, and before making direct contact with the fish.
One other perk, a sump doesn't need to be directly under a tank, it can be a a store room behind a wall, or even on another floor, in the basement below the tank, so maintenance can be done out of the way of the display.
I started my journey into fresh water sumps, almost 40 years ago, and would never go back.

Good to know! I am excited about sumps! Gives me a challenge to look forward to in the aquarium hobby. Are sponge filters good in sumps?

My 125-300+ gallon system thread... The 125 is now my sump/display tank. anything is possible with a sump

Following your thread.