Can I use a canister filter as a sump

Bigfootmchinist · 02/25/2015, 03:00 PM

I have a marineland c-530 canister filter that I'm not using, and wondering if I can use that as a sump for a 20 gal tank?

MondoBongo · 02/25/2015, 03:25 PM

i would probably say no, not really.

the main point of the sump is usually to house equipment like skimmers and heaters, along with things like refugiums.

a canister filter is sealed, so you couldn't put equipment in it, and light can't penetrate them, so it couldn't be a fuge.

i've seen people retrofit them to work as reactors, containing something like carbon, or what have you, and i suppose you could include rock rubble in it, although it might still end up trapping a bunch of detritus, so would probably need regularly cleaned.

maybe i'm splitting hairs on semantics here, but i don't see how it would work as a sump.

Sapelo · 02/25/2015, 03:29 PM

Agreed. Sumps house all of the equipment you don't want to see hanging inside your tank: skimmers, heaters, reactors, etc.
They also increase water volume. Although you have a small tank, a canister isn't going to hold enough additional water to make a difference.
Lastly -- and I say this as someone who started off with a canister instead of a sump -- sumps (good ones) are easy to access and monitor. You can look inside them and see what is going on. Canisters are not made for ease of access which means it's far too easy to miss what's hiding behind the curtain.
My two cents.

dkennedy1282 · 02/25/2015, 03:34 PM

Canister filters are notorious nitrate factories. For the amount of money that you would spend on a decent canister filter, you could make a pretty decent sump yourself. It really isn't a difficult task to accomplish. There are plenty of forums and youtube videos out there to help you out.

Bigfootmchinist · 02/25/2015, 10:46 PM

i've seen people retrofit them to work as reactors, containing something like carbon, or what have you, and i suppose you could include rock rubble in it, although it might still end up trapping a bunch of detritus, so would probably need regularly cleaned.

How would I turn it into a reactor? Id be interested in that.

Guygettnby · 02/26/2015, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigfootmchinist

i've seen people retrofit them to work as reactors, containing something like carbon, or what have you, and i suppose you could include rock rubble in it, although it might still end up trapping a bunch of detritus, so would probably need regularly cleaned.

How would I turn it into a reactor? Id be interested in that.

Honestly, in a way it is already a reactor.. The media just isn't fluidized. I used one to hold a bunch of carbon for something I was doing to my tank and after all said and done, I just left it running. It has been being used on my tank for almost a year with no issues at all. I have a sump and all other filtration I already need, but my tank just seemed happier with it attached. I have a conclusion about that, but that's for another conversation.

People say they are nitrate factories, that can be true if you never cleaned it. But I clean mine once a month and my nitrates are undetectable. Just keep an eye on it and make sure you keep up with your cleanings.

Now as far as being a sump? No, it can't be used as a sump.

MondoBongo · 02/26/2015, 06:51 AM

Exactly as Guy said, retrofit was a poor word choice. Repurposed would be more accurate.

LeRenard · 02/26/2015, 07:38 AM

The answer is yes, but then again, you could also make a sump out of a 55 Buick, a baboon skull, a tea cup, or the dead sea. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's a good idea

As for using a canister as a reactor, a C-530 might be tough due to the way it's subdivided into compartments. The canisters I've seen used as reactors were all Eheim Classic style single chamber canisters.

If you're just looking to put your old C-530 to good use but don't want to run it 24/7 on your DT, you can still use it to do things like polish the water after a cleaning, clear out a sandstorm, or filter your QT. You could also keep it around for emergency carbon filtration if something goes really wrong in your tank. Just make sure you keep it squeeky clean.

ca1ore · 02/26/2015, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigfootmchinist

i've seen people retrofit them to work as reactors, containing something like carbon, or what have you, and i suppose you could include rock rubble in it, although it might still end up trapping a bunch of detritus, so would probably need regularly cleaned.

How would I turn it into a reactor? Id be interested in that.

I have used old cannister filters as 'reactors' many time. They're functional equivalents (one has a built in pump, the otherwise not). Key with both is regular maintenance. Reactor will become clogged with detritus just as easily as a cannister will. The only potential flaw is if the cannister is opaque which can make it tricky to get the right flow rates (particularly for something like GFO). Otherwise you just set it up as you would a reactor.

tmz · 02/26/2015, 09:01 AM

I use two older fluval canister filters: one on a 65 gallon skimmerless tank with no media or rock, just granulated activated carbon and gfo in mesh bags in the baskets; the other on the main system which also has a sump and skimmers.

FraggledRock · 02/26/2015, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmz

I use two older fluval canister filters: one on a 65 gallon skimmerless tank with no media or rock, just granulated activated carbon and gfo in mesh bags in the baskets; the other on the main system which also has a sump and skimmers.

what are you growing? did you encounter any issues with carbon and SPS?

tmz · 02/26/2015, 10:22 AM

A broad variety of most everything; sps dominant. No trouble with gac , using it for about 10 years .

02/25/2015, 03:00 PM	#1
Bigfootmchinist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Richfield MN Posts: 9	Can I use a canister filter as a sump I have a marineland c-530 canister filter that I'm not using, and wondering if I can use that as a sump for a 20 gal tank?

02/25/2015, 03:25 PM	#2
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	i would probably say no, not really. the main point of the sump is usually to house equipment like skimmers and heaters, along with things like refugiums. a canister filter is sealed, so you couldn't put equipment in it, and light can't penetrate them, so it couldn't be a fuge. i've seen people retrofit them to work as reactors, containing something like carbon, or what have you, and i suppose you could include rock rubble in it, although it might still end up trapping a bunch of detritus, so would probably need regularly cleaned. maybe i'm splitting hairs on semantics here, but i don't see how it would work as a sump. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

02/26/2015, 06:51 AM	#7
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	Exactly as Guy said, retrofit was a poor word choice. Repurposed would be more accurate. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

02/26/2015, 09:01 AM	#10
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I use two older fluval canister filters: one on a 65 gallon skimmerless tank with no media or rock, just granulated activated carbon and gfo in mesh bags in the baskets; the other on the main system which also has a sump and skimmers. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

02/26/2015, 10:22 AM	#12
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	A broad variety of most everything; sps dominant. No trouble with gac , using it for about 10 years . __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

02/25/2015, 03:29 PM	#3
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Agreed. Sumps house all of the equipment you don't want to see hanging inside your tank: skimmers, heaters, reactors, etc. They also increase water volume. Although you have a small tank, a canister isn't going to hold enough additional water to make a difference. Lastly -- and I say this as someone who started off with a canister instead of a sump -- sumps (good ones) are easy to access and monitor. You can look inside them and see what is going on. Canisters are not made for ease of access which means it's far too easy to miss what's hiding behind the curtain. My two cents.

02/25/2015, 03:34 PM	#4
dkennedy1282 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 36	Canister filters are notorious nitrate factories. For the amount of money that you would spend on a decent canister filter, you could make a pretty decent sump yourself. It really isn't a difficult task to accomplish. There are plenty of forums and youtube videos out there to help you out.

02/25/2015, 10:46 PM	#5
Bigfootmchinist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Richfield MN Posts: 9	i've seen people retrofit them to work as reactors, containing something like carbon, or what have you, and i suppose you could include rock rubble in it, although it might still end up trapping a bunch of detritus, so would probably need regularly cleaned. How would I turn it into a reactor? Id be interested in that.

02/26/2015, 07:38 AM	#8
LeRenard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 116	The answer is yes, but then again, you could also make a sump out of a 55 Buick, a baboon skull, a tea cup, or the dead sea. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's a good idea As for using a canister as a reactor, a C-530 might be tough due to the way it's subdivided into compartments. The canisters I've seen used as reactors were all Eheim Classic style single chamber canisters. If you're just looking to put your old C-530 to good use but don't want to run it 24/7 on your DT, you can still use it to do things like polish the water after a cleaning, clear out a sandstorm, or filter your QT. You could also keep it around for emergency carbon filtration if something goes really wrong in your tank. Just make sure you keep it squeeky clean.