Questions about filtering large (180+) tanks

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RyanM

RyanM

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Oct 13, 2016
250
122
61
Canton, OH
Planning to upgrade my 125 next year to something larger in the 180-240g range. My main concern is how to filter. It would be fairly easy, using a couple of FX6 like I have done in the past, but the problem is that using even one on my 125g heats the tank up to 78-79 degrees. I like to maintain my CA cichlids at 72-73 degrees during the winter.

Obviously the answer would be to just use a sump, but the tank would be in our main living area and I like the tank to be a quiet as possible. From my reef days a few years back, no matter how I plumbed or how quiet of a return pump I used it was impossible to not have something of a constant waterfall sound.

Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?
 
Are you sure the FX6 is a major cause of heat? In other words, are you saying that one FX6 could raise the tank from 72 to 78?

Seems unlikely given the nature or it and it's wattage. Certainly could be a contributor, but my calculators aren't indicating the effect should be anything close to that.
 
Drstrangelove said:
Are you sure the FX6 is a major cause of heat? In other words, are you saying that one FX6 could raise the tank from 72 to 78?
Click to expand...

Yes, in my 125g I couldn't get the temperature below 77-78 when running an FX6. I took it off about a month ago and the temperature almost immediately dropped to 73-74.
 
I have a 180 with a sump in my living room where the family watch TV etc. It is possible to reduce noise as you are already aware but I don't think too many run completely silent sump systems. I use my wife as a gauge of how noisy it is. If i've been tinkering, at maintainance time for example, and i haven't quite put everything back together just perfect, then it might be a little bit more splashy and gurgly than usual and boy will she let me know.

I have my system set up now where she very rarely says anything. In fact when the tele's on you can hardly hear my tank, you have to turn the tele down to hear the faint gurgle. It took a while to achieve this. It's all about diffusing and breaking up the sound of the water as it gushes to your sump, I do this with coarse sponges using them to absorb the sound if that makes sense. Also, I find the angle at which the water hits the sponges can make a difference.

Also, one of the biggest factors is turnover. A 10x turnover is going to be a lot noisier than a 4x turnover for example. If you have mega turnover rates in a living area noise is something you'll just have to get used to.
 
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esoxlucius said:
I have a 180 with a sump in my living room where the family watch TV etc. It is possible to reduce noise as you are already aware but I don't think too many run completely silent sump systems. I use my wife as a gauge of how noisy it is. If i've been tinkering, at maintainance time for example, and i haven't quite put everything back together just perfect, then it might be a little bit more splashy and gurgly than usual and boy will she let me know.

I have my system set up now where she very rarely says anything. In fact when the tele's on you can hardly hear my tank, you have to turn the tele down to hear the faint gurgle. It took a while to achieve this. It's all about diffusing and breaking up the sound of the water as it gushes to your sump, I do this with coarse sponges using them to absorb the sound if that makes sense. Also, I find the angle at which the water hits the sponges can make a difference.

Also, one of the biggest factors is turnover. A 10x turnover is going to be a lot noisier than a 4x turnover for example. If you have mega turnover rates in a living area noise is something you'll just have to get used to.
Click to expand...

My other concern with running overflow/sump is the tweaking/maintenance factor you just gave. I loved the FX6's ability to run for a few months with no intervention.
 
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