What should I do? Sump vs Fluval Fx5?

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Pazzoman

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 5, 2009
3,001
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New York
Hey Everybody:

I've had my fluval fx5 for about a year and now since I'm viewing threads and researching.....it seems that a sump is the best option for filtration for saltwater aquariums. Apparently canister filters are "nitrate factories" if not well maintenance like twice a week some people told me.

Few Questions lol:

Is making a sump worth the effort then buying a sump from an online source such as www.drsfosterandsmith.com?

Are sumps low maintenance?

What is the media needed for a sump to work efficiently?

What things are sumps good at "hiding" (By this I mean heaters and such)?

Also any good online sources that give detailed information about sumps?

Thanks a million mfk!

Btw the tank that I have is a 72 gallon tank....the stand dimensions are hard to achieve because it is a bow-front tank. But I have a 10 gallon tank next the fx5 if that helps....under the sand.
 
Best filtration for me, in SW is live rock. Loads of live rock.

I do not like canisters, even more so in SW.

Get a sump, do not build one because you have no experience. The sump has the added value of giving you space to do things and change things as you go along.

You can put the skimmer there, the heater there, another load of live rock in a refugium set up, etc, etc...

It is no competition, a sump versus a cannister.
 
Also a sump is considered easier to maintenance then a canister filter? If so...then it looks like I need to sell my fx5 and found a good model of a sump online.
 
I would say yes, its easier to maintain.

With a sump you can just reach in and clean it out. You most likely wouldnt even have to take anything apart.

The only negatives really to a sump is the fact that you have to spend money to build them.

I am doing a 55g sump build this week with thisissimple.
 
With a 72g bow front you should be able to do your own 20g set up and fit your skimmer, heater and, return pump. The media is a deep sand bed, live rock, cheato(seaweed) and, a light. Making a sump/refugium is easy. Once you look at a couple pics you'll see what a simple design they are. Go to like aquacave.com, they have a lot to either buy or use as a template. Just remember to leave enough room to handle a flood from a black out. Normally 5 gallons room.
 
try etss they mostly make skimmers but do make sumps too. they make great products and they are local new york guys. they are just north of the city in southern dutchess county. its either superskimmers.com or superskimmer.com I can't remember. Hope that helps
 
Thanks I'll look into it now....wow this year I hope I get oney from christmas and my B-day since I'm a high scholler working part time lol...

Need to buy,

Sump
Skimmer
Lights (Metal Halide)
Quarantine Tank

Wow lol...still fighting with a tank with High nitrates top it off!!! Fml!
 
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