Make a sump or buy a FX5?

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Newt

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2005
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Michigan's UP
I have a little money coming in soon and I'm determined to spend it on myself this time (seems like I'm always spending on the kids;))

I want to get a new filter for the 180 gallon, but can't decide if I should buy a FX5 or make a sump.

The sump would be made from a 33L. I've never had a sump and the plumbing/overflow thing scares me a little. Plus, I'd have to buy the overflow box, tubing, and pump. The FX5 seems a lot easier to me.

What would you do?
 
(did you meen 33L or 33g? cause 33L is only like 10g very small for a sump.)
personally on a 180g and with that size of a tank for a sump, i would go with the FX5.
with a 180g you would probably want to make a sump at least 55g/210L or so.
just my opinion though.
 
I've got 3 FX5's and they are easy. I'm an over-40 female (ha!) and I hooked them all up myself in no time and I'm the only one that services them-every 2 wks. I can't imagine it gets any easier than these filters.
 
You can make an overflow from PVC pipe without needing a box. You would need a minimum of one length of pvc pipe (sized based on the flow of the pump you chose to buy), one "T" piece, five "L" pieces, one end cap and a check valve for airline tubing. There is a thread somewhere around here on how to do it. The problem comes in matching the flow of the pump to the overflow. I started with 1" and worked my way up to 1.5" pvc in trying to match it up. So, price-wise you SHOULD end up ahead on going the sump route.
That said, the fx5 solution is SO MUCH EASIER!
 
Well if you want 1 or the other which I suppose you do. I say sump but not 33L. You want to go the a 55Gal oe something close. Bulid it with alot of mec filteration in the first compartment. Then lots of bio fo the second, and a settling compartment/ return pump area fo the last. May I also suggest that you buy a tupperware 3 drawr chest to fit inside the sunp so you can go biggest to smallest in the drawrs for the mec filter pads. It's super easy to clean this way.

I'm sure I turned you aganst a sump by now but it 's a great wY TO GO IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE diY KNOWLEGE OR DRIVE in you. Sorry for the caps lock.

Good luck and post a pic hen you get what you get.
 
Sump all the way!
 
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