Pros/Cons of Various Filtration

[arodiscus]

Hello,

I'm used to hang on back filters because of ease of use/cleaning but recently have been thinking of sumps. I did have an FX5 a while back but that thing was so bulky and such a headache to clean out.

Is a sump just a variation of an fx5? Meaning, less frequent water changes, but when you do go in and clean, its a big pain in the behind to unplug and get your hands really dirty. it seems like such a big job so i have been sticking to aquaclear 110s.

anyone care to explain difference/preference?

 

[kno4te]

It’s kind of a variation of the fx5. Don’t need one or the other. Can do well with either. Sumps can be hidden, quiet, hold more media, easy to clean, and have larger pumps for increased filtration. While canister filters are easier to setup, cheaper (depends), and can be quiet.

Prefer a sump as once it’s setup the maintenance is easy. Always get what is affordable and efficient that you can handle.

 

[PYRU]

If you wrap your head around not needing baffles sumps are so easy and really quiet.

The best filtration I've used is the pressurized filter like an ultima. You back flush and its really nice if you have a big tank with big waste producers. They're expensive though like $500+

 

[duanes]

A sump can be anything you want it to be, it can hold whatever kind of media you choose.
I have had planted sumps (with crustaceans), 50 gallon barrels as sumps, I've even used a pond as a sump for an outdoor aquarium to help keep the temp stable.

Below a 50 gal barrel as a sumps

and a 40 gallon breeder tank as a planted sump

below a 75 gallon tank as a sump with a bio-tower that works for 5 tanks

Sumps can handle 1 tank or many depending on size, and ability to hold media.
They don't need to be directly underneath a tank, they can be offset in anothre room, or closet, even on a floor below. They can hold heaters, other unsightly gear, any type media you can imagine.
A friend had a salt water tank in his living room, with a large sump in the basement for easy maintenance, control salt creep, to help keep temp stable, and eliminate water movement, and pump sound.
I've always done DIY sumps until my latest, but only because it was included with the tank.

 

[RemainVayne]

I'm using two 50g totes plumbed together, without baffles, as my sump. Super easy, super cheap, and amazing le effective. Holds a ton of media and was easy to plumb a line to my basement floor drain as an overflow for my drip system.

 

[Ulu]

If you have time to build a sump I think it is worth it. There's lot more thought involved than just hanging on a HOB or hoses for a canister, so be aware of that commitment.

 

[fishaccordingtosteve.com]

Sumps seem to be a next level of commitment...I have always used the Aquaclear for their ease of use and cleaning. Anything you put in a sump, you can put in an Aquaclear! Also it is far less messy. Every single pic of a sump I see it is always disgusting.

 

[RemainVayne]

Sumps seem to be a next level of commitment...I have always used the Aquaclear for their ease of use and cleaning. Anything you put in a sump, you can put in an Aquaclear! Also it is far less messy. Every single pic of a sump I see it is always disgusting.

Maybe a higher commitment, but the commitment level most fish keepers have to cleaning HOBs and canisters is FAR lower than those with sumps.

And I think it's a lot easier to see mulm in a glass/acrylic sump simply because they're clear in material. My 7 various HOBs and 3 canisters have looked just as dirty when it comes to cleaning time...

 

[isde02]

Sumps seem to be a next level of commitment...I have always used the Aquaclear for their ease of use and cleaning. Anything you put in a sump, you can put in an Aquaclear! Also it is far less messy. Every single pic of a sump I see it is always disgusting.

You can't put a heater in a aquaclear....or anywhere near as much biomedia. You can't upgrade the pump for more gph either. Check out the what's under your tank thread, there's plenty of people that have neat clean sumps.

 

[Ulu]

My very simple 30g with 10g sump . . . no baffles. (This sump has no provision for automatic siphon reset, yet. The overflow needs a standpipe and basin to retain prime.) There are 3 concentric plastic containers in a 10g glass tank with Plexiglas lids.
View attachment 1357983
I posted this to show just how simple an effective heated sump can be.

Water drains into a PVC 3" pipe wier, & siphons thru 3/4" PVC into a 24oz plastic cup "silencer" and flows over through a plastic mesh and screen strainer/distributor. This sits in a 2g plastic jug with top removed. There is a layer of floss between 2 of these strainers, which are rain gutter strainers, cut to fit.

Thence down thru lava rock and out the bottom of the jug thru 2 big holes. The jug sits on some plastic mesh so water can exit. It sits in a shallow pan of aquarium gravel, so the filtered water rises up thru the gravel.

It flows past/thru 2 air-powered Bacto-surge sponge filters,and into the return pump. This is a $20 pond pump, using garden hose, to a "hook" of PVC pipe, returning to the tank. It has a hole at the waterline to prevent reverse siphoning.

There is a 250 watt heater in the sump. The sump runs at 78F, and the tank runs 76F.

Currently it houses one 9" Sailfin Pleco and one blue Malawi Peacock.