Will be setting up a 900L after xmas but still working out best way to run it. Tanks 8'x2'x2', will have sand substrate and be well planted. It will be home to a BGK and a Leopard Sailfin Plec as the main residents. Poss move my 4 Pim Pictus cats in at a later date. Would like to hear some ideas on filtering this set up. I'm torn between several external canister filters ( ie. 2/3 FX5's or Large Eheim's) or going for a sump. I've never used a sump before so any pro's and con's folks can provide would be very helpful. I always understock my tanks and tend to overfilter them. Thanks in advance.
What filtration system to use??
- Thread starter sunnybunny
- Start date
If you are going for a planted tank, you should run canister filters. Sumps will cause a lot of surface agitation, which will in turn cause you to lose a lot of dissolved Co2 in the tank.
Pros and Cons for the sump idea you asked about.
Pro: very easy to clean and bio media can be inexpensive. Building one feels great since you will design a custom sump, a wonderful feeling.
Con: Brand bio media can be expensive. I dont know much about a planted tank. What ^ said.
Pro: very easy to clean and bio media can be inexpensive. Building one feels great since you will design a custom sump, a wonderful feeling.
Con: Brand bio media can be expensive. I dont know much about a planted tank. What ^ said.
I love overfiltration. I currently run an fx5 and a 405 on my 75 gallon tank. I'd say go with an fx5 AND a sump!
Thanks guys. Didn't think about running both together. If I go for that option, how many canisters would I need to run alongside the sump, and what would be the best size sump to build?
Depends on the sump size. I'f it were up to me I'd go with one or the other rather than do both. Over filtration is great but at the same time you could over filter using a sump rather than keep adding canister filters.sunnybunny;3687261; said:
At a tank of that size you could run a small bead instead.
I'm going to keep drawing you back in to remember that with a heavily planted tank, you should stick to little to no water agitation. A sump is not the best idea in this situation.
